2025 updates

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Freeview is on a very sad decline.
I'm trying to get this site back into shape.
Would a "contact your MP" function be useful - based on your Freeview transmitter?
Ofcom Report: Future of TV distribution.
Help with Freeview, aerials?
Sunday, 1 June 2025
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Constance Hawthorne7:50 PM
Alresford
Chris.SE: Not exactly, my Sky Glass has an aerial port, but it only really gives you basic Freeview with no red text button services. Now, being the good old Freeview geek I am, I generally prefer Freeview set top boxes (generally the older one with MHEG support) where it is more convenient I also plan on viewing the BBC RB secret menu, because you know, BBC early widescreen tests testcard. I do already have an aerial installed as I'm not the first person to live in my house, although the cables that feed the aerial wall plug needs to be fixed, and I'd rather have a professional repair it because generally don't have the tools (I have the technical and safety knowledge, though, but I'm not qualified) to do, and even if I was qualified, I don't really have the time to since I have to look after my three children.
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Constance's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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Constance Hawthorne7:51 PM
Alresford
(And yes, I do realise I made some spelling mistakes, please excuse me.)
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Constance's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Tuesday, 3 June 2025
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Chris.SE1:07 AM
Constance Hawthorne:
Hi Constance, ah, I see your "predicament". But I have one bit of sad news, the tescard is not on the secret menu anymore - well I can't get it on my LG that has MHEG support, and I know others can't get it either.
I think your best bet will be to look on places like eBay for a suitable box, especially if you can find one with MHEG-IC (so it will have WiFi) which means you can get the Freeview Streamed Channels.
I don't thing there's any new/current boxes out there that might be suitable, but then I haven't double checked.
I've not had any boxes since DSO days, so don't really have any idea what's out there any more.
I don't know if there are any that have MHEG and HbbTV to the latest standard as there's a couple of streamed channels now using the latest HbbTV standard and not MHEG :(
My LG doesn't have the latest HbbTV so I can't get those particular ones.
As a Freeview "geek", you will of course know to check out the spec. of whatever you see thoroughly and ask the seller questions about any detail not given as well as try and check a manufacturer's website. Regrettably these days I'm finding tech info about older equipment of all sorts is becoming more difficult/impossible to find, very annoying!
If I have a moment I'll try and do a search. Let me know if you find something. I'll post if I think I've found something that may interest you.
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Constance Hawthorne8:34 PM
Alresford
Chris.SE: No problem. I may be fairly young and I may have only been in this weird Freeview geek club for a few years, but I've seen worse. I'm at least glad I got to see the testcard just once when I was 9. (phew, I don't think that decade and a half since then would go this quick) I'll try to find something that fits my taste best, just as long as I get to have MHEG Red Button.
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Constance's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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Constance Hawthorne8:46 PM
Alresford
I'll see if I can dig out some stuff from 15+ years ago back to the young days of me and Max's Freeview geekness that might be stuffed somewhere, and I'll see if that'll help me find a good box or anything.
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Constance's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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