Centrex Technologies CTDV100

The Centrex CTDV100 digital TV receiver is one of the smaller set top boxes on the market, measuring a mere 203mm x 125mm x 35 mm and weighing only 400g. Its small size is offset by the fact that it doesn't support high definition signals; however, its display of standard definition digital TV is outstanding.

The aesthetically curved front of the box is blank, apart from two LED lights for power and standby mode. The back panel is equally simplistic, with the power, antenna, AV, and S-Video connections all clearly marked and well spaced, in a neat line.

The remote control is fairly small, and the buttons are clearly marked and easy to find. The buttons provide intuitive control over basic functions like menu navigation and channel selection. Space on the remote is saved by having a row of coloured buttons which serve different functions depending on the menu being accessed.

Once set up, the Centrex is able to start scanning digital TV transmissions. A scan of available frequencies takes no more than a couple of minutes. High definition broadcasts are picked up, but can't be decoded by the box, so it's worth using the menu system to delete them to reduce the number of dead channels when channel surfing.

Image quality is one of the Centrex's most impressive features. The unit's standard definition quality looked as good as the high definition image from some rival units. The unit supports teletext, subtitles, and multiple aspect ratios, as would be expected.

For users who aren't interested in viewing high definition broadcasts, the Centrex CTDV100 is the way to go. It offers all the functionality and options needed to enjoy almost everything digital TV has to offer, and all with outstanding picture quality.