T4•R sales FAQs

How does the T4•R compare to the earlier T2•R and T3•R models?

The T4•R builds on the strengths of the T3•R and T2•R, with more powerful hardware for improved performance. It introduces many new features while retaining the user-friendly interface that our customers love, adding significantly more flexibility and customisation.

Our blog covers the redesigned TV Guide in Deep Dive #1: Unveiling the T4’s redesigned TV Guide, which makes browsing and catching up easier. Deep Dive #2: Search and discover great telly explains how you can quickly find or discover new shows. Our next deep dive will cover the recording and playback features.

In response to user feedback, we’ve added a front-panel LED that lights up white during active recording. The T4•R also addresses demand for more storage, offering 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB options, compared to the T3•R’s 1TB limit.

Does the T4•R need an aerial?

The T4•R needs a rooftop aerial to pick up most live TV and radio channels. We don’t recommend using an indoor aerial. You can stream some channels over the internet, but they cannot be recorded.

If you don’t have an aerial but do have a satellite dish, check out our Manhattan SX Freesat HD Box. It offers access to hundreds of TV and radio channels, making it an excellent, budget-friendly alternative for former Sky subscribers.

Does the T4•R need an internet connection?

The T4•R works perfectly as a Freeview TV recorder without an internet connection, and you can use the TV Guide to browse shows for the next seven days. However, to access all features, including catch-up and on-demand services, you need to connect it to the internet. You can easily set it up using Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable for a wired connection. Being online also ensures your T4‑R receives the latest software updates automatically. If you choose not to connect to the internet, you can still download updates from our website and install them using a USB stick.

Can the T4•R pause and rewind live TV?

Yes, the T4•R allows you to instantly pause and rewind up to the last two hours of the channel you’ve been watching.

How many channels does the T4•R receive?

With Freeview, you can get over 100 channels, all with no subscription. The exact number of channels you’ll get depends on the coverage at your address. Use the Freeview Channel Checker to find out the ones available to you.

Does the T4•R support Freely?

The T4•R is a Freeview device — it uses your aerial for live TV, not broadband. If you’re looking for Freely, our Manhattan Aero is designed specifically for that.

That said, here’s why the T4•R might still be the better choice for you:

• Recording. Freely doesn’t support recording at all. The T4•R lets you record programmes to keep forever, skip ads, and watch on your schedule — not just when catch-up allows.
• Pause and rewind. The T4•R’s 2‑hour rolling buffer means you can pause or rewind live TV on any channel. Freely only offers 15-minute pause.
• No broadband dependency. Your aerial handles the live signal, so even if your internet goes down, your TV keeps working.
• Our fourth-generation TV Guide. Three views (Grid, Channel, Genre), powerful filters, and universal search of both broadcast and on-demand programmes – designed to make finding what you want genuinely easy.

If you want Freely’s advantages – more HD channels and no aerial needed – the Aero is our product for that. But if recording and full control over live TV matter to you, the T4•R remains the best choice.

What apps are available on the T4•R?

The T4•R is a subscription-free experience that features YouTube, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, 4 (Channel 4), My5, U, GREAT! Player, Watch Free UK, PBS America, POP Player, BBC Sounds, STV Player, S4C / Clic, and Explore Freeview Play.

We don’t currently include or have plans to include premium subscription apps like Netflix and Prime.

What programmes can the T4•R search for?

The T4•R can search for any live TV programme scheduled within the next seven days. It also searches for any on-demand and catch-up programme available from the apps.

Can I watch a third channel when two channels are recording?

When recording on two channels, you can still watch, pause, or rewind a third channel, depending on the channels being recorded. Here’s how it works:

• If the two recording channels are on the same multiplex, you can watch any other channel.
• If the channels are on two different multiplexes, you can only watch channels available on either of these two multiplexes.

A multiplex is a group of channels broadcast together, such as all HD channels. The T4•R allows you to watch a third channel when possible and notifies you if you need to stop recording to do so. You can also set the T4•R to highlight channels you can’t watch with an icon in the TV Guide and Channel Browser by going to: Settings > Menu Preferences > Flag Unavailable Channels.

Can I control my TV with the T4•R remote?

Yes, the T4•R remote can adjust your TV’s volume, turn it on or off, and change its input by learning from your TV’s remote.

Will the T4•R stay up-to-date?

Yes, if it’s connected to the internet through Ethernet or Wi-Fi, the T4•R will automatically look for updates every night and install them if it finds any. If your T4•R isn’t online, you can update it by downloading the update files onto a USB stick and plugging that into the T4•R.

If you’d rather updates didn’t happen on their own, you can turn off Automatic Updates. To do this and to manually check for updates, go to: Settings > System > Software Updates.

Is the T4•R energy efficient?

The T4•R is designed to save energy. It uses less than 10W when on, only 0.9W when asleep with Wi-Fi, and just 0.3W with Ethernet. It doesn’t have a fan, minimising power use and keeping it whisper quiet.

It also has a feature called Auto Standby. If you don’t press any buttons on the remote for 3 hours, it will automatically go into standby mode. You can adjust or turn off this feature by going to: Settings > System > Standby Options.