TV Licence vans - are these things real

Sashara86

Maybe someone here know? I was reading a few days ago about these TV licence vans they apparently have to detect your TV and that its all fake. And was also told they can never actually prove that the TV is yours or that you use the TV for Television.

Hope someone can provide a little info on this. If this is true about the vans then I'm just going to laugh.

davidlizard

Lots of info here about detector vans, hand held detection devices and what the BBC want you to think:

http://www.bbctvlicence.com/Detector%20vans.htm

Buzby

Not any more - the fleet was retired after BT ceased providing tech and the BBC gave the work to Crapita. Not all vans were operational, being used to deliver inspectors to target campaign areas. That said, the technique used was never really effective for flats and mult storeys, and it was always easier to intimidate and investigate.

Ectophile

There certainly used to be TV detector vans, though most of the vans were really fakes.

Apparently, they would detect the Intermediate Frequency (IF) signal that TVs generate internally when receiving a TV signal.

By driving up and down the street, and using a directional aerial, they should be able to pinpoint which houses are using TVs.

poppasmurf_bewdley

Sashara86 wrote: »

Maybe someone here know? I was reading a few days ago about these TV licence vans they apparently have to detect your TV and that its all fake. And was also told they can never actually prove that the TV is yours or that you use the TV for Television.

Hope someone can provide a little info on this. If this is true about the vans then I'm just going to laugh.

Why not just pay your TV licence?

They don't need a detector van to find you. They have much more subtle ways these days.

Heinz

Ectophile wrote: »

Apparently, they would detect the Intermediate Frequency (IF) signal that TVs generate internally when receiving a TV signal.

Does anyone know whether LCD/plasma sets emit IF 'splatter' like CRTs used to?

yangptangkipperbang

TVL have admitted in a written Parliamentary statement that (so-called) TV detection equipment has NEVER been used in Court.

This is almost certainly because if it was it would be deemed as inadmissable evidence. This type of "surveillance" is similar (in Law) to telephone tapping - it can be carried out but would need to be authorised at very high level. Would certainly not be authorised on the suspicion that Mr Smith is watching TV without a licence.

PS: If anyone is watching live TV without a licence - get a licence and stop sponging off the honest citizens.............it is little more than theft from the rest of us................

yangptangkipperbang

Heinz wrote: »

Does anyone know whether LCD/plasma sets emit IF 'splatter' like CRTs used to?

Yes - the only difference is the type of display, although as everything is now operating at very low voltage it wouldn't travel far - but see my previous post anyway

Hieronymous

I once saw one in my local area. A local shopping precinct to be precise It's roof was adorned with a multitude of aerials and it contained.............................seats!!!


bbctvlicence stroke Detector vans.htm

[Deleted User]

Do the vans exist?

YES.

Do they contain RF detection equipment?

That's a good question. I wish I had a good answer.

[Deleted User]

Ectophile wrote: »

By driving up and down the street, and using a directional aerial, they should be able to pinpoint which houses are using TVs.

Except that, legally, they aren't allowed to do that.