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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]]


===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:
* An external hard drive can be connected to its USB and/or eSATA port. However, some TV channels cannot be recorded to an external hard drive due to copyright limitations. Such limitations do not apply to channels recorded from [[Télévision Numérique Terrestre|TNT]].
* The video formats supported are quite wide in range, including mp4, H264, mp2, mkv. Some formats are not supported, although firmware updates may increase the number of readable file formats.
* The server automatically detects local network file shares through [[UPnP]] and can read videos from any computer on the local network.
* 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 (most 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 3 [[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€ 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€) not to let people who are not eligible for such services (i.e. their home is too far away from the [[DSLAM]]) do not pay for it but as a legal twist after an increase of the VAT in order to reduce 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 [[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 controled 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 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 ==
[[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 the Freebox or using emulation of discontinued Video game systems (Master System, GameGear, GameBoy).

The multimedia element is able to read HDTV IPTV streams and includes a Terrestrial Numerical Television demodulator, can serve as a home A/V broadcasting station, includes a 40Gb hard-drive for recording and time-shifting, and a load of A/V ports.

The Network element is an Ethernet Hub and a wifi Hotspot.

The two elements can be linked via Ethernet, wifi or High-Speed Networking Over the Mains.

The telephony offer via the Freebox offers various services such as free calls between Freebox and towards the fixed numbers in Metropolitan France and also free over 100 abroad countries (USA, Canada, UK, Spain, China, India, South America etc...).<ref>http://www.free.fr/adsl/pages/telephone/tarifs-telephonie.html</ref>

According to Alexandre Archambault from Free, the Freebox is "nothing other than the return to the fundamentals of the DSL", whose initial objective was "to connect via a single support several types of terminals, therefore several types of services: telephone (telephony), microcomputer (Internet access), television set (television transmission, video on demand, pay per view...), hi-fi system (radios, etc.)".

Therefore, it is much more than a simple ADSL modem, which can only make the interface between a computer and the Internet. Free general conditions describe it as "an electronic instrument being used as interface between the data-processing and or audio-visual equipment of the user and the network of Free Telecom".

== Technical features ==
[[Image:Freebox dos mieux.jpeg|thumb|Freebox V4]]
The box, designed by Free, uses a 32 bits RC32355 processor and is managed by an operating system using a derivative of the Linux kernel. It has many interfaces:
* An [[Ethernet]] port 10/100 Mbit/s full/half duplex;
* A [[Universal Serial Bus|USB]] 2.0 port;
* An [[HDMI]] port;
* An [[RJ11, RJ14, RJ25|RJ11]] jack for the ADSL connection;
* An RJ11 jack for phone equipment (two jacks on versions 1 & 2 but only one active);
* A [[SCART]] (Péritel) socket
* A digital audio output [[RCA]], or optical [[S/PDIF]] starting from version 3;
* An extension port of the [[Serial ATA]] standard on versions 3 and 4 and Parallel ATA standard on versions 1 and 2;
* A host USB port on version 4;

Since version 3, the Freebox can be configured to act as a router. The Freebox version 4 appeared mid-2004 and includes a chipset compatible with the ADSL 2+ standard, as well as a USB port, which will allow, in the long term, the addition of functions such as videoconferencing. 

The Freebox OS uses [[BusyBox]].

Now with the v3 (and next), it also provides a Videolan client in order to get the movies (in any format read by [[VLC]]) stored on the computer and watchable on TV through a playlist selector. This functionality is named Freeplayer.

In the same way, the Freebox (v3 and upper) is able to broadcast TV channels to one or more computer.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.free.fr/ Official website]
* [http://www.free.fr/adsl/ Freebox]
* [http://dev.freebox.fr/ Official dev blog]
* [http://floss.freebox.fr Source code of the GPL software ran by the Freebox]

{{CATV}}

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

[[fr:Freebox]]