Having had many problems with 'digi-boxes' before, for christmas my parents bought me the Philips DTR 220, because it was cheaper than other well known brands, and they decided to stick with a brand which they trusted, and knew well.
The Design
The box looks very smart, and takes up ... Read review
Enjoy your TV programmes with enhanced picture quality in a stylish and compact design ... more
Dolby Digital-Bitstream out for surround sound Integrated Digital TV with MHEG interactive applications Freeview access to digital TV and radio 7 day Electronic prog...
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Tungsten carbide tipped SDS plus drill bits manufactured to a consistently high standard. ... more
These bits feature a double flute which vastly improves the efficiency of waste removal thereby making a faster, cleaner hole. Use on concrete, masonry, lightweig...
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This DVB-T receiver convinces not only with its modern appearance, but also with its ... more
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The Philips DTR220 digital Freeview receiver is suitable for connection to a home cinema ... more
system. This Freeview receiver features a 7-day electronic programme guide with auto set up and can be connected to a TV and recorder. It has 2 SCART sockets and comes complete with its own remote.
Postage & Packaging:from £4.85 Availability:refer to website
No Setup - Just put your batteries in and off you go. Our remote controls are generic ... more
replacements 100% guaranteed money back if not entirely satisfied. Put-Batteries-In-And-Go (This remote has been made for this Tv / Dvd / Freeview box etc, only,so no setup required, no codes to put in) Specifically manufactured in our factory for this make/model. Every remote control is tested before it is dispatched. Our remotes are NOT universal - so you do not need to set them up or put codes into them, just put your batteries in and off you go. Each remote is generically made for the specific DVD / TV / Freeview.
Postage & Packaging:£3.00 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
No Setup - Just put your batteries in and off you go. Our remote controls are generic ... more
replacements 100% guaranteed money back if not entirely satisfied. Put-Batteries-In-And-Go (This remote has been made for this Tv / Dvd / Freeview box etc, only,so no setup required, no codes to put in) Specifically manufactured in our factory for this make/model. Every remote control is tested before it is dispatched. Our remotes are NOT universal - so you do not need to set them up or put codes into them, just put your batteries in and off you go. Each remote is generically made for the specific DVD / TV / Freeview.
Postage & Packaging:£3.00 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: The look Disadvantages: Everything else!!
...my parents bought me the Philips DTR 220, because it was cheaper than other well known brands, and they decided to stick with a brand which they trusted, and knew well.
=== The Design ===
The box looks very smart, and takes up hardly no space on my side, as it's very small and petite. There is no buttons on the box, which may look nice, but it later proves to be quite problematic. When the box is left on for too long ... ...work, and you find yourself pulling out the power lead, leaving it for 2 minutes and then putting it back in. After doing this every time you want to watch the tv, I find myself not bothered about it, and just watch terrestrial instead! (Might find myself having to get a new box before the digital switchover!) Other then that it's just a shiny surface, which I do quite like. Not many problems with the look of it really.
Having had many problems with 'digi-boxes' before, for christmas my parents bought me the Philips DTR 220, because it was cheaper than other well known brands, and they decided to stick with a brand which they trusted, and knew well.
The Design
The box looks very smart, and takes up hardly no space on my side, as it's very small and petite. There is no buttons on the box, which may look nice, but it later proves to be quite problematic. When the box is left on for too long (about a day) it mucks up and decides not to work, and you find yourself pulling out the power lead, leaving it for 2 minutes and then putting it back in. After doing this every time you want to watch the tv, I find myself not bothered about it, and just watch terrestrial instead! (Might find myself having to get a new box before the digital switchover!) Other then that it's just a shiny surface, which I do quite like. Not many problems with the look of it really.
The Installation
The installation was quite simple, just what you were expecting really, easy enough! The box seemed fine after the initial installation, but it was fooling us!! After the first installation is was switching on quite nicely, and was doing everything you would want it to, until about 2 months after being set up. Like I mentioned earlier, I find myself having to pull out the power lead, because the remote control fails to turn it on or off and I think it must lock.
When it works.
When the box actually decides to work, it's not really that bad. The Electronic Programme Guides (EPG's) are clear and simply laid out. The remote is simple too, no problems with that either. The picture quality is fine, could be better but it also could be worse!! I'm not complaining about that. However, another thing that the box sometimes decides to do is reset itself and format it back to the first installation settings, so this means it takes about half hour to search for new channels that have been added since this date, which is a nightmare! I have had to do this about 10 times since I've had the box.
The problems just go on and on!
Another thing I've found is that on particular channels (which happen to be the channels I would watch all the time if I had them!! Typical!) the box decides to not display the picture and instead you just get sound. So if you want to watch Hollyoaks on E4, then you end up listening to the dialogue, whilst watching the most fascinating, dull black screen!
You might be thinking that the picture stuff maybe my aerial, but I've plugged in my sister's freeview box, and that works fine.
Basically the box has caused me no end of troubles, and so I would not recommend it to you at all!
Please research with reviews this type of product, don't be fooled into trusting a well known brand!!
Advantages: Excellent for anyone on a budget with a small TV. Disadvantages: For me none, but other reviews show reliability may be an issue for some boxes.
I was surprised to read some of the awful reviews for this Freeview box both on Ciao and in the customer reviews on Amazon.co.uk. Compared to the four year old Thomson Freeview box I have in my front room TV or the Roadstar mini-Freeview box in my spare room I have found this unit to be an excellent product. The other two boxes I own have always had a lag in the menu response after remote buttons have been pressed and there is always a 2 second time ... ...of these problems. Perhaps I've just been lucky as the reviews others have written which I have read seem to emphasise the point that this model may have a tendency for the image to just stop and "stick" on one frame until the box is rebooted. I have not had this problem since I bought this box a month ago in January 2009 from Dixon?s online for £34.99; indeed I have had no issues whatsoever and cannot see them happening with the unit I purchased. ...
bobbacon985 13.02.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Philips DTR220
Advantages: The box works well. Disadvantages: The remote control doesn't.
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 ... ...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 ...
PeterSt1954 07.01.2008 (08.01.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Philips DTR220
Advantages: Quick to install, compact Disadvantages: Interuptions to some programmes
...weeks, I decided upon the Philips DTR220 as I had read fairly decent reviews on a few sites and as it wasn't all singing all dancing, came in at an acceptable £29.99 on Amazon. Luckily enough I had some gift vouchers for Amazon which knocked a substantial amount off.
My first impressions upon unpacking the Freeview box was that it was one of the smallest receivers I have seen (approximately 20cm W x 10cm D x 3.5cm H). It's very compact and managed ... ...remote control is a good size and fits easily in your hand. The keys are laid out in a decent enough way with the number buttons at the lower part of the remote. The font used is very futuristic which adds a welcome change to the box standard numerals found on other remotes. One problem I found to begin with is that it is very easy to pick up and try to use upside down as the remote has a certain amount of symmetry to it with no evident top or bottom. ...
macmonkey 08.12.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Philips DTR220
Ease of Use
Ease of Installation
Range of Features
Value for Money
Quick review of Philips DTR220
Purchased this box recently as a replacement for my old Philips DTR 1500 but this one has been nothing but trouble.
I live in London in a strong reception area however the box freezes regularly, channels disappear and the menu display occasionally goes almost transparant of its own accord so no channel/programme details can be seen!
Avoid at all costs ! ...
fox39 28.07.2008
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Philips DTR220
Enjoy your TV programs with enhanced picture quality, in a stylish and compact design. This product features freeview access to digital TV and radio. No subscription required to receive the most popular TV channels in the UK brought to you in digital quality.
