Metropol

Okay, I think we're going with Bail's Humax.

Is it difficult to install a minidish yourself? Professional installation is about £100

It isn't really. However you'll need masonry drill bits that are long enough to go right through the walls of the house and you'll need two holes as it requires two feeds from the LNB. The alignment will be a bit of trial and error, though Humax boxes have a decent enough signal meter in them.

To be honest you'll be better getting someone to do it, find a CAI approved independent dealer near you.

Bail wrote:May i recommend this:



It's the latest (only at the time) HDR freesat box, and its amazing. Think Sky+ just without Sky bills. It allows recording of BBC and ITV HD (the latter being exclusive to freesat) as well as any other SD channel. Whilst the channel selection is a little light they are adding new features all the time, C4HD and the iPlayer coming soon. It's a great way to get HD for low cost.

My grandfather in law has one.

I have the Foxsat HD(not the HDR) and I love it. Got it connected to a 22" monitor in my room, and whilst I probably don't appreciate the HD as much as someone with a larger screen, there is a noticeable difference. I particularly like it for the extra radio stations (as I can't receive DAB).

As for installation, I already had the dish so it was just a case of replacing the LNB and laying some cabling which wasn't too difficult.

Thanks, marksi.

I'm going to sound like a right cheapskate now, but, couldn't one just buy a £50 Sky HD box and receive all the free to view channels on that, including the HD ones? Will the box work on its own in such a way, without being subscribed to any of their services?

AFAIK to activate the recording features you will have to subscribe at a minimum of £16.50/month

Edit: Oh and to get the £50 price you have to subscribe, for 12 months, to the HD Pack which is an extra £10 a month

ITV HD can now be manually tuned in via Sky HD for people with the new EPG (i.e. me!)

Just noticed that SuperFi are taking pre-orders for a freeview HD box for £179, which isn't as bad as I was anticipating for a launch price.

If anyone is interested:
http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page ... ct_ID/6079

I'm getting a demo of Freeview HD later in the week with a bit of luck. If there's anything interesting I'll report back.

Well! The humax box is quietly now available http://www.amazon.co.uk/Humax-HD-FOX-T2 ... =de_a_smtd

I am a little tempted to sell my xbox 360 and get one, since the above can also stream video over a network and that is all I use the xbox for (forgive me, superior geeks).

I noticed a question in The Other Place that asked if Freeview HD viewers would be "shortchanged" when more services are added. The answer is no. The current picture quality will be maintained.