With Freeview now one of the fastest growing consumer technologies in British History, Panasonic is offering consumers the latest advancements in technology, encompassed in a slim,... more
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A review by sghawken on Panasonic TU CT41 June 22nd, 2006
Author's product rating:
Sound Level
Excellent
Instructions
Very Helpful / Very Easy to Understand
Value for Money
Excellent
Advantages:
Simple and easy for the elder user
Disadvantages:
None that I can find
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
I decided to bring my Grandmother kicking and screaming into the 21st, she lives on Portland so this was a gamble purchase (apparently Freeview is not available on Portland). I took it to her home and set the plug and play system going.
Set Up could not be simpler; as you switch the box on (having connected aerial lead and scart of course) you're greeted with a nice blue screen. This immediately begins hunting down the various channels available. From the start of search to completion took about 6 minutes. This also installed the correct time and date too.
All the channels installed properly on the first go, which has never happened to me on previous boxes I have installed. The quality of picture was great, and the display box showing what was on now and next was of suitable size; I frequently find that they can be overbearing on Freeview boxes. A nice addition is that you can change the size of that box, or even the colour. You can even pick three alternate colours on the menu screens.
The picture quality is as good as you can get, before writing this I noted that other review sites stated the picture quality is poor; but I believe that these reviews may have been written by people with poor understanding of how the freeview works. You get roughly 48 television channels and between 20-30 radio channels as you do with any freeview box. The sound quality is perfect, no awkward clicking noises or bad signal hisses, but again I guess this is more a television Ariel issue than the box itself.
The first big surprise for me was the inclusion of a 7 day TV guide; this was nicely organized and I had not seen a 7 day planner in a freeview box. From this menu you can set up to 8 timers should you want to record with your video etc on multiple channels. You simply find the programme highlight it and at the designated time it will switch the television over.
Another nice surprise was the fact that the box selects screen sizes for you, on sky you have to set a standard size, as you do with most freeview boxes I had encountered. With this box as you flick through the channels it selects the correct size screen for you.
The remote control is plain and simple; there is no excessive buttons on it, which in honesty was the reason for purchasing this box. My grandmother has a tendency to not touch certain buttons as she is worried she will "break" the item. This remote has all the number buttons, a menu button, a standby button and the 4 coloured buttons for teletext usage. All the other controls are sat within the on screen menu, which my Grandmother will never have to encounter.
The box comes with two scart sockets, one for input the other for output. It also has a separate audio output option should you wish to attach the receiver to a external amplifier or stereo. A nice touch with this set up is that the box comes complete with a scart lead, so many stores that sell electrical items only stock expensive scart leads to increase profits so the addition of the scart lead moved one headache out of the equation. The box also includes an input lead for your television/vcr. The remote also comes with batteries, so you literally can start straight away.
The instructions could not be simpler one yellow laminated sheet that has all you need to know split across both sides of the sheet.
The box itself is silver and is slighly bigger in size than a DVD case, so even down to size this is a perfect buy.
I could not be happier with the Panasonic freeview box, for someone a little older in years it has all you'd ever need to know. It's simple and concise, with great quality picture and a TV planner that with the exception of the sky planner on digiboxes cannot be equalled.
I paid £39.99 for this freeview box from Comet, however you can obtain one from Amazon for just £24.99
Features: Upgradable firmware, digital radio access
Video features
Electronic Programme Guide: Digital EPG
Clock & alarm
Timer: Record
Remote control
Type: Remote control
Connections
Connector Type:
2 x SCART ( 21 PIN SCART ) - rear
1 x RF input - rear
1 x RF output - rear
1 x audio line-out ( RCA phono x 2 ) - rear
Miscellaneous
Cables Included: SCART cable
Manufacturer's product description
With Freeview now one of the fastest growing consumer technologies in British History, Panasonic is offering consumers the latest advancements in technology, encompassed in a slim, stylish, and space saving box. The TU-CT41 Digital Converter Box is Panasonic's latest addition to its Freeview range providing easy reception of Freeview digital terrestrial channels and radio stations on an analog television - all for a small one off payment that represents superb value for money. Once you've made the right choice and purchased your TU-CT41, installation is quick and easy, thanks to the fully automatic set up and widescreen switching. With 2 SCARTS, RF-in, RF Loopthrough and audio output sockets included, the digital converter box is able to boast vastly improved image quality and signal compared with traditional analog transmission. Not only simple to set up, but also intuitive to use, the TU-CT41 offers straightforward navigation between channels and the interactive service. It supports the on screen 7 day TV guide ensuring you can find out what's on and when, as well as, specifically, what's on Now and Next. Additionally, the incorporated Electronic Program Guide (EPG) allows for improved channel selection, future program listings and grouping of programs by preference or type The TU-CT41 includes the Timer Record function, offering timed recordings of up to eight programs using the EPG as a guide.
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