freeview HD

[jonti007]

I have just bought a new tele, it is Full HD and it has built in freeview. Does this mean that I can receive freeview HD channels without an External box???
I am not sure what the difference is between HD Ready and Full HD.

[DOUGALMCD]

You just have to connect digital aerial and tune channels. Full HD is 1080p all to do with picture quality but most things aren't at that standard yet.

[little pob]

Full HD = 1080p resolution
HD Ready = 720p resolution

Freeview = DVB-T (standard def/576i)
FreeviewHD = DVB-T2 (has all the standard freeview channels, plus up to 5 HD channels)

As DOUGALMCD suggests, if you're not sure you only need hook up the TV to an aerial. If you don't get channels 50-54, you haven't got a DVB-T2 tuner in your TV.

[jamjakhay]

it has to have built in freeview hd

[nibblitz]

Not all Full HD TV's actually have a HD tuner, they might only have a standard definition Tuner.

DVB-T is standard definition tuner.
DVB-T2 is a HD tuner.

Full HD TV can support 576i, 720p, 1080i & 1080p
HD Ready TV can support 576i, 720p & 1080i

Freeview standard def' is 576i
Freeview HD is broadcast at 1080i
Bluray HD is 1080p

So you'll only ever see Full 1080p HD from a Bluray movie, not TV broadcasts.

[digicon]

Not all Full HD TV's actually have a HD tuner, they might only have a standard definition Tuner.

DVB-T is standard definition tuner.
DVB-T2 is a HD tuner.

Full HD TV can support 576i, 720p, 1080i & 1080p
HD Ready TV can support 576i, 720p & 1080i

Freeview standard def' is 576i
Freeview HD is broadcast at 1080i
Bluray HD is 1080p

So you'll only ever see Full 1080p HD from a Bluray movie, not TV broadcasts.

FreeviewHD has been broadcasting the occasional 1080p program for quite sometime now, so its not only blu ray where you will see 1080p

Published 19.05.11

A move by the BBC to begin broadcasting some material on Freeview HD in 1080p (progressive) rather than the more usual 1080i (interlaced) mode has caused audio dropout problems on some TVs.

We were alerted to the problem by poster Hugh1 on our Forums, who has experienced intermittent sound on his 2010 Sony TV since the Beeb made a software upgrade to the encoder it uses for Freeview HD transmissions in March.

A similar complaint has arisen on Sony UK's Forum, where poster Chris has highlighted the same problem on his Sony KDL-EX503, and the BBC has received additional complaints.

Writing in his Research & Development blog, the BBC's Ant Miller provides an explanation of the changes made by the Beeb after the software upgrade on March 22-23.

"The Freeview HD platform has always been specified to provide a 1080p25 capability. This is why set-top boxes are mandated to have a 1080p50 output to enable seamless up-conversion to a mode which is guaranteed to be present in all display devices.

"A great deal of material is shot natively at 1080p25 and there are significant advantages in maintaining 1080p25 through to the viewer's display.

"Within a single programme interlaced may be used for moving credits, cross-fades and studio shots whereas progressive may be used for location shot material. Up until now this capability has not been exploited and 1080p25 material was encoded using a 1080i25 encoding mode.

"But after a software upgrade on the 22nd/23rd March the HD encoder supporting BBC HD on Freeview HD has been set-up to automatically detect progressive material and change encoding mode appropriately.

"The encoded bitstream can only change at each GOP boundary to ensure decoders maintain a consistent display. This means that each coded video sequence either contains interlaced or progressive picture struct values within the bitstream.

"The transitions between interlaced and progressive modes are entirely dependent upon how a programme has been made."

It is this auto-switching between progressive and interlaced modes that seems to be causing the audio dropout.

BBC viewers responding to Miller's blog have experienced picture and sound dropouts, particularly on some Sony TVs such as the KDL-40EX403 and KDL-37EX403, making some programmes "unwatchable".

Have you experienced this problem? If so, let us know in the comments box below.

[nibblitz]

Well well, I never knew that... Cant say Ive ever noticed any HD channels switching between 1080i and 1080p.. Mind you, I hardly watch Freeview, builtin Freesat tuner on TV is the default in our house, followed by the Tivo box, then the Openbox... I'll check out the Freeview later..

[digicon]

Nib


you only ever catch the odd show broadcast in 1080p and most of it is on the BBCHD channel, seen 1 or 2 myself only documentary's mind.

[cactikid]

dont have freeview but see the odd 1920 x 1080 and that was on stv hd and itvhd was lower,nothing is ever straight forward

[jonti007]

Thanks for all your comments, lots of info there. I have a HD ready tv with a freesat box in another room, and I never rated the hd on that until the BBC started 24 HD channels for the Olympics and boy the definition is stunning. So the technology is there but we only get it some of the time.