FreeviewHD (DVB-T2) starting 2nd December

mrk · 23 Nov 2009 at 10:22

Starting 2nd December Freeview goes HD and The Reg goes into detail on the ins and outs of how to get HD ready for it.

I thought my Leadtek Freeview USB tuner was HD compatible going by the blurb on purchase but since it has no FreeviewHD or DVB-T2 logo I guess not?

Hmmm :/

stockhausen · 23 Nov 2009 at 10:59

No Freeview HD set-top boxes this year

Richard Lindsay-Davis, Director General of the Digital TV Group (DTG), has admitted to us that “at this stage we can’t guarantee any [DVB-T2] receivers in the UK market before Christmas 2009”.

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/11/19/freeview_hd_kit/

Quelle surprise :eek:

Red and White · 23 Nov 2009 at 11:14

do you need a satellite for this like freesat?

Berserker · 23 Nov 2009 at 11:25

Er no, it's Freeview, not Freesat.

Heliospherez · 23 Nov 2009 at 11:25

No - but you will need a new box (as I don't think any freeview recievers currently have the ability to decode the HD signal - and the producers have stated they probably won't be available until the Spring next year - It also means all the fancy HD TV's with Freeview built in are pretty much outdated already)

But what is the benefit against Freesat (which already has 2 free HD channels of superior quality)

Red and White · 23 Nov 2009 at 11:26

Berserker said:
Er no, it's Freeview, not Freesat.

i just wasnt sure that they could send hd the old fashioned way.

Berserker · 23 Nov 2009 at 11:26

divosuk said:
But what is the benefit against Freesat (which already has 2 free HD channels of superior quality)

Simple - it's for those who can't have, or don't want, a dish.

Heliospherez · 23 Nov 2009 at 11:30

But that isn't really a benefit. Most people I know can't get a TV signal via any other way other than a Dish, as there is no viable aerial signal either for normal SD TV or Freeview.

kevmeister · 23 Nov 2009 at 11:31

wonders if the BT Vision box will be compatible...

mrk · 23 Nov 2009 at 11:32

Well then those people would get Freesat

We have FreesatHD downstairs and Freeview upstairs for example.

markweatherill · 23 Nov 2009 at 11:34

Football on digital TV usually looks ropey, that would be a good test of Freeview in HD.

Heliospherez · 23 Nov 2009 at 11:38

kevmeister said:
wonders if the BT Vision box will be compatible...

"Michael Barry, told TechRadar that it was working on Freeview HD-compatible V-box, but added that it did not currently have a launch date"

And it will probably only be viable if your BB connection can get faster than 8Mb. The box can handle it, but there's not much chance of you getting the transmission being fast enough to give you a great picture.

muon · 23 Nov 2009 at 11:41

Freesat was originally created because of less than perfect Freeview coverage, while the BBC has a duty to ensure all households can receive their channels.

So freesat is the minority delivery method.

Glaucus · 23 Nov 2009 at 11:43

What channels are on it?

kevmeister · 23 Nov 2009 at 11:44

divosuk said:
"Michael Barry, told TechRadar that it was working on Freeview HD-compatible V-box, but added that it did not currently have a launch date"

And it will probably only be viable if your BB connection can get faster than 8Mb. The box can handle it, but there's not much chance of you getting the transmission being fast enough to give you a great picture.

i only get 6.5mb.

i'm not buying another box, sure it'd be nice to have hd, but its just another way of getting more money out of you.

Chris1712 · 23 Nov 2009 at 11:45

AcidHell2 said:
What channels are on it?

BBCHD, ITVHD, C4HD and thats it on launch.

Aslong as its in Bristol in time for the World Cup, I will be ALL over this! I assume that they'll be pushing hard to get as much coverage as they can in time for the WC, it drives sales of tv's so much let alone with the potential of free HD viewing.

Glaucus · 23 Nov 2009 at 11:46

kevmeister said:
but its just another way of getting more money out of you.

what a silly statement. You don't have to get a new box and it's a way of getting HD. Wow you need new technology to take care of new technology. Wow how disguising of technology companies :rolleyes:

Chris1712 said:
BBCHD, ITVHD, C4HD and thats it on launch.

Aslong as its in Bristol in time for the World Cup, I will be ALL over this! I assume that they'll be pushing hard to get as much coverage as they can in time for the WC, it drives sales of tv's so much let alone with the potential of free HD viewing.

April 2010 is are turn on date for Hd, according to that website.

mrk · 23 Nov 2009 at 11:47

Hmm according to the PDF Hampshire does not get FreeviewHD until 2012 - what the crap :/

At least HD boxes will be as cheap as DVB-T ones now

Heliospherez · 23 Nov 2009 at 11:48

And as I said - there are free HD channels (BBCHD and ITVHD) on Freesat already - and you don't even need a box if you have a freesat enabled TV. Just can't see what the fuss is about, as there are already free HD channels available.

Chris1712 · 23 Nov 2009 at 11:49

AcidHell2 said:
April 2010 is are turn on date for Hd, according to that website.

Just seen that. Hopefully they're vaguely accurate with their prediction, least we've got a ~8 week buffer zone for them to mess it up and DVB-T2 equipment to drop.
If not, I'm praying that the bbc website will be streaming live in HD by then.

divosuk said:
And as I said - there are free HD channels (BBCHD and ITVHD) on Freesat already - and you don't even need a box if you have a freesat enabled TV.

But you do need a satellite dish. Being in rented accommodation the chances of dish installation are very slim for me!

FreeviewHD (DVB-T2) starting 2nd December

Capodecina