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HD DIGITAL BOX FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HD digital box frequently asked questions and answers are written in easy to understand for the technical and non-technical to easily follow

HD DIGITAL BOX FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - HD FREEVIEW?

HD Freeview digital box question;
My TV is less than a year old with Freeview built in - my TV is HD so will this show the new BBC HD?

HD digital box answer;
Only a few TV's are able to be updated by their manufacturer over the air to be able to receive the new BBC HD mpeg4 signal, so if your TV is less than a year old check with your manufacturer if the TV can be flash updated. If it cannot be updated over the air it may be possible to get hardware added, but again your manufacturer will tell you.

Freeview question;
Can any of my Freeview boxes bought before this year be able to be updated or do I have to buy new equipment again?

HD digital box answer;
You will still be able to receive the Freeview channels but to receive the new BBC HD you will need to buy either an HD Freeview equipped HD TV or the new HD Freeview digital box.

Freeview question;
What is best, an HD Freeview TV with built-in Freeview or a new Freeview HD digital box?

HD digital box answer;
This has to be a matter of choice, but as a guide, consider the merits of the TV with inbuilt receivers, no more clutter. If space or cost is an issue then the Freeview HD digital box will run in any old TV but it still has to be an HD TV to show the HD BBC new signal via the Freeview HD digital box.

Freeview question;
Technology seems to be racing ahead so will these new HD Freeview digital boxes be changed again soon?

HD digital box answer;
We cannot carve anything in stone but, the new signal being sent from the BBC HD can only be handled by brand new hardware which is only installed into the NEW Freeview HD digital boxes and also the NEW HD TV's with Freeview HD built-in. As this technology is brand new to these receivers the technology is likely to be with us for a long time to come.

Freeview question;
I am in my senior years, will the new HD digital boxes for Freeview be difficult to use?

HD digital box answer;
Freeview has been designed for being user friendly with little input from the user except to press a few buttons, this is where the HD TV's with Freeview built-in will also help with channel finding and using one single remote control.
This is one of the most important questions as many manufacturers are still trying to solve the solution of users needing to use half a dozen different remote controls from their pyramid of electronic gear installed in their sitting rooms.

HD DIGITAL BOX FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - HD FREESAT?

HD freesat digital box question;
What is the difference between Freeview HD and freesat HD.

HD digital box answer;
They are both very much the same thing as they are both free with no subscription once you buy the set-up equipment. Both freesat and Freeview have a few channels that either one does not have so many viewers have both either by choice or after buying a new TV with in built firmware with either freesat or Freeview.

freesat question;
I understand freesat is sent from the same satellite as Sky so what is the difference for viewers or subscribers.

HD digital box answer;
Once you buy freesat equipment which can be from £150 if buying and getting professionally fitted there are no more fees except the normal annual TV licence fee. If you buy Sky you are entering into a contract to pay monthly subscriptions which if you are buying HD channels etc. in your subscription the subscription can escalate to over £1000 per year.

freesat question;
Is the freesat digital box the same as all the rest? and can I tune in other satellite channels with it?

HD digital box answer;
The freesat box is like no other satellite digital box as it was especially made for the U.K. market and is totally controlled over the air and is also set-up and forget technology which is ideal for those in their senior years. You cannot tune in any other channels within the freesat digital box bouquet as it only decodes the freesat signal.
Those with a little techie knowledge can tune in non-freesat channels with most boxes but this automatically takes you away from the freesat bouquet and can cause problems for those with limited freesat HD receiver knowledge.

freesat question;
I like the idea of adding the freesat box to my other equipment, is there some way I can erect the dish myself.

HD digital box answer;
To fit a satellite dish yourself is childs play and you can get a full comprehensive tutorial from; http://www.freesattvdish.com

freesat question;
How many channels has freesat, there are so many different stories?

HD digital box answer;
freesat has more than 100 channels with more being added weekly, an abridged version with information of the channels etc...can be found at; http://www.freesatchannels.co.uk

freesat question;
Do you get BBC HD on freesat?

HD digital box answer;
Yes! freesat were the first to show BBC HD and is viewable as long as you have a freesat HD digital box, for example the Humax Foxsat HD digital box.

HD DIGITAL BOX FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS? - HD SKY?

HD Sky digital box question;
What is the difference between; Sky, Freeview and freesat?

HD digital box answer;
Sky, you pay a monthly fee, Freeview is free, freesat is free.

Sky question;
Does the Sky bouquet have the same channels as Freeview and freesat.

HD digital box answer;
Sky has the same channels as both Freeview and freesat, it also has many more channels to choose from but in all these choices you pay a monthly fee.

Sky question;
Does Sky show the new BBC HD channel?

HD digital box answer;
Yes! Sky does have the BBC HD on their bouquet but if the Sky digital box is not an HD digital box you will not see it. In all cases you need an HD digital box to view HD channels.