Peter asked

18th November 2011

I have a LG HDTV with Freeview and Freesat what sort of recorder do I need as my old VCR does not work now that we have gone digital?

You need a recorder appropriate to the method by which you wish to receive digital television, you won't be able to record from the Freeview or Freesat tuners built in to your HDTV. If you have an aerial connection a Freeview+ recorder will work and similarly if you have a satellite dish on your home a Freesat recorder will work. If you have both the choice is yours.

Tina asked

18th November 2011

I have just purchased Toshiba Full HD LCD TV with HD freeview (32BV801B) for my parents. They only have normal TV at the moment and a normal aerial, no Sky or anything like that and currently use a digibox for Freeview channels.

Will the new TV work on the existing aerial connection from the wall to TV or do we need to purchase special HD aerial to go from the wall to the TV?

Assuming you live in an area of the country where digital-switchover is complete and Freeview HD transmissions have begun:

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch

you're very unlikely to need a new aerial or cable, the existing one will likely work fine with the new HDTV.

Adam asked

18th November 2011

On the back of the Samsung V Box for Virgin Media there is an ethernet connection. Can you tell me if I can connect my Sony DVD player to this for upgrading?

The Ethernet port on the back of your Virgin Media box is only useful for interactive services on that device so won't I'm afraid, be much use to you upgrading the firmware on your DVD player.

Roger asked

18th November 2011

I have just had Freesat installed to 4 rooms, a Humax 500gb PVR with a double cable in lounge, a HD Humax box in 1 bedroom and 2 SD boxes in further bedrooms.

I am a little dissapointed in the lack of programmes compared to Freeview. My daughter says she cannot get VIVA on Freesat but can on Freeview.

I heard that the installation of a sky card would allow these channels and more - is this correct?

You can get Viva specifically and some additional channels on your existing equipment by obtaining a 'Freesat from Sky' viewing card from Sky. Their service is essentially run a feeder in to their subscription services in competition to Freesat do depending on how you feel about that it may get you a few extra channels:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freesat_from_Sky

Avril asked

15th November 2011

I have a Panosonic TH-37PX708 Plasma Viera bought in 2007. It is linked to a Freeview recorder but I cannot get HD! What am I doing wrong? I get no channel 50 like my neihgbours but it's pretty well same set up.

If sounds as though neither of your Freeview devices contain a high-definition capable tuner. Standard-definition Freeview receiversaren't forward compatible with the high-definition transmissions so in order to receive the Freeview HD channels you will need to buy either a Freeview HD set-top box or recorder.

Purvesh asked

15th November 2011

I'm about to purchase a Sony KDL40BX420 TV online and in its description it says built-in Freeview tuner. Does this mean that I have get a Freeview box to get the Freeview working or that the TV has Freeview in it and I just have to tune it in?

If the Freeview tuner is built in, all you have to do to watch Freeview is connect the HDTV up to an aerial and you will be able to watch whatever channels are available to you at your location. Looking quickly I haven't been able to confirm if the in-built Freeview tuneris able to receive the high-definition Freeview channels so that may be something to check if that's important to you before you buy.

Helen asked

15th November 2011

I have a Sony Bravia with Freeview and HD ready TV. When I try to watch the BBC HD on channel 50 tells me it is not available. To be able to watch HDTV do I need to have a satellite dish installed? Is there some other way to get this channel?

In addition to living in an area of the country where digital-switchover is complete and Freeview HD transmissions have begun, you also need a Freeview HD receiver of some sort too.

You can check on the progress of the digital-switchover here:

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch

If the Freeview receiver built in to your HDTV does not support the HD channels you will need to get a Freeview HD set-top box or recorder in order to be able to watch the high-definition channels.

Michael asked

15th November 2011

I would like to buy a small digital TV with Freeview. We are in an area which does not support Freeview HD. Will a Freeview HD box work without the HD channels, and will it pick up the HD channels when (and if) our area supports Freeview HD?

Yes a Freeview HD box will allow you to watch all the standard-definition channels in addition to the high-definition ones if and when they become available to you.