Freeview Recorder Boxes: What to Look For Before You Buy One

A Freeview recorder is a set top box with a hard drive inside it. It lets you pause live television, record programmes to watch later and often connects to the internet for catch up apps. For a lot of homes it is still the simplest way to never miss a programme. For others, streaming apps have made it unnecessary. This guide helps you work out which camp you are in, and what to look at if you do buy one.

What a recorder actually does

Plug an aerial into the box, and the box handles the channels. You can pause a live programme and carry on in a few minutes. You can set a recording from the guide, or tell the box to record a whole series. Recordings sit on the internal drive until you delete them.

Most modern units also offer catch up apps through a WiFi or Ethernet connection, which gives you the best of both: the reliability of broadcast channels with the convenience of streaming.

Storage: how much do you need

Hard drives come in sizes such as 500 gigabytes, one terabyte and two terabytes. As a rough guide, an hour of standard definition television uses around a gigabyte, and an hour of HD uses several. A 500 gigabyte drive holds a good amount of casual viewing. A one terabyte drive suits a family that records daily. A two terabyte drive suits someone who keeps series for months.

Think about how you actually watch. If you watch everything within a week, a smaller drive is fine. If you keep recordings for later, buy bigger.

Tuners: the number that matters most

The number of tuners decides how many things the box can do at once. One tuner means you can record or watch, but not both different channels at once. Two tuners let you watch one channel while recording another. Three or four lets you record two programmes and watch a third, or record several at once.

If more than one person in the house uses the box, aim for at least two tuners. It prevents the classic argument about who has stopped whose recording.

Connectivity and apps

• HDMI output. Almost every box has one. Check whether it supports 4K if your TV is 4K and you want that.
• WiFi or Ethernet. Needed for catch up apps and on screen guides on some models.
• Apps. Look for iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, My5 and the extras you use. Some boxes are limited.
• Remote and menus. Read reviews. Slow menus are a daily irritation.

Should you buy a recorder at all

There are good reasons to buy one. You want a reliable set of channels that work when your internet fails. You like a tidy listing of what is on and what is recorded. You have an older TV with no apps and want a simple fix.

There are also good reasons not to. If you watch mostly on demand, a recorder spends most of its time idle. A modern smart TV or a stick covers catch up. Some households find recorded programmes quickly expire from the catch up services and prefer to keep them.

What about recording on a streaming service

Recording on IPTV or streaming apps depends on the service. Some provide time shifted viewing, which means you can go back a number of hours or days and watch a programme without having recorded it. Others offer recording as an extra. If recording matters to you, check this before paying. It is worth asking about during a trial, because the answer is easier to test than to read about. You can request a free 24 hour trial and see for yourself.

The aerial question again

A Freeview recorder still needs an aerial. If you have none, a recorder is the wrong purchase. Our guide on whether you need an aerial for Freeview explains why, and the aerial checker gives a quick yes or no for your set up.

A buying checklist

1. Decide how many programmes you record at once, and buy that many tuners.
2. Choose a drive size to match how long you keep recordings.
3. Check the apps you want are on the box.
4. Confirm it connects to your TV the way you want.
5. Read recent reviews on menu speed and reliability.
6. Check the warranty and how to reach support.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an internet connection for a Freeview recorder?

Not to record from the aerial. You need it for catch up apps and software updates on models that have them.

Can I record two channels at once?

Only if the box has at least two tuners. Check the specification before buying.

Is a Freeview recorder better than streaming?

Neither is better overall. A recorder is steady and works without internet. Streaming is flexible and needs no extra box.