Freeview boxes -
and a whole lot more!

Freeview boxes are a digital alternative to satellite dishes and cable - and it doesn't cost anything to subscribe. Here's what you need to know about Freeview.

So, what does the box do?

It provides a package of digital TV and radio channels you can get through a TV aerial (without paying any subscription cost). They're also called freeview set top boxes.

What's so good about terrestrial digital TV?

Well, for a start, there are more channels. With one of the Freeview boxes you'll get to see programmes in widescreen (only, of course, if they were made in widescreen). You'll also have a useful eight day programme guide, which is great if you want to make recordings with a PVR. There are the services via the 'Red button'. These will give you both information and interaction with a growing number of TV programmes.

If, however, you've got poor TV reception, you'll have picture and/or audio drop out on Freeview channels. In extreme cases, there will simply be no reception. With tried and trusted standard analogue TV signals, such drop out isn't actually a problem for most people.

What channels do you get?

About 40 channels, TV and radio, are available via Freeview. England , Wales and Scotland each receive a different number of channels.

You will still get the usual five analogue terrestrial channels together with their respective digital additions: BBC Three and Four and the BBC children's channels, CBBC and CBeebies, ITV 2, 3 and 4, More 4, E4 and so on. The list includes round the clock news from BBC News 24, ITN, Sky News, amongst several others, lots of music channels, shopping channels, documentaries.

What equipment will I need?

You can get one of the many Freeview boxes. Most are of a basic specification. It's easy to upgrade to digital, you just plug and play. Pay somewhat more and you'll get greater connectivity, two Scarts and even an output for digital audio.

Freeview boxes can also come as PVRs which make it extremely easy to record a Freeview programme on hard disk. Twin tuners are standard and mean that you can record live from two channels simultaneously (whilst watching something previously recorded). Programmes can be copied later onto a VCR or DVD recorder.

Built-in Freeview tuners are fitted in a number of DVD recorders. In addition, there are flatscreen IDTVs (Integrated Digital TV) which include not only digital terrestrial tuners for Freeview reception, but also common interface slots in readiness for Top Up TV.

Freeview reception

About 80 per cent of the UK can now receive Freeview. But there are some areas with difficulties. For instance, in the Welsh valleys, along the Kent coast and in outer Scotland. Because of its proximity to France, Kent can only have limited coverage.

How about improving reception?

Reception can be affected by a few things, but they can be fairly easily fixed. Make sure your aerial is OK. It should be a high gain aerial, ideally mounted on a roof.

The signal can suffer interference from household devices such as some DECT 'phones (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications), Microwaves, thermostats. Even motor vehicles passing close by can interrupt a signal. It's worth checking that the cable from your aerial isn't loose or damaged. You can also minimise the effects of local interference using an easily fitted device called a pulse killer adaptor.

Is analogue TV going to end some time soon?

Significantly more bandwidth is actually used up by analogue broadcasts compared to digital. The change to digital means that a single broadcast frequency will now be used to carry a number of digital channels. The final arrangements are in place to end analogue TV broadcasts completely. That in turn allows for use of the frequency range by digital TV services for mobile phone users as well as further digital channels.

You'll need to get ready for the analogue switchoff

The thing is that by 2012 there simply will not be any analogue TV to receive. All TV's and video recorders will have to have a digital tuner. A Freeview box or IDTV will be all you need if your signal strength is good. Moving to cable or satellite definitely has some advantages worth thinking about. There's no subscription to pay or extra fees to find after you have the Freeview box itself. Simply put - Freeview is free to view.

There's a cost for both satellite and cable, but they do give you lots more TV and radio channels. You can also receive channels devoted entirely to movies, sports or other interests.

When it comes to receiving hi-def TV, you'll have to wait at least until 2012 before being able to see it on Freeview (that's the same time that analogue broadcasts finally come to an end). Sky and Virgin Media both offer HD (High Definition). If you can't get cable or Freeview (maybe signal strength is low) there is another option coming soon.

2008 is launch year for the Freesat satellite service. Both BBC and ITV will provide an increasing number of channels. All of this is there with a free-to-air satellite receiver included in the cost. If you have one, you can even use an existing Sky dish.

Sky presently offers a Freesat package which is set up to include ITV and Channel 4. Costs include installation of the Sky receiver, with a viewing card and dish.

Lots of publicity will be given, but if you don't have one of the Freeview boxes (stand alone or built in) to receive digital by the time it comes to your area, you won't be able to watch anything. According to Ofcom it's estimated that currently, some 25 per cent of UK households (mostly in areas of Wales and Scotland) don't have any Freeview broadcasts.

Can't get a signal?

Well, if you don't have a Freeview signal or cable, there remains the option of using satellite. That's fine if you're OK with having a satellite dish attached to your property. If Freeview boxes aren't affordable for you, some assistance is likely to be given (basically for anyone who is either elderly or who is disabled).

What's Top Up TV?

This is a straightforward subscription-based package of TV channels which you can get through an aerial. You'll need a Top Up TV viewing card plus a conditional access module (CAM). That's not a problem because the majority of Freeview boxes and all DTVs now have a common interface slot which is also used to insert the CAM and the viewing card.

What do I get with Top Up TV?

There's a low cost Starter Pack. It comes with a viewing card and also covers your connection fee together with payment for the first month of viewing. You can choose from two packages.

You can receive UKTV Gold, Discovery Channel, Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies and British Eurosport. On top of that, there are also pay channels including the Setanta Sports channel.

Paying a bit more gets you an 18 channel package 18 having: Animal Planet, Bloomberg Television, Boomerang, British Eurosport, Cartoon Network, Discovery Factual, Discovery Lifestyle, Hallmark Channel, Life & Times, Living TV, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Comedy, TCM, Toonami, UKTV Food, UKTV Gold and UK Style.

Info on Freeview Playback

For quite some time DVD recorders and PVRs have been available with Freeview tuners built-in, but Freeview has gone further with Freeview Playback.

Models are specially badged and must be built as detailed here:- they must both receive and record all of the Freeview channels without a subscription being paid; they must use a one-touch recording option; they must be able to pause live TV; and they have an easy to use TV guide - the 8-day Electronic Programme Guide (EPG). Soon there will be the extremely useful series link option. This records each episode of a TV programme by always setting the recording instruction for the next episode.

Humax and TVonics already offer Freeview Playback recorders. Some DVD recorders (which have a built-in hard disk and a Freeview tuner) also meet the have Freeview Playback criteria. One worth mentioning is the Sony RDR-HXD860. Several PVRs, DVD recorders and HDD recorders are also made as Freeview Playback models.

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