Difference between revisions 117482151 and 117482152 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).

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 250GB 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 Freebox 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 Player]]
[[File:FreeboxRevolutionRear.png|thumb|Rear of the server (up) and the Freebox Player (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.
(contracted; show full)
** 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).

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===The Freebox Player===
The Freebox Player 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 Player 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.
* One remote control. By contrast with most concurrent devices, the remote control uses Wi-Fi instead of infra-red. This allows for several softwares to control the Freebox TV from a smartphone or from a computer and specifications are available on the internet.
* Every external device connected to the Freebox TV is available to that device only but the devices connected to the Freebox Server are available to every Freebox TV connected.

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== V5 generation ==
[[Image:Freebox_  V5_  rear.jpg|thumb|Freebox V5 Multimedia element]]
[[Image:Freebox_  V5_  adsl_  rear.jpg|thumb|Freebox V5 Network element]]
The Freebox version 5 was released in April 2006 and expanded the possibilities of the modem. It is now divided into two boxes connected together via high-speed Wifi [[MIMO]] or [[Power line communication|PLC]]: the first box provides Internet access, Wifi connection and a phone line; the separated box is a [[digital video recorder]], with advanced TV features like timeshifting, or [[video on demand]]. It also supports Video Games, either specifically designed for(contracted; show full)* [http://floss.freebox.fr Source code of the GPL software ran by the Freebox]

{{CATV}}

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

[[fr:Freebox]]