Difference between revisions 117482167 and 117482168 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 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 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]]

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===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 Video Recorder]] for [[Télévision Numérique Terrestre|TNT]] also known as [[DVB-T]] and [[IPTV]]. As the firmware is updated, its functionalities increase. Most notably:
(contracted; show full)

* 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-Rray/DVD player (Blu-Rray 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 [[DVB-T]] plug. By contrast with TV over DSL, DNV 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 [[ZigBee]] (standardized power saving low rate low power radio-wave)  instead of infra-red .
* Freebox player can be controlled from a smartphone or a computer (specifications are available on the internet).
* Every external device connected to the Freebox player is available to that device only but the devices connected to the Freebox Server are available to every Freebox 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 areis softwares to implement such protocols 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''.

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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]]
(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]]