freeview TV

ginger_nuts

 We have been thinking about buying My elderly Aunt
a set top box to receive the free  channels. My Aunt dosent have a video  and most of these boxes show diagrams off how to connect
using a video .

Can you set up freeview without a video ?

Edinburghlass_2

Yes, you use the scart lead to join freeview box to the TV and put the aerial into the freeview box instead of the TV. Make sure you get coverage in your area first and they say you need a good outside aerial but I run one in my daughter's bedroom using a £3.99 inside aerial.

The boxes themselves now come very compact and can be had for £40 from the large supermarkets.

Allexie

get her a computer instead...much more fun

ginger_nuts

thanks for that ..I agree a computer is more fun but at 73 I dont think she will start to learn ,but you never know she may surprise us all .But how do I keep her from the chat rooms and the !!!!!!  lol :

jackbremer

Many of the cheap sub-£40 freeview boxes are excellent these days, but watch out for missing features - the latest one I bought for my parents was a "Mustek" from https://www.ebuyer.com and didn't even have the "RED" interactive button!

I use the Top Pioneer freeview box (I have a few of these) and it's AWESOME.

Beware that older TVs often do not have a SCART socket, which will mean you'll have to use RF aerial input, which is pants.

Derv_2

thanks for that ..I agree a computer is more fun but at 73 I dont think she will start to learn ,but you never know she may surprise us all .But how do I keep her from the chat rooms and the !!!!!! lol :

My mother was a competition fan and first used a computer when she was 75 when she discovered what was available online. She went on to use the Internet to pursue some of her other interests. You're never too old to learn if the interest is there.

alanrowell

most of these boxes show diagrams off how to connect using a video .

All of the boxes show diagrams of how to connect using a TV - otherwise it would be pointless having Freeview.

dag_2

Can you set up freeview without a video ?

You don't need a video, but you do need a TV with a SCART socket. Like jack says, many older TV's don't have SCART sockets either.

If the TV doesn't have a SCART socket, but does have a composite video and audio phono sockets, you can get a SCART to phono connector lead - this will probably cost around five to ten pounds.

If the TV has neither a SCART nor phono sockets, then you'll have to use aerial input. Many of the cheaper Freeview STB's don't have RF outputs either. The only way to connect an STB with no RF output to a TV with no SCART or phono inputs is to get an RF modulator - and this will be expensive. You might be better off getting a new TV.

Make sure you get coverage in your area first

The best way of doing this is to take your own Freeview box to her house and plug it into her television. Don't rely on other people to tell you whether coverage is good in any particular area - it's best to test it yourself. You might need to retune your receiver if her house is a long way from yours.