Freeview Set-top Box Selector

If you're looking to find a Freeview box, you'll find there's quite a range out there. This page offers some help with choosing the right Freeview Set-Top Box for you.

Just about all Freeview boxes do the same thing - receive digital TV and radio, support subtitles and text, etc, so the key things when making a decision are:

Cost - Boxes start from around £20
Connectivity - All boxes have one SCART socket, many have two. If your TV doesn't have a SCART socket, look for a box with a modulator (see below)
Features - Such as built-in DVD player, a hard-disk recorder (called a PVR), or Internet/email support

Radio & Telly's Freeview Quick Picks
Philex FV400: Basic box that works on TVs without a SCART socket. Amazon £35	BT Vision: Freeview recorder plus on-demand content. Available to BT Broadband customers. More info: get.btvision.bt.com	Humax PVR-9300: Includes a hard-disk recorder that holds 160 hours of TV. Laskys £164

To help you make a choice, select some options from the boxes below, and we'll highlight some of the better options for you:

Things to look for when buying a box:
SCART sockets: All boxes have at least one socket, but if you're looking to connect to both a video and a TV that have SCART sockets, you may want to consider getting a box with two SCART sockets.
Subscription Card Slot: Some boxes have a card slot that can support subscription services. TopUp TV launched at the end of March 2004, offering a small number of extra channels for a monthly subscription. As of 2009, subscription cards can be used to get ESPN sport.
RF Modulator: Some set-top boxes have a built-in 'Modulated RF output'. This means that the box can re-broadcast it's output onto a TV channel that your TV set can 'tune in' to This useful for TVs that don't have a SCART socket, or if you want to rebroadcast Freeview to other TV sets elsewhere in the house.
Hard Disk Recorder: If you're looking to get more from your box, consider a box with a hard-disk recorder. This allows you to record Freeview programmes onto the built-in hard disk - it'll change the way you watch TV. Some have twin tuners to allow watching one channel whilst recording another

Prices and specifications quoted were correct at time of publishing. You should always check with the supplier's site for details.
This page does not necessarily list all available set-top boxes. For a list of all known Freeview boxes, see our Freeview Receivers page.
You may also want to visit our box review section for feedback on specific models.