Freeview is the UK’s digital TV system that you can receive through a TV aerial (though you may need a new aerial to receive it). It will give you around 30 free digital channels. It is fairly easy to switch to Freeview. First you should check that you are in an area where you can receive Freeview (for example, at freeview.co.uk, though most areas should now be able to receive it as the UK is switching entirely to digital from 2007 until 2012). To receive Freeview you can either buy a Freeview ‘set-top box’ that you connect to an existing TV via the scart socket or if you are planning on getting a new TV (such as LCD or Plasma) you should check that it has Freeview built in so you don’t need the Freeview box. You can also buy Freeview PVRs (Personal Video Recorders). These allow you to record Freeview programmes to an internal hard disk so you can watch them later. The better ones have 2 Tuners (eg. for recording 2 programmes at the same time) and a large hard disc (at least 160 GB). If you have more than one TV you can easily add a Freeview receiver of one the above types to each of them (though again, when buying a new TV check that it has Freeview built-in). Also, to send the signal from your rooftop aerial to each of your TVs, an aerial booster/amplifier can be used (one that has one aerial input and a number of aerial outputs — get one with at least the same number of outputs as the number of TVs you have). Freeview HD Recently, Freeview HD has launched. Freeview HD allows high definition channels to be received, though you will need a special Freeview HD set top box, PVR (Personal Video Recorder) or HDTV with in-built Freeview HD decoder to be able to receive the high definition channels. An ordinary Freeview box, PVR or HDTV won’t be able to receive the high definition channels, but a Freeview HD decoder will be able to receive both standard definition channels and high definition ones. Due to the limited bandwidth available for terrestrial broadcasting, only a small number of high definition — ie. around 3 channels are currently available, with a small number of other HD channels scheduled to be launched in the next few years. The HD channels available will depend on your location in the UK, but BBC HD and ITV HD should be available in all parts of the UK once Freeview HD is broadcasting throughout the UK. The http://www.freeview.co.uk/ website can be used to find out whether Freeview and Freeview HD are available in your part of the UK, and for Freeview HD, which high definition channels you can expect to receive. Category:Home › Other • Pomegranates: A newly discovered superfood • Where did the joke why did the chicken cross the road come from and why is it funny? • Can mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder make good parents? • Spiritual evolution of human consciousness • Tips for getting a college basketball scholarship • Living with Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) • Caring for the caregiver • Technologys impact on society
