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Dixons Retail, the company that operate Dixons, Currys, PC World and many more have launched their own Freesat HD Receiver, branded Logik.
We don’t have much information on the Logik LHDFSAT11, as it seems to have had a silent launch, but it appears to be a straight forward single tuner HD receiver capable of receiving all the freely available SD and HD channels, plus BBC iPlayer.
It is very competitively priced at £69.99 so assume it is being targeted at competing with the own brand model from Argos (Bush), which has been successful, albeit unreliable at times.
You can find more information and buy on the Currys or Dixons website, but in the meantime we’ll try to obtain more information and hopefully a test unit to review.
Note that the picture shown on the retail websites is incorrect; it doesn’t match the picture on the product packaging at all. We’ve included the correct picture on the Logik LHDFSAT11 product page.
(Thanks to Clare from Currys for pointing this product out to us)
January 29th, 2012 at 9:46 am
Its always another buying option…own brand or not.
Especially those of us who need to watch the “spending curve”..!!
alnQuote
January 29th, 2012 at 9:52 am
A brave move launching a (I suspect) non G2 box (or is it) at this stage. Best not mention ITV player or admin might get upset
Richard CrichtonQuote
January 29th, 2012 at 9:59 am
It’s a G1 receiver and advertised with BBC iPlayer only, so doubt it will get ITV Player. Dixons Retail don’t have an agreement in place for G2 as yet.
adminQuote
January 29th, 2012 at 11:57 am
Well it will be a rebadged unit as supplied by someone else. A good look at it will tell if you are that interested.
All my humble opinion. Chris
ChrislayerukQuote
January 29th, 2012 at 11:59 am
Different box design, but very likely to be using shared components inside; maybe an ex-Metronic; similar dimensions.
adminQuote
January 29th, 2012 at 12:51 pm
I’ll have to pop in Currys/PC World and take a look. This is good news though that one of the larger high street retailers are taking interest in the platform enough to sell their own branded product. Perhaps I should do a bit of testing on one of the sales assistants in there to see what they know, or have been told!
I don’t think that it not neccesarily being G2 ready isn’t an issue for the majority who just want linear TV services and with HD too, all for under £70 on the high street, bargain!
NeilQuote
January 29th, 2012 at 4:38 pm
Just a thought, I read above that this box is unlikely to carry the ITV player at the moment, but would the green green blue green green push of the buttons work? I have just tried it on my Humax HD box and it still works. If this can’t be accessed directly, can it be accessed indirectly? If it can it will be the cheapest freesat branded HD box I have seen.
KeithQuote
January 29th, 2012 at 8:40 pm
I purchased the Bush HD box at £69.99 so it is equal cheapest! However I would not buy from Currys on principal due to poor customer service in the past.
Kevin Ver1Quote
January 29th, 2012 at 9:30 pm
Is saisho still around I imagine on the same par.I have a bush hd box in the bedroom I am impressed with it.it was still working ok even when ch4hd came out and most people was having problems getting the channel
steve 1Quote
January 30th, 2012 at 12:33 am
I used to have a Saisho ‘ghetto blaster’ back in the 1980′s when I was young!! It looks like DSG phased that out in favour of Matsui and Logik, not heard the name Saisho mentioned for years!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saisho
NeilQuote
January 30th, 2012 at 9:06 am
I had a saisho walkman if I remember rightly it use to overheat and I could only fast forward if I wanted to rewind I had to turn the tape over.how things have moved on!
steve 1Quote
January 30th, 2012 at 9:40 am
Just by taking a look at the box on the Dixon’s site and searching the discontinued Metronic products, it looks like they have re-badged an old Metronic Zapbox for Freeview. The casing is almost identical minus a few buttons on the front. I’m guessing that inside the box are the workings of a Metronic SAT HD 100 with the Logik name branded on top.
http://www.superfi.co.uk/P-8570-discontinued-metronic-zapbox-eco-freeview-set-top-box.aspx
Lee SQuote
January 30th, 2012 at 9:41 am
Hey Admin any chance of getting one of these hd zappers in for review?
Ian VallenderQuote
January 30th, 2012 at 9:42 am
However Admin, it looks like the product they have advertised on their website is completely different to the picture you have on the box – the picture on the box does look like the Metronic SAT HD100, whereas the picture on the website is like what I mentioned above. I might check in store.
http://www.dixons.co.uk/gbuk/logik-lhdfsat11-freesat-hd-box-12246926-pdt.html
Lee SQuote
January 30th, 2012 at 10:03 am
The box is very different from the website. I’ve got a big picture of the Logik packaging as shown in the original post and it doesn’t look like the Metronic, though is similar size.
I’ve asked, but doubt I’ll get! Dealing with manufacturer’s is one thing, dealing with Dixon Retail is quite another!!!
adminQuote
January 30th, 2012 at 10:18 am
I see from Curry’s website that a power transformer is a supplied accessory. It looks therefore likely that the box would also work from a 12v DC supply making it suitable for use in a caravan when mains power is not available.
MauriceQuote
January 30th, 2012 at 11:26 am
I doubt it. Lots of those boxes with a external switch mode power supply run on 5v so you would need some kind of 12v-5v converter to use it in a caravan.
Richard CrichtonQuote
January 30th, 2012 at 4:32 pm
Ok neil another trip down memory lane what about tandys and there name realistic what a stupid name what was they thinking it looks the part but its cr*p
steve 1Quote
January 30th, 2012 at 5:07 pm
Film 4 HD begins Barb reporting on 27th Feb. Could it be coming to freesat???
ShaneQuote
January 30th, 2012 at 5:32 pm
I’m surprised someone didn’t market that brand as it was quite strong in it’s day and up to the demise of Tandy.
I can’t see them bothering to BARB report just for carriage on VM so we can only hope.
NeilQuote
January 30th, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Any movement on the transponder. Was expecting E4 but that must still be locked out.
James BlairQuote
January 30th, 2012 at 8:03 pm
Saisho is still kicking around
darthQuote
January 30th, 2012 at 9:50 pm
Neil What about radio shack from tandys.I had a sinclair spectrum 48k also my mum and dad had a toploader betamax video from1984 it could only record one program at a time no remote and you had to tune in the channels manually with little thumb wheels haven’t pvr’s come on a long way with pausing live tv and catch up
steve 1Quote
January 30th, 2012 at 11:01 pm
Although Tandy UK’s stores were acquired by Carphone Warehouse in 1999, Radio Shack products are available online in the UK through T2 Retail http://www.t2retail.co.uk/. I believe T2 alludes to “Tandy Two”.
Radioshack is now even more prominent in the US as Tandy has renamed itself Radioshack. http://www.radioshackcorporation.com/company/index.php
Poorer fortune for unloved Saisho though. Dixons tried to sell the dormant brand last year but it is still registered to Dixons so it was probably unsuccessful.
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2011/05/18/dixons_brand_bonanza/
AndrewQuote
January 31st, 2012 at 6:53 am
Yep, how technology has moved on! Those top loaders (the Sony C7 Betamax) were built like tanks, very sturdy machines and excellent PQ for their time.
It is a strong contender to arrive on the platform once their Sky deal expires and they can make it FTA.
If I get the time later on this week I’ll pay a visit to Currys/PC World and take a look at one of these receivers.
NeilQuote
January 31st, 2012 at 11:25 am
Just had the opportunity to quickly test the Logik; it is a Manhattan HD-S with a different front panel. Most of the on-screen functions are the same, but it doesn’t have automatic scan in non-freesat mode which I guess Manhattan have retained for their model only. Also, the support both technical and software is through Logik, so suspect it won’t gain any useful updates along the line, such as ITV Player…though BBC iPlayer is there. Personally for the extra £5-£10 the Manhattan is a much better option still, and it looks much better than the ugly Logik front panel!
adminQuote
January 31st, 2012 at 7:33 pm
Hi all,
Given that, then at that price its about to become the best box for customers who have to have the cheapest hd box, the only downside is DSG are much more difficult to deal with than Argos in the event of a failure. like admin I reckon the Manhattan is well worth a extra £5-£10 but I would think budget customers wouldn’t worry about non Freesat scans etc.
DSG also own PC World & I think Pixmania, so this unit is probably available there too.
Mark Aberfan Aerials
Mark Aberfan AerialsQuote
January 31st, 2012 at 9:04 pm
I popped in to a Currys store this morning to have a look myself but all I saw was a couple of units boxed up!Saying that, the Freesat selection looked good and up against the range of Freeview STB’s didn’t look too bad with all the main products on display (apart from the Logik!).
I wonder if we’ll see a Tesco ‘Tecknica’ STB appear in time along with other store own brands? It seems Freesat have never really allowed the branding to be licensed widely which in itself isn’t a bad thing when you see some of the crap Freeview branded products on display. If however Freesat allow reputable manufacturers to re-badge their products, in this case Manhattan, then it widens the platform’s product range as a lot of people always want things as cheaply as possible in that respect!!!
NeilQuote
January 31st, 2012 at 10:09 pm
I think they get models like this in store at a price thats attractive, (possibly at a loss), then they can upsell you to somthing decent which you buy as your there anyway. This may not be the best price but the deal is done.
Clever marketing, watch out there are sharks about lol
Chris
ChrislayerukQuote
January 31st, 2012 at 10:13 pm
These companies have always done that anyway, especially on accessories. You go in for the Logik LHDFSAT11 and they’ll try to sell you a Monster HDMI cable for £50 which carries a £45 profit margin for them.
adminQuote
February 1st, 2012 at 12:38 am
Yep, walking in to the Stockport store this morning just after 9am, the sales hawks were all swirling around ready to harass me in to what I was wanting! I just walked straight to the area of interest though and apart from a few “hello’s” that was about it!!
NeilQuote
February 1st, 2012 at 4:25 pm
hi, I’m thinking of leaving sky next month and am looking at my options. Which are the best Freesat pvr’s around at the moment. Any new one’s coming out worth waiting for?
dex77Quote
February 1st, 2012 at 5:53 pm
Hi Dex,
Joint favorites among installers is the Echostar or the Humax, every installer I know has one or the other of these. There are other more well known to the public brands but personally the only other brand I would give houseroom to is Manhattan.
Mark Aberfan Aerials
Mark Aberfan AerialsQuote
February 1st, 2012 at 6:16 pm
Would agree with this.
dex77, Manhattan are launching a HDR-S (G1) in April hopefully which will likely be around the £160-£180 price range should the Echostar or Humax be outside of your price range.
adminQuote
February 1st, 2012 at 6:48 pm
Hi mark could you try to answer my question at no.61 on ftv vote site
steve 1Quote
February 1st, 2012 at 7:48 pm
Steve 1
Just done it.
Mark Aberfan Aerials
Mark Aberfan AerialsQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 12:01 am
Dex: There’s also the Samsung which looks a nice unit but still has a number of minor software issues. Samsung have given early May as a date for release of revised firmware to sort this, otherwise I hear their unit is very good.
If the Manhattan PVR is as good as their recently launched HD-S it will be a nice unit, although as admin says it’s not released until April.
Lots of options for you there and I realise that you might want to jump ship before April so the Echostar, Humax or Samsung are your best bets.
NeilQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Dex: I would echo Neil’s comments re: Samsung box. I had a Humax and a Samsung and prefer the Samsung.
Both boxes have ‘issues’. My Humax kept locking up, then randomly scrolling though the channels, then refusing to turn on. The Samsung seems to have a bug which makes the iplayer lipsynch out at times and I have heard that sometimes recordings disappear and then reappear. Though the latter han’t happened to me yet.
But I personally find the Samsung EPG better, the menus more intuative and the picture seems better too. Also, the Samsung packaging states that the box is ‘G2′ ready – which means it can be updated to a next generation Freesat box via software update.
Admin – sorry to go off topic.
EamonnQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 12:55 pm
Still don’t agree this will be the case. What packaging states this? Anyone got an image of it they can send me?
adminQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 1:25 pm
I’ll try and dig out the box and send a photo. I’m 99% sure it does state it.
EamonnQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 1:31 pm
In the meantime, this news story would seem to confirm the Samsung G2 compatability
http://www.astra2d.com/august11.html
EamonnQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 1:40 pm
Thanks, but their general manager has only suggested they could add G2, but in truth, it won’t happen, the chipset isn’t capable.
adminQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Interesting.
Since I’m pretty sure the packaging does say it’s G2 capable and, in fact, it isn’t then we could have a repeat of the situation with 2008 Panasonic Freesat TVs. That resulted in some people getting refunds from shops like John Lewis as they had been told the TVs were iplayer capable when they bought them when they were not. The iplayer update didn’t arrive for a couple more years.
I’ll be straight up into the loft when I get home to check that Samsung packaging.
EamonnQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 2:24 pm
I’m confident it won’t support it, but hopefully I’m wrong, because as you say, we’ll end up with an LG/Panasonic issue again. No one should expect G2 from an existing product, so it might have been very silly for Samsung to mention it.
If you find any mention on the packaging, let me know. Thanks.
adminQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 3:03 pm
The director of product development at Manhattan said ” Neither the Plaza HD-S or the HDR-S have the processing capacity to do YouView or for that matter Freesat G2. Anyone that’s bought a Samsung expecting it to do Freesat G2 will be extremely disappointed. An ST7108 is required for YouView and Freesat G2 and both Samsung and us are using the ST7105 for our freesat+ devices.
That means that the forthcoming Manhattan PVR won’t be G2 capable.
That’s disappointing.
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 3:11 pm
Yep, as said, G2 isn’t possible for Samsung, so was a bad idea for them to say it was, or might be.
The HDR-S won’t be G2 compatible/capable, but they are producing a G2 version; the price points will be very different however.
adminQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 3:33 pm
The ST7108 is a much more recent and expensive chip with a built in crypto firewall for pay services security (apparently). All very interesting stuff.
I feel sorry for the people who bought a Samsung expecting it to be G2 via a later firmware upgrade. Here we go again with another LG type debacle. At least LG held there hands up to it and supplied Humax boxes. I wonder if Samsung will do the same. I suppose it depends what the packaging and manual claims. There is a downloadable manual on Samsung’s website but I don’t fancy ploughing through that lot at the moment.
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 3:37 pm
No mention of G2 in their manual, just checked (with search function).
adminQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 3:45 pm
Hi Richard,
G2 is a different kettle of fish to G1 and requires totally different hardware and software. There is actually very little overlap in their development. I can’t speak for Samsung but I can speak for us and there is no way we could ever get the 7105 CPU (used by Samsung and our Plaza HDR-S) to do G2.
All the best,
Alex
AlexQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 4:02 pm
Thanks Alex. That confirms it then.
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 4:05 pm
What search function admin?
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 4:18 pm
Just downloaded the PDF and used Adobe Acrobat’s search facility. Isn’t perfect, but usually picks up the majority of words.
adminQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 4:23 pm
Packaging states ‘DVB-S2 compatible’ I took that to mean G2. Was I mistaken?
EamonnQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 4:27 pm
Yes, mistaken, DVB-S2 is the new standard for broadcasting and is used by most Freesat receivers already…you may have noticed complaints a while back about some cheap brand receivers (like Bush) not picking up Channel 4 HD etc when they moved over.
So, looks like Samsung are safe on the G2 issue then, because that quote by them doesn’t say “will”, just “might/could”.
adminQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 4:44 pm
My apologies then. Sorry for dragging this so off topic.
I still think the “we could add G2 as a software download” quote from Samsung is misleading if the box was never capable in the first place and the could find themselves in a difficult position.
EamonnQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Agreed, their only way out of this would be to say “we could but won’t”, rather than “we can’t”; two very different answers.
adminQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 5:18 pm
Hi Guys,
I hope Samsung did not make such claim (though I did hear of such a whisper but dismissed it as G2 specs had not been set at the time) The last thing that Freesat needs is another embarrasing let down by a manufacturer, Its strange that its allways the big names involved in these sort of problems, thankfully we have the proper satellite brands to show them how its done !
Mark Aberfan Aerials
Mark Aberfan AerialsQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 5:32 pm
The original claim that Warren Hampton, Samsung UK’s general manager of home networks said “We could add G2 as a software download” apparantly came from Wotsat but has since disappeared off their site; the only other reference I can find to that comment is on Astra2D, who copied it across I guess. I think Samsung will probably get away with it, and to be honest, it might have just been a mistaken suggestion at the time depending what they expected would work.
If however they do manage to get it upgraded, then I’m sure others will be scratching their heads in wonder, as I’d imagine the revised chipset is much more expensive.
adminQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 5:35 pm
I’ve asked Samsung directly if it can handle G2 or not and quoted Mr.Hampton and included the link to the AStra2D site. Interesting to see what reply I get.
EamonnQuote
February 2nd, 2012 at 5:43 pm
I keep thinking something like that happened before, but i just cant remember where !
Mark Aberfan Aerials
Mark Aberfan AerialsQuote
February 3rd, 2012 at 10:19 am
A review on the Samsung PVR on the tech-radar site states when G2 becomes commercially available samsung will issue a software update. I am glad I did not buy one on the strength of that article then. very misleading for the consumer.
RussQuote
February 3rd, 2012 at 12:41 pm
To be fair to Samsung the G2 spec was not finalised at that time so to say that it “might” be possible to upgrade is not necessarily misleading.
AlexQuote
February 3rd, 2012 at 10:01 pm
Thanks guy’s, I looked at the 3 freesat boxes you recommended, the Samsung SMT-7800 500GB looks good and the Humax Foxsat aswell but the Ecostar just about beats them for me atm. I love the Slingbox capabilities. Can it stream my HD movies from my windows 7 laptop? oh and I was just wondering if I need to adjust my mini satellite dish so I can pick up freesat signals?
dex77Quote
February 3rd, 2012 at 11:17 pm
Not sure Dex on the streaming movies option, Mark of Aberfan Aerials tends to be quite genned up on the Echostar so maybe he can answer that one??
Dish-wise, no alignment necessary. If you’ve already got an existing minidish and preferably with 2x feeds in to your living room, then it’s simply a case of plug and play. Both Sky and Freesat use the same satellites.
NeilQuote
February 3rd, 2012 at 11:26 pm
Hi dex,
The Echostar can only stream its own Freesat content, the dish stays where it is, just swap your sky+ or sky hd box for the Echostar, connect up to the internet if you want to use sling features.
Mark Aberfan Aerials
Mark Aberfan AerialsQuote
February 4th, 2012 at 11:10 am
As someone who bought a Samsung on the strength of G2 in the future I am fuming. There’s probably nothing I can do to get my money back due to the vagueness of the wording but I won’t be buying any Samsung products in the future.
JonQuote
February 4th, 2012 at 1:02 pm
Samsung have replied via their ‘My Samsung’ website;
‘Thank you for contacting Samsung.
I am sorry however the STB G2 is not compatible with the Freesat box.
Hope this helps
If you require any further assistance, please contact Samsung again and
we will be more than happy to help.
Kind regards,
Lee’
EamonnQuote
February 4th, 2012 at 9:03 pm
Speaking of Freesat, I can see the platform growing more this year, Virgin Media have upped their TV prices by £2 for L, XL packages, and their Tivo charge too, people will likely be looking for alternative options when their bill gets too damn high, Sky have frozen their prices till August but that can change.
MatthewQuote
February 4th, 2012 at 9:21 pm
Has anyone had problems the last 2 weeks with there recorder not coming on for programs set my machine is a humax but it might happen to other makes?
steve 1Quote
February 4th, 2012 at 11:09 pm
My Panny BS750 never fails although I never generally record anything from ITV which I believe is very unreliable! Of the few ITV1 programmes I have series linked, at least two of them failed to record one episode!
I too noticed VM are putting their prices up whilst perusing the moneysavingexpert forums last night. I don’t think their increases are likely to cause loads to cancel but I do think Sky subscribers are in for a shock come the summer, especially where Sports subscriptions are concerned. The EPL contract re-negotiations are to take place and some think that due to new interest from international players in the market (Al Jazerra, Apple, Google et el) the bidding costs for broadcasters could be driven up by up to a third, Sky would pass these on to subscribers as they won’t take the hit!
One thing for sure is I bet Sky will make a subscriber loss this summer. If they only gained 40,000 subscribers over the Christmas period (vs 140,000 the previous year), then with austerity biting hard think there’ll be total slowdown in TV subscriber growth. One thing I do know is they seem desperate to keep customers at any cost these days, most likely as they know they’ll buy in to Freesat and never look back!
NeilQuote
February 5th, 2012 at 1:00 am
I left SKY a year ago and they are still writing to me with offers.
EamonnQuote
February 5th, 2012 at 3:49 am
They never give up!!
NeilQuote
February 5th, 2012 at 8:29 am
Neil don’t you ever sleep 0349 posting?
steve 1Quote
February 5th, 2012 at 10:06 am
That’s the life of the shift worker!!!
NeilQuote
February 5th, 2012 at 10:33 am
Sky are getting into the connected TV market to counter LoveFilm and Netflix.
They will be offering Sport and Movies on a PPV basis so what they lose on the swings they gain on the roundabouts.
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 5th, 2012 at 10:41 am
The thing about that Richard is I think short-term they’ll see a gain but surely people paying for subscription TV and then having the option to ‘pay as you go’ on bits of movie/sport/entertainment content will cost Sky subscribers.
Netflix have fairly deep pockets and must have thought about this beforehand so I see an interesting battle take place to be the king of ‘connected’ streaming!
NeilQuote
February 5th, 2012 at 11:07 am
Sky sell broadband and have the rights to lots of sport so they will work out some kind of incentive package I suspect. Netflix don’t and are a relatively unknown quantity in the UK.. It will be interesting to see who will win the battle of the apps. At the moment I have a Lovefilm app on my Samsung SmartHub player but no sign of Netflix which is on LG players apparently.
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 5th, 2012 at 11:12 am
I’m loving Netflix, considering I have a c*** Internet connection, it still loads immediately. Freesat would have been better off hooking up with them instead of that box office 365 or what ever it’s called
SaltydawgQuote
February 5th, 2012 at 11:25 am
I certainly agree with that but perhaps Netflix don’t want to hook up with Freesat who only offer box365 on Humax boxes at present.
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 5th, 2012 at 11:32 am
I’m getting ‘default bouquet missing messages’ and low signal quality on CBS Action and some other channels when it rains since the near hurricane winds we had in early January so suspect my dish has moved. Mind you that lump of concrete falling on it from the gable end couldn’t have helped
. Big dent in the top face of the dish.
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 5th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
I don’t think its a fault with the recorder its that signal from the broadcaster to blame bbc seems to be ok and on time itv1hd seems to be ok on time but the 2 weeks unreliable.ch4 two minutes before program then chops the end off
steve 1Quote
February 5th, 2012 at 7:50 pm
Well, it may or may not be a useful “generic” box, but as our local Currys.digital is about to turn its toes up, I think I’ll give it a miss!
RogerQuote
February 5th, 2012 at 8:55 pm
I think if Netflix want to really take on Sky they should have a sit down with Freesat’s sales and marketing team to get an understanding of how the platform is well known for Sky defectors to jump to. If Netflix came on board it would do them a favour in terms of accessibility in that respect. I tell you what we won’t be seeing and that’s Sky’s new on-demand service launching on the platform!!!
NeilQuote
February 6th, 2012 at 10:17 am
”The Netflix API allows anyone to build their own Netflix-integrated applications for the web, the desktop, mobile devices or the TV.”
Netflix is on board with anyone and everyone it’s up to Freesat but perhaps they have given BO365 an exclusive.
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 6th, 2012 at 5:09 pm
Getting back to the Logic zapper. the Currys web site has a very confusing illustration. If you hover over the image of the box to get a close up look, you get an image of a completely different front panel with a cluster of on/volume up/down and programme up/down buttons and the Freesat HD logo, all of which the main illustration lacks.
Rather more interestingly, the main picture shows a remote control that is very familiar from the excellent Tesco Technika STBHDIS2010 Freeview HD box. That is sourced from Hylab in Taiwan and is one of the best of the cheapo first generation FVHD boxes – far better build and software quality than the Vestel or Harvard efforts. Does the Logik come with the remote control illustrate on the web site or a different one?
On the other hand, the Manhattan Freesat box is sourced from the same OEM as the Harvard FVHD boxes that got a “Don’t Buy” from Which? in its Argos Alba guise – although the guys at Manhattan assure that it was electronically completely different.
PeterQuote
February 6th, 2012 at 5:49 pm
Can confirm that the zoomed in picture is correct and I’ve posted the image on the product page, http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/digital-boxes/logik-lhdfsat11.
Not sure about the remote, I’ve not seen one in the flesh yet.
I never got official confirmation from Manhattan that they are using the same sourced materials as the cheap Harvard Group brand, but the Manhattan is rock solid in comparisons, so either it is completely different, or it just goes to show how important the software installed is.
adminQuote
February 6th, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Dixons Retail should be thanking me and providing me with a test unit at the very least; given that there were less than 10 search results on Google for “Logik LHDFSAT11″ prior to my news release and now there are 1,310 results of which their retail sites (Dixons, PC World and Currys) now reside at the top.
adminQuote
February 6th, 2012 at 9:23 pm
Personally I wouldn’t buy electronics off a website anyway, best to look instore in person at what you’re buying to get a proper idea of the box you want. Although £70 is a good price, if you want a long lasting box to give the best of what Freesat can offer, you’d be better off just splashing the cash and going above the £100 mark.
MatthewQuote
February 7th, 2012 at 10:23 am
Alternatively if you want the best of non Freesat as well as Freesat buy the Manhattan Plaza HD-S for £79 delivered.
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 7th, 2012 at 11:06 am
Where is it available for £79?
DennisTMQuote
February 7th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Satbuyer is £74 plus £5 delivery
http://www.satbuyer.co.uk/manhattan-plaza-hds-freesat-hd-digital-box-p144.html
Amazon is £79.99 delivered free.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005UYR2B6/ref=nosim?tag=joinfreesat-21
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 7th, 2012 at 9:53 pm
They have developed a new hard drive that uses heat to store data uses less energy and can store more gb in less space clever stuff I wonder how long it will take to put in pvr’s
steve 1Quote
February 8th, 2012 at 11:36 am
From what I can gather, the Manhattan Freesat box was sourced from the same OEM maker as the Harvard based Alba Freeview HD box. They are clearly completely different circuitry and software. It probably says a lot for the quality control measures put in place by Manhattan compared to Argos.
PeterQuote
February 14th, 2012 at 5:02 pm
Hi All,
The factory in question does make products for Harvard but they also make product for Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, Philips, Dish, DirecTV, and many more… very few manufacturers own their own manufacturing/assembling facilities these days. Most components and even entire boards used are pretty standard too, but you’d be surprised what difference a resistor here or an IC there can make to a product – and that’s before you even get to the software!
We pride ourselves on making products that we would want to use, and we also won’t release products until they are ready. That’s not to say we’re infallible; we have had made mistakes in the past, and it is those that taught us to act the way we do now
All the best,
Alex
AlexQuote
February 14th, 2012 at 5:05 pm
Also, I just want to add that there is no Freesat box on the market other than the Manhattan and Logik models that uses the CPU and mainboard we do
This product really has been built from the ground-up to be an exceptional HD zapper.
AlexQuote
February 15th, 2012 at 10:27 am
I’m a big fan of the Manhattan but the distribution of the product seems rather restricted to say the least. The best HD zapper on the market should be in every
a/v retailer on the high street. It really deserves to be a big seller imho.
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 15th, 2012 at 10:33 am
Manhattan are one of few manufacturers that seem to take the approach of promotion through independent retailers with more technical knowledge which I think for this brand is the right way to go.
adminQuote
February 20th, 2012 at 1:31 pm
Alex said:
We pride ourselves on making products that we would want to use, and we also won’t release products until they are ready. That’s not to say we’re infallible; we have had made mistakes in the past, and it is those that taught us to act the way we do now
All the best,
Alex
There is an apparent bug in the Manhattan software. Last night I tried to delete a non Freesat favourite channel (Box Nation) which has gone encrypted and the box froze up completely on the ‘are you sure you want to delete this channel screen’. Same thing happened with DM Digital just now. Seems to be a conflict in the software imho.
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 20th, 2012 at 5:30 pm
Raised a ticket with Manhattan and they phoned back me a few minutes ago to say they are unable to reproduce the fault and they said try a factory reset and if the fault persists they would replace my box. Pretty impressive service. The guy also said that the software for ITV player has been done and is being tested at present. I asked him how long till we get it and he said about two weeks.
Richard CrichtonQuote