Philips DTR 220

Author's product rating:   

Ease of Use	Difficult
Ease of Installation	Simple
Range of Features	Average
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	The box works well .
Disadvantages:	The remote control doesn't .

Recommend to potential buyers:

no

Full review

I like Philips stuff. I even like my new DRT 220 set top box. Although it's only a small, anonymous black block it does everything asked of it with good reception, nice clear menus, excellent automatic tuning etc etc. Basically, for a cheap piece of kit, it ticks all the boxes.

Then, unfortunately, we have the remote control . I can only imagine that Philips were so pleased with the designers for fitting so much good stuff into a little black plastic block that it sent them all home early and left the office cat to design the remote control. ITS AWFUL!

It's another small (very small), anonymous black block, cleverly made symmetrical so you can barely see which way up it is, and certainly can't tell easily by touch. The small, almost entirely black buttons are barely visible on the small almost entirely black face. The tiny printing on the buttons completely avoids any danger that you will be able to tell easily what they do. The small size must have saved Philips at least two pence in plastic.

I cannot believe any even half-sensible company would ever allow such a thing into production. This is the worst remote control I have ever seen. What on earth were Philips thinking of?

If you always watch your TV in bright light, have good eyesight and have reasonable dexterity in your channel-changing hand you will probably find the remote control almost usable - and worth putting up with to be able to use the excellent set top box. But if you watch TV in dim light, and/or you need spectacles, and/or your fingers aren't as nimble as they used to be, this is definitely not for you.