If your in the UK and your region is being switched over in April I would think the transmitter will already be working. Most of the UK can get freeview now. Yes the sky+ is reasonably accessible but you just have to learn button presses through menus as there are no real prompts. Peter From: ANDY COLLINS Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 11:12 AM To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Sky plus and Alba Hi all - Firstly, I've got I think it is called an Alba set top box, in readiness for the digital switch over in April, the remote has an AD button on it, but I can't use the box yet as the transmitter hasn't been turned on, I'm wondering if anybody has this make, and can tell me if AD works ok with it, and give me some idea of the layout of the remote. Also, is the Sky + box accessible as a hard disk recorder, I ask, because there is a deal on with Sky for a couple of weeks, offering a free sky + box with installation for the standard cost of £16.50 a month on a 12 month contract. Thanks for any thoughts - Andy