How to choose a set-top box for digital television: the most important nuances

How to choose digital set-top boxes for TV? Many people ask this question. In this article we will try to find the answer and help with the choice. I first encountered consoles at the beginning of 2011. At that time, digital television began broadcasting in the dvb-t format, which did not last long. We can say that it only worked in test mode and broadcast 6 channels. Since 2012, the dvb-t transmission format has been actively replaced by dvb-t2. And it was from this year that broadcasting consoles began to be imported to us, at first in small quantities, but time passed and at the moment these decoders are sold in almost all stores, including hypermarkets. And yet, which digital TV set-top box is better?

How does a digital set-top box work?

Any digital set-top box consists of elements such as a housing, a receiving and processing board and a control panel. The set-top box works as follows: it receives a signal, converts it and broadcasts it to the TV either in analog format (via RCA or VGA connector, you need to switch the TV to signal mode with AV), or in digital format (via HDMI connector, you need to switch to signal from HDMI ). Using a set-top box can significantly increase the quality of television broadcasting, regardless of how modern the TV is. If desired, the set-top box can even be used to connect to a TV with a kinescope. At the same time, you need to understand that the quality of the broadcast depends, among other things, on the screen resolution.

Signal level

By pressing the “info” button twice or three times on the control panel, you can display the current signal level from the antenna. This function is used mainly when tuning TV broadcasts. The minimum signal level must be 50% (applicable to both scales). If this indicator is lower than the required value, you need to replace or move the antenna to a new location.

How to choose a set-top box for digital television?

The diversity of the market makes it possible to choose among dozens of models. It is important to know how to choose a digital TV set-top box that will fit your TV and can last for several years.

1. Connectors . To connect the set-top box to the TV, both devices must have suitable connectors. These could be RCA or SCART connectors, typical of older TVs, as well as modern HDMI. If a suitable set-top box does not have the required connector, you can use an additional adapter.
2. Screen resolution . Modern set-top boxes are capable of broadcasting signals in HD or Full HD resolution. Standard definition television SDTV is no longer used in many places and is gradually going out of fashion.
3. Additional features . A digital set-top box can perform several functions in addition to receiving and transcoding a signal. Additions include the possibility of delayed viewing and even recording of a program on external media connected to the USB port of the set-top box. It is worth emphasizing that standard TV receivers are not equipped with Internet access and receive a signal either via an antenna cable or from an external antenna.
4. Internet and TV . Many city Internet providers provide users with the function of watching TV over the Internet, and such television is called IPTV. This means that if the provider has problems with the Internet, then you will not have TV in your home. But with this connection you get 50 or more channels in excellent digital quality.
5. IPTV function . It can also be used in media set-top boxes on Android through special applications. Such set-top boxes also include an Internet browser as part of the application. Such devices are connected to the Network via a built-in Wi-Fi module or via a LAN input using a twisted pair network cable.

Thus, for old TVs, it is quite possible to purchase a classic inexpensive (about 900 rubles) set-top box, and it will already be able to broadcast a signal in high quality Full HD.
True, in Russia, broadcast channels are currently broadcast only in HD quality. Most receivers have a USB input for connecting external media - flash drives and hard drives. This allows you to view movies and videos downloaded from the Internet or from a family video archive. The best manufacturers of digital set-top boxes include Defender, D-Color, Oriel, BBK and other well-known brands. Knowing which TV set-top box to choose for digital television, you can buy a suitable tuner with good sensitivity and an optimal ratio of cost and technical characteristics.

Broadcast Standards

Digital television developed in parallel with computer technology, as a result of which several digital formats appeared at once, each of which broadcasts according to a specific standard:

• Cable TV. The signal is transmitted wired using a cable and without the use of a receiving device. Broadcasting takes place according to the DVB-C standard.
• Satellite TV. One of the broadcasting standards in which the transmitter is a satellite. The broadcast is carried out with a digital signal of the DVB-S/S standard
• Terrestrial TV. Stationary ground towers - repeaters - are used as transmitters. Broadcasting is free and according to the digital standard DVB-T/T2.

There is also interactive television (IPTV) with high-definition image transmission. It is often also referred to as digital television, which is a mistake. In this case, as with analogue broadcasting, information is transmitted directly, without prior encoding into a digital standard.

For digital cable television you only need a set-top box. The operator whose channel package is connected is responsible for the support and reception of television. Satellite and terrestrial television is broadcast in the decimeter range, which corresponds to frequencies from 0.3 to 3 GHz. At the same time, different broadcasting standards do not overlap and occupy different ranges: up to 800 MHz is used by ground stations, and satellites are installed at frequencies from 1 GHz. Consequently, a set-top box with a decimeter terrestrial antenna will not be able to catch a signal of the DVB-S/S2 standard.

Set-top boxes for digital TV. How to choose the best?

Starting from January 2021 in Russia, the usual terrestrial channels in the analog range are being replaced by the DVB-T2 standard - broadcasting a digital signal in the meter and decimeter wavelength ranges. Analogue broadcasting will gradually cease. This means that every family will have a digital receiver.

Many people already use digital television at home via a satellite dish and a Tricolor receiver. But they are forced to transfer a decent subscriber fee to the provider for this. But digital broadcasting will significantly expand the capabilities of your TV, including increasing the number of received channels to 20.

Using a digital set-top box will also allow you to:

• play media files from external media;
• record movies and programs on media (only in expensive devices);
• view the desired broadcast after a while (TimeShift option).

It is worth noting that not all set-top boxes have a powerful receiver capable of efficiently converting even a weak signal. Therefore, when buying a receiver, you should also take care of a high-quality antenna with a signal amplifier. In our review of digital TV set-top boxes, we selected the best models with a very high-quality and sensitive receiver.

Tips for choosing

So, what you should pay attention to when choosing a receiver for home use:

1. Supports standard MPEG-4 signal compression;
2. Work with the DVB-T2 digital broadcasting standard;
3. Ability to watch TV shows in HD quality;
4. Connection of paid channels if necessary;
5. The presence of a remote control and control buttons on the case;
6. Availability of a warranty period of at least 2 years;
7. Reliable and trusted name of the manufacturer.

Watch the video about Xiaomi Mi Box 3

Smart TVs and media set-top boxes

More and more TV manufacturers are offering devices that support Smart-TV, an option that allows you to use the Internet to watch programs. Thanks to this feature, any TV can access the media environment. Applications installed on such TVs have the ability to view TV channels from the Internet (IPTV). If your TV does not have this feature, it can be implemented using a separate media set-top box on Android OS. Connecting such a TV-box provides the following options:

• watching movies and TV shows in the best quality;
• ability to access video hosting sites;
• the ability to communicate on social networks;
• access to games downloaded through a special application.

By and large, such a set-top box is a computer running on its own operating system and connecting to the World Wide Web via cable or Wi-Fi.

Manufacturers of smart set-top boxes offer two types of devices: TV boxes and TV sticks. The former are very similar to routers and are able to operate as stably as possible due to radiators installed inside the case. Some TV boxes come with remote controls with a built-in keyboard.

The TV stick is more modest in size and looks somewhat like a regular USB flash drive. The stick costs noticeably less than the box, but has simplified functionality and fewer ports.

The advantages of a digital media set-top box with IPTV are obvious:

Firstly , buying a relatively inexpensive device allows you to actually turn an old TV into a modern model with Smart-TV support.

Secondly , such set-top boxes are good for creating a local network for viewing files located on a computer or phone via a TV.

Finally , the Android operating system allows you to install and play the latest games on your big screen TV. The applications require virtually no setup - everything is exactly the same as on a smartphone - install and use. And you don’t have to pay any subscription fee to watch movies. But there are advertising blocks before each film.

When choosing a Smart-TV set-top box, it is better to give preference to at least a quad-core model with a RAM capacity of 2 GB or more. If the console will be actively used for video games, it is better not to skimp on RAM. There can be as much built-in memory as you want; if there is not enough of it, you can install a MicroSD card.

The X96 TV Box has a more than competitive price (less than 3,000 rubles), an impressive amount of internal memory, and is very easy to manage and configure.

How much does a digital set-top box cost?

The most budget model of a DVB-T2 set-top box will cost about 1,000 rubles, and depending on additional options, the cost can rise to 2,000 rubles. The presence of Wi-Fi increases the price by another thousand.

Smart-TV sticks start at 3,000 rubles, the cheapest TV box will cost 4,000 rubles. Set-top boxes with many additional functions, combining the capabilities of the Internet and television, and having impressive characteristics (RAM, processor) can cost more than 8,000 rubles.

How to choose digital set-top boxes for your TV? Individual needs must be taken into account. Thus, budget models of consoles are well suited for a summer house or garden, where numerous additional functions are not needed. Expensive and functional models are suitable for a home or apartment, provided that all functions will be constantly used. The choice of a suitable tuner should directly depend on the expected result.