~~~~~Thanks for all the reads and rates, all appreciated.~~~~~I call in from time to time but just ...
~~~~~Thanks for all the reads and rates, all appreciated.~~~~~I call in from time to time but just haven't had a chance to sit and write a review for a while.
Member since:08.06.2004
Reviews:134
Members who trust:45
I love my bed, I really really love my bed. There is nothing I enjoy more than laying in my bed, relaxing and watching Television. Only trouble is have you seen what is on offer on Television these days. And we live in the dark ages here. We can't even get Channel 5 in this area yet.
As a result, about 18 months ago, we bought a Digital Box for downstairs, and despite not being in an area able to receive it, we can. This is great and widens our choice of programs from 4 to ……. something a lot higher than 4. This has included BBC3, great for comedy and CBeebies, a lifesaver if you have young active children to entertain. During the day this is fine, but whilst I love to watch TV at night, with the box downstairs this means I can't be laying in my wonderful bed.
So we decided to go for the plunge and get another box. This was taking a huge risk. We are in an area that they claim cannot receive freeview, plus the upstairs Television has an aerial in the loft. But we bought one anyway, and we bought a Sagem ITD58.
We had gone into argos planning to buy another make. Unfortunately it was out of stock. An alternative was given but it was £20 more. So I tried the Sagem which was only £10 more.
To my surprise it was in stock (So why did I not get offered that!) and it was reduced to £5 less than the one we had originally chosen. We paid £35 for ours, but the next day the new catalogue came out and it had been reduced by another fiver. Grrrrrr!!!
**The Unit** The Unit is fairly small compared to others. Measuring just 22cmsx13.5cms x3.5cms and weighing in at only 400g. It is a grey colour which will match most televisions, dvds, videos etc. The remote control is small too, and it's 33 keys are simple to use and understand.
**Setting up** The manual is a huge sheet of paper all folded up. In order to read all the information you need to open it right up, but by doing so you then have difficulty in accessing the starting point which is now in the centre on the left side. Although the information is numbered, installation actually starts at number 3, and then each number is divided into sub sections. Such as 5-1, 5-2. These in turn are then divided again in some of the numbers, like 5-3-2 this makes it a little hard to follow. Number 1 is general info, which is common sense stuff and number 2, goes through a description of the unit and the remote control.
So, back at number 3, you are told to connect your unit. To do this you need to refer back to the picture at the top of the page, before the numbers. The first thing we realised is that the unit does not come with any connecting cables. Instructions are given for using a scart lead and an RF cable, it even has the cheek to say connect with the supplied scart lead, when in fact one is not included. A quick visit to Tesco (buying two scart leads) and we were off again. Fortunately we had a spare RF cable but found this did not work so it was just as well we had bought two scart leads.
By now we were totally confused and having tried to follow the pictures and getting no results tossed them to one side.
We then did the following;
1. Inserted the aerial (via a booster in our case) to the back of the Sagem58. 2. Attached a scart lead to the back of the unit to the back of our DVD/VHS combi. 3. Attached a scart lead to the back of the DVD/VHS combi to the back of the television.
Whether or not you are meant to do it like this, we don't care because it brought up the Installation screen.
The next step was easy. Default settings were English and UK so we did not need to change these. Six other languages are available to choose from. Instructions are all on screen and you simply press OK to search for channels.
This was the moment of truth for us. Would an indoor aerial, outside of the range pick up any channels? Well, it did. So we were all done. You can go on to change aspect ratio, protection code or sort favourites but we didn't want to do this so moved to step 7.
**Using the Set Top Box** Each time you push a channel number you get some program information for a few seconds, but this can be altered in the User Preferences menu. You can also find out what is on next by pressing the Info button.
By pressing the button displaying notes you can jump straight to the radio channels. These all have a screensaver which prevents damage to your screen. Other buttons allow you to turn subtitles on and off, handy when I am trying to sleep and hubby is still up, turn the sleep timer on or use the Events Timer. This is useful when you are recording a particular program. As this is a second box we have not used this function.
The everyday using of it is really simple. Because we connected to our TV with a scart socket all we have to do is turn the TV to the AV channel, then use the set top box remote to select which channel we require. This can be done either by keying in the channel number or using the up/down arrowed buttons.
**Final Verdict** Once we got passed the setting up hassle, the box has been really easy to use. But due to this I would not recommend it as a unit for someone who has never had a set top box before and would have no idea how to install it. Some of the channels have been a little fuzzy at times, but this is probably more to do with the weakness of signal than the unit's abilities itself. In general most of the channels have been fine and the picture quality better than we had before. A couple of times we have lost the signal altogether and have had to switch it off at the mains in order for it to pick up a signal again. Just turning the box onto standby does not work.
We have not attempted to throw it or drop the box but it looks sturdy enough and the remote control, which has been dropped once or twice has survived.
I have read some reports of a strange hissing noise. We have not experienced this and think it may just be down to where you place the unit.
The 'red' button, interactive service works well, and we have enjoyed playing many of the games on Freeview.
It is not Top Up compatible, that unit is another £20, but as a second unit we are not worried about this. With its small size and light weight it is ideal in the bedroom where there is limited space. Altogether it suits our needs, which is all I ask.
Pictures of Sagem ITD58
Unit
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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...
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...
Postage & Packaging: £3.00 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
No longer do you have to choose between going without a remote control or purchasing an ... more
expensive original remote. Our direct replacements are electronically identical to the original and provide all the same functionality at a fraction of the price.
Postage & Packaging: £4.50 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
No longer do you have to choose between going without a remote control or purchasing an ... more
expensive original remote. Our direct replacements are electronically identical to the original and provide all the same functionality at a fraction of the price.
Postage & Packaging: £4.50 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Aug 14th, 2005
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