Attachments to the TV. Smart TV set-top box

Digital television, which not so long ago was the prerogative of only a certain group of people, is now available to everyone. But with the advent of open access to digital channels, many questions arose. As a rule, they all relate to the problem of the correct choice of a digital set-top box to the TV, its connection and tuning. Anyway, but the cost of receivers is still quite high, and many buyers do not want to simply squander their family budget. To the first time to choose the most optimal option, you need to study all the nuances.

Types of digital television

The main disadvantage of analog TV is the loss of signal quality during broadcast. In digital transmission, audio and video are encoded in binary code, so that all data loss is reduced to zero. But for the "perception" of coded signals, the TV should be able to "decipher" them.

Unfortunately, such a feature is built-in only in modern models. That's why you need to purchase a digital set-top box to the TV, which will act as a decoder in the old TV.

Currently, digital television is divided into 4 types depending on the technology of broadcasting:

• Air, standard DVB-T or DVB-T2 - broadcast TV tower;
• Satellite, DVB-S format - transmitted, respectively, by satellites;
• Cable, DVB-C or DVB-C2 technology - the signals are sent along the lines;
• Internet TV, IPTV - to access the channels you need to access the global network.

The first thing to do before buying a set-top box for digital television reception, is to carefully study your TV. Some models already support several digital broadcast formats simultaneously.

Receivers for terrestrial television

Digital terrestrial television is the most budget option, because for viewing channels you need a regular indoor or outdoor antenna and the console itself. In some cases, the amplifier will not be superfluous, but it depends on the distance from the TV tower. When buying a set-top box for terrestrial TV, it is important to ensure that it necessarily supports the DVB-T2 format. The disadvantages of choosing such a prefix to a television set can be called the dependence of image quality on signal strength - the more interference, the worse the "picture". Another disadvantage can be called a relatively small number of channels - there are only 32. In addition, you will not be able to watch HD broadcasts because the signal is broadcast in the usual format.

The main advantage of the prefix for terrestrial television is its price. The models cost 1-2 thousand rubles, while they have a large set of built-in functions. A typical representative is the Oriel TV set-top box. The next advantage is mobility. You can connect another TV to the console at any time.

Satellite TV Receivers

To watch satellite TV programs, in addition to the receiver itself, you will need a satellite dish, as well as a signal amplifier. It is not recommended to collect such a set of equipment on its own - there is a high risk that the receiver will not approach the amplifier. Hence the main disadvantage is the high cost of the finished set. When selecting a satellite receiver, make sure that it supports the DVB-S format. As part of the set-top box to the TV, you can also use the CI-slot for installing the conditional access card. With it for a fee you can view blocked paid channels.

By the way, about the channels. Any satellite cameraman provides its customers with about 1000 programs. But for this you will have to subscribe for a monthly fee. Without it, the number of transmissions will drop to 30-50. But in any case, all TV channels will be broadcast in HD-quality.

Attachments for cable channels

In choosing a receiver for cable television, there are not many options. More precisely, he is only one - contact the cable operator. Unfortunately, cable boxes for receiving digital television are arranged so that they receive a signal from only one provider. If you select another service company, you will need to purchase the receiver again. The advantage of such a television is the high quality of the image, which does not depend on local conditions. So, if a satellite dish can get bogged down by a strong wind, as well as a street antenna, then it is almost impossible to create interference in the cable. Another advantage - you pay only for those channels that you want to watch.

Internet TV

To view Internet channels, you will need a smart TV attachment, as well as a router and high-speed Internet. The principle of broadcasting programs is as simple as possible - the receiver, received from the cameraman, connects to the wired Internet, goes to the network and shows those channels to which you are subscribed. In fact, this possibility can be implemented on an ordinary PC, but the image quality, as well as the number of channels and many other factors will largely depend on the owner of the site. IPTV also gives you access to more than 100 channels, all of them in HD-quality.

In addition to watching your favorite programs, the smart TV set-up will give you the opportunity to go online directly from your TV, and watch the channel program, rewind time, put the movie on pause and much more. A significant drawback of such consoles is their price. In some cases, it can reach 25 thousand rubles. The cheapest options are at the level of 6-7 thousand.

Connection Features

The answer to the question "how to connect a set-top box to a TV" depends on the device model you have chosen. If you purchased a receiver for terrestrial television, then you need an antenna coaxial cable to connect. It can be purchased or made by yourself, screwing the ends of the f-connectors.

To connect the satellite receiver, you can use several options. It all depends on the functionality of your device. As a rule, there are several connectors on the rear wall. These can be Scart, RCA-slots, output for coaxial or composite cable and other ports. The easiest way to connect through the "tulips". With the connection of the cable receiver, there will be no problems, since when you select this option, the provider company will do everything for you. Also, you should not think about how to connect a set-top box to a TV set when choosing an Internet TV. More often the problem is solved with the help of HDMI cable. But you can also use Scart, RCA - it all depends on the functionality of the equipment.

Setting up the equipment

After combining the console and the TV, you need to switch to the appropriate playback mode. If you used a coaxial cable, you do not need to do anything. If Scart, RCA, then the remote control, set the TV to AV input mode. When using an HDMI cable, you, accordingly, need to select the item of the same name in the menu.

Then start searching for channels. If, when deciding how to choose a prefix for a TV, you prefer IPTV or cable TV, then no additional manipulation is required - everything is already set up for you. Enjoy watching!