Humax HD Freeview set-top box goes on sale

Humax has launched the UK’s first high-definition (HD) digital set-top box for the highly anticipated Freeview HD service.

Freeview HD is already rolling out across the UK and is available now in the London and Granada regions. It will be available in other key cities by the end of March this year, including Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff and Manchester.

As well as letting people with an HD TV watch HD channels, Humax said that the HD-FOX T2 gives people access to a range of multimedia and home networking capabilities; including sending photos, videos and MP3s, directly to a TV to watch or listen to, via the USB port.

An Ethernet port enables users to share content with PCs and other devices through a home network and supports the future delivery of broadband content.

The set-top box, which costs around £179, also has an automatic detection feature. This means there is no need to manually update the device when new channels and services become available.

This is a useful feature because many Freeview viewers need to retune their equipment as HD TV on Freeview is rolled out out around the country.

The next region to be affected will be Sheffield on 17 March.

The company said that the device also includes a new-look HD eight-day electronic programme guide (EPG) as well as access to up to 50 subscription-free standard-definition digital TV channels, 24 radio channels and an interactive red button service.

The public can check to see when they will get Freeview HD by inputting their house number and postcode into Freeview's website coverage checker.

.