Posted 30 November 2022

Query about new BT Tv Box mini

Hi there, have a quick question, am considering buying a BT TV Box mini (don't want or need a subscription), primarily for the purpose of providing freeview channels over broadband in a room which does not have an aerial connection and would be costly to install one.

I see people are selling these boxes for £50 on ebay, could I buy one and just view the freeview channels without entering BT usernames and passwords? It's my understanding that these are supposed to still play freeview channels if your BT paid subscription lapses.

Thanks, hope someone can help!

Paul
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  1. KodaBear's avatar
    You need to be with BT Broadband, using a BT Smart hub, and have a BT TV account to get the Freeview channels over the internet. It uses BT’s multicast system which is a closed network.
    paulbuk's avatar
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    I have BT broadband and a smart hub, is there no way to have one of these boxes just for freeview and not pay a subscription?
  2. deleted9453's avatar
    Why would running and aerial cable be costly?
    I assume you already have an aerial, possibly mounted in the loft? You could just split the signal down another cable and into the room?
  3. wakenshawj's avatar
    I have just wanted to get a second-hand BT mini box can anybody tell me will this work if I subscribe to BT TV with the pro or even better is it a way of getting it to work properly for the Freeview channels without a subscription.

    Reason for me asking is as a visual impairment I need it right next to my side of the sofa don't mind paying ome lot of £10 but as I have a mini box here what is the point of paying for two x £10
    paulbarfoot18's avatar
    From experience I can tell you it won't work. We have a subscription for Pro, bought a mini off ebay but the mini tells us that we haven't a subscription for that box and can only use the apps not Internet freeview etc
  4. philireland1's avatar
    Hi, i know this is late, but u can buy the bt box pro 1tb and record all freeview channels, u don't need bt's Internet and Internet will work, and it works best with a large ariel outside or in the loft, but screwfix has a small version one that works brilliantly, I think it's only £17ish, u will need a cable made up for it to connect to.
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