time to ditch yer analogue tv

[chio]

Impossible on analogue or digital?

It's possible on analogue, but like I say, the stations have met with limited success - grand plans have turned to relaying shopping channels 23 hours a day, or closure. Mainly down to reception problems, though - being local, they're not allowed to run very much power and are often from sites in a different direction to the main transmitter, so roof aerials are pointing the wrong way!

(edit: to be fair to Channel M in Manchester, they do run local news, even if it is repeated four times in a row, and they've bought in a lot of cheap US programming instead of the endless QVC relays)

 

[newbie]

Im very dubious about believeing the government when they say reception will improve once the analogue signal is switched off, their main concern is revenue.

On of the advantages of broadcasting a digital datastream is (relative) immunity from cross channel interference, from ghosting, and from fringe effects. Analogue suffers all of these, and more. Since digital and analogue have an uneasy co-existence in the same piece of spectrum, digital is low powered to avoid interfering with the analogue. So when analogue has gone, digital should improve.

 

[TeeJay]

I really like digital - I have fitted a digital TV card into my computer, have connected two screens and can watch TV on one while posting on urban75 on the other. I also get radio stations like 1xtra, and can record programmes directly onto my hard drive (including when I am away), do screen captures and send both of these to people. Useful channels include three 24-hour rolling news ones (News24, ITV and Sky).

That's the good news.

The bad news was that I needed the card* (£123.80) and a new aerial fitted (£218.47 for parts and labour) although I went halves on the aerial with the person who owns this house, so it cost me £233.04 in total, and it cost them £109.24 for their half of the aerial plus the cost of their set top box.

Having said that, compared to the cost of going out for the weekend - meal, drinks, travel - or a decent mp3 player, it is still very good value in terms of the amount of entertainment value I get out of it, and I actually save money by staying in.

* Nebula DigiTV PCI

 

[kyser_soze]

Im very dubious about believeing the government when they say reception will improve once the analogue signal is switched off, their main concern is revenue.

Go see someone with a Sky dish and check the difference...

CP LOS transmissions are adversely affected by the local geography - Orange has dire reception in the 1/2 sq mile around Tulse Hill station for example

It's also worth pointing out that if you have a ladder and a basic knowledge of how to drill and do some cable work the 'installation costs' fall to nil.

And hey, if yr in the group that 'can't' do this maybe start a little community action/anarchist thing going whereby local skilled and able persons actually do the install work for free...

 

[TeeJay]

It's possible on analogue, but like I say, the stations have met with limited success - grand plans have turned to relaying shopping channels 23 hours a day, or closure. Mainly down to reception problems, though - being local, they're not allowed to run very much power and are often from sites in a different direction to the main transmitter, so roof aerials are pointing the wrong way!

(edit: to be fair to Channel M in Manchester, they do run local news, even if it is repeated four times in a row, and they've bought in a lot of cheap US programming instead of the endless QVC relays)

If I was running a not-for-profit channel I would get film students to make programming for it and use it to show arty stuff by aspiring programme makers: at least I would fill up any dead time with this kind of stuff rather than shopping or bought-in dross.

 

[newbie]

It's possible on analogue, but like I say, the stations have met with limited success - grand plans have turned to relaying shopping channels 23 hours a day, or closure. Mainly down to reception problems, though - being local, they're not allowed to run very much power and are often from sites in a different direction to the main transmitter, so roof aerials are pointing the wrong way!

(edit: to be fair to Channel M in Manchester, they do run local news, even if it is repeated four times in a row, and they've bought in a lot of cheap US programming instead of the endless QVC relays)

hmm. Very local analogue stations with low power can exist in a few places without interfering with major broadcasters using the same frequency from a more distant transmitter (no fringe effect). But that's local anomolies rather than widespread possibility.

There is far greater scope with digital, although the signal wouldn't be targetted, a station could exist on a multiplex and only those interested would use it. But who would watch it? Unlike local radio, which can fill in with phone ins and music, TV programming is expensive, and is rather less likely to be background. I think the problem is more to do with economics and content rather than the technology.

 

[William of Walworth]

From my experience everyone has problems with Freeview (and I live very close to the Crystal Palace transmitter), the experience of people on foums like digital spy tend to reflect that. Im very dubious about believeing the government when they say reception will improve once the analogue signal is switched off, their main concern is revenue.

I think our problems with Freeview recepton are less than many are suggesting here. We live within sight from our living room window of Crystal Palace transmitter though -- perhaps that helps, and that we're on the 12th floor of a tower block?

The Freeview box cost about £50=
We also have a signal booster (cost about £20=).

Not so cheap, but we bought them at different times, and both together help.

None of the above is essentially in disagreement with what kea is saying though -- the compulsion aspect is well dodgy.

 

[Tank Girl]

Tank Girl, we had a similar problem, which we've fixed by getting a loft aerial... way cheaper than a roof aerial, which are around £150... the loft aerial was £15 and works fine. Might be worth you looking into?

we don't have a loft (we're in a rented groundfloor flat)

ta for the advice though the next step is to try one of those booster boxes.

 

[_angel_]

Do I need a rooftop aerial to get the freeview box. I'd like to get the CBeebies channel etc etc.


I don't think people should be forced into shelling out for them tho' it should be optional.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Do I need a rooftop aerial to get the freeview box. I'd like to get the CBeebies channel etc etc.


I don't think people should be forced into shelling out for them tho' it should be optional.

Yes, it's the reason why I haven't set up mine yet, haven't got round to sorting it out (although not looking forward to how much it's going to cost)...

 

[newbie]

It is optional. There's no rush.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

It is optional. There's no rush.

Eh? I couldn't get a signal on mine, it needs to be connected to an outside to get a decent picture.

 

[In Bloom]

It is optional. There's no rush.

Forcing something over a period of several years doesn't magically make it "optional", it just means that it takes longer to force through.

Personally I think its bollocks, its bad enough that we get charged for the privaledge of watching TV, without having to shell out on a set top box as well. I'd only ever watch BBC 3 and UK History anyway.

 

[In Bloom]

I really like digital - I have fitted a digital TV card into my computer, have connected two screens and can watch TV on one while posting on urban75 on the other. I also get radio stations like 1xtra, and can record programmes directly onto my hard drive (including when I am away), do screen captures and send both of these to people. Useful channels include three 24-hour rolling news ones (News24, ITV and Sky).

That's the good news.

The bad news was that I needed the card* (£123.80) and a new aerial fitted (£218.47 for parts and labour) although I went halves on the aerial with the person who owns this house, so it cost me £233.04 in total, and it cost them £109.24 for their half of the aerial plus the cost of their set top box.

Having said that, compared to the cost of going out for the weekend - meal, drinks, travel - or a decent mp3 player, it is still very good value in terms of the amount of entertainment value I get out of it, and I actually save money by staying in.

* Nebula DigiTV PCI

I'm intrigued, do you need to pay license fee for that?

 

[wtfftw]

I'm intrigued, do you need to pay license fee for that?

You need to pay the license fee to view tv over your computer *grumble*.
A loophole is downloading programmes so not watching the 'live' broadcast or something.
amazing how badly I've phrased that and how sketchy my memory is considering I've just been readig the rules as we had to renew our license.

 

[chio]

CP LOS transmissions are adversely affected by the local geography - Orange has dire reception in the 1/2 sq mile around Tulse Hill station for example

I've no idea how close Tulse Hill is to the Crystal Palace transmitter, but chances are it's nothing to do with it - mobile phone masts have much smaller coverage areas and it's just an issue with the local network in that area.

 

[TeeJay]

I'm intrigued, do you need to pay license fee for that?

Luckily I am covered by this:

Do I need my own licence if I live in shared accommodation?

If you are going to be sharing a house, a separate tenancy agreement would normally mean your room is classified a separately occupied place. In this case, if you have a TV in your room, you will need your own TV Licence.

However, if there is only one TV in a communal area, then only one TV Licence is required. Similarly, if your house can be treated as one place shared by all, then only one TV Licence is required - a joint tenancy agreement would normally indicate that there is only one separately occupied place.

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/index.jsp

...but generally yes: If you use a TV or any other device to receive or record TV programmes (for example, a VCR, set-top box, DVD recorder or PC with a broadcast card) - you need a TV Licence. You are required by law to have one.

 

[belboid]

well, Ms Jowell has convinced me of digital's brilliance and I am going right out and buying a new digital tv. can anyone recommend one?

the fact that our analogue tv suddenly died today is completely coincidental.

 

[TeeJay]

You don't need a special TV. You can get a set top box for £30.99 (inc. Vat & Del.)
eg:
Alba STB1 Freeview Box (from amazon.co.uk)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001RBVGY/ref=br_lf_ce_4/202-6769337-2199053

 

[rowan]

I am a bit puzzled by that announcement. Here in Cornwall we were all told some time ago it was going to be the first place analogue was going to be switched off. They must have changed their minds.

They were saying on the local news this morning that we'd be the 2nd area to switch.

I think it's a rip off. Digi-boxes don't work here so we're going to have to pay for a Sky package just to get our usual TV

 

[rowan]

I was doing quite well without a TV (2 years) until my parents moved to Australia and gave me theirs. When the analogue signal stops it's just going in the bin though, none of this digital nonsense for me.

You'd still be able to use it for DVDs/videos though?

 

[kyser_soze]

Another reason why digital is ACE!!

I was listening to DAB on my telly last night (R3) and was surprised and v.happy to find that you can now get BBCi stuff on the radio!! Was able to access future programming, details on the Webren Day that radio 3 was running; stuff about their Xmas 'All Of Bach' week...and flickign thru the other stations it's the same - playlists and show track listings for R1,2,6,7, artist details and suchlike.

Digital fucken RULES

 

[RaverDrew]

It's absolutely shite

I live less than a mile away from the crystal palace transmitter and have direct unobscured line of sight.

Even with the most expensive rooftop aerial fitted properly by engineer I still get fuck all.

I've tried various different set-top boxes, pc tuner cards and even an integrated telly and still nowt but the occasional bit of hiccuppy sound on certain channels.

It's the same with the neighbours I haver checked with as well.

What the fuck do they expect us to do when they switch the analogue (which for years has had faultless reception btw, even on five) off ???

 

[PacificOcean]

It's absolutely shite

I live less than a mile away from the crystal palace transmitter and have direct unobscured line of sight.

Even with the most expensive rooftop aerial fitted properly by engineer I still get fuck all.

I've tried various different set-top boxes, pc tuner cards and even an integrated telly and still nowt but the occasional bit of hiccuppy sound on certain channels.

It's the same with the neighbours I haver checked with as well.

What the fuck do they expect us to do when they switch the analogue (which for years has had faultless reception btw, even on five) off ???

Get Sky or Freesat?

 

[kyser_soze]

Bizarrely I've got an 18 yr old indoor ariel and my digi reception is better than analogue...

 

[TeeJay]

Digi-boxes don't work here so we're going to have to pay for a Sky package just to get our usual TV

You don't have to pay a subscription to get Freeview on Sky, just a one-off payment of £150 for the equipment and installation: http://www.freesatfromsky.co.uk/

 

[rowan]

You don't have to pay a subscription to get Freeview on Sky, just a one-off payment of £150 for the equipment and installation: http://www.freesatfromsky.co.uk/

Didn't know about that, cheers

 

[chio]

Also, on the day that your analogue signal is switched off from whatever transmitter you get it from now, a Freeview digital signal will appear in its place. That's why they're doing this whole thing in the first place.

You can see what's going to happen by entering your postcode in this website: http://www.ukfree.tv/transmitters.php

 

[G. Fieendish]

Re Teejay's comment
According to reports, that's dead in the water, as most of the channels on said package are "free to air" (FTA) anyway, can be picked up by non Sky branded recievers...
Also, according to recent reports, ITV are planning to join the BBC in running the unencrypted "Freesat" service, using existing transponders on Astra 2 & Eurobird.
The reason for this is that negoiciations between ITV & Sky have broken down over carrage costs (Sky wanted 80 million over a 4 year Period, ITV offered 1/2 to 1/3 amount)...

 

[redsquirrel]

Currently digital tv reaches 60% of households. that's voting.

Bet you anything that it doesn't reach 60% of TV's tho.
I agree with Kea it's an utterly shit idea.