Freeview HD launched in December 2009, but there was one big problem – you couldn’t buy a receiver.
Fortunately, that changed this weekend, when the first Humax Freeview HD boxes started to appear in the wild.
Yes, it’s now possible to get your hands on a Freeview HD set-top box – although HD is only being transmitted in the Granada and London areas at the moment.
The Humax Fox T2 HD
The new box supports DVB-T2, the format used for Freeview HD. It has an 8 day programme guide, auto-updates to new channels, supports digital audio, has HDMI and 2 SCART sockets and a digital audio output.
Those looking to get a little more from their kit will be happy to know that the Fox HD T2 has a USB socket which allows you to connect external storage (hard drive or USB stick) for playback of xVid video, MP3 audio as well as JPG images. The T2 also comes with an Ethernet socket that will shortly be able to connect to your Internet router to give you online services including the BBC iPlayer catch-up TV service
The price?
Considering your average standard-definition Freeview box is around £25, the RRP of the Humax HD T2 of £179 is likely to make a few people gulp (Sky’s HD box, the Sky+ HD box, is currently free, has a Sky+ recorder and can get BBC HD without an HD subscription).
Still, this new Humax looks to be a very capable Freeview HD receiver, and comes from a good pedigree of Freeview and Freesat boxes. We’re reasonably sure this will be a hit.
Available instore at some John Lewis branches. It’s also listed at Argos.co.uk ,
Very.co.uk (cheapest at the time of writing) and
Play.com.
More coverage of the Humax T2 in a podcast update due in the next 24 hours!
UPDATE: Podcast First Look released! Humax HD Fox T2 First Impressions