All about set-top boxes for digital TV

Cable TV, not to mention ordinary antennas, is gradually becoming a thing of the past - instead of these technologies, digital television is entering the main stage. The innovation is in many ways convenient and has already been appreciated by hundreds of millions of people around the world. At the same time, for the full use of the technology, it is necessary to separately purchase a special set-top box for the TV, which will significantly expand the functionality of the "blue screen". Another thing is that many of our fellow citizens still have not figured out all the intricacies of the novelty, so they may need qualified help when choosing a specific model.

A TV picture is a decoded signal that is displayed on a TV screen. Initially, there were not so many ways of transmitting a video signal - it was necessary either to buy a classic antenna, or to connect a cable through which the signal, frankly, of mediocre quality, entered the TV. However, with the development of digital technologies, engineers began to think that it would not hurt to introduce innovations into the field of television transmission. Thanks to this, it became possible to transmit it in a higher quality and by different methods, which reduced the load on individual available communication channels. However, a specialized receiver was needed to receive signals from the new standard.

Another thing is that the presence of a built-in set-top box or receiver has become the norm only in a few recent years and mainly in more expensive models.

All other citizens will have to buy the console separately. It looks different, depending on the exact set of functions and capabilities - usually it is a small flat box about 10 by 10 cm in size, in many cases - with an additional small antenna, which is connected via a cable and can even be carried out on the roof of a high-rise building. In some cases, in order to amplify the signal, you will also have to buy a special antenna of the classic type.

It should be understood that the concept of a digital set-top box for TV is very flexible, and in theory it can provide completely different capabilities.

Receiver is the name that in most cases is characteristic of the simplest design. In fact, it is only a newer signal transmission standard known as DVB-T2 or simply T2. For retirees who are not particularly eager to delve into the intricacies of modern technology, this is probably a sufficient option, since it can be used for the main purpose - watching TV programs. The receiver does not provide any new functions - it just provides a classic broadcast of those TV channels, whose signal can be received most often for free. The choice of channels will not be so extensive, but at most reception points you can see a standard set of main programs.

First of all, such a unit is able to connect to wireless or wired Internet networks and install applications. You can use this in any convenient way - for example, to watch Youtube, communicate via video communication (subject to a separate purchase of a webcam) or install applications for IPTV. The latter, although they require a separate fee, provide a lot of advantages - here are the same TV channels, but with the ability to pause, and record films or TV shows in your absence, and even an always available cinema base. Thanks to the Internet connection and the possibility of expanding the functionality due to downloadable applications, it becomes possible to watch TV channels and listen to radio from any country in the world. In addition, most of this type of set-top box allows you to connect external media such as USB or portable hard drives to view your own videos and photos. Occasionally, such devices "for a complete set" are also equipped with the ability to receive a T2 signal.

Some set-top boxes, just in case, are still equipped with even a connector for receiving a cable signal, but in most cases they are still guided by a wireless signal. However, even with it, the principle of broadcasting can be divided into two different categories.

• The first of these is the classic on-air broadcasting with a grid., which the broadcaster determines at its own discretion, focusing on prime times and target audiences of various channels. All T2 set-top boxes work with on-air broadcasting, and in most cases it is considered the main one for applications operating on the IPTV principle. The key feature is the forced viewing of what the available channels are broadcasting at a particular moment, without the ability to pause, rewind and watch at any convenient time.

• The other option is best described as video-on-demand. Anyone who is familiar with the Youtube platform will understand what this is about - all content is available at the same time, its playback starts only at the request of the viewer, at any time convenient for him. You can start viewing from any moment, you can also pause the video and continue watching it later, or, conversely, rewind to take a closer look at the footage. An ordinary T2 definitely does not provide such an opportunity, but full-fledged smart consoles with the help of additional applications often focus on just such opportunities. The software can combine the capabilities of on-air viewing of channels and access to a video library, and individual programs and programs in paid packages are automatically recorded and stored for some time on servers for delayed access.

Digital receivers can radically differ in price from model to model - there are options for almost a thousand rubles, and there are also for fifteen thousand. In this case, the difference is far from being limited to the brand, and you should not think that you have outwitted everyone and successfully saved money by buying the cheapest sample. - most likely, you have severely cut the functionality of your device.

You will be limited in everything - it only works for on-air broadcasting of TV channels, it picks up the signal poorly, does not support HD and does not have any "smart" functions at all, even the connectors on its body are not enough and may not be enough to connect to your TV. Perhaps we are exaggerating somewhere, but we should not be surprised if all these unpleasant surprises "climb" one by one from a tuner bought for a cheap price. Someone may have enough of such a primitive functionality, but if you were counting on more, you will surely be disappointed.

Serious money is usually asked for smart consoles, which differ from each other in the presence or absence of certain functions. The most expensive ones are full-fledged, almost independent gadgets that do not require the installation of additional software, to allow you to stop the broadcast at any time, even from the T2 antenna, and record the ongoing broadcast for you for a while while you are distracted. An increase in cost to a significant amount always means the ability to connect the device to the Internet, the presence of connectors for the same flash drive, as well as an excellent signal and an excellent picture.

To further simplify the choice of a portable television receiver for readers, consider several options for the popular modern T2 models.

Our list should also not be taken as a literal recommendation for action - we focused specifically on popular receivers for TVs with and without antenna, while your conditions and wishes might imply the purchase of completely different equipment.

• Harper HDT2 1512. Simple and inexpensive, with a durable chassis and smart cooling system that keeps kids from watching everything thanks to parental controls. Criticized for just one USB port, as well as mediocre signal reception and inability to read all popular video formats.

• Selenga T81D. Here one of the main problems of the previous model is solved - there are practically no formats that this technique would not read. The signal can be received both analog and digital, this did not affect the cost for the worse. Among the minuses is a possible delay when switching channels, but no other drawbacks were found.

• Oriel 421 DVB-T2 C. This set-top box is distinguished by high-quality image display, elementary connection and configuration, as well as the presence of a large number of ports for different signal sources. This model is criticized for not the most compact size, which makes it difficult to find a place for a gadget, as well as for imperfect operation of the remote control.

• Lumax DV 1108HD. Unlike the above models, Wi-Fi is still supported here, which allows you to use software from the Internet and even your own cinema from the manufacturer. The model is usually praised for its excellent signal and excellent picture, compactness and ease of control, but children, if anything, will have full access to all content, because the gadget does not imply any parental control.

From the above, it was possible to understand that choosing a digital set-top box does not imply negligence, otherwise you risk spending money without getting the benefits you expected. With all the simplicity of devices of this kind, we still go through the main criteria that you need to pay attention to before buying.

You need to understand that the best set-top box that does not fit your TV in terms of connectors may turn out to be useless.

It is theoretically possible to solve the problem of incompatibility with the help of adapters, but one must understand that their use in most cases means a decrease in the signal quality.

The power of each set-top box is designed to produce a picture of a certain resolution, higher than which the quality will not be even with an ideal signal. If the SDTV standard can already be safely called outdated, then HD and Full HD are still the most popular for digital set-top boxes. At the same time, TVs have already gone ahead - 4K does not surprise anyone, but there is also 8K.If, in principle, you do not see an opportunity to buy a set-top box that will pull out the full resolution of your TV, then choose at least the one that is closest to the required parameters.

Smart consoles based on Android OS are good for the opportunity to download useful applications with the necessary functions, but let's start with the fact that the technical characteristics of the hardware can suddenly leave you without a number of useful programs, since the gadget simply does not support them.

Understanding such customer needs, some manufacturers integrate the corresponding functions even into relatively primitive tuners, making their work more convenient and trouble-free.

If the manufacturer declares the possibility of accessing the Internet directly by means of the set-top box, it means that it already belongs to the smart category. For you, this means more opportunities for using the gadget. - in fact, when bundled with a TV, it is already a half-tablet, half-smartphone, and in no way an ordinary receiver. In most cases, access to the network is possible both by connecting a cable and via Wi-Fi, but when buying an inexpensive model, it is worth clarifying whether both such possibilities are implemented in a particular model.

Many consumers mistakenly believe that since the technology is new and more advanced, and the set-top box itself is connected to the TV via a cable, then you can put it anywhere. In the meantime, this is not entirely true. You can place the receiver anywhere, whether it is a shelf on the wall or free space under the bed, only if the signal source is reliable - for example, it is an Internet cable, TV cable, USB flash drive or external hard drive connected by cable. However, even in this case, the device should be positioned so that it is convenient to point the remote control at it.

Much depends on the capabilities of your router, the thickness of the walls in the building and the connection speed that is required for normal playback of broadcasts in the quality of your choice. The general rule is that the closer the set-top box is to the router, the better the signal. Having placed it far and behind obstacles, do not be surprised that it cannot pick up the signal, show poorly or regularly interrupt broadcasts.

In terms of connecting using DVB-T2 technology, the situation looks even more complicated - although the technology is presented as new and modern, in most cases it is strictly tied to classic TV towers. The further from such an infrastructure facility you live, the more difficult it is to count on a good signal, and you should not be surprised if the device picks up only 10 channels out of the promised 20. In this case, any obstacle can be considered as interference, be it multi-storey buildings, rocks or something else. -or.

The T2 antenna should at least be brought out closer to the window and directed towards the nearest television tower. If this does not give any result, some improvement can provide an antenna extension beyond the window, where the interference should be slightly less.

At a considerable distance from the TV tower, you will also need a separate antenna that amplifies the signal, but in especially advanced cases, even it does not always cope with the task at hand.

Connecting a set-top box to a TV usually looks quite simple - it is problematic to mix up the connectors, because they are not the same. In most old TVs, set-top boxes are connected with three RCA "tulips" (the color of the plug must match the color of the connector) or SCART, in more recent models - through one HDMI connector. The latter standard provides the highest quality sound and picture, so if your technology leaves you with a choice, it is better to focus on HDMI.

Buying an HDMI cable is not difficult today, but you still have to look for cables of old standards to start using the purchase. When purchasing such products, at the time of connection, carefully check the tightness of the plug and connector connection - if there is no sound or the image is black and white, without color, perhaps you were sold a low-quality product or you connected it poorly.

In an amicable way, it was worth reading the instructions even before connecting the cables, but we figured that you could handle the connection of plugs and connectors anyway. In all other respects, the instructions will be very useful to you - it tells how to set up and use the set-top box in general and its individual functions in particular.

In most cases, modern models, focused on working with T2 or cable, at the time of connection to the TV and the first launch, automatically scan the range to search for channels, but sometimes this function must be specially launched. In some cases, the automation does not give full results if the signal of individual channels is perceived by the technology as too weak - in these cases, it makes sense to conduct a manual search in the estimated range.

In theory, the receiver should find all channels from the multiplexes available in your area. It so happens that the signal of some of them is too weak, and you predictably want to add more channels to be “like everyone else”.

If the set-top box stops working after a short circuit or for no apparent reason, buzzes when turned on, or you just decided to globally update its software, in no case should you look for circuits or try to do something on your own. The maximum that is allowed to the user to eliminate any existing problems is to reboot the device and recheck the tightness of the connection of the cables with the connectors. For any serious repair, you must contact an authorized service center, which will professionally solve your problem or officially declare the receiver beyond repair.

For an overview of the best set-top boxes for digital TV, see below.