going to buy a freeview ready tv, how does freeview work?

jadex91

i want to get rid of sky, i want freeview. is it free? are there any charges? how do i get it? do i need to have anything? i have a sly aerial outside? thanks

InsideInsurance

Are you talking freeview or freesat or freesat from sky?

You mention a Sky aerial but Sky dont use aerials they use satellite dishes.

If you are talking about freeview then you simply plug the TV into the normal terrestrial TV aerial (not a sky dish). In most areas a standard aerial is fine for the digital signal. In some areas with weak reception you may need to upgrade the aerial to a more sensitive one/ one designed for freeview.

Freeview is free, as per its name. There used to be an option for "top up TV" for a few pay per view channels but I think those all stopped and I've never seen a freeview ready TV with the card slot for the old top up card.

penrhyn

No you don't need Freeview, which is a terrestrial service via an aerial.
When you stop subscribing to Sky the viewing card becomes a Freesat from Sky card.
If you have a Sky+ box you won't be able to use the recording/playback facility.
The channels available to you will in the most part be the same as those available from Freeview.

FYI. All Televisions on sale now have digital terrestrial tuners, some also have digital satellite tuners. Some will have High Definition tuners. Regarding subscriptions the clue is in the name Free!

jannowretired

But you will still need a TV licence:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:.

almillar

Freeview - Digital terrestrial TV (terrestrial = aerial NOT satellite dish).
Sky = subscription satellite service
freesatfromsky = NON subscription service from Sky. THIS is what you'll get if you cancel your subscription to Sky, and leave your card in the box, DO NOT buy a new one.
FreeSat = subscription free satellite service using the same dish as sky, pointing in the same direction, but different, Freesat branded boxes.
free satellite = pointing your dish at any satellite, with a normal box and viewing whatever you get - this is what you'll have if you take the card out of your box.
Note that the channel line-ups are slightly different for all of the above.
http://www.freesatfromsky.co.uk/

http://www.freeview.co.uk/

http://www.freesat.co.uk/

VoucherMan

Jadex91 wrote: »

i have a sly aerial outside?

Aerial that disguises itself as a satellite dish when no-ones looking?

HughSpencer

I have just carried out the second reset to receive more Freeview channels but no HD channels have been installed on my HD television. Can I presume that these will be available at a later date?

PlutoinCapricorn

Hugh Spencer, have you got a 'box' such as a Humax? I had Freeview on my TV for 5 years, but needed a box to get the 4 HD Freeview channels.

penrhyn

HughSpencer wrote: »

I have just carried out the second reset to receive more Freeview channels but no HD channels have been installed on my HD television. Can I presume that these will be available at a later date?

You'll only get them if you have a built in freeview HD tuner, which may not be the case. HD and HD ready only refer to screen resolution.

almillar

As above, you need to have a Freeview HD tuner, but you also need to have FreeviewHD beign broadcast in your area.
Stick your details in here to find out when this happens/happened:
http://www.freeview.co.uk/availability

HughSpencer

My television is a Panasonic TX-L32S10B Full HD DVB digital Freeview included. Doesn't this mean that where HD channels are broadcast on Freeview, it should be ready available?