How to choose a digital set-top box

The federal program for the development of television and radio broadcasting in the Russian Federation for 2009–2018 implies the ubiquitous transfer of television to digital DVB-T2. If your home TV does not support this format, you can purchase a digital set-top box and enjoy television in higher quality. Additional features that most consoles are equipped with, increase the level of comfort when watching movies and TV shows. IPTV set-top boxes allow you to connect your TV to the Internet, expanding the range of media programs viewed by the viewer.

The best manufacturers of digital consoles - which company to choose

The best consoles on the market are supplied by manufacturers who have many years of experience in the production of digital technology and take into account past shortcomings, increasing the quality of their products year after year.

These include brand prefixes:

• Supra;
• Defender;
• BBK;
• Oriel;
• D-Color;
• Telefunken.

In the ranking best set-top boxes for customer reviews You can get acquainted with the models that Russian consumers recognize as the most high-quality and convenient to use.

The principle of operation and the device digital prefixes

The main elements of the device:

1. Housing;

2. Monoplaty reception and processing of digital signals;

3. Network card switching power supply;

4. Infrared remote control.

The prefix receives a digital signal, decodes it and converts it into analog format for further broadcasting by the TV.

Using the console improves the quality of programs viewed by the viewer, regardless of the TV model. Even when connecting the set-top box to the TV, which was purchased a dozen years ago, you can watch programs in higher quality.

The prefix can be used with any TVs, including those with kinescopes. It should be borne in mind that the quality of the image and sound depends not only on the signal, but also on the screen resolution and capabilities of the built-in audio systems. Therefore, the old TV with a kinescope will not allow you to enjoy all the features of the digitized signal.

Types of digital consoles

Prefix DVB-T2

In a few years, the Russian television broadcast will be broadcast only in DVB-T2 format, completely gone analog transmission. DVB-T2 is a format of terrestrial digital television broadcasting, with a broadcast signal over a standard broadcasting in the range of decimeter and meter waves received by a conventional antenna.

Innovative technologies that have expanded the capabilities of this broadcast format produce signal transmission, including in HD quality and even in 3-D. Of course, to receive signals in these formats, the TV must have certain characteristics.

Using a digital receiver extends the capabilities of a conventional TV and allows you to:

1. Write a program or film to USB;

2. Play recorded audio or video files on the media;

3. View a television broadcast after a certain period of time, temporarily stopping it (TimeShift mode “pending viewing” is an additional function, not all models have it);

Benefits:

• Possibility of free viewing of ten all-Russian channels: informational, news and developmental. View ten free entertainment channels depending on the region (it is covered with a DVB-T2 signal or work is underway on the construction of television towers);
• Increased number of channels in the broadcast package;
• Transfer of additional information in digital packages;
• Easy to connect, configure and manage.

Disadvantages:

• The performance of the device depends on the reception area of ​​the signal. Viewers living in regions that are distant from the tower transmitting the signal will additionally need an amplifier.

Prefix Smart-TV

In the current media technologies, the possibilities of the Internet are increasingly being used - television channels open their websites and portals. Some of the TV models offered by manufacturers have the Smart-TV function, which allows you to use the Internet to watch media programs.

In order to provide an ordinary TV with access to a modern media environment, it is enough to connect a Smart-TV (IPTV) console to it - this is an effective and affordable alternative to an expensive TV model of the latest generation.

It expands the possibilities of the old TV, enriching them with the following functions:

1. Watch TV programs, movies (without the possibility of recording on external media);

2. Access to video hosting resources;

3. Communication in social networks;

4. The ability to play popular games that need to be downloaded through the application.

In fact, an IPTV set-top box is a mini-computer with an operating system, most often it is Android, but it can be Windows or Linux. It connects to the Internet either using a Wi-Fi adapter, or through a cable connector.

Manufacturers offer two types of IPTV set-top boxes:

1. TV-stick is a small device that looks like a USB flash drive. Less productive than TV boxes, have a minimum of ports. Have a lower price;

2. A TV box is a device that looks similar to a router. It works more stably, since passive cooling systems (radiators) are installed inside. Some models are equipped with a keyboard, which simplifies the use of consoles.

Most devices are equipped with a remote control.

Benefits:

• Profitability - the prefix in a set with the usual TV will cost cheaper than the modern model of the TV with the IPTV function;
• Access to all sorts of services and content libraries;
• There is no need to download the movie to the computer, then copy it to the media for further viewing;
• The ability to create a local network to watch on TV screen movies or photos hosted on your computer
• Android OS provides access to games and applications on the same platform.

Disadvantages:

• The prefix can be connected independently, but setting up additional characteristics takes a lot of time, and for people who are far from modern technologies, it causes some difficulties.

DVB-T2 digital set-top box selection options

Connector type

When choosing a device, you need to focus on the type of connector on the TV, which depends on the year of manufacture. These can be composite tulip (RCA) or SCART connectors. More modern models may have an HDMI connector.

If the prefix meets all the desired parameters, but has an inappropriate connector, you can consider the option of an additional acquisition adapter.

Encoding

The more compression formats the device supports, the better. But the receiver must support MPEG-4 signal encoding; this compression format is used by DVB-T2 prefixes.

Screen resolution

Older LCD TVs and LCD screens, as well as a kinescope, have an SDTV (standard definition television) resolution. This is a standard for analog television, which is not capable of supporting HD video and especially 3D.

Therefore, if in the near future you do not intend to purchase an HD or 3D-TV, it makes no sense to purchase a console that supports these formats. You can purchase a simpler option by saving money. (Although even the budget models for 800-900 rubles support HD).

Supported multimedia format

If the console is supposed to be used for viewing photos and videos, listening to music from external media, you need to make sure that the device is capable of supporting formats:

1. Video - MKV, AVI, AVC / H.264, DivX, MPEG4;

2. Audio - MP3, WMA, AAC, AC3;

3. Photos - JPEG, JPG, RAW.

Control

Traditionally, to control most models use the remote control. In some devices, commands can only be given with its help.

In case of failure of the console or its loss, it will not be possible to control the receiver. Therefore, it is preferable to choose a console in which two methods of control are combined - from the console and from the front panel.

Extended capabilities

The more functional the device, the higher its price. Therefore it is necessary to make a decision on the need to expand the functions in order not to overpay. Or, on the contrary, the acquisition of the simplest option may result in regrets about the lack of convenient additions.

These include:

1. The presence of the card reader;

2. The presence of connector HDMI (interface for multimedia high definition);

3. LAN access (for internet connection);

4. Multiple USB connectors;

5. The presence of a full browser for the Internet;

6. Ability to view on the screen two video streams simultaneously;

7. The ability to connect a hard disk (for recording and storing video);

8. Ability to view photos and listen to audio files;

9. The ability to record stream from three channels at once in high quality;

10. Supports DVB-S2 (standard definition and high definition satellite broadcasting).

Parameters for selecting a digital IPTV set-top box (Smart-TV)

Connection type

1. For relatively modern TVs, connecting via an HDMI connector, it provides the best quality of the broadcast signal.

2. For older TVs, connect to VGA or AV ports.

CPU

It is preferable to choose a console, the processor of which has at least 4 cores. This will relieve from “freezes” and other similar misunderstandings during work.

Memory

The amount of RAM should be at least 2 GB, preferably more, if you intend to install various applications, games. The minimum amount of internal memory is 8 GB, it is not particularly important, since with a shortage you can always expand it by installing a MicroSD card.

operating system

Devices on the Android platform have a lower price, for this OS a greater number of applications, including gaming, social, office.

The form

1. If the requests are minimal - you can purchase an inexpensive TV-stick.

2. For stable operation and connectivity of other devices, you can purchase a TV box, it has several additional ports (USB, Optical, VGA, and others).

Which digital set-top box to choose

1. For an old TV with a kinescope or LCD panel, with SDTV resolution, you can purchase an inexpensive console that is not designed for broadcasting in FULL HD format.

2. For lovers of sports, fans will suit the console with the ability to record TV broadcasts. By recording a program that was on air at night, you can watch it at any convenient time;

3. Fans of watching movies in high quality will need a set-top box that supports HD.

4. To watch videos, movies and surfing sites, you can purchase a budget Smart-TV console with RAM up to 1 GB and a 2-core processor. Most likely, applications will be loaded for a long time. But the resource for watching videos is enough.

5. IPTV set-top box with 4-core processor and 2GB RAM will cope with applications and games that are demanding of hardware resources. Watching videos with them is more comfortable.

6. For users who have large collections of video and media on HDD drives and plan to purchase an IPTV console to view them, you need a device with a SATA port through which you can connect an external drive.

How much is a digital console?

1. DVB-T2 budget models can be purchased at prices ranging from 0.85 to 2 thousand rubles;

2. DVB-T2 consoles with the ability to connect to your home network for sharing files and a Wi-Fi connector cost from 3 thousand rubles;

3. Multifunctional consoles, combining the capabilities of satellite television and the Internet, a 2-core processor and 4GB of RAM cost from 7 thousand rubles.

4. The price of a small Smart-TV set-top box TV-stik from 3 thousand rubles;

5. Smart-TV set-top box type TV-box costs 4 thousand rubles.