Difference between revisions 117482148 and 117482150 on dewiki

The '''Freebox''' is an [[Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line|ADSL]] [[modem]] that the French [[internet service provider]] named [[Free (ISP)|Free]] (part of the Iliad group) provides to its [[Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line|ADSL]] subscribers.

Its main use is as a high-end wireless modem (802.11g MIMO), but it also allows Free to offer added services using ADSL as support, like HD television (1080p), video   recording with timeshifting capabilities, digital radio and free telephony (via one or two RJ11 according to models). Because the use of english terms seems smart in french, such "box" is said to be a "triple play box" (internet, phone, TV).

The Freebox is lent to the subscribers, its value being 190 Euros according to the operator. It is delivered with a remote control, a multimedia box equipped with a 8250GB hard drive and accessories (cables and filters). According to [http://www.vnunet.fr/actualite/telecommunications/services_et_contenus/20050908005 this article], at the end of first semester 2005, more than 1.1 million subscribers were equipped with the Freebox. According to Company official's results publication, the 2 million of fFreebox were reached on September 2006. 

== V6 generation, Freebox Revolution ==
The sixth generation of the box is called Freebox Revolution or V6 (Version 6). It has been launched on the market in the beginning of 2011. It is composed of a pair of devices: the ADSL modem/router and the IPTV set-top-box/media-center. The design of the boxes is by [[Philippe Stark]].

[[File:1280pxFreeboxRevolutionAndFreeboxTV.jpg|thumb|The Freebox Server on top and the Freebox TVPlayer]]
[[File:FreeboxRevolutionRear.png|thumb|Rear of the server (up) and the Freebox TVPlayer (down)]]

===The Freebox Server device===
The Freebox server is at the same time the DSL modem, a router, a Wi-Fi hot spot, a [[Network-attached_storage|NAS]] (250 GB hard drive), a DECT base with up to 8 connected [[DECT]] phone sets and a digital recorder for [[Télévision_Numérique_Terrestre|TNT]] (Terrestrial Numerical Television) or TV over internet. As the firmware is updated, its functionalities increase. Most notably:
* An external hard drive can be connected to its USB and/or eSata port and the HD format is quite wide in range, supporting formats from Windows, Mac OS X or Linux OSes. Note that some channels cannot be recorded to an external hard drive due to copyright limitations.
* The server automatically detects file sharing through [[UPnP]] and can read videos from any computer of the local network with some limitations in file formats (mp4, H264, mp2, mkv...) though firmware updates may increase the number of readable file formats.
* The server's hard drive is available from the local network forto Macintosh, Linux and Windows computers. It can be made available from the outside if the password is strong enough.
* TV over IP is available in real-time to any computer on the local network, if the bandwidth is large enough. However, some channels are not available (the same that cannot be recorded on an external hard-drive).
* The server can be configured either as an ethernet router or a simple modem (bridge-mode).
* The server can handle 2 [[Wi-Fi]] networks: a private Wi-Fi network (possibly hidden) and a so-called "FreeWifi" network which allows for any Free subscriber to connect to the internet from a computer, a smartphone, etc.
* The server can be managed through its built-in web server. Also, TV recordings can be managed from the outside.
* Because of the changes in the hardware and capabilities, the monthly fee (initially 29.99€) increased by 6€ (ca. 8$ at the time of writing) which includes:
** Free calls to any mobile phone in France (calls to any landline phone in France were already included before).
** Free calls to any phone in France from any internet connection worldwide.
** Free calls to 104 countries (as of writing) as it was before.
** Renting the Freebox Revolution Server and its TV box.
* The server can act as a [[DECT]] base station for up to 8 DECT handsets.
* The server can access internet and email with no computer connected either with the remote control (which includes gyroscopic control) or from a USB-plugged keyboard.
* Games are available from the Free-Store and a USB gamepad is included.
* You can plug in a USB key with photos or music files.
* The server supports [[Session_Initiation_Protocol|SIP]] for [[VoIP]] phone calls. It allows subscribers to use their smartphone or a dedicated VoIP phone set to make calls at Freebox rates instead of using the cellular network.
* The server can run on optical fiber network where available.
* The server is now compatible with [[Apple_Inc.|Apple]]'s [[AirPlay]] and [[Time_Machine_(Mac_OS)|Time Machine]] technologies (firmware 1.1.0, August 2011).⏎


===The Freebox TV devicePlayer===
The Freebox TV devicePlayer is the second part of the "Freebox Revolution" offer. It is connected to the Freebox Server via [[Power line communication|PLC]] or by a direct ethernet cable if both devices are close enough. It is possible to rent another Freebox TV devicePlayer if one wants to connect another TV set in another room.

The Freebox TV device has:
* One Blue-Ray/DVD player (Blue-Ray playback requires HDMI connection) and an optical sound output.
* One USB (on the front) and one eSata plugs to connect hard drives (or joystick or keyboard for the USB part).
* One [[Télévision_Numérique_Terrestre|TNT]] plug.
(contracted; show full)* [http://dev.freebox.fr/ Official dev blog]

{{CATV}}

[[Category:Modems]]
[[Category:Digital video recorders]]

[[fr:Freebox]]