Back to analogue TV!

[barber olly]

Elementary my dear Watson, but unfortunately we have several aerials, and several sets, so can compare. Our roof mounted aerial, which we also use with boosters into our TV, still gives good results, but other less effective aerials, which until now have proved satisfactory, are now not good enough. I really don't want to have the house rewired, or have one of these in the kitchen.

Here in Cornwall, I know that there have been signal problems in some remote areas, but generally we've had few problems, except some break up when the raging seas do roar howling winds do blow. I don't know but just maybe there are some signal problems in high population dense areas, in the shadow of tall buildings and such - don't know anything of the technology but ....

[Anna]

Wales went completely digital March 2010. FreeView is not an option here as channels available are limited (e.g. no BBC4), analogue reception was dire even with a booster. I have FreeSat (one-off payment for dish and box, no subscription) Reception has only ever been briefly disrupted once due to most servere of gales. DAB is impossible so until they get that fixed I hope they don't turn FM off.

[Bryn]

http://www.ukfree.tv/txdetail.php?a=TQ339712

[old khayyam]

Doesnt this mean we will be recieving TV by sattelite rather than transmitter? If so, there should be more coverage and fewer reception problems..

[Bryn]

By the way, Dave, according to the postcode reception predictor for my address:

"Unfortunately you can't receive the Freeview channels in your area now", yet I do on most channels. I do have a 52 element high gain aerial pointed at Crystal Palace, however.

[Norfolk Born]

Doesnt this mean we will be recieving TV by sattelite rather than transmitter? If so, there should be more coverage and fewer reception problems..

Not necessarily: Freeview, a 'terrestrial' digital service, remains available and very popular. The main snag is that it offers fewer channels than satellite-based services.

[Ferretfancy]

Digital transmitter power for Freeview is supposed to be boosted after the analogue switch off, which should improve matters for many who are having problems receiving digital services. That said, there are still some areas where analogue reception has always been poor or non existent. Up in the Lake District we have had to go for a Freesat installation because Freeview will never work any better than analogue -too many hills in the way up our narrow valley.
In London on the other hand, digital on Freeview is excellent.
It's worth remembering that if you are happy with your existing TV set, you don't need to replace it, most Freeview tuners have suitable connectors for this, so you don't have to go for a flat screen TV straight away. Freeview boxes are not expensive.

[Chris Newman]

I watch TV on my computer via downloads. Partly to save space (no room for a TV), secondly because I mostly watch concerts and operas from abroad (a Sky disc would appear almost as big as the front of my house and I do not want an advert for Rupert on my house) and thirdly because my little cottage is low in height, surrounded by obstructive buildings between the house and the digital/analogue mast at Harnham. The Cathedral blocks most of the signal.

[Norfolk Born]

If your signal's going to be blocked, make sure that it's blocked by a beautiful structure!

[Flosshilde]

the Celtic fringe

Fringe?

[Richard Tarleton]

Fringe?

an attempt at irony Flossie - viewing it as it may have been viewed by those looking at whom to experiment on first, and who might prove the softest target. No offence intended. I have impeccable Celtic credentials myself.

[Stunsworth]

Somehow i knew it wouldnt happen.

It's been happening for some time. The region I live in - the north west - had the analogue transmitters switched off quite a while ago. The decision was made to roll out the switch off in stages rather than in one 'big bang'.

[old khayyam]

When i lived on the east coast it was often possible to pick up dutch tv, simply by tuning inbetween the domestic stations. I'll be interested to see what's left after the switchover. It will certainly be a test of the nation's loyalty to the 'devil's lantern' if we are all required to buy new sets.

[Anna]

It will certainly be a test of the nation's loyalty to the 'devil's lantern' if we are all required to buy new sets.

No need to buy a new set, my tv is pretty ancient. A standard FreeView box costs around £20. A FreeSat Sky dish and box inc. installation has gone up a lot in price, now £175 one-off payment, no sub to Sky. Of course, if you did consider a new tv then most of them come with FreeView already installed.

[Ferretfancy]

Anna

Sets with Freeview installed are probably a good buy, but you do need to ask about recording facilities, especially if you would like to be able to record onto DVD from a hard disc. There's a lot to be said for using separate devices for greater flexibility.