Aldi are advertising for next Thursday's (10/11) specials an HD STB. See http://aldi.com.au/product_01/product_452.html for more detials.

Personally, I think it's good for it's price but I am not sure about if it would preform as it should.

I was in the Good Guys today and they had a Centrex CTDV400HD STB for the same price ($299).

EDIT: I bought a Centrex today but found that there is a high frequency squeal coming from the left channel. Taking it back tomorrow for a replacement.

I want to buy a Panasonic TH-42PA50A standard defination Plasma.

I have read in the forum that if you use a HD box with a SD tv, you get better picture quality.

Could anybody please tell me whether Aldi asvertised HD set top box (DVB-T which only supports 1080i, 720p and 576p) will be any good?

Thanks for your help.

Morning Sun from NSW

I typed in the model number of this set top box CDVBT8800 and got this pdf link:

http://www.coship.com/english/products/pdf/cdvbt8800.pdf

Made by SHENZHEN COSHIP ELECTRONICS CO.,LTD.

That's it from me.

I have just bought the pana SD plasma. Do a google search on the STB and try to track down its European name. From there you should be able to find info in various forums.

Personally I would look at spending alittle more money and look at either the LG ($440 good guys cash) or Strong HD boxes ($600ish). After all why spend thousands on a TV and hook it up to the cheapest box you can find?

Being a bit of a (suspicious) sceptic I would think that is exactly why the HD boxes are so expensive.
hornblower

I have a cheap sat box I bought in India which is a Coship. It's a piece of crap.

Chodan & Timmy Downawell - Many thanks. You are right.

So, did anyone run out and buy one of these things? If so, what's the verdict?

Yes I did, and so far so good. It is certainly advanced on my old Teac Sd box with very logical controls and on screen. Picture on my pana 200a is superb. All I can hope for is that it continues to be this great. Can't complain about the price. I think that all the boxes around are as overpriced. Look what has happened to the price of TV sets in the last couple of years. I paid over $3k for my set and that was a good price at the time.
I connected component to the tv with av to my vcr.

So it does do simultaneous output of HD via component and SD via S-Video?

Unfortunately No! A bit dissapointing. What you have to do is change the output of the stb to "PAL" and watch the broadcast via your VCR. It doesn't worry me that much anyway as I can record with my PC. The only other thing that is a bit off-putting is when you change output etc, the audio is often out of sync and to correct this you need to select the channel again. Once again I am not too concerned about this as I dont need to make output changes.

i just got one and it gives a great picture thru my samsung PS-42P4S via DVI output... but it does seem to have a low sound output , dynamic but you have to really crank the system up!!

I renounce all i have said about aldi HDSTB i have taken it back because it frezes up badly , to the point where you cant use it all.
I got a replacement but the same thing!!
not good!! got money back

That is real bad news. Mine is still operating well at present and I hope it continues that way. I wonder if there is any logical reason that 2 units would fail on you like that.

newdig

JUst a theory but the freezing seems to be related to less than perfect reception causing the unit to freeze up. Using amplified antennae the unit can be made to freeze by turning down the amplification until near the edge of reception and tehn change channels upon which freeze ocurs. atm no freezes if you do not change channel. PQ still better than aldi SD STB so staying here.

how wierd, and snips you are right it seems it would only freeze when i was changing channels, maybe i should run back and get another!!?? and invest in a new aerial i am in williamstown in Melbourne and thought the reception would be fine oh well i will try a new aerial and then try a new STB. Fingers crossed and thanks for the tip