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Television Standards Converters, Modulators etc Standards converters, modulators anything else for providing signals to vintage televisions.

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Old 21st Jul 2009, 7:47 pm   #1
Heatercathodeshort
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Default TVONICS Freeview with Modulator!

I have just purchased from Messrs Tesco stores a tiny R.F. only Freeview box. It is TINY, no bigger than the Aurora and works brilliantly. It comes with remote control, flylead, mains power unit, battery for remote and full instructions. It took less than 30 seconds to tune in all the Freeview channels receivable here at Warnham from the 'local' Midhurst transmitter. I use a loft aerial in a bungalow around 20 or so miles in a straight line so it has been well tested. As it comes its tuned to channel 38 but has full set up procedures through the remote control. Its a real gem and takes up little if any space. It cost £34 and must be a good buy for those non scart sets. I'm using it with a TOSHIBA 140E4B 14" portable in the kitchen that dates from 1984.
Regards, John.
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Old 21st Jul 2009, 7:55 pm   #2
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Default Re: TVONICS Freeview with Modulator!

Very neat John, thanks for that.

There isn't much advantage to using SCART with a small 4:3 TV anyway, so one of these may be a good choice for a kitchen portable even if it has a SCART socket.

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Old 21st Jul 2009, 8:04 pm   #3
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Default Re: TVONICS Freeview with Modulator!

Yes John it IS a gem. I use one in my workshop/display room and have the video output to feed my Aurora which feeds the distibution amp and the UHF output also to the disribution amp. The modulator is top notch too. The only "blot" is the special AV lead that you have to purchase from them.
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Old 21st Jul 2009, 8:11 pm   #4
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Default Re: TVONICS Freeview with Modulator!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Heatercathodeshort View Post
....a tiny R.F. only Freeview box. ....
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tazman1966 View Post
....and have the video output to feed my Aurora...
Which is true? Or are there 2 different products?
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Old 21st Jul 2009, 8:27 pm   #5
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Default Re: TVONICS Freeview with Modulator!

It has an audio/video output as well.......[I never read instructions...] As Tas says it needs a lead but it has the facility. Amazing at any price. J.
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Old 21st Jul 2009, 9:39 pm   #6
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Default Re: TVONICS Freeview with Modulator!

I saw one similar, a bit larger, here the other day. made by Televés.
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Old 21st Jul 2009, 11:27 pm   #7
Dave Moll
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Default Re: TVONICS Freeview with Modulator!

Looks like a good idea for my setup so that I can feed the recorder from my existing box and run one of these into the (now redundant) aerial socket of my TV - at an affordable price.
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Old 22nd Jul 2009, 2:12 pm   #8
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Default Re: TVONICS Freeview with Modulator!

I bought one of these last november. and it is a nice compact little thing. but i put mine back in to its box and it sits there gathering dust for the most part .. cheers neil.
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Old 22nd Jul 2009, 7:37 pm   #9
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Default Re: TVONICS Freeview with Modulator!

Thanks for that, these will be an ideal solution for a distribution system such as those discussed on this thread. They will probably work out cheaper than buying a Freeview (DTT) box and a modulator separately, and also avoid having 2 power supplies needed for each channel!


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Old 22nd Jul 2009, 7:52 pm   #10
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Default Re: TVONICS Freeview with Modulator!

I have one of these too (from Argos). Very nice. There was a thread about it some months ago. I read somewhere that it was developed by the same people as the Sony Freeview box.

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Old 26th Jul 2009, 1:41 pm   #11
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Default Re: TVONICS Freeview with Modulator!

For those that want a full-size freeview box with fully adjustable rf output and full-sized remote, this SEG (also available badged amstrad) from CPC is a nice quality item, it's powered straight from 240V and is £28 plus VAT . They also do the TVonics unit but it's over 40 pounds.

http://cpc.farnell.com/seg/cdst900/f...tor/dp/AV16952
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Old 27th Jul 2009, 12:36 am   #12
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Default Re: TVONICS Freeview with Modulator!

Hi all,
I can't be sure it's the exact same unit, but today my local Aldi store was selling a TVONICS unit answering this description for £24.99, on special offer.
Very tempting
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Old 27th Jul 2009, 8:26 am   #13
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Default Re: TVONICS Freeview with Modulator!

Yes Pete. It almost certainly IS the same unit. Aldi have been selling them on and off for a while now
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Old 4th Sep 2009, 2:48 pm   #14
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Default Re: TVONICS Freeview with Modulator!

My local Aldi now has these units on special offer for £17.99. I've just bought one

They are very small and ideal for TVs without SCART sockets, especially older 14" portables. There's no facility for *not* using the modulator, but this may be more convenient with older TVs anyway, and the quality difference isn't likely to be significant on a small screen. A lot of older people seem to have problems with the very concept of the SCART interface and are much happier thinking in terms of 'channels'.

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Old 4th Sep 2009, 7:10 pm   #15
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Default Re: TVONICS Freeview with Modulator!

The version I have has an audio/video output jack. A scart lead can be obtained from the suppliers fitted with a suitable mini jack if required. J.
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Old 4th Sep 2009, 7:31 pm   #16
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Default Re: TVONICS Freeview with Modulator!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Heatercathodeshort View Post
The version I have has an audio/video output jack. A scart lead can be obtained from the suppliers fitted with a suitable mini jack if required. J.
You're absolutely right, I missed that. It looks as if the lead terminates with phonos rather than a SCART plug but it would be easy enough to use an adaptor.

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Old 4th Sep 2009, 8:48 pm   #17
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Default Re: TVONICS Freeview with Modulator!

I was a bit baffled in the first thread and thought I had been reading about
the wrong item until Studio put me right about the scart output. I am very impressed with mine. Not only is it tiny the picture quality produced is
really excellent. Dave
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Old 5th Sep 2009, 1:48 pm   #18
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Default Re: TVONICS Freeview with Modulator!

I now have one of these too, mine too came from Aldi. I ordered the AV lead online and it arrived a couple of days ago. The AV output like Tas's runs into the Aurora and the RF output of that runs into the SLX distribution amp as well as the box's UHF output. This runs my display sets in the workshop/shed.

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Old 5th Sep 2009, 6:14 pm   #19
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Default Re: TVONICS Freeview with Modulator!

We went to Aldi today in Stevenage to buy a couple for two friends but they were sold out. They were not 17.99 but would've been 34.99 instead. I think Aldi set the prices locally.
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Old 5th Sep 2009, 6:35 pm   #20
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Default Re: TVONICS Freeview with Modulator!

£34.99 was the original price. I suspect Aldi are destocking this item. They generally only stock electronic items for a month or two. Only the stores which still have them will be selling them at the reduced price.

It may be worth phoning your local branches to see if any still have them.

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