As mentioned, some Freeview boxes combine these two services – they offer you direct over-the-air channels, as well as catch-up apps that use your broadband connection, saving you a box. When it asks for your PIN, enter the Master PIN and then follow the instructions to create a new one. The remote can also be used as a Smart Remote, by teaching it your TV’s basic functions – on/off, volume control and input selection. If you don’t mind that, and you’re willing to pay extra for all the bells and whistles – this is a great Freeview device, with a Netflix app as the cherry on top. These set-top boxes let you record programmes and also give you a smoother way to enjoy all the Freeview channels you could want.

They also underestimate the convenience and control of having a Freeview HD box, particularly if you’re not willing or able to splash out on a subscription TV package from Virgin or Sky. These additional channels are optional, and your Freeview box will still be able to receive standard major TV channels, including from the BBC, ITV and UKTV.Until now, the minimum support level for a device bearing the official Freeview logo was Freeview HD – either with or without recording capabilities. If you’d like some more information on some of the features, you’ll find a quick FAQ at the bottom of this page discussing indoor aerials, internet connections and how to hook up these new boxes to older, non-HD and analogue TVs. As long as you remain subscribed to Sky, you will be able to stream most (but not all) Freeview channels via broadband on those devices. Some of the channels you can find on Freeview are all the BBC channels (including HD), ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, The Food Network, CBS Action, QVC and many others. It's got all the major catch-up services on board and it's easy to set up your recordings, which is really all you need.

Are you looking for the simplest way to pause and record live TV, or perhaps you'd like to catch up with the very best of British TV via on demand? The Humax FVP-5000T will give you excellent picture quality, several Smart TV apps (including Netflix), and a huge hard drive for recording your favourite programmes (There’s a 500GB version, a 1TB version, and even a 2TB version).Freeview, first established in 2002, is the United Kingdom’s digital terrestrial television platform.