View Full Version : Freeview
th'engineer
17-12-2003, 22:16
Can anyone suggest a box that is reliable has anyone had a freeview box that has gone wrong.
Been into Tescos tonight and they are only £49.99.
So makes and models that people have would be appreciated.
yeah.. same request from me too.. preferably a cheap one that has digital audio output too
dilli-theclaw
17-12-2003, 23:00
I have a sagem box from woolworths (£59.99 ) Never had a problem with it yet. And I'm only using a set top ariel.
I even take it to work so that i have a couple more channels to watch when i'm not busy.
At the same time I bought a bush (£49.99 ) box for the mother in law for christmas - it was really dire.
Neither have digital or even phono outputs - sorry :(
th'engineer
18-12-2003, 09:36
So Sagem is worth going for ignore the Bush, anyone tried PACE or Philips
I have an early Grundig, been in about a year, no problems. I bought my son a newer Grundig GDT2000 model in September, failed 2 weeks ago, replaced it, 2nd one failed this week. Another trip to Dixons at the weekend !
bob_builder
18-12-2003, 12:50
I bought the new Pace FTVA DT210F (around £70 - £80) and have been very happy with it. It has optical digital audio out.
themelon
18-12-2003, 13:14
I bought the new Pace FTVA DT210F (around £70 - £80) and have been very happy with it. It has optical digital audio out.
I have a Pioneer, excellent stuff!
Pace boxes are pretty good too, as are goodmans.
Been using the Grundig 1500 now for 6 months and not had one problem. Never crashed and blows the ntl stbs away with everything :)
Ps you can get it for £49.99 dixons or currys,
http://www.dixons.co.uk/martprd/store/dix_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0430413191.107175364 6@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccciadckddedgkicflgceggdhhmdfhm.0&page=Product&sku=565302
I bought the new Sony one (£110) really good menu system and looks great too
<snip>
cheers, that's the best deal i've seen so far.. i'll check that one out
th'engineer
18-12-2003, 14:13
cheers, that's the best deal i've seen so far.. i'll check that one outBought a daewoo box from Tescos today set up was easy no freezing or pixelaation on BBCi it is brilliant. Its being used on one of the other TVs so will keep you updated.
And its built in the UK or so it says on the Box
I remember reading somewhere that you can get a "freeview" card for sky boxes - can someone confirm this ?
Bought a daewoo box from Tescos today set up was easy no freezing or pixelaation on BBCi it is brilliant. Its being used on one of the other TVs so will keep you updated.
And its built in the UK or so it says on the Box
whats the model number?
does it have digital audio out?
SMHarman
18-12-2003, 14:27
I remember reading somewhere that you can get a "freeview" card for sky boxes - can someone confirm this ?
Yes you can - contact Sky, it costs £15 I think.
But if you don't have sky your better off getting subscription to a level of service with free box and install and then dropping it down to the minimum service for 12 months then getting the card as this saves the install and box costs up front.
th'engineer
18-12-2003, 15:34
whats the model number?
does it have digital audio out?
link (http://fp.amsat.plus.com/prod01.htm) no digital oupt except scart
Did i mention the EPG works
i use the Thompson DTI 1000 about £60-£70. Was using the hauppage 2000 what a pile of poo.
th'engineer
18-12-2003, 15:44
For info link (http://www.dtg.org.uk/retailer/coverage.html)to freeview postcode checker, if your in Middleton, Rochdale, Oldham or surrounding area and need a new aerial to receive it.Drop me a pm will reccommend someone
Predicted Reception for Postcode
GU51 ***
We regret that DTT reception is not yet predicted to be available for this postcode.
:(
SMHarman
18-12-2003, 16:27
Parents have the Panasonic box, got it from John Lewis. They are pleased with it.
http://www.panasonic.co.uk/set-top-box/tuct20/index.htm
I think, not much in the way of outputs, just a single scart. The 30 has phono outs though.
th'engineer
18-12-2003, 17:35
Sales are close to topping the 2.5 million mark, with an average 100,000 a week sold link here (http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_848268.html) and here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3327247.stm)
There are many boxes listed here:
http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/freeview_rx.htm
John Smiths
18-12-2003, 21:25
What is the idea behind freeview?
What is the idea behind freeview?
http://www.freeview.co.uk/
themelon
18-12-2003, 22:00
I remember reading somewhere that you can get a "freeview" card for sky boxes - can someone confirm this ?
You can but you wont get any channels worth having. To get ITV, FOUR And Five you will need another Solus card for about £35. You will not get ITV2, UK History, Sky Travel, The Hits, TMF, FTN, UK Bright Ideas, Sky Sports News, Sky News on the Sky 'Free to View service' Just a whole host of cracking shopping channels!!
themelon
18-12-2003, 22:01
What is the idea behind freeview?
You get free channels??
The basic idea is to convert the uk from analogue to digital broadcasting in a governement provided initative, and of course give the viewer more choice and services.
ntl customer
18-12-2003, 23:02
You can but you wont get any channels worth having. To get ITV, FOUR And Five you will need another Solus card for about £35. You will not get ITV2, UK History, Sky Travel, The Hits, TMF, FTN, UK Bright Ideas, Sky Sports News, Sky News on the Sky 'Free to View service' Just a whole host of cracking shopping channels!!
So do you think QVC, Bidup.tv, Pricedrop.tv, FTN, UK Bright Ideas, TVG Travel Shop and Sky Travel are worth having then? :eek:
I think not. They are all crap in their own special way. Other than that, the other channels are not too bad on the Freeview package, but it could be better!
I think not. They are all crap in their own special way. Other than that, the other channels are not too bad on the Freeview package, but it could be better!
There are new channels coming. Disneys will be the first due around jan 4th I think. Its going to be called Daytime. Then channel four have announced another channel called More4
Oh and TCM have a licence for FREEview too but have announced nothing as yet
Brought a Thomson box from ARGOS for a family member,has two Scarts,audio output(phono)programme guide makes NTL version look very poor,picture great ,sound great,interactive(BBCi etc)great,had a software download as soon as box was tuned in,cost £89-99,worth a look.
Can anyone suggest a box that is reliable has anyone had a freeview box that has gone wrong.
Been into Tescos tonight and they are only £49.99.
So makes and models that people have would be appreciated.
th'engineer
19-12-2003, 10:21
You can but you wont get any channels worth having. To get ITV, FOUR And Five you will need another Solus card for about £35. You will not get ITV2, UK History, Sky Travel, The Hits, TMF, FTN, UK Bright Ideas, Sky Sports News, Sky News on the Sky 'Free to View service' Just a whole host of cracking shopping channels!!You need to look at the freeview site you do get ITV2 you need to look at the link here are mine
TransmitterLCNChannel NameWinter Hill
GENERAL ENTERTAINMENT
1BBC ONEYES2BBC TWOYES3ITV 1YES4Channel 4YES5fiveYES6ITV 2YES7BBC THREEYES9TeletextYES10BBC FOURYES11Sky TravelYES12UK HistoryYES16QVCYES17TV Travel ShopYES18The HitsYES19UK Bright IdeasYES20f tnYES21TMFYES23bid-up.tvYES
CHILDREN'S
30CBBCYES31CBeebiesYES
NEWS AND CITIZENSHIP
40BBC News 24YES41ITV News ChannelYES42Sky NewsYES43Sky Sports NewsYES45BBC PARLIAMENTYES46Community ChannelYES
TEXT AND INTERACTIVE
50Four TextYES51BBCiYES52ntl iYES
RADIO
70BBC Radio 1YES711Xtra BBCYES72BBC Radio 2YES73BBC Radio 3YES74BBC Radio 4YES75Radio 5 LiveYES76BBC Five Live Sports ExtraYES77BBC 6 MusicYES78BBC 7YES79BBC Asian NetworkYES80BBC World ServiceYES81KissYES82Kerrang!YES83Smash Hits!YES84Jazz FMYES85OnewordYES
bob_builder
19-12-2003, 10:48
You need to look at the freeview site you do get ITV2 you need to look at the link here are mine
No, the OP meant you would not get ITV2 on a Satellite STB with a Free-to-View card.
th'engineer
19-12-2003, 13:56
No, the OP meant you would not get ITV2 on a Satellite STB with a Free-to-View card.
My mistake on that but the terrestial looks good. Did i mention the epg works and has the correct programmes on it
bob_builder
19-12-2003, 17:17
My mistake on that but the terrestial looks good. Did i mention the epg works and has the correct programmes on it
Yes terrestrial Freeview is very good (considering it is free) - its interactive content put NTL's to shame :(
th'engineer
19-12-2003, 17:27
I think its a real alternative you might get a bit of blocky pics dependant on weather.
But with NTL its the same when the power levels drop or increase in the local cabinets due to heat or cold
It's a shame you don't get any channels worth having :/
th'engineer
25-12-2003, 22:34
anyone got freeview for xmas only took me two minutes to set up
simoningrantham
05-01-2004, 02:26
I bought my other half Freeview for Xmas, a Sagem box for £59.99 from Woolies (no Audio outs BTW just Scart), at first we thought it was s**t as we could only get the BBC channels and the music channels. Then we bought a signal booster and we think we can now get everything except channel 5. Does anyone have the full list of channels we should have, and is is even possible to get ch5???
Stuartbe
07-01-2004, 15:47
So do you think QVC, Bidup.tv, Pricedrop.tv, FTN, UK Bright Ideas, TVG Travel Shop and Sky Travel are worth having then? :eek:
I think not. They are all crap in their own special way. Other than that, the other channels are not too bad on the Freeview package, but it could be better!
I like QVC (NOT)
I think its amazing that they can talk about a bread knife for 2 hours without stopping :D :p
dilli-theclaw
07-01-2004, 16:35
I bought my other half Freeview for Xmas, a Sagem box for £59.99 from Woolies (no Audio outs BTW just Scart), at first we thought it was s**t as we could only get the BBC channels and the music channels. Then we bought a signal booster and we think we can now get everything except channel 5. Does anyone have the full list of channels we should have, and is is even possible to get ch5???I have the very same box - got ALL the freeview channels with a crap old indoor tv ariel.... But then I am only about 4km from the local transimitter - in fact I can see it out of my window. :)
Did you check your postcode 1st?
Have you got a nice ariel?
If you go to www.freeview.co.uk (http://www.freeview.co.uk/) you will find a list of channels you should be able to get.
And yes - I get ch.5
dilli-theclaw
07-01-2004, 16:37
I like QVC (NOT)
I think its amazing that they can talk about a bread knife for 2 hours without stopping :D :p
I must admit - I watch the computer (Home office - small office) stuff on qvc.
I'm also surprised by the programming on sky travel.
This postcode checker will also tell you which channels you can receive (after processing your postcode click on more details):
http://www.dtg.org.uk/retailer/coverage.html
For a list of aerials that have been benchmarked for use with Freeview try here:
http://www.dtg.org.uk/retailer/benchmarking.html
simoningrantham
08-01-2004, 01:18
Cheers for the advice. I've done the postcode check and it says we should get all the channels, in fact with the booster we do get them all, except channel 5. Also, ITV and ITV2 are quite jumpy and pixellated. Our aerial is a communal one on a block of 12 flats but it's fairly new and in good condition, and our standard terrestrial reception is excellent. Any suggestions, do you think it would help to nail an individual aerial to the side of our flat or should we try an indoor one (with the booster)?
Stuartbe
08-01-2004, 08:20
I must admit - I watch the computer (Home office - small office) stuff on qvc.
I'm also surprised by the programming on sky travel.
Ahh you mean the computer expert that attempted to format a cdr instaead of a cdrw !!!! :rofl:
dilli-theclaw
08-01-2004, 08:26
Ahh you mean the computer expert that attempted to format a cdr instaead of a cdrw !!!! :rofl:
No I don't.
dilli-theclaw
08-01-2004, 08:29
Cheers for the advice. I've done the postcode check and it says we should get all the channels, in fact with the booster we do get them all, except channel 5. Also, ITV and ITV2 are quite jumpy and pixellated. Our aerial is a communal one on a block of 12 flats but it's fairly new and in good condition, and our standard terrestrial reception is excellent. Any suggestions, do you think it would help to nail an individual aerial to the side of our flat or should we try an indoor one (with the booster)?
Have you checked your signal strength and quality using the box?
I'm not sure a communal one would be up to it - it depends how the signal is distributed.
You could try an indoor one - like I said mine works perfectly with an indoor one - but I'm really close to the transmitter so I don't know how much luck you'd get using one.
th'engineer
09-01-2004, 06:17
Many communal systems are being updated, might be worth asking the question if it is updated. Otherwise separate aerial
my wife won a freeview box , we checked the freeview area itsaid we cant get the channel so we were not really bothered as we have good old ntl anyway. the box arrived on mon we pluged it in it took about 3 mins to set itself up and works fine so they must be loosein money by givein out duff info loosin sales on the freeview boxes
We've got a Daewoo box, and that works fine. If you get one of the boxes with Setpal (Daewoo, Triax, Labgear), then you should let it do an over the air update before you pass judgement on it. The latest build of the firmware is great, and it works well, however most boxes are shipped with an earlier one, and there are a few bugs. The only downside is that it only has one scart output. One nice feature is that you can hide channels you don't want, so you can remove all of the shopping channels from your list.
Also, lookout for the new Daewoo video machine. They are bringing out the first machine with a builtin freeview receiver. From all of the reviews I've seen, it looks quite good.
Well got the pace one for my hubby last xmas, and after they changed the ariel and put on a booster, we now get pretty much all the different channels including channel 5 which was impossible apart from through ntl's digi box. And apart from the odd break in service, it's been an alternative for the bedroom tv since then! and so tiny! the remote is the same size as the box! and the leads are really thick but as I said as a free to veiw it's reasonable. :naughty:
th'engineer
10-01-2004, 17:02
agree with you on Daewoo boxes they are good
the freeview box my wife won was a ECHOSTAR T-101 FTA digital terrestrial receiver
so far seems to be working fine great as it never cost us anything bonus for the kids bedroom tho :D
th'engineer
13-01-2004, 06:54
the daewoo got updated with firmware over the airwaves and has more features really impressed link (http://www.setpal.com/set.htm)
I'm having problems picking up the ITV channels on Freeview (Guildford area) is anyone else experiencing this?
They have worked fine in the past but since last week I can't get them at all.
Dave Stones
25-01-2004, 13:44
i have a netgem i-player www.netgem.com . expensive but very nice. has spdif and line outputs, 2 scarts and a good old rf loopthru. oh, and a telephone line and usb port (for what purpose i will never understand) and a butt-ugly wireless keybord. i live 15km from sutton coldfield transmitter apparently, i can get BBC and channel5 and sky news muxes on 65% signal strength from the communal aerial system. cant get itv and channel 4 and most of the radio stations though even with an aerial booster :(. ah well. cant complain about the bbc picture quality its a top notch box ;)
Got a Sagem box from Amazon (£50) setup is really quick and easy plus I can get all the channels where I am (Stoke). Only thing is it picks up 2 lots of bbc 1 and 2 (one lots have bad signal, the others have 96%) but you can remove channels from the list.
Has the extended EPG launched yet? The last time I looked you could only get 1 day at a time. They planned to launch the extended EPG in Jan 04...
I've still got the itv digital box and it works fine for what rubbish you get with freeview there must be 10 radio channels, and the make matters worse you will soon be able to top up for a fee, so not so freeview look here http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds13376.html
bob_builder
16-02-2004, 11:49
I've still got the itv digital box and it works fine for what rubbish you get with freeview there must be 10 radio channels, and the make matters worse you will soon be able to top up for a fee, so not so freeview look here http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds13376.html
Yes, but TopUpTV has nothing to do with Freeview - so Freeview is still free!
If you haven't found them already - details here:
http://www.topup.tv/
Alan Waddington
02-03-2004, 21:31
I bought an Echostar T-101 from Tesco for £59.95. Was so cheap I couldn't resist.
It works rather well :)
P.S. To access hidden Manual Tuning Menu, press Menu, Scroll to Tune & Press OK, then type carefully 17052002. Shows signal strength for each multiplex. Use left & right arrows to change frequency. You can also rescan particular UHF frequencies for channels on a multiplex. Found this at DS.
Safeway up here are doing a Freeview box for £49.99. I'll stick to my ex On-Digital box though :)
chilin_dude
21-03-2004, 18:15
Safeway up here are doing a Freeview box for £49.99. I'll stick to my ex On-Digital box though :)
Heh me too, just got one off my friend who was about to bin it... said i might try to 'hack' it, as otherwise he would have wanted it himself... It's pretty good but took a while to remove all the channels you cant get any more... The interactive text is a nice feature... Now i got NTL downstairs and Freeview in my room WOOT!
Death Jester
21-03-2004, 21:00
Umm... this may have been asked, but im too sleepy and unwell to bother looking past page 2:
Do you get the same channels no matter what box you buy?
Cause I want freeview, but all I watch on ntl atm is Sky1, Paramount Comedy, and UKGold. Do these channels come with?
Also, if all channels are the same on the boxes, whats the point of getting a £100 one over, say a £40 one?
bob_builder
22-03-2004, 09:59
Umm... this may have been asked, but im too sleepy and unwell to bother looking past page 2:
Do you get the same channels no matter what box you buy?
Cause I want freeview, but all I watch on ntl atm is Sky1, Paramount Comedy, and UKGold. Do these channels come with?
Also, if all channels are the same on the boxes, whats the point of getting a £100 one over, say a £40 one?
You will not get Sky1, Paramount or UKGold on Freeview - see http://www.freeview.co.uk/ for a full list of channels available.
The difference between boxes is only down to how fast interactive is (if they support it), how sensitive they are to a weak signal, the number and type of video connections supported and how much you are willing to pay for a brand name.
Death Jester
22-03-2004, 12:45
You will not get Sky1, Paramount or UKGold on Freeview - see http://www.freeview.co.uk/ for a full list of channels available.
The difference between boxes is only down to how fast interactive is (if they support it), how sensitive they are to a weak signal, the number and type of video connections supported and how much you are willing to pay for a brand name.
Damn.
Ok, anyone know of any ways I can get UKGold, Sky1, and Paramount Comedy (sky1 is not essential, but I really want UKGold).
I'm not keen on paying a monthly fee for it.
poolking
22-03-2004, 13:06
Damn.
Ok, anyone know of any ways I can get UKGold, Sky1, and Paramount Comedy (sky1 is not essential, but I really want UKGold).
I'm not keen on paying a monthly fee for it.
There aren't any other ways as far as I know.
SMHarman
22-03-2004, 13:14
All three are pay channels, so you have to pay for or steal them.
Damn.
Ok, anyone know of any ways I can get UKGold, Sky1, and Paramount Comedy (sky1 is not essential, but I really want UKGold).
I'm not keen on paying a monthly fee for it.
Can't remember exactly what channels are available, but you could try top up TV, they start at the end of th month, BUT there is a charge of about 8/month. Oh and you won't be able to get a STB that supports it until June (unless you buy an old ITVdig box :) ) HTH.
Tezcatlipoca
04-04-2004, 23:33
I use a Grundig Widescreen IDTV to pick up "Freeview".
Had it since around the time of old "ITV Digital". Works fine, although ITV1 & ITVNews sometimes have a bit of a pixellation problem (which doesn't bother me, as I don't like either anyway).
dellwear - TopUp TV? Is that why E4 has appeared? What else do you get?
Tezcatlipoca
05-04-2004, 03:01
http://www.topuptv.co.uk/
E4, UK Gold, Discovery Channel, UK Style, Bloomberg, Discovery Home and Leisure, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network and Boomerang - £7.99 per month, plus a £20 connection fee (£10 if you sign-up online).
Requires an old ITV/On-Digital box (as you need a card slot) - although they plan on bringing out CAMs for IDTVs soon, & presumably will do something to let Freeview boxes take a card.
Also "requires you are able to receive Channel 5" - so I guess it uses the same MUX as Five does.
Hmm. Interesting idea. Wonder if it will take off...
I have two Dewoo Setpal Freeview boxes and I use them both on an indoor aerial. Reception is perfect and I ger regular software downloads. £80 from Argos.
Grundig 1500. Had it for over a year now and never given me a problem. Sound,picture blow the NTL stb's to hell. Plus two scarts ;)
You can sometimes get these for £49 on the currys and Dixons website :)
mrdavidhunt
08-07-2004, 14:31
Just bought a Sagem IDTV60 box - everything with it is great and the picture quality is excellent. However i'm not receiving the Music Channels (hits and TMF). It's weird because all the others are perfect and I stay pretty close to the transmitter, and my sister and gym (both nearby) have freeview and they've got music channels.
Phoned Sagem (they're useless) and there is nothing on the Freeview site to help. According to other sites I should be getting these channels.
Any useful suggestion would be greatly appreciated.
Apologies if i've went over any old ground.
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