How do you choose a Freeview STB then? You can either investigate what's available on the internet or visit a local tv shop. Let's look at what you'll find. If you put "Freeview Set Top Boxes" into Google it will return nearly two million "hits": somewhat daunting! Some of the hits will be reviews and some will be offering STBs for sale. Go into a local tv shop and you'll probably have less choice, which is more workable, but do go into several shops because they may well stock different manufacturer's products.
You may well decide on a maximum price you're prepared to pay. As your tv is old and probably of the old bulky cathode ray tube (CRT) design, you aren't interested in High Definition (HD). That will keep the cost down. You could well come away with a box costing under £30.
You will need to know one thing before starting this exercise: does your tv have a Scart socket?
Here's what one of those looks like on the back of a tv:
If you are able to buy one of the cheaper STBs because you can connect it to your tv using the Scart cable provided with it, then stereo sound will be heard if your tv is a stereo one.
What else do you need to look out for?
Firstly, if you intend to listen to Freeview radio then it's useful if the STB has a display of at least numbers, rather than just a light (LED) which has one colour when the STB is in standby and another colour when it is on.
Secondly, ask to see the EPG (Electronic Programme Guide). That's a way of finding out what programmes are on all stations for seven days ahead. Some of them are easy to follow, some are a pain. Make sure you can navigate that with the remote control easily before you decide on a purchase.
Thirdly, and this may no longer apply, a few years ago there were several STBs for sale which had a faulty component inside. This resulted in a few seconds of silence every ten minutes or so. Sometimes the silence would actually last for ten minutes and then return: not very helpful. The way round the long silence was to quickly change station and then go back to what you wanted to watch: not something you really want to keep doing. It's worth asking in the shop if the STB you finally choose is without that fault, but do give it a good test once you have it up and running in your home.
Finally, any good tv shop will install an STB for you, free of charge (you have bought it from them, after all). Do watch the way it's installed and where all the cables go. If at any time you have to disconnect it (decorating, etc) you need to know how to put it all back because you can't expect the shop to do that all again for nothing - they'd make a charge. Making a diagram at the installation time is a good idea.
If you live in a poor reception area, it's better to wait until next March before buying a Freeview STB. You will then be able to test it on the new, stronger transmissions. If you do decide to buy it before then and, once installed, you cannot receive anything, don't be swayed by any suggestions of a new aerial being needed or a booster (amplifier) on your existing aerial being required. That may not be needed next March - just be patient: you don't want to spend money unnecessarily, do you? See what happens in March - if you still cannot receive the digital signals, then you will need advice and I may be able to help with that, so long as you are a Wimborne U3A member.
