New to Freeview? Some help getting started...

Freeview is a Digital TV service that allows you to watch extra channels via your TV aerial. You don't need a satellite dish, and there's no subscription charge - all you need is a Freeview set-top box.

As long as you're in a good reception area, you should be able to view around 30 TV channels and over 20 radio channels.
For information on Freeview and what's available on the channels, see our main Freeview page

This page is aimed at people looking to switch over to Freeview, to take advantage of the free extra channels, and this page should help you get started.

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How to get Freeview:

Freeview is transmitted over the air in a similar way to the standard five TV channels, but using a new type of transmission system. You receive the signals via a TV aerial that's pointing at a TV transmitter... this means that you have to be in a coverage area.
To check this, enter your postcode at www.digitaluk.co.uk/postcodechecker/, and see which of the Freeview channels it should be possible to receive in your area.

If you are in a coverage area, you'll need to get a free-to-air set-top box. These plug into your TV set or video recorder, and convert the signal from your standard aerial into digital TV channels.

Boxes can be purchased for a one-off fee, starting from around £20 for a basic box. They can can be bought from high-street stores such as Comet and Currys, but shopping online for a set-top box is often the best route, as there are some good bargains to be had.

Here are a few things to consider when buying a Freeview box:

• Price: Prices start from around £20 - no subscription, installation or ongoing costs (apart from the standard UK TV licence).
• Connectivity: All boxes have a single SCART socket as standard, for connection either to a TV or video. You may want to consider improving your connection options by getting a box with a second SCART socket that allows connection to both a TV and video recorder. If connecting to a TV or video that doesn't have a SCART socket, you need to look for a set-top box that has a 'modulated' output (i.e. that can transmit TV on a special channel that you can tune your TV/VHS into).
  
  A SCART plug
  
• Features: All boxes allow you to access the standard Freeview TV and radio channels. Most boxes also support interactive services (digital teletext, 'the red button') and subtitles. More advanced boxes have extra features such as electronic programme guides (EPG), built-in games and programme timers. Top-of-the-range boxes come with Internet / email access, built-in CD / DVD players, DVD recorders, or hard-disk recorders.
  Consider what features you're looking for, and browse what's on offer on our set-top box page

Radio & Telly's Freeview Quick Picks
Basic, easy-to-use, low-priced Freeview box with 2 SCARTs, the Matsui DTR3. Currys £24.99	Freeview, hard-disk recorder with video-on-demand. Box free to BT Total Broadband customers. More	The Humax PVR-9200TS box includes a hard-disk recorder that hold 160 hours of TV. Martin Dawes & Dixons £155

If you're looking to buy a Freeview receiver, see our set-top box page for the full range of UK boxes, and try our interactive set-top box selector, where you can choose your features, browse for the lowest prices, and arrange delivery. You can also browse our forum and our Review Section to see user's comments on various boxes.

• Once you have got your new Freeview set-top box, you'll need to connect the aerial. Unplug the aerial lead (the one that runs up to your roof/loft TV aerial) from the back of your TV or VHS recorder, and plug this lead into the 'aerial in' socket on the Freeview box.
  
  
• You now need to connect from your Freeview box to the TV. If your TV has a SCART socket, connect from the Freeview box to the TV via a SCART lead. If your TV doesn't have a SCART lead, you can connect from your box to your TV using a standard aerial lead (Note you must have a Freeview box with a 'modulator' for this configuration. Details).
  
  
• The next step is to tune your TV into the Freeview box channel. Switch on your TV and Freeview box. If using SCART, then you should switch your TV to the "AV", "Aux" or "Line in" feed. If using an aerial lead, you'll need to tune your TV into the output of the Freeview box, in the same way you'd tune in a standard TV station. Refer to your TV manual for details on how to do this.
  
  
• With the box connected, you'll need to scan for Freeview channels. Go to the Freeview box's onscreen menu, and perform a "Store channels". The box will scan for Freeview channels (may take a couple of minutes), and then show you what it's found.

That's it - Happy viewing!

Connecting via a video recorder

If you want to connect via your VHS video recorder, follow the same basic procedure, but go from the aerial to the set-top-box, then from the set-top-box to the video input, then from the video to the TV set. For more help getting connected, see our dedicated Connection page

Freeview problems?

• Answers to Freeview reception difficulty and connection problems can be found on our Freeview FAQ page
• If your question isn't answered, please leave a message in our Freeview forum

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