Which is better to choose a digital set-top box for TV
Digital set-top boxes expand the usual capabilities of TVs, as the last years of release, and 10 years old. Recreation and entertainment are an integral part of every modern person's life, and today television is one of the means of family leisure. Assortment of receivers, they are digital tuners, receivers or set-top boxes, wide and diverse. Such a device can do a lot: from amplifying the broadcast signals of television channels to the Internet.
What do you need a tuner for?
Digital TV tuner can expand the capabilities of ordinary speech. It is a small device, performing several functions:
- digitization of terrestrial television broadcasting;
- play media files from USB media;
- recording TV programs on flash media in .ts format;
- allows you to pause live viewing;
- TimeShift option allows you to postpone watching digital TV.
Even if the TV supports the standard of meetings DVB-T2, additional functionality of the set-top box will interest many. Besides, the tuner will greatly improve the quality of the broadcast. As noted by user reviews, installation of a digital receiver allows you to clearly broadcast all channels (included in the multiplex package), to catch supported radio waves.
Smart TV set-top boxes are a separate area of tuners, they have a wider functionality: watch videos online, visiting Internet pages, wide gaming opportunities. The principle of operation of such devices can be of two types.
- Store files and programs on your own hard drive. To use the required application, it is pre-installed, after which it starts.
- Store all files in the cloud, they can only be accessed with an internet connection.
The key advantage of a smart set-top box is access to Internet resources and output of information to the big screen. The tuner may have several memory card slots, supports many file formats. To disk (or in the cloud) games are installed, turning a familiar TV into a game console. You can connect a keyboard to it, communicate with friends via Skype or similar programs. Connect a set-top box for digital TV via HDMI, VGA or AV connectors.
That the smart tuner processed the information faster and more qualitatively, devices with two or four powerful processors will be given priority.
Choosing a digital set-top box
How to choose the most optimal device? The digital set-top box can have different capabilities and must be compatible with the TV. The standard for terrestrial television meetings has recently been upgraded from DVB-T to DVB-T2, most receiver models support both formats, but when buying you should pay attention to this. Modern TVs almost all support both broadcasting standards, but early release models are limited. If the device was released before the introduction of the DVB-T2 standard, it will not support it.
It is worth paying attention, that many recommend choosing a digital receiver for a TV with a CI encoding slot. There is no need for them today, but in the future it is possible to expand multiplexes and the emergence of paid packages. There is a suspicion, that by then the standards will be updated to CI +, similar has already happened with the "Tricolor" models. Before choosing a new model, should be analyzed, whether there is a need for this option.
Audio codecs may also be different: if the user plans to play .avi or .mkv files, then support for AC-3 sound is required, otherwise there will be only video, no voice acting.
HDMI output will be useful as of now, and in the future. Users note a better picture when connecting the set-top box via this output. Besides, the third multiplex package must include channels in HD quality, and, in perspective, they can be expected on the air.
How to understand speech standards
Considering that, that a digital TV receiver is a novelty for Russian users, sometimes various technical issues arise. So, not always clear, whether the receiver can be connected to a satellite dish (for example "Tricolor") instead of the usual, to improve the quality and use the functionality of the device. The answer is simple: So, perhaps, but pointless. The receiver will broadcast terrestrial broadcasting channels, and the satellite dish will only serve as an antenna for receiving the signal.
Standards of meetings in our country are different:
- DVB (DVB-T, DVB-T2) - broadcasting in digital format, which is caught by a conventional antenna: indoor or outdoor;
- DVB-C - digital cable television broadcasting, transmitted through fiber optic wires, usually, it is organized by various Internet providers;
- DVB-H - broadcast on mobile phones;
- DVB-S - satellite digital television signals.
The TV tuner will only receive and decode the first type of broadcast, therefore, it does not make sense to connect it to a satellite dish.
If there are several TVs in the house, and the user wants to connect them to a single digital receiver, then the problem will have to be solved in one of the possible ways.
- Creating an internal home TV network, when all TVs duplicate one, connected to the tuner. With this connection, all devices will show one channel.
- Purchase a receiver for each TV.
- Another solution is possible: connect only one TV to the set-top box, and the rest - to the antennas, satellite or cable TV.
Multiplex packages and a bit about antennas
Multiplexes are channel packets, broadcast in digital format on the same frequency. Previously, broadcasting was carried out in DVB-T format, but today a lot (mostly regional) stations switched to the DVB-T2 standard.
There are two packages of shared channels: Multiplex 1 and Multiplex 2. They have included 20 TV channels and several radio waves. The Multiplex package is being implemented 3, its coverage is limited to Moscow, as far as the state representatives comment, it is in test mode. Expected, that in time broadcasting will cover the whole country, as originally planned.
As for the choice of antenna, then the requirements for it are minimal. It should receive decimeter waves and capture the signal as well as possible. Depending on the location and distance from the signal source, there may be a need for an outdoor antenna, but, may be enough and a small piece of wire.
Connecting and setting up a digital tuner
The digital set-top box connects to the TV via "tulips" or via Scart and HDMI connectors, the latter provides higher quality signal transmission. The tuner does not always come with all the necessary cables, their availability must be clarified at the time of purchase or purchased separately.
Setting up the receiver is quite simple. The cable from the antenna is connected to the tuner through any output, automatic scan mode will automatically find all channels, just save the choice. The signal level can be adjusted using the visual tracks, they are displayed on the screen and clearly show the quality of wave capture.
cost review
The price of digital set-top boxes varies widely, from 800 rubles to 16 000 rubles. The most expensive, usually, smart tuners with a wide range of features. If the choice is limited to conventional receivers, then the price determines the number of different connectors and slots, functions, signal transmission rate.
Which console will be better, depends on individual needs: budget is designed for a limited set of options, but for a garden or cottage it is a good solution. More expensive and multifunctional are needed then, when all the features of the device will be used. Choosing the right model, worth determining, what result the user needs.
It is important for any equipment to have a service center in or near your city, technical support. The user must be protected from possible factory defects or problems with fine-tuning.
