DVB-T2 digital terrestrial decoder | The best of 2023
What characteristics differentiate the decoders digital terrestrial?
As with any other type of product on the market, the various external digital terrestrial decoders have different characteristics, functions and prices. It is therefore advisable to get very well informed before launching into the purchase of the first box that you will find in front of you.Below we have tried to collect the main characteristics to pay attention to when evaluating the type of product to choose , such as compatibility with HD channels and support for smart cards.
Compatibility with the DVB-T2 signal: Surely the most important factor to take into consideration when talking about a digital terrestrial TV decoder is support for the DVB-T2 standard, i.e. the signal that will become standard starting from September 2021. In fact, not all decoders are able to decode this signal, especially if we are talking about boxes put on the market a few years ago. So check that the wording DVB-T2 is indicated on the box or on the package to sleep peacefully. Support for HD channels: Another of the features not to be taken for granted is the support for viewing HD channels, i.e. those broadcast at a higher resolution than normal and which will make better use of all the pixels of your huge TV in your living room. Today almost all DTTs have an HD tuner capable of supporting these channels, however it is always better to make sure. Type of connection to the TV: If you have a fairly recent TV, it will almost certainly have an HDMI socket available among the various inputs. This port allows for higher quality viewing than older standard audio and video connections. Conversely, if your television is not the latest or you want to resurrect an old CRT, it will be better to look for a DTT box that has a SCART or composite output. Pay TV services: The viewing of pay channels or the use of the various pay TV services are subject to the purchase and use of a so-called smart card. If your intention is to use a smart card, now or in the future, you must first make sure that you purchase a decoder that is capable of the function and has the necessary slot. Multimedia content recording and playback: Some decoders have TV program recording functions. On some models it is even possible to program the recording without necessarily having to be present to start the capture. Among these DTTs, there are more sophisticated models that have a double internal decoder and allow the recording of different channels from the one you are currently watching. In addition, some of them have an internal memory where you can store your favorite programs. Generally, the most common solution allows recording via USB port on flash drives or external hard drives. Virtually all decoders that can record via USB also have functions for reading multimedia files through this type of external memory. Satellite channels: If you have a dish for receiving satellite TV channels, you can purchase combined decoders that support both decoding of the signal arriving from space and the TV signal via a classic antenna, allowing you to control both solutions with a single remote control. Smart functions and internet connection: By verifying the possibility of connecting your decoder to the internet with an Ethernet cable or via Wi-Fi, it will then be possible to access additional services made available by the various Italian television networks for deferred viewing of TV programs and much more. Operating system and software: If the decoder can connect to the internet, it is likely that it also satisfies this last requirement. A smart decoder that can connect to the network is probably equipped with a more advanced operating system that allows the use of additional software features, such as the Electronic Program Guide (EPG). In the best case, the decoder will also be able to host applications for watching streaming services such as Netflix, Infinity, Disney + and so on. To receive the Amazon products in this guide as quickly as possible* , sign up for Amazon Prime for free for the first 30 days.
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