Is it possible to carry on board , subject to usual hand baggage weight limitations, larger electrical items such as digi boxes, DVD players, hi fi etc . It is it BAA or the indivual airlines who set the restrictions?

As many of carry laptops back and forward I would have thought that the items you list would be OK.
provided they fit into the max bag size.

tks EMM that what I think too. Has anyone carried digiboxes and the like through?

The airline's website should list objects that are allowed to be carried through. You can take laptops through but have to place them individually through security.

I have taken a sky box on board in a holdall - no problem

Tks Cereza - do you offer it up for scanning or just leave it in the holdall to be scanned as per normal procedure?

Treat it just like a laptop or a CD player - it has to be out of any bags or boxes when it goes through the scanner.
Make sure you can get it into your holdall so that you meet the carry-on luggage size rules.

Thanks so much for the advice Cereza....

I have taken small electrical items over, in my hand baggage, on many visits to Portugal and have never been stopped. Don't think you will have a problem.

Just to endorse that - I have carried dvd players, Sat receivers, HiFi amplifiers, water timers, through as hand luggage on Monarch, BMI baby and the infamous Ryanair - without any problems. In fact I have rarely been asked to take them out.

Tks to all who posted. Waltzed through LGW security having firstly asked them to scan it separately.

JB