If you want more choice, or can’t get digital TV any other way, Freesat could be the solution. George Cole explores the options

Some of the stations on Freesat

If you want to receive digital TV, there are several options, and one is the Freesat service run by the BBC and ITV. It offers around 140 TV and radio channels, some of which are in high definition.

What’s more, once you’ve paid for the hardware and dish installation, there are no additional costs, like monthly
subscription fees.

Freesat is available in almost all homes. So, if you simply want more choice or live in an area where you can’t receive digital TV via a rooftop aerial or cable, Freesat could be the answer.

You can receive the BBC/ITV Freesat service in a number of ways, including:

• A set-top box that receives standard-definition pictures – prices start from around £49
• A set-top box that receives both standard and high-definition pictures. Prices start from around £150
• A Freesat+ digital recorder that records standard and high-definition channels
• A TV set with a Freesat tuner built-in
• A Blu-ray Disc video player with a built-in Freesat tuner.

What’s on the market

Bush BFSAT01SD £49.99
A budget set-top box that includes a seven-day EPG for planning your viewing over the forthcoming week. It can also receive interactive services. www.bushdigital.co.uk

Bush BFSAT01HD £119.99
This set-top box can receive both standard and high-definition TV channels on Freesat. It has a seven-day EPG and can access interactive services. www.bushdigital.co.uk

Goodmans GFSAT100SD £70
Another budget set-top box with a seven-day EPG. It’s also energy-efficient, consuming less than three watts of power in standby mode. www.goodmansdigital.co.uk

Goodmans GFSAT200HD £150
With this set-top box, you can view high-definition channels and plan your TV viewing for the week using the EPG. www.goodmansdigital.co.uk

Grundig GUFSAT01SD £50
The GUFSAT01SD offers one of the cheapest ways of getting into Freesat. Of course, at this price level, you can’t access Freesat’s HD channels, but there are around 100 standard-definition channels to choose from. www.grundigdigital.co.uk

Grundig GUFSAT01HD £150
As would be expected with a set-top box that offered HD picture quality, this product also offers 5.1-channel sound and has an HDMI socket. It also uses less than three watts of power in standby mode. www.grundigdigital.co.uk

Humax Foxsat-HD £115
A set-top box that can receive high-definition channels, the Foxsat-HD also caters for users of audio description services, which enable visually impaired people to follow programmes. It also offers a one-touch subtitle function, and it uses less than one watt of power in standby mode. 0844 669 8800 www.humaxdigital.com

Humax Foxsat-HDR £245
A Freeview+ digital recorder with an enormous 320GB hard disk drive that can store up to 80 hours of high-definition programmes or 200 hours of standard-definition video. It can also pause and rewind live broadcasts. 0844 669 8800 www.humaxdigital.com

Panasonic TX-L37G10B  £1000
With this 37in LCD set, you get both Freesat and Freeview tuners built-in, so there’s no need to connect digital TV boxes to it, although there are four HDMI sockets for a Blu-ray player, games console and other devices.  0844 844 3852 www.panasonic.co.uk

Panasonic P42V10B £1100
A 42inc plasma TV that offers both Freesat and Freeview. It has three HDMI sockets and a slot for an SD memory card, used by many digital cameras and camcorders. It also offers VieraCast, a service which enables the set to be connected to your broadband internet service for accessing selected websites. 0844 844 3852  www.panasonic.co.uk

Panasonic DMR-BS850 £950
Not all Blu-ray Disc products are the same. The DMR-BS850 can record Freesat programmes on to its 500GB hard disk drive, which stores up to 77 hours of high-definition programmes or 215 hours of standard-definition pictures. 0844 844 3852  www.panasonic.co.uk.

Prices are approximate, so shop around.