I don't want anything special, but need to replace my old Tv due to pixilation and skipped sound. Sometimes it is perfect but annoyingly inconsistent. Integral DVD would be useful and up to 30" screen (for bedroom) I have looked on various sites and read feedback but not found anything that gives me confidence - maybe it is the luck of the draw, some feedback will give 5 stars and others only one for the same appliance. Only need Freeview, can't be bothered with lots of programmes - life's too short for too much TV.

Hitachi sets are pretty bomb-proof.

I bought a 32" for my daughter from the Argos_Outlet site on Ebay for £150 quid as a Christmas pressie and its pretty good.

The box had never been opened, it came complete with a USB wi-fi dongle and when it connected it updated it's software and has working BBC iPlayer, Youtube and Netflix, so she's chuffed!

I think it was the previous model to this one;

Hitachi 32" LED telly

They do the same one with a dvd player built in for a few quid more;

Hitachi 32" LED telly with DVD

Of course other models of telly are available!

All new tv's contain freeview, but you should def look for one with the "freeview HD" logo. This will be compatible with the regular freeview chs and the HD freeview chs. There will be more HD chs in the near future, and at some point the vast majority of regular chs will have to transfer onto freeview HD as well. This is so further chunks of the tv's airwaves can be sold off to mobile phone networks. Tv's or other equipment with just plain freeview can't access freeview HD channels (unless u adapt them with a freeview HD box, or other HD system such as freesat,Sky,cable).

Are u sure the pic and sound issue u are currently suffering is not due to poor freeview signal? Does the Tv have a signal strength indicator (usually in a menu somewhere).

Thanks to all for your replies, I was hoping for a manufacturer to be mentioned so that I can check it out on youtube.

BiB: Yes this is still a bit of a conundrum, I've had the TV engineers out who checked the aeriel (in loft) and disconnected the Freeview box saying it was no longer required and strangely there was less pixilation. I checked out the signal strength which is around 80% and my local transmitter indicates no problems. It was only a cheap TV from Tesco and it's about 6 years old, so maybe it's time for a change. Although my neighbour bought the same model at the same time and hers is still working fine, which makes me think it's all in the luck of the draw.

Have been checking out feed back on the Hitachi combo and it is almost 100% positive, a couple of people have remarked that the sound is a bit tinny, which can't be said of my cheap tesco Tv. I did notice that the seller on Ebay is about £100 cheaper than other outlets. A serious consideration.

Sorry, but Hitachi are just cheap crap Vestel sets

They haven't sold anything decent for a great many years.

Unless it's a Sony, Panasonic (not lead in range), Samsung or LG...then whatever you choose is going to be very much the same, your looking at the low end of the range, that will serve a purpose....just ignore the reviews, as your not going to get anything high end.

I have had two Hitachi's and both developed faults with the screens within a year of purchase, but they are low end and you take your chances.

I hope the OP doesn't mind me hijacking the question - sort of .

If you're looking to buy a new TV, do you purposely think 'future proof' or do you look for a specific feature that you particularly want ?.

I've always had one eye on getting a new TV but i'm never really sure what to do go for - do i go for 4K or "smart" ?.

I've had the Blaupunkt 1080p 3D tv for quite a few years but I don't really ever watch anything in 3D - maybe one or two 3D films a year, so i'd rather get something i might actually get some 'proper' use out of.

I suppose 4K would have the same initial issues as 3D in that there won't be a huge amount of content available.

I wouldn't recommend buying from that Post #2 link telly with DVD Ebay seller (Fir Direct Ltd). In particular the contradictory statements about the RTB warranty. At the top of the page it says 6 months. Then in the Item specifics Seller notes it says. "Graded Product with 6 MONTHS BACK TO BASE WARRANTY***This Item Is Ex-Display or Manufacturer Recondition or unwanted return They Work Just As Good As New. Come's In Original or Brown Box With Full Original Accessories And 90 Days Back to Base Warranty".

In the T&Cs (bottom of page) under the para Warranty & Returns it says, "All items are sold subject to manufacturers warranty, all goods are covered by a 12 month return to base warranty at your own cost." This is echoed by the Return policy below the T&Cs. "•All goods are covered by a 12 month return to base warranty at your own cost."

So from the choice of 90 days/6 months/12 months RTB warranty which is correct?

Also the T&Cs contain terms that are now illegal under the Consumer Contract Regs 2014 and there is no Privacy Policy.

Interesting input, JasonWatkins, my problem is that I expect everything to last forever and consequently don't upgrade very often which means i don't keep up with current technology. I did like the sound of the Hitachi but I take ages to make up my mind on anything, I hate getting it wrong. My current TV is a cheap Tesco one - the integral DVD lasted about 6 months but have been happy enough with it otherwise. Do not want a large TV. I suppose standards slip over the years, I had a large box type Hitachi TV for many years and it was still working fine when I gave it away (pre digital) to change to a slim line TV.

Well spotted evil c!

OP how about something like this and then add a cheap DVD/Blu ray player

http://www.richersounds.com/product/...sams-ue32j5100
http://www.richersounds.com/product/.../sony-dvpsr170

or upgrade to a Blu ray player

http://www.richersounds.com/product/...pana-dmpbd83eb

Hitachi made a couple of good models back in the early 70's, their entire reputation was based on those sets. Since those they made 'some' of their own CRT sets (which were never very great), but even back long ago they were badging bought-in sets from various manufacturers (such as Salora).

Pixelation/sound skipping are classic broadcast signal problems, unrelated to the TV itself.

So buying a new TV might not fix anything.

Question for the OP - is the pixellation or sound skipping on broadcast TV channels or does it also happen if you use a DVD / blu-ray player with the set?

If it's happening with any source, then it may be the TV. If it's happening with Freeview, then I'm more inclined to suspect interference / aerial problems.

As an aside - I'd avoid integral DVD players - frankly given how cheaply a DVD player or Blu Ray player can be picked up for now, it's not worth having the all in one unit.

Yep, that's a bit of a worry.

The intergral DVD no longer works, but I could fix up a separate DVD device to check out if it works ok. In fact I was thinking of asking my neighbour if I could plug it in in their housee to see if it worked ok as part of me still suspects the problem may be transmission. The aerial has been checked out already. What puzzles me is that the pixilation/sound skipping comes & goes. It used to be really bad on the Drama & Pick channels whereas BBC1 & 2, ITV & C4 were fine, now I can't rely on any of the channels some times many of them pixilate and other times no problem. It's a bit baffling. I usually end up watching online, but I would like a fairly decent Tv for my bedroom. I was thinking of integral DVD just to save space.

Almost certainly an external device like a DVD player will work fine. What you have described is a tuner/broadcast issue.
-------------------

If you are using the internal Freeview of the TV then it's possible there is a fault with just that.

The "fix" for that would be to get a Freeview box and see if that works.


There has been no mention of any other TVs in the household, if there are any other TVs do they work all right?

I'm still leaning towards it being a signal problem of some description. Aerials in lofts tend not to be great unless you virtually live under the transmitter. And I'm not sure the TV engineers are necessary qualified to determine the aerial's OK.

By all means change the TV and you *may* experience fewer problems as a newer TV might have a tuner which is less choosy - but then again you might experience exactly the same problems you have today and be £ 300 out of pocket from buying a new TV.

The other question - I'm assuming it's a bedroom set from your earlier comments - how is the bedroom aerial feed set up? Is it aerial > lounge > bedroom - or is there a proper splitter in the loft to feed each room?

Yes, a severe absence of information. But I didn't wish to pry.

Consider a Now TV box, Roku, or Amazon fire TV as an alternative to Freeview. Streaming boxes shouldn't suffer from signal interference, and the picture quality is usually better than standard definition Freeview. They all require a reasonably fast broadband wifi connection. Before buying, make sure any streaming box system has all the channel apps that you need to avoid disappointment.

Fine apart from the fact they don't usually stream live TV - it's normally time delayed. Not all programmes are on the catch-up portals. And, as you say, has a dependency on a decent internet connection - which given the OP mentioned the set was in a bedroom potentially means it's not close to the router.

Not denying such devices have their uses, but they may not be suitable for the OP's requirements.

I own a Roku, it's used in a upstairs bedroom. This replaced regular use of a set top aerial which is susceptible to interference. The wireless router is in the living room downstairs.

BBC iplayer app and ITV hub app, stream live standard definition TV channels. BBC Sport app streams live sport content. All4 and Demand5 don't stream live channels as yet. If you require subtitles to watch TV, stay with Freeview.

It's very true that not all programmes, channels or content providers are on catch up portals or all devices, so do your homework before buying. Also make sure the streaming box has the correct video connector (e.g. HDMI) for your television.

If the O.P. can watch streamed programmes on a laptop or tablet in the bedroom via wifi, a streaming device will work as well.

Starting at £15 for a Now TV box, it's well worth looking at in my opinion.

Amazon Fire has an app on it called TV Player which streams the Freeview channels at no charge. It also offers a premium package of 25 pay channels including Eurosport, History and Discovery (but no Sky-branded channels) for £5pm. http://tvplayer.com/

I have a couple of old Tv/video combis that my children used to use in their bedrooms many years ago. I still use them to play videos on. One had a freeview box, so I brought that one downstairs for the grandchildren to watch their favourite videos (I'm keeping their feet on the ground, they love 'old' stuff ) But not had the patience to continue connecting up the top box when it didn't work the first time, really must give it another go as I too thought it might indicate where the fault lies.
I have my cheapo Technika TV in the lounge but want to put it in my bedroom and have a slightly larger one in the lounge, so want to buy another TV anyway.
The engineers who came to try and sort out the problem were the same ones who installed the aerial in the loft many years ago, so hopefully they gave me the right advice. Does seem strange that the Tv has worked fine for about 6 years then at the end of last year the pixillation/sound skipping began out of nowhere.
My demands are small - not even hooked up to wi fi yet, still use the wired connection on my laptop, Just want a TV that doesn't pixillate!

Thanks to all who responded, I am trying to assimilate all the info.

As others have said, your symptoms are almost always down to poor signal - although there is a very small chance the TV could be faulty.

You need to try a different TV to see if that's OK or not, or use a professional signal meter to check the signal.