written by gendy943 on 06/08/2004
Good Points
Small with separate power-supply unit(ease of replacement). Super on-screen graphics and superb RGB pictures via SCART.
Bad Points
TU-CT20 OK with single SCART and standard phono out (L&R) sockets for digital radio to Hi-Fi..BUT TU-CT30 with two SCARTS (TV&VCR) very cramped.
General Comments
I have two of these boxes and having seen just about all the Freeview boxes the Panasonic TUCT20 of the two best (with Philips DTR1500). Small and compact with a separate power supply means the box runs cool for a long life (my boxes are from Oct 2002 and Jan 2003 respectively).There have been 4 software downloads since I got my first box which has kept the boxes up to date with changes to Freeview and the MHeg text. The latest is v1.14(a).The original remote was small & very neat, there is larger one for the latest TU-CT30 (which has a timer and can cope with the new 7-day EPG which the TU-CT20 cannot.
Quality products from Panasonic. The choice box especially for elderly people who want simple channel selection and need on-off switching to RGB via SCART pin8.
Gendy943's Response to gendy943's Review
Written on: 20/05/2006
Both boxes still going strong in May 2006....as is the DTR1500 from Philips mated to a Philips VCR850