BT TV Box
The BT TV box is correctly known as the Vision+ Box, and together with the Home Hub router it makes up the heart of the BT Vision TV service. The Vision+ Box is essentially a Freeview box with built-in hard disc recorder, and this connects to your BT broadband via the Home Hub to give you access to On Demand content from BT – the whole thing adds up to BT Vision. The Vision+ BT TV box is currently on its second generation, version 2 having been released in December 2009 – here is the front of the current box…
The main connections on the Vision+ Box are the RF aerial input to receive Freeview channels, a LAN connection to connect to the Home Hub and 2 SCART sockets for your TV or DVD player etc, and it also features RF out, audio out, HDMI socket for HD TV, S-Video and a digital audio output – here’s the back…
The hard drive is 160GB which is enough space to store around 80 hours of TV. The original Vision+ Box, the Phillips DIT9719, is grey rather than black and there are no major differences between the two models, although the newer version is a bit more economical on power.
The cost of the Vision+ Box varies according to the level of service you take up. If you sign up to a 12 month contract with BT broadband you can pay £90 for the Vision+ Box only, which will let you rewind, forward and record Freeview and access the BT Vision content on a pay-per-view basis. If you’re new to BT and take out either the More or the Unlimited TV package the box will cost £45 and you’ll have between two and six viewing packs included depending on the package. If you’re already with BT and take out a Value Pack – Bronze, Silver or Gold – the Vision+ Box costs just £15 as a web-only special.
Features of the BT TV Box
- Pause, rewind, forward and record Freeview channels
- Two tuners – watch one programme while recording another
- Series record feature – set a whole series of a show to record with one command
- 160GB hard disc – up to 80 hours of programmes
- HD Ready
- Easy install – no need for an engineer
BT Vision Starter Deal
£20 a month
£4 a month first 4 months! > Free Vision+ Box > 20Mb Broadband – 10GB usage > Freeview, Catch-Up & Pay per View > Anytime calls > Online only offer
Best Value Unlimited TV
£28.50 a month
£12.50 a month first 4 months! > Free Vision+ Box > 20Mb/10GB Broadband > Freeview, Catch-Up & On Demand > ESPN > Anytime calls > Online only
BT Unlimited TV & BB!
£40.50 a month
£32.50 a month first 3 months! > Free Vision+ Box > Unlimited Broadband > Freeview, Catch-Up & unlimited On Demand > Anytime calls > ESPN
Sky Sports on BT Vision
From £33.30 a month
Add Sky Sports 1 or 2 to any BT TV package for £12.30 a month extra – or Sky Sports 1 & 2 for only £17.40 a month. Go Unlimited and get ESPN included too