Simple Set Top Technology (Freeview)

Member Name: Good_Guy

Product:	Freeview
Date:	01/04/09 (53 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A Host of TV & Radio Channels

Disadvantages: Picture Problems & Slow EPG

Freeview provides you with a host of channels via a set top box that will cost you around twenty of thirty quid. Simple to install just unplug the aerial from the TV, plug it into the set top box, correct the box to the TV the short linking aerial cable and also connect the scart cable. Both of these cables are usually supplied with a new box but are not expensive to buy in any case, being only a couple of quid each.

Set up for the box is equally straight forward, just switch on box and TV, then select the menu from the remote and select the menu item for initial installation or full channel tune. Sit tight and watch as it finds and tune into this host of channels (most of which are rubbish and you won't bother with but more of that anon). It will take a couple of minutes to do a full tune in as there are both radio and TV channels to be located. Exit menu for the time being and take time to familiarise yourself with what you have now got.

A feature, common to these digital receivers which is what your new box is, is the EPG - Electronic Program Guide - allows you to see the programs available at the time or to spool forward to those on later that night or, even, for the days to come usually the guide covers 7 or 8 days; once your press "Guide" on your remote most of the functions you need to do this are indicated on the screen, so you can't go far wrong but your instruction manual will help you out.

In poor reception areas you might experience problems with the picture pixilation, with analogue TV a weak signal probably will produce a degraded the picture but at least, was a picture you could watch; with digital TV you will not be able to tolerate this breaking up effect, it's sort of an all or nothing situation. So the upshot of that is its worth while getting your aerial sorted.

After you have allowed time to absorb what channels you like to watch, one of the useful functions on the menu is the "Favourites' List", this as it suggest allows you to compile a channel list to suit your viewing. You can have more than one list so the family can have one each, possibly Dad's List, Mum's List, etc; give a list a title of your choice. Benefit of this is that when you select the program guide you don't have to trawl though a mass of channels and the guide seems to load quicker. Slowness to load seems to be a trait common to most if not all of the set top boxes and I have had experience with a few.

The Freeview technology seems to getting left behind before it has been completely launched and it is mildly disappointing as even in good reception areas it can be too easily effected by weather conditions; perhaps this will be sorted when transmission is country wide and full strength, so to speak.

Summary: Extra Channels, Program Guide and Good Menu Options