Great if it works (Freeview)

Member Name: mattpotter10

Product:	Freeview
Date:	09/10/09 (18 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: its free

Disadvantages: limited service/reception

Freeview is the new digital television service provided with the aim of enabling Britain to turn off all analogue broadcasts by 2012. The range of services can be accessed using a digital freeview box which decodes the signal received from the aerial, and displays the new digital services on your tv. Most freeview boxes used to be external, however as manufacturers realised that their tv's would need a freeview box to watch tv when the signal is switched off they have started incorporating freeview tuners into the tv's.

Freeview is promoted as the low cost alternative to sky or subscription services, however upon purchase of a booster aerial and new cabling to receive the services it can work out quite expensive. As an example after recently moving property we were quoted around £100 for new aerial/fitting/tuning to receive freeview channels however the cheaper alternative was to get the old sky dish returned, buy an old sky digibox, and freesat viewing card. The range of channels on freesat is much better than freeview, and as the signals are received via satellite, the quality is much better than freeview.

Freeview is ideal if you live in an area where reception quality is high or have the good aerials capable of receiving the channels, but when you dont the service can be quite restrictive.

The variety of programmes shown on freeview is great considering its free, however as per usual if you are tempted by more channels you will have to pay for it via a subscription service.

Summary: great overall as its free