Have you heard of this Freeview problem?

[salymap]

Mangerton. To me terrestrial is the 5 channels I can get even if Freeview is not working. We have not been switched off those channels yet. I suppose I should call them analogue?

[MickyD]

MickyD

Humax boxes usually have very good input gain. That was how I discovered some of this with our now relatively expensive Sharp TV. The reviews at the time said it was very good, but not so good on Freeview, which I thought odd. Indeed, fed with inputs from Humax boxes, or good high definition sources the picture is very good, but the Freeview "as it comes" isn't. Putting one of the cheap aerial amps in brings the picture quality to a comparable level.

There are possibly still TVs which don't do well enough in this area, and don't forget also that there are also many very cheap Freeview set top boxes, which perhaps don't compare well with Humax models. There shouldn't be any need for an amp if the TV is very good, the Freeview box is very good, the cabling is good and the aerial is good, but unfortunately that's not always the case.

One last thing, having two outputs can sometimes be useful, as one can be fed into a PVR box for recording, and one to the TV. This can be useful when one wants to record two programmes and watch another which is not on the same multiplex.

Thanks Dave - I actually went with the whole package when I bought the Humax - High Definition, Hard Drive to record and as you say, two output for simultaneous viewing and recording on another channel. The setting of a programme and playback is childsplay - I recommend the Humax box to anyone thinking of going for Freeview. Picture quality is fantastic.

[mangerton]

Mangerton. To me terrestrial is the 5 channels I can get even if Freeview is not working. We have not been switched off those channels yet. I suppose I should call them analogue?

Ah. Yes!

As an aside, it's really quite amazing that Scotland has this all done - last analogue switch off is tomorrow - before parts of England, and in particular the home counties. For every other development, it's been very far down the list. (radio, TV, FM, stereo radio, colour TV, NICAM TV)

And yes, I do know the reasons for the changeover being done as it is, but still, it's nice not to be last for a change. :cool2:

[Anna]

As an aside, it's really quite amazing that Scotland has this all done - last analogue switch off is tomorrow - before parts of England, and in particular the home counties. For every other development, it's been very far down the list. (radio, TV, FM, stereo radio, colour TV, NICAM TV)

Wales beat you in that the last digital switchover was in March 2010!! So it was the first fully digital Nation in the UK. Unfortunately as regards DAB where I am - forget it, ditto Freeview which where I live only offers BBC 1,2,3 (No 4!) ITV 1, 2, Channel 5 and 4 + More4. Hence we have been forced into a payment to Sky for digibox and satellite (no subscription but still an outlay of well over £100 when I got it, currently now £175 I believe)

[amateur51]

Thanks Dave - I actually went with the whole package when I bought the Humax - High Definition, Hard Drive to record and as you say, two output for simultaneous viewing and recording on another channel. The setting of a programme and playback is childsplay - I recommend the Humax box to anyone thinking of going for Freeview. Picture quality is fantastic.

Ooooh MickyD do you have a model number or a link to a webpage please? - this looks like a serious recommendation and as you've been spot-on re fortepianos ....

[salymap]

I'm beginning to think I have had all this trouble and it is Freeview at fault. I got through okay, got the menu,previously impossible, clicked on Sport/tennis. Answer 'Owing to techn ical difficulties the service you require is currently unavailable.'..............

[mangerton]

Wales beat you in that the last digital switchover was in March 2010!! So it was the first fully digital Nation in the UK. Unfortunately as regards DAB where I am - forget it, ditto Freeview which where I live only offers BBC 1,2,3 (No 4!) ITV 1, 2, Channel 5 and 4 + More4.

Anna, there is no nation by which I would rather be beaten than Wales. You won't feel any better, but those of us served by a relay transmitter (and I live in Dundee) all get this second class service with only a few second rate "extra" channels. Of course, we all pay the same licence fee.

[salymap]

Never mind, when you are 75 you won't have to pay for the TV Licence. Unless Dave alters that, I really hope not.

[David Underdown]

Sally we were getting that message just before doing a retune (you'll probably still be able to get the other matches by going direct to channel 301/302)

[salymap]

Sally we were getting that message just before doing a retune (you'll probably still be able to get the other matches by going direct to channel 301/302)

Thanks David, I'll remember that.

[MickyD]

Ooooh MickyD do you have a model number or a link to a webpage please? - this looks like a serious recommendation and as you've been spot-on re fortepianos ....

Hello, amateur51 - I'm looking at the manual for the box and it is just called the FOXSAT-HDR. I had it installed in the winter and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it, especially from the recording facility (I think you can store about 300 hours of programmes on it). But of course you do need a satellite dish to go with it.

Changing the subject somewhat, your lovely avatar reminds me to tell you that I am currently reading a recent and very well written biography of Miss Rutherford by Andy Merriman. It is full of fascinating anecdotes and I can't put it down. I think you can get it on Amazon for around 4 quid.

[mangerton]

Never mind, when you are 75 you won't have to pay for the TV Licence. Unless Dave alters that, I really hope not.

He will, saly, he will, but I appreciate your good wishes. Thank you.

I got my free bus pass in March, so assuming nothing changes, I have at least fifteen years to wait. I confidently expect that by then the retiring age will be 75, and that free TV licences will be given only to people over 80, provided both parents sign their application form.

More positively, Scotland may be independent by then, so we'll no longer have to stomach the egregious Cameron and his cronies.

[Dave2002]

Hello, amateur51 - I'm looking at the manual for the box and it is just called the FOXSAT-HDR. I had it installed in the winter and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it, especially from the recording facility (I think you can store about 300 hours of programmes on it). But of course you do need a satellite dish to go with it.

I think we're getting a bit confuaed between Freesat and Freeview here. The Humax Freeview boxes are generally good, and I think the latest models also do HD. We've got both Freeview and HD Freesat Humax boxes, though not the HD Freeview flavours. Anyone who hasn't already gone this way should probably check out Freeview first, as if it works there's no need for a satellite dish. There are slight differences between Freesat and Freeview, and these can be slightly confusing at times. The channels are not always an exact match, and the red button behaviour can be different, for example for the F1 races. The new boxes should enable you to attach an external USB drive, which can be very useful, and they should also have an Ethernet connection for iPlayer, though that may be disappointingly slow - though still useful.

[MickyD]

Sorry, Dave (and amateur51!) - of course, being located in France, I had to have the Freesat Humax box in order to receive British programmes. Apologies for any confusion caused.

[Anna]

I am at my brother's house at the moment. He got so fed up with FreeView problems and lack of channel choice that last week he had a satellite dish installed and a Humax FoxSat HDR 500GB box. What an amazing piece of equipment, it gives simultaneous viewing of one channel and recording another channel or you can record 2 channels at the same time. Drawback is - it's not cheap!!