Set Top Box

Set Top Box

May be known as Set-Tops, set-top box, STB, receivers, converters , decoders, Intelligent Set-Top Boxes, Set-Top Decoders, Smart Encoder, Digital TV Converter, Demodulator, Smart TV Set-Top Box, ITV Enabled set top cable box, Satellite enabled Set-Top Box , cable enabled set top box, low end boxes , thin boxes, thick boxes, smart tv set top box, super box, all in one set top box, integrated set top box, hybrid cable box, Media Centre.

Set Top Boxes may be associated with these major categories

Broadcast TV Set-Top Boxes:	The more elementary level set-top box with no back channel. These might come with some memory, interface ports and some processing power.
Enhanced TV set-top boxes:	These have a back channel, often through a phone line. These may be capable of Video on Demand, E-Commerce, Internet browsing, e-mail communications, cha and more.
Advanced Set-Top Boxes:	Set-top boxes, Smart TV Set-top box, thick boxes. A fully integrated set-top box. These have good processors, memory and optional large hard drives. They're often used with high speed connections. Features could include high-speed internet access, iTV, digital video recording & gaming. Instead of this, a sidecar might be used in tandem by the subscriber's original set top box and/or TV. Advanced set-top boxes are more likely to be integrated with DVRs and high definition TV.
Sidecar:	This type of set-top box provides an additional transport stream of data from the network operator to compliment the original stream that's being received by the subscriber via their original set-top box.
Hybrid Digital Cable Box:	A specialized and often more expensive cable TV set-top box with high end functions like home theatre system.

A typical set-top box is a type of computer that processes digital information. Set-top boxes(STB) can act as a gateway between your television or PC and your telephone, satellite, terrestrial or cable feed. The analog STB receives encoded/compressed digital signals from the signal source and decodes/decompresses those signals, converting them into analog signals displayable on your analog television. The STB also accepts commands from the user and transmits these commands back to the network operator, through some sort of back channel.

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