Home > Consumer Reviews > Alba STB2 Freeview Set Top Box

This freeview box is perfect for the average user. Easy to set-up, easy to use, and gets all of the channels I could ask for! Very sturdy as well. Definately worth getting.

I Have had this machine now for 18 months (i have had 4 different freeview boxes) this one has a nice easy menu and electric channel guide. quick and easy setup. is very compact in design, and has a crisp picture (i use a set top aerial)

this occasionally freezes (not often) and just requires to switch on and off with the mains (instant) but this happens less than all the other freeview boxes i have had (which is why i have kept it the longest)

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.

After persevering with this piece of under-performing junk for 6 months, I have had enough and will be returning it to the shop for a full refund.
Don't waste your time or your money, I have experienced all the faults other reviewers have enjoyed. The mysterious non response to remote commands, the sudden sound drops and most enfuriating of all, the way that it just refuses to do anything at all unless you turn off all the power, unplug it, wait for 5 minutes or so and then power-up again.
Some fundamental hardware and software problems I think, but it is cheap. What do they say about getting what you pay for, next time, I will be buying Sony or Panasonic or some other brand with some sort of a reputation for performance.

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.