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View Full Version : Recommendation for New 'cheap' STB

kylebrophy
02-10-2007, 12:20 AM
Hi,

A family friend of ours has an un-used sky dish and wants to get freeview (and anything else thats going).

While i can supply them with all the freqs etc once they have a receiver , they dont want to pay too much (def not $300 for the certified receivers).

A couple they have spotted on trademe going for around $100-120 where

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/TVs/Other/auction-120360585.htm

and also a supernet 4200s http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=118930239

Can anybody comment as to the quality/reliability of them?

If these 2 are still very dodgy - could anyone else supply models/brands that can be bought in NZ for around the $100-$150 mark (if possible) failing that in the $150-250 mark. Which are of better quality etc.

Thanks in Advance :)
Sky_Satt
02-10-2007, 02:21 AM
What's that saying ya get what ya pay for ;) $100 - $150 cheap an nasties, first auction seller seemed to side-step the question re:brand "AETNA 0507" as for the other seller it may have a somewhat limited performance no blind scan-subtitles etc if that's what they may be after then buy now, maxplus as you have would be the go or the Hss-760A has blind scan, EPG an subtitles good firmware/ support coupla hundred $
kylebrophy
02-10-2007, 02:46 AM
What's that saying ya get what ya pay for ;) $100 - $150 cheap an nasties, first auction seller seemed to side-step the question re:brand "AETNA 0507" as for the other seller it may have a somewhat limited performance no blind scan-subtitles etc if that's what they may be after then buy now, maxplus as you have would be the go or the Hss-760A has blind scan, EPG an subtitles good firmware/ support coupla hundred $

yea im leaning towards saying to get a maxplus - i also see the Hyandai round the $200 mark. Might be worth the extra $80 in the long run.
bassett
02-10-2007, 03:08 AM
The Hyundai would be a good buy, and if you find you can't get on with a satellite connection, the resale would be consideraly better then a cheap chinese clone receiver.
mason
02-10-2007, 08:27 AM
perhaps you should also consider a strong 4658X decoder?

I set one up for a mate of mine and I found it was a quite neat little unit. They are going for around $120- on ebay (au) at the moment.
bassett
03-10-2007, 02:47 AM
perhaps you should also consider a strong 4658X decoder?

I set one up for a mate of mine and I found it was a quite neat little unit. They are going for around $120- on ebay (au) at the moment.


And that includes delivery
grolschie
09-10-2007, 02:10 AM
Some of the cheapies don't have component-out. That's a bummer if plugging into a plasma or LCD. How do you find your Topfield? Maybe you can find a 2nd hand Toppy on TM?
kylebrophy
09-10-2007, 02:18 AM
Some of the cheapies don't have component-out. That's a bummer if plugging into a plasma or LCD. How do you find your Topfield? Maybe you can find a 2nd hand Toppy on TM?

The friends just have a regular 29" CRT - with a DVD recorder. They are not really into the whole AV thing - so no component out wouldnt really be an issue. I suspect now TVNZ6 has started they are keen to get it - as have young kids. I know from our kids - they are transfixed at the new channel (and at 6am thts a good thing ! - lets us sleep for another hour).

Im almost leaning towards telling them to wait til march when freeview terrestrial starts - then they wont have to shell out for another STB (if they do ever want HD or Prime haha).

I find the Topfield very good - i run via component into our Sony 29" CRT (Widescreen on shopping list - just few more things ahead of it - like roof paint lol).

I will see if TradeMe has anything else listed - but thats what triggered this post to start with - as they had been cruising TM and found a few el cheapos.
Colin 2905
09-10-2007, 03:42 AM
and also a supernet 4200s

Can anybody comment as to the quality/reliability of them?


I wouldn't get too excited about the SuperNet 4200S......

http://www.vetrun.net/forums/showthread.php?t=5941

(I gave mine to Big Mick, to get him started.)

Another vote for the Strong 4658X, if you can find them in NZ within the target price range. Although if it's only FTA that they're interested in, they could go for one of the non-card models.