What are software updates/downloads?
Your receiver may be able to download new software via your aerial in order to improve its functionality. Most boxes will alert you when a new update is available: you should accept it or schedule it for later that day, as updates are only broadcast for a few days (the manufacturers have to pay to broadcast them). The schedule for updates can be found here. Updates for Freeview boxes are broadcast on the same frequency as BBC channels, whilst Top Up TV box updates are broadcast with the subscription channels. Your receiver's manual will tell you how to check for downloads or manually install them. Some boxes can be upgraded with a download from the internet - links to these are listed below.

Can I delete the channels I don't want?
Many receivers have the ability to "skip", "ignore" or "delete" channels from your channel list. This can be useful if you don't want to keep scrolling through subscription channels which you cannot receive, or for getting rid of all the shopping channels. Your receiver's manual will tell you how to do this. Deleting channels won't affect your viewing of the others, although be careful about deleting the following: 4TV Interactive (channel 300) and TVTV Digital (304) are needed by some boxes to show programme listings; 301, 302, 303 and 305 are all needed for the BBC's interactive services and the BBC News Multiscreen.

Why are some channels off-air?
Not all channels broadcast for 24 hours a day, and those that don't usually timeshare with other channels. BBC Three and CBBC share their broadcast space in this way, for example. Channels will usually show a holding slide when not broadcasting: you can see a list of timesharing channels and how they fit into the day on this page.

After switchover, my VCR's going to be useless, isn't it?
Not necessary: it will still work. But unless it's digital, it will only be able to record from a separate Freeview box. Switchover will affect each and every piece of audio/video equipment you own that receives analogue television signals. In other words, everything that contains an analogue tuner.

It's important to draw a distinction between a tuner and a set's ability to function. If your television only has an analogue tuner (the component which turns the signals from your aerial into pictures for your screen), then it will no longer be able to display analogue television pictures after analogue switch-off. But this does not mean it is useless: attach a Freeview box (which contains a digital tuner), and your television will remain just as useful.

It isn't just your television set which contains a tuner, however: if your VCR (Video Cassette Recorders) or DVD recorder could record from the analogue signals, this too will need to be replaced or converted. Note however that if converting (by plugging in a Freeview box), each and every piece of equipment will need its own box attached. As your existing equipment comes to the end of its working life, you can of course replace it with equipment already converted to digital television: a set-top box, digital recorder, a PVR or an IDTV.

I've got an old ONdigital box... is it any good still?
Yes and no. ONdigital (or ITV Digital) boxes can still be used to receive Freeview services, but the technology inside them is a few years old now and doesn't come up to current Freeview specifications. As a result, they will struggle with some of the newer interactive services, and they are no longer supported with updates by their manufacturers. Despite having a card slot, because of new encryption technology, they cannot be used for receiving Top Up TV or Setanta Sports.