The start of TV switchover means that 50,000 viewers in digital blackspots such as Port Ellen, Campbeltown, Girvan and Bowmore can get Freeview for the first time, while picture quality will improve for many existing viewers.
The change requires every Freeview viewer to retune their TVs and boxes, in order to regain BBC TV channels which are missing this morning.

Switchover began in the early hours when analogue BBC Two was permanently turned off at the Darvel and Rosneath transmitters.
The process will be completed on 25 May, when the remaining analogue channels will be switched off. Further Freeview channels from STV, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 will then be available from local transmitters for the first time.

The Switchover Help Scheme is still welcoming applications from eligible older and disabled people to get help to convert one television, including a choice of equipment, installation and aftercare. For those who have already signed up, the Help Scheme call centre is available to help with any problems and can be contacted on 0800 40 85 900.
Paul Hughes, Digital UK National Manager for Scotland, said this morning: “Switchover is underway at the Darvel and Rosneath transmitters, and many people are receiving new channels.

“Anyone who hasn’t yet switched to digital should prepare for 25 May, when the last analogue channels will be permanently switched off. Our advice is: get ready now – don’t leave it until the last minute.”

Designed to receive & record Freeview HD services

Designed to receive & record Freeview HD services. DVB-T2/ DVB-T tuner supporting both HD and SD formats. 320GB HDD. Twin tuner support. Record two channels while watching a pre-record channel. Freeview+ HD support including recommendations and trailer booking. Series record. Friendly user interface for easy operation. 8 day EPG. HDMI output supports HD resolutions up to 1080p. 1080p50 upscaling for SD programs. Dolby Digital Plus via HDMI or optical digital output. Ethernet port for interactive services and future internet – based services. USB port for software upgrade.

• Contains 2 x DVB-T2 Tuners for High Definition Freeview playback and recording
• Massive range of Freeview channels available for free
• Pause and rewind live TV
• Watch one channel while you record another
• Record two channels while watching a previously recorded programme or live third channel (third channel limited)
• Recording Time equivalent to 500 hours in Standard Definition or 250 hours in High Definition
• 8 day EPG
• Series Link recording
• Picture in Picture feature to watch one channel and view another at same time
• Integrated Common Interface slot for additional Pay TV channels

The DHR8206U Freeview+ HD PVR Set Top Box is an exciting product that enables you to record not one but two Freeview channels at the same time onto the built-in Hard Disc of 1TB while watching a third thanks to it’s two digital tuners. It has an 8 Day Electronic Programme Guide which is easy to use so you don’t miss out on your favourite programmes while you’re out. It has some great features like Split Recordings, Picture and Text, High Definition for superior picture quality and Dolby Digital Plus for excellent sound quality, Auto re-tune, Power Saving Mode, and Picture in Picture which enables you to watch one channel while previewing another. This product also comes with one HDMI connection, two scart sockets, three USB connections, a Common Interface Slot enabling you to watch Pay TV channels and an Ethernet port so you can connect to the Internet.
A stylish and compact Set Top Box that has many great functions and features with versatile connectivity to enhance your viewing experience.

• Watch and record up to 50 Freeview Channels (Hard Disc Space: 320GB)
• Recording Time equivalent to 180hours in SD or 90hours in HD
• Two digital tuners allowing you to record two channels while watching a third
• Picture in Picture feature to watch one channel and view another at same time
• Integrated Common Interface slot for additional Pay TV channels

The DHR8203U has an 8 Day Electronic Programme Guide which is easy to use so you don’t miss out on your favourite programmes while you’re out. It has some great features like Split Recordings, Picture and Text, High Definition for superior picture quality and Dolby Digital Plus for excellent sound quality, Auto re-tune, Power Saving Mode, and Picture in Picture which enables you to watch one channel while previewing another. This product also comes with one HDMI connection, two scart sockets, three USB connections, a Common Interface Slot enabling you to watch future Pay TV channels and an Ethernet port so you can connect to your home network.
A stylish and compact Set Top Box that has many great funtions and features with versatile connectivity to enhance your viewing experience.

• Digital tuner DVB-T/T2
• Number of digital tuners 2
• Watch up to 50 free digital channels Yes
• Watch and record up to 50 Freeview channels Yes
• High definition Yes
• Supports interactive services Yes
• Digital text compatible Yes
• Electronic programme guide 8 days
• Hard disc space 320GB
• Hours recording time 180hrs in SD, 60hrs in HD
• Pause and rewind live TV Yes
• Watch one channel while you record another Yes
• Record two channels while you watch a previously recorded program Yes
• Record two channels while you watch a third live channel from a selected list Yes
• Split Recordings Yes
• Recommendation Booking Yes
• Trailer Booking Yes
• Series Link Yes
• Accurate Recording Yes
• Capable of displaying the EPG and a live image at the same time Yes
• Picture and Text Yes
• Viewing card required for additional channels Yes
• Auto-retune Yes
• Power save mode Yes
• Guidance Yes
• Dolby Digial, Dolby Digital Plus Yes
• PIP(Picture in picture) Yes
• Fully interactive services available Yes
• Total scart sockets 2
• Total HDMI sockets 1
• Ethernet Connection Yes
• RGB enabled scart socket 1
• Audio and video connection Yes
• Optical connection Yes
• RF in connections Yes
• USB connection 3
• CA slot built-in Yes
• RF out connections Yes
• Remote control Yes
• HDMI Cable included Yes
• Basic scart lead included Yes
• Batteries included Yes

This recorder from Humax is the long anticipated recorder from renowned digital specialists Humax and arrives hot on the heels from the 5 start rated Humax HD-FOX T2 which is single HD tuner set top box with no hard drive.

The Humax HDR-FOX T2 boasts twin HD tuners, 500GB hard drive and is comparable to the Sky+ recorder in features but offers Free HD from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 via your normal TV aerial with no subscription or contract.

With the HDR-FOX T2 you get all the benefits of digital broadcasting, including the ability to record, pause and replay live TV. But this clever set-top box offers much more, such as a 500GB hard drive that lets you store a huge library of your favourite programs, as well as your own home-made films, photo albums and other digital media. With its double digital tuners you can watch and record two different channels at the same time, while its 1080p upscaling means that it even improves the visual quality and definition of standard, non-HD programming.

• Twin Tuner Freeview HD Terrestrial PVR
• Integrated hard disk drive with Massive 500 GB capacity
• Free HD channels from BBC, ITV and Channel 4
• No Subscription, just plug and watch HD TV
• Plus up to 50 digital TV channels and 24 radio stations
• 8-day on screen electronic programme guide
• Interactive TV service via MHEG
• Dolby Digital Pulse Audio Output
• Parental Control
• Subtitle and Audio Description
• HDMI output (1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576p, 576i)
• 1080p upscaling
• Fully compliant to UK DVB-T2 profile as well as DVB-T
• Standby power : less than 1W
• Record 2 channels at the same time
• 2 hours Live TV buffering/ Delayed Recording
• Series Recording and Recommendation
• Recording up to 300 hours (Recording up to 125 hours for HD contents)
• Play media contents in external HDD or memory through USB(MP3, JPG, XViD)
• Internet TV Portal (Sky Player, Catch Up TV, Internet Radio and etc are available) future upgrade*
• Home Networking
• CI+ slot
• 380 x 55 x 252mm (W/H/D)
• 2.8kg

* Not available at launch, in development.

• Freeview+ HD
• Pause and rewind Live TV
• Built-in 500 Gb hard drive
• Easy to install and use
• Twin Tuner – watch one channel while recording another
• Parental Control

The RTI90-500 gives you access to over 50 TV and 24 radio channels, including HD channels from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, giving you more choice, and if you have a HD Ready TV you can upscale your picture to 1080p giving you clearer, sharper images. The 320GB hard disk drive means that you never have to miss your favourite programme again, just set up your recording from the TV guide by pressing the record button, you can even record a series at the touch of a button. With the Twin Tuner you can watch one digital channel while recording another, or record two channels simultaneously whilst watching a previous recording.

• Pause, rewind and record Live TV
• Simultaneous viewing of one channel
• and recording another channel
• Build a library of your favourite shows
• HDMI™ upscale to 1080p
• HD viewing and recording
• Series link
• 8 Day Programme Guide
• Favourite Lists
• Dolby Digital Plus
• Parental Control
• Teletext and Subtitles
• Audio Description Option
• Transmission standards: DVB-T / DVB-T2
• Video Decoding: MPEG-4 / MPEG-2
• Audio Decoding: Stereo 2.0 / Dolby Digital / Dolby Digital Plus
• Outputs: 1 x SCART, 1 x HDMI, RF-IN / RF-OUT
• Data Ports: Ethernet 10 / 100BT, USB 2.0 Host

Sagemcom Website Product Page

The HDT8520 has an 8 day EPG and supports series link and Dolby Digital audio & 1080p video quality with HDMI cable included, the HDT8520 also boasts remarkably low power consumption in both active and standby modes and has been designed to function almost silently. None of the whirring noise so often associated with recording devices.

The Phillip’s also has the capability to pause live TV or make an Instant Jump or Instant Replay at the touch of a button with its 3-hour time shift buffer.

Phillips Website Product page

• Easily record in HD (one-touch recording, 8-day EPG, series recording)
• 3-hour time shift buffer to pause & resume live TV at the touch of a button
• 1080p via HDMI for superb HD picture clarity & sharpness
• Twin tuners to watch one channel while simultaneously recording another
• Striking design with ultra-quiet functioning, even when recording
• Technical Details
• Freeview+ HD recorder with integrated 500GB hard disk drive
• Digital Reception: DVB-T2, DVB-T, MHEG with interactive channel
• Broadcast Resolution: 720p, 1080i, upscale to 1080p via HDMI
• Dolby Digital 5.1 audio output
• Aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3 Letterbox
• Automatic adaptation to TV set preferred resolution
• Automatic installation of up to 1000 channels
• Parental control (Child lock)
• USB 2.0 output for software update
• Hard disk recording capacity: up to 250 hours for SD & up to 150 hours for HD
• Pause Live TV with 3 hour time shift buffer
• Up to x1/4 slow motion and x128 fast forward / rewind
• Simultaneous Record & Playback
• Additional hard disk technology:Instant Jump, Instant Replay, Time status bar, HDD
  space used indicator, Auto resume, Trick mode
• Convenience: 8-day Program Guide, Automatic programme list update, Audio description,
  Auto resolution adjustment, Auto power off, Multiple subtitles supported, TV and Radio mode
• Extra low noise levels in both active and recording modes: Lw (A)= 27.8 dB(A)
• Power consumption: <15 W active, <1W standby
• Dimensions: 240 x 65 x 210 mm
• Weight: 1.75kg
  
  

Perfect digital tramsmission for picture and sound can be achieved via the HDMI output and through audio optical. The T2 Zapbox also receives SD programming as well as HD and has a low power standby rating of less than 1 watt. Resolution formats are 1080i, 1080p, 7620p,576p

• Allows you to store up to 200 TV and Radio channels
• Quick and extensive 7 Day EPG
• Dolby Digital + Optical Audio out
• Automatic and manual channel search
• 1080p,1080i,720p 576p HD resolution format supported.
• Technical Details
• DVB T2 Terrestrial
• 220/240V ± %10 AC 50/60Hz
• Remote Control 5
• Demodulation QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, 256QAM with 1k, 2k, 4k, 8k, 16k, 32k FFT mode
• Frequency Band UHF/ VHF
• Channel BW 8 MHz /7MHz
• Profiles MPEG-4 H.264/AVC HP@L 4.0, MP@L 4.0 (HD)

Appealing styling; good features; fresh-looking interface; future ability to record to USB storage; picture quality can be stunning.

If high-definition viewing is a must for you, but you can’t afford or don’t want Sky+HD or Virgin HD, then the Humax HD-FOX T2 might be the piece of hardware you’re looking for. HD pictures can look stunning given the right input, but there isn’t much material out there at the moment, making the asking price of £180 quite steep. Still, the box itself can’t really be faulted, apart from a few tiny bugs, and it gets our seal of approval for those who yearn for Freeview HD.

The full review can be seen here on the CNET website

Humax HD-Fox T2 Price Comparison

Freeview HD is being switched on in advance and in parallel with the digital switchover rollout which is currently well under way and will be fully completed by 2012 across the whole of the UK.

See our When Can I get it? section to see when Freeview HD will be available in your area it might be sooner than you think and might be before digital switchover is complete.

Thousands of homes in the UK currently have HD ready televisions and still only watch television in standard definition. With Freeview HD you will be able to watch your favorite programmes in High Definition for free with no contract and no subscription costs through your normal TV aerial.

Freeview HD has already started. London covering Preston, Blackburn, Bolton, Manchester and Liverpool, Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, Bradford and Birmingham will receive Freeview HD by the end of March 2010. A full commercial Freeview HD launch is planned for Spring 2010.

Manchester, Cardiff and Swansea will receive Freeview HD by March 2010 as they go through digital switchover.

If you have already been through switchover, you’ll be able to get Freeview HD before the end of November 2010.

It has already been announced that the five terrestrial broadcasters will provide High Definition channels:

• BBC HD
• ITV HD (early 2010)
• Channel 4 HD (early 2010)
• S4C (early 2010 – Wales only)
• Five HD – to be added by late 2010

Remember: To receive Freeview HD you must wait until Freeview HD has been enabled in your area this could happen before your official digital switchover date as the Freesat HD rollout has been accelerated. See our when can I get it? section to see when your area is due to to be enabled.