Difference between revisions 117482166 and 117482167 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 fixed and wireless modem (802.11g MIMO), but it also allows Free to offer additional services using ADSL as a distribution medium , like IPTV including high definition (1080p), Video recording with timeshifting capabilities, [[Digital Radio]] and free [[Telephone]] service (via one or two RJ11 according to models).RJ11 (the first version came with 2 RJ11 but only one was ever activate)

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 Fr(contracted; show full)
* The server's hard drive is available from the local network to Macintosh, Linux and Windows computers. It can be made available from the outside if the password is strong enough.
* IPTV is available in real-time to any computer on the local network, if the bandwidth is large enough and the number of simultaneous channels does not exceed 2. However, some channels are not available (
the samemost of that cannot be recorded on an external hard-drive).
* The DSL modem router can be configured either as an Ethernet router or a simple DSL modem (bridge-mode).
* The server handles 23 [[Wi-Fi]] networks: a private Wi-Fi network (possibly hidden) and a so-called "FreeWifi" network which creates a [[Hotspot (Wi-Fi)|Hotspot]] and allows any other Freebox customer in proximity to connect to the Internet using a notebook, smartphone or similar, and one hidden dedicate to IPTV for freebox HD (v5) video box if you choose to link through wifi.
* 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  including the xdsl line) is now only for the services, a separate cost of 6€ is added as  xdsl line access, free If you have adsl over an active POTS (monthly fee 16€), but this increase includes modifications in the services fee (see below). It now includes:
** Free calls to any mobile phone in France.
** Calls to landline phones in France and 104 countries, as it was already included before.
** Free calls to any phone in France from any internet connection worldwide.
** Renting the Freebox Revolution Server and its TV box.
** IPTV is now an option (1.99€) is included in the monthly fee but is now optional, sonot to let people who are not eligible for such services (i.e. their home is too far away from the [[DSLAM]]) do not need to pay for it.
* The server can act as a [[DECT]] base station for up to 8 DECT handsets.
* The serv but as a legal twist after can access Internet and email with no computer connected, using eithincrease of the VAT in order theo remote control (which includes gyroscopic control) or from a USB keyboard (not included).
* Games are available from the Free-Store. A USB gamepad is included.
* You can plug in a USB memory stick with photos or music files and watch/play themduce the basis of taxes for artistic creation.
* The server can act as a [[DECT]] base station for up to 8 DECT handsets.⏎

* The server supports [[Session Initiation Protocol|SIP]] for [[VoIP]] phone calls. It allows subscribers to use their smartphone or a dedicated VoIP phone to make calls at Freebox rates instead of using the cellular network.
* The server can use a 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).
* A [[Catch_up_TV|catch-up TV]] service which covers 33 channels over the last 7 days. This service is proposed in high quality compared to its internet-based counterpart.

===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 Player device has:
* One Blu-Ray/DVD player (Blu-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|TNDVB-T]] plug. By contrast with TV over DSL, TNTDNV programs can be recorded to the Freebox Server or to a local hard-drive with no restriction about accessing it from a computer.
⏎
⏎
* One remote control. By contrast with most concurrent devices, the remote control uses Wi-Fi instead of infra-red. This allows for several software to control the Freebox TV[[ZigBee]] (standardized power saving low rate low power radio-wave)  instead of infra-red .
* Freebox player can be controled from a smartphone or from a computer and (specifications are available on the internet).
* Every external device connected to the Freebox TVplayer is available to that device only but the devices connected to the Freebox Server are available to every Freebox TV connected.player connected.

* The player can access Internet and email with no computer connected, using either the remote control (which includes gyroscopic control) or from a USB keyboard (not included).
* Games are available from the Free-Store. (from the name of the company but it's a store) A USB gamepad is included.
* You can plug in a USB memory stick with photos or music files and watch/play them

=== Serving Files to the Freebox Player ===
The Freebox Player can access audio/video files on any local computer through [[Universal Plug and Play|UPnP AV]]. [[Universal Plug and Play|UPnP]] is native to [[Windows]] computers but there are softwares to implement such protocol on [[Mac OS X]] and [[Linux]]. External subtitle files (.srt) should be first be merged with the video file in [[Matroska]] format, e.g. with ''mkvmerge''.


== V5 generation ==
(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]]