Freeview Advice

Choosing a new television

chappus — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:58:48 +0000

Making a choice of which new television to buy can be a confusing one. At this time of year, people are considering upgrading their equipment to larger television screen sizes, improved cinema style surround sound and upgrading their digital equipment. One of the most important decisions that needs to be made whether that set will be compatible with the technology during the digital switch-over that is affecting the UK within the next few years. Most units have an integrated digital terrestrial receiver set and some now offer a Freesat digital satellite option.

Reminder to rescan your Freeview television channels

chappus — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:50:10 +0000

As mentioned a few days ago, if you have not retuned your set-top-box yet, you are recommended to do so as soon as possible. Whilst your Freeview box will still receive digital terrestrial broadcasting using it’s current configuration, for it to perform at optimum viewing quality rescanning will refresh the channels your television benefits from. Good advice is to do this every month or so anyway but on this occasion the advantages certainly outweigh the couple of minutes this will take.

Retune your Freeview box

chappus — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:52:47 +0000

In line with the developments of the digital switchover, it was announced today that you should rescan your channel listing in your Freeview set-top-box. Normally, this is possible by going into your box system settings and then scanning your channel listings. If you are unsure instructions should be found within your box user manual. You may find that the channel number of your favourite television station may have changed.

This development will allow in future, amongst other benefits, the possibility of High Definition (or HD) broadcasts using the digital terrestrial system. You will need either a High Definition television or an HD ready set to view such broadcasts though.

All about digital television broadcasting

chappus — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:20:20 +0000

Digital broadcasts offer an insight in the future developments of television viewing. Digital terrestrial, also known as Freeview television, offers more channel choice, including radio, films, childrens TV and sport and also allows interactive content to be transmitted into your living room. By purchasing a set-top-box you have available a plethora of new television viewing choice at your fingertips. Which channels you can receive is dependant on your viewing area and local transmitter but this is also to your benefit as you do have regional broadcasting options too. These include Welsh language channels in Wales for example. The number of digital channels available through Freeview is increasing daily.

How can I receive digital television?

chappus — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:23:59 +0000

In the coming years you will be required to switchover from analogue to digital television because the UK government are supporting a move for terrestrial television. This period has been dubbed the digital switchover. This will affect you in the home and all other British and UK households. To receive Freeview television you may need to invest in some new television equipment. You will need a digital terrestrial (or Freeview) set-top-box. These are available on the high street from around £20. You will also need a television capable of connecting to your set top box, but any television set bought in the past 5 years should be capable. You may also need to upgrade your aerial. A good local television installation supplier should be able to do this.

Advertising on digital terrestrial Freeview

chappus — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:06:47 +0000

In order for digital television to flourish broadcasters needed both public supported channels to adopt the platform and also commercial ones. It is necessary to have adverts on television as this provides a vital income stream to television companies. Freeview offers more channels on it’s digital transmission signals and so more channels are able to be viewed through your set-top-box. It is inevitable that Freeview could not rely solely upon public broadcasters and so transmission slots are offered to commercial stations. With the cost of television technology going down it is possible to transmit a TV channel for much less than previously possible making it much more accessible. Other digital television technologies also support this including digital terrestrial Freeview television.

Digital television and analogue broadcasting

chappus — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:02:11 +0000

The advent of digital broadcasting is fairly recent in the UK. Free-to-air digital broadcasts have long been seen as an alternative to other television viewing methods such as Sky or Freesat. These both have their own advantages with Sky having many channels and Freesat offering HD (high definition) television. Freeview broadcasting has been very popular in the UK and the channel choice will increase. Digital free-to-air television offers a transition from analogue broadcasting using the existing technology you have in your house. A set-top-box is required to decrypt digital signals that are received through your aerial equipment.

The benefits of digital free-to-view television

chappus — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:37:20 +0000

There are many advantages to free-to-air digital terrestrial television. The main one being that Freeview brings more choice to the general television viewing public. For just a small initial outlay on a Freeview set-top-box you have so much more choice when it comes to your channel selection. More channels also means more quality television viewing content, although this can bring questions in itself. The primary benefit of UK wide digital free-to-air television outputs is that this opens the door for more technological breakthroughs.

UK digital television revolution

chappus — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:48:38 +0000

One of the main drivers towards the push of free to air digital terrestrial has been the viewers desire to have more choice and content of their television programme viewing. This has been due to exposure of other digital television platforms, such as Sky and Freesat, and also the Internet. The advent of digital Freeview broadcasting has also given the opportunity for channel companies to tailor their output to a wider demographic range and audience. The increased bandwidth that a digital signal gives also permits more niche television channels to exist that might have a smaller audience than the traditional analogue option. Television is set to change still further during this digital switchover revolution.

Freeview signal strength

chappus — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:17:18 +0000

If you find that you receive a low Freeview signal strength through your digital aerial then there are several things that you can do to help. The first question is about your aerial. To receive the best possible Freeview television signal then your aerial must be aimed in the right direction. It may have moved for many reasons, if it is in your loft then it may have been dislodged and if the aerial is on your roof then weather may have affected.

One of the most ovbious ways you can tell if your digital aerial has moved is if your television picture is distorted and suffers from interferance. The quality may also be similar to your old analogue television before the advent of Freeview.

If you believe that your aerial has moved, the best option maybe to consult a reputable local Freeview installer for advice.