Phone, tv, broadband

littleredhen

I am currently with Talktalk - I have a you view box as I don't have a smart tv and I pay £29.50 for broadband and free anytime calls.  My question is should I buy a smart tv and change provider - other providers say unlimited calls, broadband but say only 14 tv channels for example so I don't understand where I would get all the normal channels from BBC, STV, Ch4 etc - definitely need some help or I will be having to stay with talktalk for another 18 months to get the same as above!

Neil_Jones

littleredhen said:

I am currently with Talktalk - I have a you view box as I don't have a smart tv and I pay £29.50 for broadband and free anytime calls.  My question is should I buy a smart tv and change provider - other providers say unlimited calls, broadband but say only 14 tv channels for example so I don't understand where I would get all the normal channels from BBC, STV, Ch4 etc - definitely need some help or I will be having to stay with talktalk for another 18 months to get the same as above!

YouView is basically a Freeview box with extra functionality.  Your TV may already have Freeview built in, most of them made in the last 12 years or so will will have Freeview built in.

littleredhen

My tv is older than 12 years!!

JJ_Egan

What TV channels do you want is the first step .

EssexExile

Don't you get the usual Freeview channels via an aerial?

Neil49

I've had a look at the You View website and I'm guessing that the 14 or so channels you refer to are non mainstream and come with the Talktalk Youview + package. You don't say what channels you watch but that will dictate which option is best suited to your needs. 

Your main TV channels such as BBC, itv, Channel 4 and 5 plus well over 60 others come via Freeview through your TV aerial and, as such, are free of charge (assuming you have a TV licence!). 

If you only ever watch programmes live then a Freeview TV is all you need. If you also record programmes to watch later then a pvr would be required. If you make use of catchup such as BBC iplayer or More4 etc then you could buy your own Youview box.

There are a number of options available to you. It depends on what channels you watch and how you watch them. Either way you can switch broadband provider if you want. 

littleredhen

Ok I guess I am not really understanding it properly - I watch regular tv bbc c4 etc yes I do have a tv licence, then don't get anything extra from my you view box other than recording programmes, I can buy boosts if I want but I don't - it just seems that the offer from talk talk is not so great

littleredhen

Ok just challenged talktalk again and got a good deal! I contacted them last week and didn't get anything so its always worth trying a second time!!

Neil49

littleredhen said:

Ok I guess I am not really understanding it properly - I watch regular tv bbc c4 etc yes I do have a tv licence, then don't get anything extra from my you view box other than recording programmes, I can buy boosts if I want but I don't - it just seems that the offer from talk talk is not so great

From what you say then I would suggest that you buy a new freeview based tv and a separate recording device (a pvr - personal video recorder) to replace your youview box. If you are comfortable using the youview box then you can simply buy your own. Alternatively a freeview based pvr such as those made by Humax or Panasonic would be a good option. Humax have a reconditioned website where you can buy from them direct if you wish.

The tv and pvr option doesn't require an Internet connection as everything comes via your television aerial. If you want catchup features via a youview box then Internet is required but it sounds like you don't use this facility.

This leaves you free to select the most suitable option for your broadband connection.