what do i need to do before tv goes digital?

poppielia

Hello.
I have a nornal analogue outside tv aerial and at the moment i have a main tv in the living room and 2 portable 14 inch tv's in the bedrooms which also run of the outside aerial so what do i need to do before everything goes digital? I have a set top box for cable tv in the living room but we may not always have that so do i need to get another aerial fixed outside or would just buying 3 set top boxes (like freeview) work instead?
Also what wold work out cheaper?
If anyone has any ideas i would really appreciate it as am a single parent and want to make sure i get the facts before i have to pay out any money.
Thanks in advance

MarkyMarkD

If you want to be able to watch 3 different channels on the 3 TVs, you'll need 3 Freeview set top boxes; you can get them as cheaply as £9.99 now (Richer Sounds at the moment) so it shouldn't prove too expensive.

You may, or may not, need an aeriel upgrade to receive a Freeview signal; in fact, if you live in the wrong area, you may not be able to get it at all in which case you will have no option other than cable or Sky which will doubtless prove more expensive.

frestuffwooo

3*Asda freeview boxes = £80 ish. You may need a new aerial but i use a ONEFORALL digital portable areial (£20) which works fine

onejontwo

poppielia wrote:

Hello.
I have a nornal analogue outside tv aerial and at the moment i have a main tv in the living room and 2 portable 14 inch tv's in the bedrooms which also run of the outside aerial so what do i need to do before everything goes digital? I have a set top box for cable tv in the living room but we may not always have that so do i need to get another aerial fixed outside or would just buying 3 set top boxes (like freeview) work instead?
Also what wold work out cheaper?
If anyone has any ideas i would really appreciate it as am a single parent and want to make sure i get the facts before i have to pay out any money.
Thanks in advance

There is a box on the market (which i saw on freeview shopping channel) which sends the freeview signal to the other T V sets in your household, so you will only need one freeview box. The only downside is that when you change channels with your main T V your other T Vs change to the same channel! Some you win, some you lose!

MarkyMarkD

I think that for most people this will not be an effective solution. It only made sense with Sky boxes where people were happy to only view one Sky channel anywhere in the house, whilst others made do with normal TV.

When there IS no "normal" TV, this will be too much hassle to be worth not buying the necessary number of freeview boxes, IMHO.

arealhighlander

I know what I need for digital TV - a transmitter that covers the area that transmits it! They keep quoting %'s of population that can receive - try quoting geographical cover.

Large areas of Scotland are not covered yet, not until 2010 or 2011 :-(

arnie&caseysma!

In my area according to all the websites everyone here will need to have Sky. There is no Freeview in this area at all and according the sites that you can check on they are not intending covering us at all. In short, we have to pay for Sky or have no TV at all.

Makes me laugh when the local Argos has a load of Freeview boxes in the display with the knowledge that they are totally useless!!!!

Zahc

arealhighlander wrote:

I know what I need for digital TV - a transmitter that covers the area that transmits it! They keep quoting %'s of population that can receive - try quoting geographical cover.

Large areas of Scotland are not covered yet, not until 2010 or 2011 :-(

You have TVs in Scotland, well I never......

studentphil

We get just about enough Signal on the old outside Aeriel, so just watch out for the fact you may need a new Aeriel.

MarkyMarkD

It's important to note that the strength of the freeview signals will be increased when the analogue signals are switched off, so just because you can't get freeview now doesn't mean you won't be able to when you need to.

In other words, don't be scaremongered into buying Sky until you are sure you will need it.

Jnelhams

poppielia wrote:

Hello.
I have a nornal analogue outside tv aerial and at the moment i have a main tv in the living room and 2 portable 14 inch tv's in the bedrooms which also run of the outside aerial so what do i need to do before everything goes digital? I have a set top box for cable tv in the living room but we may not always have that so do i need to get another aerial fixed outside or would just buying 3 set top boxes (like freeview) work instead?
Also what wold work out cheaper?
If anyone has any ideas i would really appreciate it as am a single parent and want to make sure i get the facts before i have to pay out any money.
Thanks in advance

To be honest, the best thing to do for now, is not to bother. If you wait by the time the switch over happens the following will have happened.
1) Your telly packed up and you got one with Freeview in it already
2) The price of Freeview Boxes will be tiny
3) The Government will face a backlash from poor pensioners/unemployed and will be subsidising them
4) You will get on on Ebay cheap or Free with a box of Tea!:rotfl: