2 Questions

I'm looking into getting a HD set top box, I've been looking at the Sony SVRHD700
160GB HD DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER (link doesn't work properly, you need to go to the second listing) Mainly cause I already have a sony TV and amp and I know their remotes all play well together and I can just use 1 to control them all. The tv is only 720p but my understanding is that the broadcast single is like 576p or something anyway? Anyway can anyone recommend any other models? or have any feedback on that particular one?

Secondly I'm just looking for experiences with setting up DTV, has anyone here has it had to get anything done to their aerials or are the standard ones fine?

yup, good idea;

im looking at just getting the cheapest hd stb i can find (mtv one from coles? 200 bux, handles all the formats i need)

dont want to record anything, ill setup a media pc later on for that

have a look here wet, see if this forum is any help

http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?s=e78b3e426d00e54a4a9329573945d484&showforum=4

I bought a 1080p LCD and set top box about 3 months ago. The set top box I got was the LG LST-6100P. The LG site has it listed for $499 but I got it from JB Hifi for $250. My main reason for getting it was that it was one of the cheapest set top boxes I could get at the time with an HDMI port. It's been running really well so far so no complaints here.

As far as recording goes, I recently picked a up a leadtek HD capture card for $80 and it works flawlessly.

the sony is one of the better ones available, and it allows proper twin tuner TIMER recording. and the remotes play nice with each other too :)

Topfield TF7000HDPVRt (Black)? Also comes in Silver.

I've got a Topfield HD STB and that PVR looks good, go that one :)

The better ones are Topfield, LG, Teac apparently.

after some research and some suggestions I've been looking at this thing called Beyonwiz DP-P1. Looks pretty cool, basically it's a HD set top box with twin tuners, 200Gb HDD for recording and it also has networking and USB support for plugging in downloaded media, movies, mp3s, photos etc, looks like it's been constantly updated with firmware patches to both fix bugs and add functionality. There's another one that is more expensive and has a DVD player and wifi but I think the cheaper option is the go for me at least. Anyone heard of them or know if they're any good?

http://www.goodgearguide.com.au/im.php/width/640/im/3563_7_beyonwiz_DP-S1.jpg

http://www.beyonwiz.com.au/

40 bucks on ebay... pheonix brand... works great

HD? else gtfo

reject Sony, for starters

Topfield, Nextwave are meant to be good.

I have some really dodgy SD box from JB and an LG6100 the same as Nailbomb. The LG works fine for me, but it doesn't record.

I've only heard good things about the Topfield twin tuner boxes...

yer, topfield are the super money

IMO I don't see why you'd want PVR function for your Dtv tuner for Australian Free to air tv, be it SD, HDD or otherwise. They're all crap and not really worth recording anyway. The good shows are either American, or BBC.

You'd be better off just getting an ok HD Tuner with HDMI if you really must (sif it really going look any good on your 1080p display anyway esp. when the sources are not output at that res).

I guess if you need to record shows that you want to watch and you absolutely cannot miss when you're out then it's fair enough.

With regards to the 2nd question, I didn't need to do anything extra to our aerial (we get analogue reception just fine to begin with), all we had to do was get the HDTV tuner, put in the cords in the right places, turn on the tuner & TV, let it auto find channels, then it's done :) Easy as.

fta in australia has sport and The Bill

especially with all the lions games on saturday nite when the bill is on, im sick of missing it

i run vista ultimate and 2 digital tv cards for my tv.

yer, im going to do the same

i just need a hd box now until i upgrade my pc and old pc can be a media box

Yeah I'm considering a HPTV box but my main concern is that I don't want to have to boot up a computer just to watch TV

just leave it on?

man, im all over these topfield hdstbs on ebay

just missed one last nite for $200 (same price i was prepared to pay for the cruddy mtv brand one from coles)

i wont miss next time!

Yeah I'm considering a HPTV box but my main concern is that I don't want to have to boot up a computer just to watch TV

on the remote, you assign the power button to hibernate. put a 2gig mem stick in and use vista boost thing, and you start up in 20 secs.