Look at what arrived at The Barat Queen’s home! It’s a WinTV Digibox for review.

The WinTV Digibox is a locally manufactured High Definition Digital Receiver. As far as I know, it’s the only one that’s locally manufactured. Support local businesses! 

WHAT DOES THE WINTV DIGIBOX DO?

It enables your TV to receive the clear, digital broadcasts of FREE-TO-AIR stations. Yes, even your old CRT TVs will work with this! Say goodbye to fuzzy TV.

If you still have an old TV around that’s just wasting away (nakatambak lang), give it new life by connecting it to a digibox. Also, if you don’t want to pay for the additional cable subscription for the extra TV, a digibox is a good alternative, especially if the people who will be watching said TV will be satisfied with local channels.

It can also play various media files – movies, music, pictures, etc… just plug in a USB with your files.

I’ve tried playing 1080p files on it, and it plays with no hiccups! The 1080p files are also very, very clear. I’m spoiled now. From now on, it’s 1080p for me!

With a USB plugged in, you can also do TIMESHIFT, where you can pause real-time, LIVE TV! Need to go to the washroom for a minute, or need to go get some food from the kitchen? No problem. Just pause what you’re watching and play it when you return.

WHY DO YOU NEED A DIGIBOX?

The Philippines is moving to digital broadcast TV. The government has set a deadline for the end of 2015 to have this implemented, but the target was eventually moved to 2020. Local TV stations have already started airing digital broadcasts. You need a digital receiver to be able to get these broadcasts. You can read more about this here.

Many TVs sold nowadays still don’t have ISDB-T receivers built-in.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF DIGITAL TV?

It’s clearer!  No more watching fuzzy TV…

THE WINTV DIGIBOX

In the package, you get the digibox, a remote with batteries included, and RCA cables. Mine came with an antenna with an 8-meter cable. Notice how the antenna cable is very thick compared to other brands’. Mukhang matibay talaga. We have another digibox and the WinTV Digibox antenna cable is really much better quality compared to the thin antenna cable of the other brand.

We have an HDMI cable and an HDMI-capable TV, so I plugged it in with the HDMI cable instead of the RCA. HDMI is digital, while RCA is analog. Unless you’re very picky, there’s very little difference in video quality between using an HDMI vs RCA. I suggest buying an HDMI cable to use if you have an HDMI-capable TV, and using RCA if you don’t have an HDMI-capable TV. But if you don’t want to buy an HDMI cable, using the included RCA ones are just fine.

How to connect the RCA cables? Just plug them in using the colors as a guide.

Connect the antenna to the Aux-In port at the back of the digibox, and place the antenna near a window, or somewhere it can get the best signal. The bottom of the antenna is magnetic, so you can stick it on the metal frames of windows, etc… I was told that the antenna is also weatherproof!

I stuck ours on a metal rod upstairs, and put taped and sealed plastic on it as an extra precaution even though it’s waterproof:

Once everything is connected and plugged in, turn on the digibox and your TV. If using HDMI, check that the TV’s video is set to the correct HDMI input channel. You will need to cycle through the TV Input button on your TV remote to find the correct input channel.

Click MENU on the WinTV remote, and do an AutoScan. This will scan for channels. It takes a few minutes. If there are channels you know are available, but are not showing up, you can do a manual scan for them. Find out the frequency of the channel you want, and on the manual scan screen, click the Right or Left arrows to move to the frequency of the channel you want, for example, 503.1 for CNN Philippines. I also had to manually add the GMA channels (frequency 551.143), but once they were added, everything was good. There are indicators showing you how strong the signal strength is. Just move your antenna around until you get the best signal strength.

Here’s the list of digital frequencies currently available (from DTV Pilipinas):

DTV Update 8/18/2016

Online Channels
Metro Manila (Mega Manila)

Frequency: 647.143MHz (Very Good Signal)
ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN Sports+Action
CINEMO! ——————- (Encrypted) Only available on TVplus
YEY! ————————– (Encrypted) Only available on TVplus
Knowledge Channels — (Encrypted) Only available on TVplus
DZMM Teleradyo ——- (Encrypted) Only available on TVplus
KBO (PPV) —————— (Encrypted) Only available on TVplus
ABS-CBN Oneseg (for mobile 1seg built-in tuners)

Frequency: 641.143MHz (Low Signal)
PTV SD1
PTV SD2
PTV SD3
PTV 1seg (for mobile 1seg built-in tuners)

Frequency: 695.143MHz (Good Signal)
TV5
AKSYON TV
CATSUP (Test Broadcast)
TV5 1SEG (for mobile 1seg built-in tuners)

Frequency: 551.143MHz (Good Signal)
GMA
GNTV
GMA 1SEG (for mobile 1seg built-in tuners)

Frequency: 503.143MHz (Poor Signal)
CNN Philippines
CNN Phils 1-seg (for mobile 1seg built-in tuners)

Frequency: 521.143MHz (Low Signal)
ETC
JACKCITY
2NDAVENUE
HSN

Frequency: 581.143MHz (Good Signal)
Shop TV on BEAM
OShopping on BEAM
TV Shop on BEAM
Shop Japan on BEAM
Pilipinas HD on BEAM (New)
Inquirer 990 on BEAM
Island Living one BEAM
BEAM 1Seg (for mobile 1seg built-in tuners)

Frequency: 617.143MHz (Good Signal)
UNTV-1
UNTV-2
ADDTV
UNTV 1seg (for mobile 1seg built-in tuners)

Frequency: 653.143 (Good Signal)
Hope Phil HD
3ABN
Hope Inter SD

Frequency: 683.143MHz (Poor Signal) “Test Broadcast 12:00AM to 4:00AM Only”
INCTV HD
NET25 HD
INCTV SD
NET25 SD
INCTV-1Seg (for mobile 1seg built-in tuners)
NET25-1Seg (for mobile 1seg built-in tuners)

Frequency: 629.143MHz (Poor Signal)
SNC

The signal of CNN Philippines is pretty weak. I am able to get channels like GMA, ABS-CBN, TV5, PTV, all the BEAM channels, etc even with the antenna indoors. All very clear. I can only get CNN Philippines if I place my antenna outdoors, almost on the roof.

As for the remote control, it works okay, but when I changed the included batteries to new Eveready AAA batteries, the performance improved a lot. It still needs to be pointed at the digibox to work, though. Also, it takes a few seconds after pressing Power on the remote before the digibox turns on. But once it’s turned on, it’s very responsive.

I wrap my remotes in plastic because it’s just easier to keep clean that way. Dust and lord-knows-what tends to accumulate on the nooks, crannies and buttons of a remote if I don’t wrap it in plastic.

Here’s a quick video I did showing the menus and the channels:

The TV broadcast is very clear. It’s not so visible on the video how clear it is because I’m not really good at making videos, and the camera kept refocusing. When I was taking the video, CNN Philippines was kind of choppy, but that’s a problem with CNN Philippine’s broadcast, and not because of the Win TV Digibox.

REVIEW

Digital channels are VERY CLEAR. The antenna of the WinTV seems to be stronger. I never got the PTV channels before, but now I have them. As for ETC, Jack, 2nd Ave, HSN, I actually have not had them for a while. I was wondering about that, until the WinTV rep told me that those channels have actually stopped broadcasting.

I also like the better quality and longer antenna cable. It is 2x or 3x as thick as my other brand’s. I placed the antenna near our roof without worrying about it because the cable is long enough. It is thick and feels very durable.

AND THE BEST REASON WHY I AM USING THIS NOW INSTEAD OF MY OLD DIGIBOX: I can change channels quickly! My other digibox hangs every time I change channels quickly. I have to press one channel at a time, and wait for each channel to load before pressing for the next channel. Or else the digibox hangs and needs to be restarted. With the WinTV, I can press even 5 channels ahead, like next, next, next, next and the WinTV catches up on the last channel chosen.

I also like the interface of the WinTV Digibox better. It just seems clearer and better looking.

We don’t get the ABS-CBN exclusive channels on the WinTV Digibox because ABS-CBN scrambles the signal, but that’s not an issue for me. There is also no clock on the WinTV Digibox, just in case that matters to you.

The only slightly negative thing for me was the slow boot up time. It’s about the same time as my old digibox, but since I don’t see anything happening, it feels like it’s slow. My old digibox shows a welcome screen while booting. The WinTV takes a few seconds for the digibox light to turn green, and sometimes I don’t even know if I already turned it on, so I keep pressing the Power button a few more times. But that’s not a big deal. The more important thing for me is the better quality hardware.

Overall, it’s a good quality product that’s made locally, with the electrical components sourced from Taiwan. I have no problems recommending it to people who are looking for a better quality viewing experience on their TV, and also to those who might want to re-use or re-purpose their old TVs.

Why choose the WinTV Digibox?

• Better quality antenna!
• Better quality hardware – I can change channels very fast without the unit “hanging”
• Free delivery

HOW TO ORDER

The WinTV Digibox sells for only P1,799! That already includes free delivery!

To order:

Globe: (63)917-896-8968
Sun: (63)922-887-1771
Globelines: (632) 622-9574
TELEFAX # (632) 293-6816

Via CHAT APP
SKYPE: royalantcraft
Viber: +639178968968
Viber: +639228871771
WeChat: +639178968968
WeChat: +639228871771
LINE Free Calls & Msgs: +639178968968
LINE Free Calls & Msgs: +639228871771
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/royalantcraft
Facebook Messenger: http://m.me/royalantcraft
Yahoo Messenger: royalantcraft

You can also buy it from Lazada, make sure to follow the link to get to the correct one.

WINTV DIGIBOX GIVEAWAY!

The people at WinTV were kind enough to provide a unit of the WinTV Digibox to giveaway to one of my awesome readers!

Here’s how to join the giveaway:

1. Follow Royal Antcraft on Facebook: www.facebook.com/royalantcraft
2. Follow Barat Ako on Facebook: www.facebook.com/baratako
3. Follow Barat Ako on Instagram: www.instagram.com/thebaratqueen
4. Leave a comment below answering the question: What are you excited to watch on a clear digital signal using the WinTV Digibox?
5. Fill-up this Google form so that I’ll know how to contact you if you win! https://goo.gl/forms/ge0Yn7nuOttxh0bq1

That’s it! It’s so easy!

• Giveaway starts today and ends on Oct. 15, 2016.
• Winner will be chosen based on the best answer, so career-in na yan! 
• Make sure to do all the steps above, those who miss doing the requirements will be disqualified.

*Before joining, please make sure that you will be able to claim the WinTV Digibox from their office in Sta. Cruz, Manila. Their office is on Mayhaligue St. near Masangkay / Bambang area. You will also be asked to present ID to claim the prize. 

GOOD LUCK!

 

---

AND THE WINNER IS….

Harmony Maquilan

Congratulations!

I will be emailing you instructions on how to claim your prize!

Thank you to everyone who joined the giveaway! Will be having more giveways soon!