What is STB? Get to know STB, features, and how to set it up

STB, who is not familiar with this device nowadays? This device 1 is almost mandatory for use by the general public these days, especially on the island of Java in the last few months analog TV broadcasts have been turned off which has the effect of not being able to watch TV using a regular antenna.

What is a Set Top Box?

A Set Top Box is a device that connects to your television and allows you to access different television content, such as pay TV channels, streaming content and internet television applications. Set Top Boxes usually use an internet connection to access content and offer various additional features such as rechargeable storage, image quality adjustment, and brightness adjustment. Usually users in Indonesia who only need to convert the signal so they can watch TV as usual don’t need the internet, they only need to use an old antenna that is enough to operate this device.

How to use Set Top Box?

To use Set Top Box, you need to do a few steps:

1. • Ensure that the Set Top Box is connected to a power source as well as to your television using an HDMI cable or other suitable audio/video connector.

• • Go to your television and select the appropriate input for the Set Top Box. If you used an HDMI cable, you will find an HDMI input on your television.

• • After the Set Top Box is connected to the television, you will see the Set Top Box setting screen on your television. Follow the instructions that appear to set up the Set Top Box, including entering information about your internet network if the Set Top Box uses an internet connection.

• • Once the Set Top Box is configured, you will be able to access the television content available through the Set Top Box. You can browse available TV channels, access streaming applications, or watch TV programs stored in the Set Top Box storage.

If you’re having trouble, you can look at the user’s manual on the package of the STB you bought, there should be a small piece of paper/book that tells the user how to configure it.

What are the features in Set Top Box?

The features available on Set Top Boxes vary depending on the manufacturer and model of Set Top Box you are using. However, some of the features that are generally available on Set Top Boxes are:

1. • Refillable storage : Set Top Boxes usually have internal or external rechargeable storage, which allows you to store TV programs and movies for viewing at a later time.

• • Image quality adjustment: Some Top Boxes offer settings that allow you to adjust image quality, such as brightness, contrast, and saturation, to adjust the image appearance according to your preferences.

• • Sound adjustment: Some Set Top Boxes also offer sound settings, such as equalizer controls and volume settings, to allow you to adjust the sound level according to your preference.

• • Access to streaming apps: Many Set Top Boxes offer access to popular streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video, which will allow you to watch movies and TV shows available on those platforms.

• • Media playback: Some Set Top Boxes also allow you to play video, audio and pictures from external storage devices such as flash drives or external hard drives, allowing you to watch content stored on those devices through your television.

• • Voice control feature: Some Set Top Boxes also offer a voice control feature, which allows you to control the Set Top Box using voice commands. With this feature, you can control the Set Top Box simply by saying voice commands without the need to use the remote or buttons on the Set Top Box.

Other features that may be available on the Set Top Box vary depending on the manufacturer and model of the Set Top Box you are using. Usually, information about the features available on the Set Top Box can be found in the user manual or on the manufacturer’s website.

How to setup and configure Set Top Box?

To set up and configure your Set Top Box, you need to do a few steps:

1. • Ensure that the Set Top Box is connected to a power source as well as to your television using an HDMI cable or other suitable audio/video connector.

• • Go to your television and select the appropriate input for the Set Top Box. If you used an HDMI cable, you will find an HDMI input on your television.

• • After the Set Top Box is connected to the television, you will see the Set Top Box setting screen on your television. Follow the instructions that appear to set up the Set Top Box, including entering information about your internet network if the Set Top Box uses an internet connection.

• • After the Set Top Box is configured, you can set additional settings such as adjusting the picture and sound quality, adding streaming applications to the list of installed applications, and setting other preferences according to your needs.

If you have difficulty setting up or configuring your Set Top Box, you can seek help in the user manual or contact the Set Top Box manufacturer for further assistance.

Can Set Top Box only be used to watch television?

No, Set Top Box can not only be used to watch television. As well as accessing pay TV channels and regular TV programming, Set Top Boxes also usually offer access to popular streaming apps such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video, which allow you to watch movies and TV shows available on those platforms. Apart from that, some Set Top Boxes also allow you to play videos, audio, and pictures from external storage devices such as flash drives or external hard drives, which allows you to watch content stored on those devices through your television. Thus, the Set Top Box can not only be used to watch television, but can also be used to watch movies and TV shows from streaming applications and play media content from external storage devices.

What is the price of a Set Top Box in general?

Set Top Box prices vary depending on the manufacturer, model, and available features. The more features, the more expensive the price, at normal prices, STB sells for around 150-200 thousand in Indonesia (Tokopedia/Shopee), however, after the news that the analog signal was turned off, the STB price rose up to 2x and even higher than that.

How long can STB last?

How long a Set Top Box lasts depends on several factors, such as the quality of the Set Top Box, how the Set Top Box is used, and how the Set Top Box is maintained. A Set Top Box made of quality materials and properly cared for can last for several years or more. However, if the Set Top Box is not properly cared for or overused, the Set Top Box can be damaged more quickly and must be replaced sooner. If you want your Set Top Box to last longer, it is recommended to buy a quality Set Top Box, use it wisely, and take good care of it.

STB Heat, what to do?

If your Set Top Box is hot, there are a few things you can do about it:

1. • Ensure that your Set Top Box is connected to a stable and adequate power source. If your Set Top Box is connected to an unstable or inadequate power source, your Set Top Box will work harder to perform its functions, which may cause the Set Top Box to overheat.

• • Make sure that your Set Top Box is not too close to other sources of heat, such as lamps or other electronic devices. If your Set Top Box is too close to a heat source, your Set Top Box will become hot due to the heat emitted by the heat source.

• • Make sure that the air around your Set Top Box can flow properly. If there are objects or items blocking the airflow around your Set Top Box, your Set Top Box will become hot due to the lack of airflow to cool the device.

• • Disconnect all cables connected to your Set Top Box, except for the HDMI cable connected to the television. If there are cables connected to your Set Top Box, then your Set Top Box will work harder to send a signal to those devices, which can cause the Set Top Box to heat up.

• • Remove the Set Top Box from your television, then let the Set Top Box rest for a few minutes. After a few minutes, plug the Set Top Box back into your television and turn it back on. If your Set Top Box is still hot, you can try to contact the Set Top Box manufacturer for further assistance.

• • If you want to be safer, add coolers like a small fan that leads to the STB.

Most people forget to turn off the STB when they turn off the TV, assuming that the STB also turns off even though the STB is a separate device from the TV. So after turning off the TV, don’t forget to turn off the STB too!

What happens if the STB gets hot?

If your Set Top Box is hot, a few things that can happen are:

1. • Your Set Top Box may become slower to respond to your commands or process displayed content. This can make your TV viewing experience less enjoyable.

• • Your Set Top Box can fail more quickly as excessive heat can damage the electronic components inside.

• • Your Set Top Box may become more noisy because excessive heat can increase the working speed of the mechanical components inside, such as cooling fans.

• • Your Set Top Box can be uncomfortable to touch as excessive heat can increase the surface temperature of the Set Top Box.

Apart from what was mentioned above, a common thing that happens is that the display on the TV connected to the STB will be broken.

Closing

Those are the things related to STB that users need to know. The thing that often happens to STB is heat which causes it to break, I wrote it twice here so you can be more careful when operating it. If there is anything you want to ask, you can directly comment below!