Philips SBC VL1200 Wireless TV Link

It is for the most part a great device, and I find the picture quality to be absolutely superb although I have had some problems with it, some of which I have solved and some not.

1) Our microwave renders this device unusuable. It makes a frighteningly loud noise and completely scrambles the picture when the microwave is on.

2) My wireless LAN interferes with the picture too. I get a regular pattern of lines which on certain channels is better than on others, but never goes away. We live in a quiet town in Berkshire now, when we were in London I would often get other interference too.

3) Any picture signal with a lot of white in it (flame, or bright lights, mostly adverts and opening credits, fortunately) causes loss of vertical hold on the picture momentarily. This has never been a real issue.

4) The "Mounting the device above your video player or cable box" just doesn't work for us. I had to use the extenders, which means only two devices. I get around this by having the DVD player running through our Sky box, and the Sky box running through the VCR. This means that whichever one of these devices is on, will play a signal. I have ended up only needing one channel from the device this way, so the manual switch is no issue at all.

5) Our cable box would not work because the TV Link won't route the correct frequency of IR. Now we have a Sky box, and that also (maddeningly) has weird behaviour, and will work once or twice and then "jam" until it has been manually turned off and on again. Sadly I have to go downstairs to change Sky channels, but for watching movies in bed, and controlling the VCR/DVD with my universal remote it is a great device.

6) An added plus, if you have a DVD player like ours that plays CDs is that you can get your music beamed somewhere else too. Either on your TV speakers, or if you plug in a set of PC speakers, you could get more decent sound.

The VL1200 allows you to connect two devices (e.g. a video reorder and a DVD player) while other systems in the Philips range allow connections to either one or four devices (the VL1100 and VL1400 respectively). There are four channel settings, so you should be able to find one that minimises interference, even in the unlikely event that your neighbours have the same device.

Set up is very easy, by simply connecting your input devices to the VL1200 transmitter and then connecting that to your TV. All connections are via SCART leads but as only two are supplied you may need to buy another.

I have connected a DVD and video recorder and can thus watch these programmes on a TV in another room. As there's no aerial in this room I can also watch TV by transmitting it through the video recorder.

The VL1200 allows remote control signals to be fed through the receiver back to the transmitter and then to the DVD / video (etc) systems that you have connected. Thus while watching a DVD on the receiving TV, you can pause, stop and fast forward using the DVD's remote control just as if you were in front of the DVD unit itself. Sometimes this does not work with the transmitter unit alone, so additional diode connectors are supplied that adhere to the video / DVD IR sensors. This looks unsightly, but does work.

The picture quality is excellent with no obvious degradation from being transmitted. The only exception - for me - is Channel 5. While not great on the main TV, it is noticeably worse after being beamed to the receiving TV. I found that my (admittedly very old) microwave did not cause any interference whatsoever.

Overall I would certainly recommend this product. It's easy to set up, works as described and saves buying DVD & video reorders for other TVs in the house and - especially useful for me - allows TV programmes to be watched in rooms with no aerial connection. However if you want these advantages more than one room you will need to buy additional receiver boxes.

That said, there are a number of things to bear in mind when purchasing this product.

Firstly, all TVs that will be used a receivers must have a SCART socket. Fine for modern TVs, but perhaps not that old one you have in the kitchen.

Secondly, it will not work with certain cable devices. See the other Amazon reviews for details.

Thirdly, the VL1200 comes with only two SCART leads. Assuming you already have two on your main TV/DVD/Video (etc) set up, you will need to buy a further lead.

Fourthly, you can buy extra receivers (VL1205 at £45) if you wish to connect up more than one receiving TV. Bear in mind that all receiving TVs will get the same signal. You cannot watch TV in the living room and transmit a DVD to one bedroom and a video to another.

Fifthly, you can beam TV signals to other TVs in the house using the receivers. This is very useful for receiving TV programmes in rooms where you do not have an aerial socket (or where indoor aerials do not work well). However this TV signal is sent via the video recorder, and so you cannot record a programme to video and watch a different TV programme on the receiving TV. And if you are beaming TV signals via the video you cannot have the video recorder on standby (to make a timer recording, for example).

Sixthly, you have to manually set the transmitter to beam out either the first or second signal (video recorder or DVD in my case). You cannot make this switch any other way. Not a great hassle but once you've finished watching a DVD on the receiving set you cannot then play a video (or switch to Sky etc) without a trip to the transmitting box.

Finally, the manual for this product is available from the Philips web site should you need further details before buying.