So, the first Freeview HD box is here in the form of the Humax HD-FOX T2.
It's hard to put a finger on why it's taken so long for Freeview to dip its toe in the sparkly, glistening waters of high definition.
After all, the BBC successfully trialled over-the-air digital HD broadcasts a couple of years ago.
But specification squabbles, bitrate and bandwidth issues, chipset shortages and, even, the de rigueur scapegoat in the form of the global recession, have all gotten in the way of the launch of Freeview HD.
Surely, though, with an exciting new technology, it's better to be late than never?
It could even be argued that, as the first to market, Humax, with its launch of the HD-Fox T2, isn't late at all.
The set-top-box specialist is, relatively-speaking, ground-breakingly early. It managed to rush its first DVB-T2 receiver onto the market a considerable while before the competition - a move that could see it gain a significant foothold in living rooms before the similarly spec'd hoards roll over the hills.
Admittedly, the manufacturer, like all others, missed the all important Christmas market, and that's a bone of contention for some.
But let's get things into perspective; there are three HD channels at the moment, BBC HD and simulcast versions of ITV HD and Channel 4 HD.
The compatible DVB-T2, MPEG-4 signal is currently being rolled out within the digital switchover plan, and by June about 50 per cent of us will be able to receive HD channels.
As of 8 April 2010, London Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, Bradford, Birmingham, Manchester and the West (Mendip) are already able to receive the transmissions. Other regions are going HD all the time - check the Freeview website to see if and when HD is coming to your area.
IN THE BOX: You get the T2, user guide, remote control with batteries, Scart cable and an HDMI cable
Freeview HD may only be a mere acorn at the moment, but it is to grow into a massive, World Cup-shaped oak tree rapidly.
It will be the only way to enjoy England's stuttering progress in South Africa in full hi-def (well, er, 1080i) over a simple rooftop aerial and for absolutely free.
Your comments (15) Click to add a new comment
djsgrant
April 18th 2011
15. I have one of these but still waiting for the TV Portal upgrade. No one at Humax can tell me when it will happen despite the HDR version release some time ago. At the moment this is still just an expensive freeview box.
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odinhouse
October 30th 2010
14. Hello can you tell me if the TV i have 32'' normal Type has to be HD ready or Not, i can pick up Normal freeview now, but i do not know if i buy a HD one that it may Not pick up HD, as the TV is NOT HD,
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neek
May 28th 2010
13. I have a Humax HD-Fox T2 Freeview HD receiver.
If you press the speaker? button on the remote, it shows that the box always defaults to 2 left audio channel mono every time you change program channels.
This can be heard audibly, when you change to L and R stereo the sound spreads out across the speakers, but always defaults to 2 left channel mono.
Very irritating!
Humax Customer Support tell me that they have known about this problem for a while and have had a lot of calls about it, but could not tell me when it would be fixed with a software update. I'm still waiting Humax!
There are many reviewers giving this box 4 and 5 star ratings but check users reviews before you buy it, I wish I had.
Having said that, I am keeping the box with all its failings as the World Cup football is on soon!
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costaki
April 25th 2010
12. Apart from some argument on price and lack of PVR facility this is an excellent performing product that competition will have to try extremely hard to match. On my 60inch full HD plasma The images from the HD (an upscaled SD) channels is very very good!
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bmrt
March 25th 2010
11. Unfortunately 007 1080p50 doesnt exsist, it's either 1080p25 or 1080p24.
You cant do 50 progressive frames in a UK TV second.
But do agree that the price is high and no PVR !!!
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gargunza
March 23rd 2010
10. I bought one from Argos on 11th march. Took it back on 22nd march, it had too many bugs.
1 It needed to be out of standby for 15 minutes before it stopped breaking up.
2 The "wide" button did not function.
3 The flap on the front had nothing behind it.
4 The sd picture on my panasonic recorder is better than sd on Humax.
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bradavon
March 4th 2010
9. No PVR, no Sale. Simples!
I'm getting Freeview HD for sure but will wait for the Humax PVR model.
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desb48
March 4th 2010
8. woulb great here as second region to become didital and as a disabled male i rely a lot on media an essential item
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iand
February 23rd 2010
7. Just got one of these. Picture quality is great on HD. Just remember to place it first in line with your anntena if you run another freeview box/PVR otherwise you may lose the HD channels!.
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technogran
February 21st 2010
6. A huge pity that you didn't include any SD picture grabs of this unit via the HDMI connection. All previous Humax units have used a rubbish HDMI upscaler and I for one would be very interested to see if they have changed that in this new unit for one of a better quality.
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bitsink
February 6th 2010
5. I happily watch Freesat HD because the signal strenth from the freeview transmitter is so pathetic. I will not consider buying anymore freeview kit till the "Digital Switchover" finally happens and probably even before that I will be getting all my TV from the net so will have no interest at all in freeview.
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boinng
February 5th 2010
4. I was pleasantly surprised by the price until I realised this wasn't a PVR but just a dumb receiver. £170 for a Freeview box is a big ask, HD or no HD - considering SD Freeview is now built into everything for free and HD PVRs must be only minutes around the corner, I just can't imagine any but the most foolish early adopter going for this.
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007
February 5th 2010
3. Shame they couldn't be bothered to add 1080p50 decoding to the Freeview HD spec :(
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agale
February 5th 2010
2. "It will be the only way to enjoy England's stuttering progress in South Africa"
That's a bit presumptuous. There's no guarantee we will make any progress.
Oh yes, we're going to win the World Cup. It was our idea after all.
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geoffc
February 5th 2010
1. According to the Humax web site these are still not available!
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