Goodmans Freeview Twin Scart Digital Set Top Box with Automatic Set Up and Auto Retune

I'm delighted with this SD set-top box. I have a perfectly good, old-style TV and a Freeview HD/DVD recorder. Before the analogue signal was switched off I could record any freview digital channel while watching a different channel with the TV's analogue tuner. After digital switchover, I wanted to be able to do the same so I searched reviews of set-top boxes. I didn't need an HD set-top box for my old TV and when I finally buy a new TV it will have a digital tuner.

The GDR11 is small and smart-looking. It has two scart sockets and comes with a scart cable and an RF cable. It was very easy to set up. The quick-start guide and detailed user guide are very clear and easy to follow - Crystal Mark approved by the Plain English Campaign.

The remote is straightforward, well-designed and comfortable to hold. It has a 'swap' button button to toggle between current channel and previous channel and a 'home' button which takes you direct to BBC 1. It has a 'radio/tv' button to help navigation selection. The programme guide is fine, giving now and next immediately but 7-day information after a longer wait.

A very clear and simple guide: 'How to set up your universal remote control' was included for programming the remote to operate many different makes of TV also. This one-time operation was very easy to do and the one remote now controls the TV on/off/volume+/volume-/mute in addition to on/off/guide/channels etc for the GDR11.

One reviewer commented on a suspected malfunction - going into standby by itself. Another reviewer helfully stated that this is an 'auto-standby' feature that can be turned off as described on page 71 of the user guide. This information is correct.

Summary: an excellent product and very good value for money.

No indication of how it will last, however it worked straight out of the box. I'm not a techi but it was easy to set up.
I ordered a seperate scart lead because the description was not clear. In the box you get: 1.Digital TV receiver. 2. Remote control. 3. Two batteries. 4. RF cable. 5. 3 different guides.6. Scart cable.

I had a certain amount of problem at first - couldn't get a consistent signal. To cut a long story short I eventually found that a touch type table lamp cable was somehow interferring with the box's power cable and affecting the signal (keeping a hand on the box's (unearthed) power cable would improve signal and vice versa). Finally I moved the table lamp and now everything works fine.

I Now consider this a very good box for the money - it only loses a star for the problem.

-Firstly, and important for me, it can be connected to the TV's AERIAL socket - so useful for extending the life of older TV (no scart) or, for newer TV's, easier than feeding a thick/unwieldy scart cable some distance to the telly. [NOTE: Such boxes are not easy to find. In my quest I thought that "RF Out" was all I needed But then I discovered that on many boxes which have an "RF Out" that this is actually a simple by-pass loop and would only send raw, unprocessed signals to the TV. You need to double check that "RF Out" is an an RF/UHF Modulator.]

-Secondly, set-up is easy - once plugged in and all connected, hit OK on the remote and off it goes.

-Thirdly, it has all the features you need, Channel list, Favourite lists, simple but effective 7-day program guide, good Remote which can also control your TV on/off and volume.

-Fourthly, in "standby" it will continually search and add new channels automatically and tell you the next time you switch on.

Overall you cannot fault it for the price. Does the job - does it well.

UPDATE:
So pleased with this box I have now installed a second box for another TV (in another room) but came across a new problem. Basically could not get any signal at all. Took me a while but eventually discovered that my Sky Box (in the lounge but also cabled to the bedroom) was transmitting RF (UHF) on the same channel as the Freeview Box (847m CH:68) and was therefore in conflict. Solution: Simply you need to change the RF Channel on the Freeview Box. To do this you will need to connect elsewhere OR take Sky (or any other conflicting device) out of the picture. This is just so you can tune in and get to actually see the Menu from the box. Using the TV Configuration-RF Modulator menu, change the Channel number and retune the TV. You may have repeat the Channel change 2 or 3 times to ensure the best signal. This may sound laborious but it took me about 10 minutes in a different location and then re-install in the new location where now I can still receive Sky, control Sky with a TV Link Magic Eye AND get all the freeview channels.

I should emphasise this NOT a problem with the box but rather caused by other equipment or factors. This may be the reason for some low star ratings by some reviewers.

THIS IS A GOOD BOX and, for the the money, great for those not wanting to ditch their old (but good) telly. I would like to upgrade the rating to 5 stars.