These freeview box thingys - do you need an outside aerial?

[MamaG]

I've got a tv in a room with no aerial and was thinking of getting a freeview box - do you just plug em in? I'm a bit thick when it comes to things like that, I've had a recordable dvd player in its box for 18 months cos I can't connect it

You plug them in but you need an aerial too to go into the back. If you have really good reception you can get away with one of those plastic set top aerials, but normally you need the one on the roof.

oh bum, its rubbish reception round here!

not all areas can get freeview we can't

I know that someone down the road has one, but they said they had to try a couple before one worked - i wonder if this is going to be more trouble than its worth