Cheap Freeview boxes get set for the switch
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If you want multi-channel telly without the hefty monthly subscription, you can get Freeview boxes for under £20, so you boost your channel count without a contract.
In 2012 the analogue terrestrial TV signal will be switched off, so to continue watching TV you'll need a digital receiver. Freeview is the cheapest way to get digital TV, though it's currently only available in some areas - check you can get Freeview before you buy.
Important! Ensure you know how to shop safely before trying these deals
Tips for shopping safely
Whether it's a retailer or restaurateur, airline or air-conditioner seller, computer shop or car rental company, there are always two main risks: either it's a dodgy company, or it's a legit company that has financial problems and goes bust.
The aim of these tips is to help you minimise the risks.
What happens if a company goes bust?
Quite simply, its customers are immediately transformed into creditors.
This hits hardest if you've ordered goods or tickets from them, and not had delivery, as then you are simply one of a line of people trying to get your money back out of the company's assets, and you usually get back much less than you paid in.
Even if you've had delivery, if the company you bought from goes under and there's a problem with the goods, it can mean you've no comeback.
While MoneySavingExpert.com endeavours to check deals are valid, we don't check companies' finances - even huge names like MFI and Woolies have folded - so it's very important you use the right strategies to stay protected where possible...
DO: Pay by credit card for goods over £100
Pay by credit card for something over £100, eg, flights, kitchens, sofas, and Section 75 laws super-charge your consumer rights.
Unlike debit cards, cheques & cash, pay in full or part (even just £1) on a credit card and by law the lender's jointly liable with the retailer. This means you have exactly the same rights with the card company as you do with the retailer, so if it goes bust, you can simply take your complaints there instead and get money back if no delivery.
Yet it's important you ALWAYS REPAY IN FULL each month, so there's no interest cost. See the Section 75 guide for a full guide and Cashback Credit Cards for how to earn cash on top too.
DO: Protect purchases under £100
Section 75 doesn't apply to purchases under £100, but there's still an option which can help. It's not a legal protection, just Visa rules, but it's a good secondary back up.
Spend on a Visa credit or debit card and, if the goods don't appear within 120 days, you can ask your bank to reclaim the cash from the seller's bank. See the Visa Chargeback part of the Section 75 guide for full details.
DON'T: Use unfamiliar sites without checking
Bogus websites are often set up to cash in on popular products like Ugg boots and Tiffany necklaces, so be wary if it's an unfamiliar site. And don't think that because it appears on a reputable search engine, that makes it a reputable site - always check.
DO: Check the site's legit
Most folks know to look for a security padlock on a website's bottom right, but that doesn't mean the site's legit, just that payment's secure.
To find out who registered the site and when, search the Whois database. Reputable firms should also appear on the Companies House site, the UK Govt's official companies register. Be very wary of businesses with just a PO BOX or email address.
Study the site's worldwide web ranking on Alexa. Anything in the top 100,000 means it's reasonably big - a good, though not foolproof, indication of legitimacy. Do a quick Google search for other shoppers' experiences.
DON'T: Let your anti-virus run out
Crucially, ensure your security's up-to-date - free software can be downloaded to your computer in five mins. Full details in the Free Anti-Virus Software guide.
DO: Know your distance selling rights
Many people are surprised to learn you've MORE rights buying online (or telephone/catalogue) due to the Distance Selling Regulations.
This gives a legal right to send most goods back within a week for a full refund (including outward delivery costs), even if there's no fault. You'll usually need to pay for the return delivery. Read Consumer Rights for a full guide.
However, of course this is balanced by the fact that, order online, and that automatically means a time gap between ordering and delivering - when the company has your money. So if it goes bust in that time, the distance selling rights don't help.
DO: Understand sometimes there's no protection.
Ultimately, there is always a risk that a company can go bust. If the above routes don't apply, then you have to make a decision about whether you're willing to take the risk of parting with your cash.
Don't be overly scared of this: every day we all make transactions based on trust, and this is part of that, but do balance up the amount you're spending against the risk. Don't give large amounts of money to a company you're not sure of.
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Currys Essentials Freeview box - £15 in-store
GO QUICK! Cheap in-store deal
If you can find one of Currys' "Essentials" set-top boxes, grab it - they're the cheapest we've found at £14.97, and are only available in-store. There is limited stock though, as they are an end of line product (find your nearest Currys).
The stores we asked had an average of 10 in stock, but it's worth contacting your local Currys and asking whether it has any of product 406344 in stock.
The box itself is pretty basic, like the others mentioned here, and has a remote, a seven-day TV guide, auto set-up, red button interactive services and one SCART socket. Having one SCART may not be ideal if you want to connect a DVD recorder to your set-top box.
Goodmans GDB11 box - £15.16 delivered
Cheap refurb box
The Goodmans GDB11 box is £10.98 plus £4.18 delivery from online electronics retailer, Ebuyer.
The box comes with a remote control, seven-day TV guide, two SCART sockets for easy connection, Dolby Digital sound and parental controls. However, it's important to note that this box is a refurbished model, and brand new models can be bought for only a few pounds more. Also, it only has a 90-day warranty, not the 12-month warranty that come with brand new products.
It is a "Grade A" refurb, which - on the Ebuyer site - means it's a reconditioned box that has been returned 30 days or less after its original purchase. With Grade A stock there is a chance that there may be minor cosmetic damage, though this will not affect the box's performance.
The fact that the box it refurbished has little impact on your consumer rights though - it must still obey the Sad Fart rules and be of a "Satisfactory quality, As Described, Fit for purpose and last A Reasonable length of Time".
Dion ECO Freeview box - £18 in-store
Cheapest in-store set-top box
If Tesco* is your nearest supermarket, this Dion ECO Freeview box comes with a remote control, 7-day EPG and automatic set-up, though it only has one SCART socket.
You can pick it up in-store for £17.97, or get it delivered for an extra £5.
Dreamax DTT5211 Freeview box - £18 in-store
Cheapest in-store set-top box
Or, if Asda* is closer to you, you can pick up a similar box for the same price - £17.97. Like the Tesco box, the Dreamax DTT5211 only has one SCART, and comes with a remote, a 7-day EPG and auto set-up.
If there is neither an Asda or a Tesco near you, the Asda box can be delivered for £2.95, making it cheaper than the Tesco Dion box.
Xenta Freeview PVR - £21.16 delivered
Cheap box with PVR functionailty
Available from Ebuyer for £21.16 delivered, this Freeview box has one SCART socket, a USB playback feature, a remote, a seven-day EPG and parental controls.
Though not technically a personal video recorder (PVR) like standard Freeview PVR boxes, the Xenta Freeview PVR is able to record TV straight to a USB or hard drive.
The box has no storage of its own, and only one tuner - so you can't watch one channel and record another. However, it's price is on par with boxes that have no recording functionality, so it's definitely worth considering.
As a rough guide, an 8GB portable USB stick (which can be bought for around £8) will store about four hours of standard definition TV. When the USB is full you can transfer your stored programmes onto your laptop/PC, or simply delete them. Though a little more hassle, this could save you forking out for a more expensive recorder or be used as a PVR in a second room.
The digital switchover
In 2012 all of the UK's TV will be delivered digitally, and all analogue terrestrial transmitters will be switched off. In terms of choice this is good news for most; after all, digital terrestrial's 50 channels beats analogue's 5 by a pretty safe margin, and most people that can get it are happy with the service they receive.
The analogue signal is being turned off according to ITV region - starting with the Border and Granada regions in 2008 and ending in 2012 with the Meridian, London, Tyne Tees, Ulster regions.
You can find out which area you're in by seeing which ITV news service you receive. Once you know, here's the official list of switchover times. It's hardly to-the-minute, but it should give you a rough idea of when you're area will be switching:
- Border - switched
- Granada - switched
- West Country - switched
- Wales - switched
- Scottish TV North - switched
- West - switched
- Scottish TV Central - switched
- Anglia - 2011
- Central - 2011
- Yorkshire - 2011
- London - 2012
- Meridian - 2012
- Tyne Tees - 2012
- Ulster - 2012
These switchover dates only correspond to the standard definition digital TV rollout - high-definition (HD) TV is being rolled out separately, with some areas already able to receive four HD channels.
