The Digital Switchover

MadGamer · 10-01-2011, 19:00

Hey guys and girls, my mum received a letter about the digital switchover that is happening in our region in March this year, with me as the nominee. It says to contact them to let them know whether we need any help or not, but as we pay for Sky we receive our TV via Satellite, so will this be needed? I presume the answer is no but just want to check

Paul · 10-01-2011, 19:28

nope, you have access to digital already, the assistance is more targeted at people with standard tvs that have no access to digital channels and need assistance in sourcing set top boxes etc.

MadGamer · 10-01-2011, 20:18

Cool

Matth · 10-01-2011, 20:58

Anything not fed from the Sky system, may need attention., for instance, if using a VCR to record another program off air while viewing Sky, or a second TV on analog.

MadGamer · 10-01-2011, 21:52

All TV's have Sky Boxes, except the kitchen, but that has built in freeview and my dad just needs to switch the aerial from analogue to digital

**Stephen** · 10-01-2011, 22:26

If you have freeview you are using digital already. There is no arial switching needed.

MadGamer · 10-01-2011, 22:32

Oh cool, I always thought that freeview was analogue/digital not just digital on its own

Hom3r · 11-01-2011, 10:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadGamer

All TV's have Sky Boxes, except the kitchen, but that has built in freeview and my dad just needs to switch the aerial from analogue to digital

Read the okthat you got, in 99% of occations a new ariel is NOT needed.

Peter_ · 11-01-2011, 10:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadGamer

All TV's have Sky Boxes, except the kitchen, but that has built in freeview and my dad just needs to switch the aerial from analogue to digital

I am using the same aerial that I put up around 12 years ago and my signal is spot on, only buy a new one if you find the reception is poor.

nodrogd · 11-01-2011, 16:41

The letters coming through people's doors prior to switchover are usually to do with the switchover help scheme which helps pensioners or registered disabled people to convert the main TV in the house to digital (Freeview or Freesat).

As for aerials, try the new set on the old aerial before replacing it. There's also quite a few like myself on the forum that have all the technical info on the switchover, so ask away.

**Kymmy** · 11-01-2011, 16:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadGamer

Oh cool, I always thought that freeview was analogue/digital not just digital on its own

You're getting mixed up with the transmission and the encoding.. Yes they do still use a carrier frequency and as such the signal is analogue, but the data modulated within the signal is digital (unlike the old style transmissions which will soon be turned off which were purely analogue modulation)

So when they talk about turning off analogue it purely means the old bbc1/bbc2/itv/c4 and c5 on the old system and freeview, freesat, sky, vm and other digital signals will be untouched

MadGamer · 11-01-2011, 17:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kymmy

You're getting mixed up with the transmission and the encoding.. Yes they do still use a carrier frequency and as such the signal is analogue, but the data modulated within the signal is digital (unlike the old style transmissions which will soon be turned off which were purely analogue modulation)

So when they talk about turning off analogue it purely means the old bbc1/bbc2/itv/c4 and c5 on the old system and freeview, freesat, sky, vm and other digital signals will be untouched

Thanks for the explanation Kymmy

Matth · 11-01-2011, 23:47

Aerials, it's a question of "good enough" just as when colour came in.
Also, with the addition of CH5 and digital, some areas ended up with channels outside their original area channel group and outside of the intended channel range of a grouped antenna. With switchover, the digital muxes should be brought back "in group". There is also one further system change, which may prevent a small range of older equipment from working with freeview after switchover.

On some TVs, it is a different antenna socket for analog and digital.

dilligaf1701 · 18-02-2011, 12:34

I just called in to tell them I didn't need any help (as I qualify for the help scheme) as I have a freeview built in my tv and sky but they said they could send out a free freeview box as a spare.

Obviously I'm not going to say no as a spare is always handy and my main tv doesn't have built in freeview - just seems an odd thing to offer if you don't actually need one.

Still a freebie is a freebie

Ken Jude · 21-02-2011, 09:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by dilligaf1701

Still a freebie is a freebie

No such thing as a freebie. Why do you think they're milking each episode of Top Gear for as many showings in a week as possible?