Home > Consumer Reviews > Alba STB2 Freeview Set Top Box

AVOID this unit like the plague!!

It has a major software fault which causes VERY frequent lock-ups which can only be reset by pulling the plug. ALBA are at fault for even releasing this unit, after operating the menus for only 10 minutes will show these faults.

Where is our software upgrade ALBA??

No sound from this box. I suppose every manfacturer is allowed to have a faulty unit once in a while (though aren't these things tested?), but it seems half the stuff I buy nowadays just doesn't work properly. Whatever happened to quality control?

From day one, this attractive piece of junk was depressingly temperamental and rarely reponsive to remote control instruction unless you stood over the box and pressed buttons repeatedly. It was set up and tested by an unimpressed professional (my son in law) who had advised me not to buy this and is laughing his socks off now.

We were looking for a freeview box a while ago but was put off by not knowing which ones were good/reliable and the prices of reputable models. Anyway when we saw a very cheap deal for this freeview box we decided to take the chance even after reading some of the reviews here.

If you can get this freeview box cheap then it is a great bargain. Ours works well even after a few months, its simple to use has two SCARTS, aerial feed, suitable remote and average picture quality. The only negative I can give is that the response to operating the remote is a bit random but I have seen this on big brand freeview boxes also.

I bought the Alba specifically to receive the English Channel 4 (in Wales) plus UK History and I have had it for about 18 months now . Initially it used to pixelate and picture freeze fairly regularly . I am in line-of-sight of my nearest transmitter with a distance of about seven miles . My aerial was a fairly old one that worked OK with my old analogue set though the analogue transmitter was sending out 10,000 Watts . The aerial was a high gain one but did not have a BALUN fitted and the aerial feeder cable was also quite a few years old . I bought a new aerial (with BALUN fitted) as recommended for my location by a local aerial installer and I also fitted a new double screened feeder cable . In theory this new aerial should have had less gain than the original though due to its design, the Front to Back Ratio would be significantly better . The result was amazing . There was no more picture freezing or pixelation at all . Just a perfect picture . I am using the Alba with a Daewoo LCD TV and am totally satisfied with the picture which is visibly better than the analogue one when viewed on the same set . I had one problem a few months ago where I lost Channel 8 which in Wales is Channel 4 (as opposed to S4C) . All I did was to search again for all channels and the problem vanished . I realise that this is not an expensive set top box and as such I feel that the picture quality is (in my case) far better than the price suggests . BBC1 Signal Strength is 76 and Signal Quality is 91 now (the latter was previously 85 when I was getting picture freezing). E4+1 is 75 and 85 and the picture quality is identical to BBC1 as far as I can see . The MUX carrying BBC1 is transmitted at 600 Watts whilst the MUX for E4+1 is transmitted at only 100 Watts . When we lose Analogue in 2009 , all these MUXs will transmit at 625 Watts , so the pictures should all be marginally better . From my experience , I can highly recommend this STB and as there is a one year guarantee , if it proves to be less than perfect, it can be returned , particularly if bought from somewhere like Currys . A good aerial and feeder cable is essential , as you can only get good results out of a STB if the input signal is of good quality . Luckily the Alba shows the Signal Strength and Signal Quality for a few seconds when you change channel . Good luck in your purchase.