Freeview!!!!!

[Skyornot]

Evening all. Just looking for a bit of help and advice about freeview.
Like for example, does anyone have any advice on what is the best (and cheapest) box to buy (and where from)? Also how easy is it to install, do i basically just plug in and play? ( almost in the same way i would connect a video to my TV).
Would i need to change my TV aerial at all???

Cheers in advance.

I purchased one from Tesco cost £30 for my mother. I just connected the aerial to it, scart lead from box to back of tv , powered up and scanned for stations. It's as easy as that, but then again our transmitter is only half a mile away so the signal is 100%.

[Skyornot]

Oh right. Thanks.
I've been having a scan around for digi-boxes and there seems to be a massive difference in prices. How long have 'you' had the box and have you had any problems with it?
Also, i don't suppose you remember the make.

[joglynne]

I can also recommend this one. One of the advantages is that it is tucked in behind the TV with only a small infra-red sensor on show. Got mine for £22.00 about 2 years ago and never had a problem with it.

[Skyornot]

Originally Posted by joglynne

I can also recommend this one. One of the advantages is that it is tucked in behind the TV with only a small infra-red sensor on show. Got mine for £22.00 about 2 years ago and never had a problem with it.

Aren't electrical things supposed to go down in price as the years pass by?

[joglynne]

Didn't buy it from Argos that was just a good way of showing it to you I got it from an Ebay dealer so if your interested it would be worth shopping around.

[popper]

Originally Posted by Skyornot

Evening all. Just looking for a bit of help and advice about freeview.
Like for example, does anyone have any advice on what is the best (and cheapest) box to buy (and where from)? Also how easy is it to install, do i basically just plug in and play? ( almost in the same way i would connect a video to my TV).
Would i need to change my TV aerial at all???

Cheers in advance.

it depends on what your expecting and want really, there are lots of options but if your just trying it out as it were any of the cheap STB's are already stated are fine, but most cheap ones dont come with DTT card slots to also get the payed for channels etc.

just treat any external DVB-T STB box as you would a VHS box for connecting up ,plug in your external tv arial coax ,the scart connector and your fine.

personally i prefer the PC DVB-T usb2 sticks as you then get the ability to record direct to your harddrive without any loss of conversion in quality.

now, those are usually a simple plug&play ,again put an external arial into them as before and install the driver, go watch freeview and even stream it over the wireless LAN to all the machines in the house etc.

for instance
http://www.averm.co.uk/avermedia/ave...r.asp?show=1#2
but any pc shop and argos ect will carry these usb2 digital freeview tv cards.

DVB-T USB2 freeview TV cards are what people used to get the Hi-Def london trials on the cheap by pluggin into their fast PC's alongside the CoreAVC codec.

Originally Posted by Skyornot

Oh right. Thanks.
I've been having a scan around for digi-boxes and there seems to be a massive difference in prices. How long have 'you' had the box and have you had any problems with it?
Also, i don't suppose you remember the make.

I purchased this about 2 years ago and it was made by Echostar. I did notice that it was identical apart from the badge to another make also on sale in the same store. My mother has had no problems since I installed it and its knocks the pants of my VM Pace STB. For less than £30 give it a try and if you like Freeview and want more options then upgrade to a better package.

[Skyornot]

Originally Posted by popper

it depends on what your expecting and want really, there are lots of options but if your just trying it out as it were any of the cheap STB's are already stated are fine, but most cheap ones dont come with DTT card slots to also get the payed for channels etc.

just treat any external DVB-T STB box as you would a VHS box for connecting up ,plug in your external tv arial coax ,the scart connector and your fine.

personally i prefer the PC DVB-T usb2 sticks as you then get the ability to record direct to your harddrive without any loss of conversion in quality.

now, those are usually a simple plug&play ,again put an external arial into them as before and install the driver, go watch freeview and even stream it over the wireless LAN to all the machines in the house etc.

for instance
http://www.averm.co.uk/avermedia/ave...r.asp?show=1#2
but any pc shop and argos ect will carry these usb2 digital freeview tv cards.

DVB-T USB2 freeview TV cards are what people used to get the Hi-Def london trials on the cheap by pluggin into their fast PC's alongside the CoreAVC codec.

What kind of channels can you get on 'paid for'??? Is it worth it?

Also, i notice that Freeview Playback has been around for a month now, does anyone have any experience of this service (as i'd obviously have to buy a newer and more expensive box if i wanted to get this).

I'd also like to collectively thank everyone who has posted for their advice so far.

[ntluser]

Generally speaking outdoor aerials are best but a number of DVB-T units come with a stick shaped indoor aerials. How does the quality of picture and sound compare with a normal indoor aerial?

[Skyornot]

I might check out the cheap end digi-boxes this weekend. I heard they are selling some for about £20 in places like tesco and asda (and also some online stores).

[joglynne]

Quick tip. If you don't get crystal clear reception on channel five then you may have to upgrade your aerial to receive freeveiw.

[dilligaf1701]

I got my mother in law the cheap £19.99 one from Asda and it works fine, although I did have to buy the scart cable seperately.

[Skyornot]

Arrggghhhhh. Supermarkets at the weekend. Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
I might have to put it off until Monday, or buy online.

Am i right in thinking that Film4 is available on Freeview these days?