Real Digital PVR- £300

There are currently two receivers for Real Digital – the Fortec Star FSRDHD, a simple, single-tuner unit, and Digital Stream DSR7505U, a twin-tuner PVR.

These are both straightforward DVB-S/S2 receivers that would not raise an eyebrow among any of the enthusiast boxes in the What Satellite Buyers Guide, were it not for the accompanying Real Digital viewing card, the Conax card reader behind the front panel flap and the Real Digital software included.

The Digital Stream unit may raise a few eyebrows for its looks. Our pre-production test machine was white (a black version may also be made available) and with its gently curved front panel is the Nintendo Wii of the satellite world. Different, and appealing.

Both receivers are HD models with an HDMI output for connection to a TV, and Scart for a DVD recorder. The Fortec Star also has YPbPr component video outputs and a second TV Scart.

Setup can be for Real Digital or a standard FTA receiver. Assuming you go for Real Digital (why buy the box if you don’t?), then the box tests the signal level and prompts you to activate the viewing card – over the phone or through the Real Digital website.

This can take up to 10 minutes and then you select your location (conveniently chosen from a map of 20 regions rather than entering a postcode), the box scans the Real Digital channels (taking only 40s) and you are all set for viewing.

If you choose to go the FTA route, then the box allows for conventional satellite scanning with DiSEqC switch or motor control. Channel navigation is via a preset channel list, favourite channels lists, and an EPG along similar lines to Freesat, with reminders and recording but without series link (yet) or sophistications such as Freesat’s alerts for HD alternatives.

The FTA channels on the Real Digital platform are the same broadcasts used by Sky and Freesat, and the Real Digital boxes turn in an excellent performance for both HD and SD channels (except for those adult channels with a quality as questionable as their content). From the likes of BBC One and Sky News, the picture and sound quality from both HDMI and Scart are very good.

However, for this preview we did not have the chance to view the new Real Essentials channels and the retransmitted Sky Sports.

PLUS
-The most free channels
-No ongoing payments
-Ease of setup
Minus
-Still unfinished
-No access to ‘main’ pay-TV channels

Channels
★★★★★★★★
Pay-TV/On demand
★★★★★★★★
Catch-up TV
★★★★★★★★★
Interactive/apps
★★★★★★★★★
Hardware
★★★★★★★★
Value
★★★★★★★★
Overall

80%