Freebox
Encyclopedia
The Freebox is an ADSL
modem
that the French internet service provider
named Free (part of the Iliad group) provides to its 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 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.
(250 GB hard drive), a DECT base with up to 8 connected DECT phone sets and a digital recorder for TNT
(Terrestrial Numerical Television) or TV over internet. As the firmware is updated, its functionalities increase. Most notably:
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:
or 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 adsl 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...).
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".
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.
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
Asymmetric digital subscriber line is a type of digital subscriber line technology, a data communications technology that enables faster data transmission over copper telephone lines than a conventional voiceband modem can provide. It does this by utilizing frequencies that are not used by a voice...
modem
Modem
A modem is a device that modulates an analog carrier signal to encode digital information, and also demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information. The goal is to produce a signal that can be transmitted easily and decoded to reproduce the original digital data...
that the French internet service provider
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
named Free (part of the Iliad group) provides to its ADSL
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
Asymmetric digital subscriber line is a type of digital subscriber line technology, a data communications technology that enables faster data transmission over copper telephone lines than a conventional voiceband modem can provide. It does this by utilizing frequencies that are not used by a voice...
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 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.The Freebox Server device
The Freebox server is at the same time the DSL modem, a router, a Wi-Fi hot spot, a NASNetwork-attached storage
Network-attached storage is file-level computer data storage connected to a computer network providing data access to heterogeneous clients. NAS not only operates as a file server, but is specialized for this task either by its hardware, software, or configuration of those elements...
(250 GB hard drive), a DECT base with up to 8 connected DECT phone sets and a digital recorder for TNT
Télévision Numérique Terrestre
TNT is the national digital terrestrial service for France. It formally arrived on 31 March 2005 after a short testing period. Like Freeview in the United Kingdom it will support many new channels as well as the current terrestrial television stations...
(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.
- The server automatically detects file sharing through UPnP and can read videos from any computer of the local network with some limitations in file formats (mp4, H264, mp2, mkv...) though firmware updates may increase the number of readable file formats.
- 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.
- TV over IP is available in real-time to any computer on the local network, if the bandwidth is large enough. However, some channels are not available (the same that cannot be recorded on an external hard-drive).
- The server can be configured either as an ethernet router or a simple modem (bridge-mode).
- The server can handle 2 Wi-FiWi-FiWi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
networks: a private Wi-Fi network (possibly hidden) and a so-called "FreeWifi" network which allows for any Free subscriber to connect to the internet from a computer, a smartphone, etc. - 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 6€ (ca. 8$ at the time of writing) which includes:
- Free calls to any mobile phone in France (calls to any landline phone in France were already included before).
- Free calls to any phone in France from any internet connection worldwide.
- Free calls to 104 countries (as of writing) as it was before.
- 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 SIPSession Initiation ProtocolThe Session Initiation Protocol is an IETF-defined signaling protocol widely used for controlling communication sessions such as voice and video calls over Internet Protocol . The protocol can be used for creating, modifying and terminating two-party or multiparty sessions...
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's AirPlayAirPlayAirPlay is a proprietary protocol stack/suite developed by Apple Inc. that allows wireless streaming of audio, video, and photos, together with related metadata between devices...
and Time Machine technologies (firmware 1.1.0, August 2011).
The Freebox Player
The Freebox Player is the second part of the "Freebox Revolution" offer. It is connected to the Freebox Server via PLCPower line communication
Power line communication or power line carrier , also known as power line digital subscriber line , mains communication, power line telecom , power line networking , or broadband over power lines are systems for carrying data on a conductor also used for electric power transmission.A wide range...
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 TNTTélévision Numérique TerrestreTNT is the national digital terrestrial service for France. It formally arrived on 31 March 2005 after a short testing period. Like Freeview in the United Kingdom it will support many new channels as well as the current terrestrial television stations...
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.
V5 generation
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 MIMOMIMO
In radio, multiple-input and multiple-output, or MIMO , is the use of multiple antennas at both the transmitter and receiver to improve communication performance. It is one of several forms of smart antenna technology...
or PLC
Power line communication
Power line communication or power line carrier , also known as power line digital subscriber line , mains communication, power line telecom , power line networking , or broadband over power lines are systems for carrying data on a conductor also used for electric power transmission.A wide range...
: the first box provides Internet access, Wifi connection and a phone line; the separated box is a digital video recorder
Digital video recorder
A digital video recorder , sometimes referred to by the merchandising term personal video recorder , is a consumer electronics device or application software that records video in a digital format to a disk drive, USB flash drive, SD memory card or other local or networked mass storage device...
, with advanced TV features like timeshifting, or video on demand
Video on demand
Video on Demand or Audio and Video On Demand are systems which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content 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 adsl 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...).
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
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 EthernetEthernetEthernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
port 10/100 Mbit/s full/half duplex; - A USBUniversal Serial BusUSB is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the cables, connectors and protocols used in a bus for connection, communication and power supply between computers and electronic devices....
2.0 port; - An HDMIHDMIHDMI is a compact audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed digital data. It is a digital alternative to consumer analog standards, such as radio frequency coaxial cable, composite video, S-Video, SCART, component video, D-Terminal, or VGA...
port; - An RJ11 jack for the ADSL connection;
- An RJ11 jack for phone equipment (two jacks on versions 1 & 2 but only one active);
- A SCARTSCARTSCART is a French-originated standard and associated 21-pin connector for connecting audio-visual equipment together...
(Péritel) socket - A digital audio output RCARCARCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
, or optical S/PDIFS/PDIFS/PDIF is a digital audio interconnect used in consumer audio equipment over relatively short distances. The signal is transmitted over either a coaxial cable with RCA connectors or a fiber optic cable with TOSLINK connectors. S/PDIF interconnects components in home theaters and other digital high...
starting from version 3; - An extension port of the Serial ATASerial ATASerial ATA is a computer bus interface for connecting host bus adapters to mass storage devices such as hard disk drives and optical drives...
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
BusyBox
BusyBox provides several stripped-down Unix tools in a single executable. It runs in a variety of POSIX environments such as Linux, Android, FreeBSD and others, such as proprietary kernels, although many of the tools it provides are designed to work with interfaces provided by the Linux kernel. It...
.
Now with the v3 (and next), it also provides a Videolan client in order to get the movies (in any format read by VLC
VLC
VLC may refer to:* Valencia Airport , an airport near Valencia, Spain* VLC media player, a free software cross-platform multimedia player and framework...
) 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.