Of course! All the digital video recorders featured on this site are available for use in the UK without any form of subscription. Depending upon the type of recorder you choose, it will use either the digital terrestrial freeview service, or the similar free satellite based service – freesat.

With freeview you may need a new aerial installing if you cannot receive freeview television already, or a satellite dish installing for freesat if you don’t currently have one. Once you can receive the signals there are no monthly subscriptions, just free to view television that you can pause, rewind and enjoy until your heart’s content.

In addition to the free programming, some systems will support an optional top card to allow you to pay for premium content.

Unlike freeview, certain freesat channels are available in High Definition (HD) . These high definition channels require more powerful technology and use more hard drive space when recording. As a result, many HD freesat digital video recorders support blu-ray playback due to the similar technology requirements.

Yes, of course. Sky+ is just a digital video recorder like all of the products on this website, sharing the same time-shifting benefits. The only difference between the systems is that the Sky box is required for viewing Sky’s channels.