Freeview Set Top Box Receiver
(digital television and radio)
Buyers Guide

Freeview is the UK system of free digital terrestrial television and radio broadcasting. It currently offers digital reception of over 30 TV stations as well as over 10 radio stations and a number of text based data channels.

Freeview receivers are built into some new television sets (costing from about £300), if you are thinking of buying a new TV set at this price level or above, it's worth thinking about buying a set with a Freeview receiver in built. However if you don't intend to buy a new TV set, a stand alone Freeview set top box receiver will give you the benefitsfor less than £50.

In this buyers guide, you will find details of the features available and what to consider when buying a Freeview set top box receiver.

Before you think about buying Freeview receiver

Check out the Freeview postcode checker to make sure that you will be able to receive Freeview - not all of the UK is currently covered. If the postcode checker shows that you cannot receive Freeview, it's still worth borrowing a set top box and connecting it to your current TV - the postcode checker isn't 100% accurate.

Connecting a Freeview receiver

You have to think about how you can connect the set top box to your current VCR or TV, there are two basic options:

• Using a SCART lead - this is the almost universal connector which gives high quality audio-visual connections but its use is dependant upon there being a suitable SCART socket on either the VCR or TV - without one, the SCART lead from the Freeview receiver won't have anywhere to connect into.
  If your TV has a SCART socket, but the VCR does not, you will only be able to connect to the TV so you won't be able to record Freeview programmes on the VCR.
  If however the VCR has a SCART socket, this can be connected to the Freeview receiver and the TV connected to the VCR by a 'normal' aerial type lead.
  The VCR or TV with a scart socket will also need to have an a/v (audio visual) channel - if it has a SCART connection, you are probably safe in assuming it has.
  It can be useful to have more than one SCART socket, this will allow the Receiver to be connected to both a VCR/TV set up and an audio hi-fi at any one time.
• If neither your VCR or TV has a SCART socket, the only option is to buy a Freeview receiver which uses an RF lead (like a normal TV aerial lead). Not all Freeview receivers have this sort of output (it is not the same as a 'RF loop through') and you may the choice of models may be very limited. .

Installations

Installing a Freeview receiver is straight forward, simplistically it is just plugging the aerial lead into the Freeview receiver, connecting the set top box to your VCR or TV, and connecting the set top box to the mains.

An actual installation may vary in detail depending upon the model of the receiver and the VCR and TV you currently have, but it is going to be simple. Although referred to as 'set top boxes', there's actually no need for the box to sit upon the top of the TV set; providing that the remote control sensor is not obstructed, the box can be positioned almost anywhere limited by the length of connecting leads available.

Tuning

Once connected and switched on, a set top box will automatically detect the digital signal and will download details of all channels available.

Updates to the software used in the set top box are also available 'through the aerial' and these can be download to keep the set top box up to date.

The desk top box will automatically download all the available channels, most boxes give a 'favourites' menu option to keep the list manageable - the user either selects channels to add to, or exclude from, the favourites.

Aerial

A new TV aerial should not normally be necessary - a modern, good quality aerial will suffice. Generally, if your aerial gives good reception on your analogue VCR/TV, it should be good enough for a Freeview receiver.

However, should the existing aerial be old, miss fitted or receiving a weak signal, it may not provide adequate reception for the Freeview receiver and will need to be replaced - it's probably easier to use local professional help as they should know the needs for your particular area.

Timer

Most receivers include timers so that programs can to be recorded, the number of events which can be programmed at any one time will depend upon the model.

Basically these event timers work in the same manner as VCR's, however these actually work in one of two ways:

• If the output from the set top box, and the input to the VCR are suitable, the set top box will automatically start the VCR when an event scheduled on the desk top box occurs.
• The alternative is that the set top box will not trigger the VCR, in this case both the set top box and VCR will need to be programmed separately.

Other features

• Parental lock - defines a code needed to access defined channels.
• Screen ratio - option of 4:3 or 16:9 to suit television.
• Interactive service - not all set top boxes have this facility.
• Audio output - The quality of audio output from a VCR and TV will largely depend upon the quality of the VCR and TV. You are not going to get the benefit of hi-fi audio from the set top box unless the VCR and TV are both up to handling it. Some set top boxes have specific audio outputs which can be connected separately to home hi-fi systems.
• Recorders - Some set top boxes incorporate a recording facility, normally (to get the benefit of the digital transmission) either a DVD or a hard disk drive - these tend to be quite expensive.