Technika STBHDH2010 review

Technika is a brand exclusive to Tesco and is aimed at the cost conscious buyer, rather than those that want the best money can buy. The STBHDH2010 has neither a memorable name nor good looks, but its low price is sure to tempt anyone wanting to watch Freeview HD channels as cheaply as possible.

The tiny box has a single DVB-T2 tuner inside and has no recording capabilities whatsoever. It’s purely a playback device that allows you to tune into live Freeview broadcasts. Despite the low price, it has several features you wouldn’t expect. One is the 1m HDMI cable bundled in the box – this could save you a few quid more, and is far more convenient than buying one separately.

On the rear panel, you’ll also find USB and Ethernet ports in addition to the HDMI output, two scart sockets and an optical S/PDIF output (surround sound can be output via this or HDMI). Sadly the Ethernet port is ‘for future use’ and the USB port is currently only for firmware upgrades. However, it means Technika could roll out internet services such as iPlayer.

At the front, there’s a single blue LED to indicate whether the box is on or not – the rest of the display is shown on your TV screen. Surprisingly, the interface is better than many well-known brands. When you first connect the box, you’re asked to choose between a 16:9 and 4:3 display, a resolution (up to 1080p) and then a channel search is carried out.