DIGITAL TV - What do you know?

Fran

When we all have to switch to digital TV starting in 2008, how much will we have spent unneccesarily on gadgets and equipment because we don't understand digital things? Do we know the cheapest way to go until then?

The purpose of this thread is for people who have little or no clue about digital things (who don't have Freeview, Sky or Cable for instance) to ask questions and for the techie types to (please!) supply us with info so we don't spend more than we need to.

Info:

radioandtelly.co.uk - Digital TV explained

Digital TV - dti website - FAQ's

DTG - Digital TV Group - Switchover timetable

BBC website

Digital Spy - Forum

Freeview

switchco.co.uk - Digital TV what & why

Midas

My theory is that the 'switch off' date for analogue (i.e. normal telly) will be put back beyond 2008. The government is just going on about 2008 to try and scare people into thinking they need to 'get ready'.

This is clearly nonsense, and my advice to anybody who doesn't actually want more channels is to ignore the incessant promotion of digital TV, and just to keep going along as they are. If (against my prediction) the government does actually 'switch off' in 2008, they will annoy lots of people and lose the impending general election. By this time digital equipment will be so cheap you'll be able to pick up a digibox for virtually nothing (£20 max I guess), and there will probably be freebies for pensioners, low income families etc.

Alternatively if you buy a new telly a couple of years from now it will almost certainly have digital equipment built into it, so you can just plug it in and use as normal.

So the cheapest way to go until 2008 is to go on as you are now, and spend nothing! :money:


okay, rant over....

Joe_Bloggs

By not using the digital terrestrial service but still paying for it you are subsidising those that do use it. You can get £30 boxes in ASDA and many other supermarkets. The broadcasting authorities have tried and succeeded in shutting off analogue in isolated areas. My guess is the scheme will be phased throughout the country and not just someone pulling a plug. My view is there will probably be one analogue channel left broadcasting.

There is more to be gained from digital terrestrial than will be lost from closing down the analogue system. I'm sure that the close down will have all party support, an independent commision backing it and it not being an election issue.

Don't buy a box from argos as they are particularly stupid in their treatment of returned digital terrestrial TV boxes.
J_B.

chrisw

The boxes make good Christmas prezzies for relatives. My mum was dead chuffed with hers.

John_Gray

To add to Fran's links, the main "switchover" website appears to be Digital UK (formerly known as SwitchCo). Lots of information there about when the changeover happens by region, and so on.

John

jezza1O1

Of course it will be switched off, its inevitable. Come on peeps this is 2005 - the government cant win, we press ahead with some technology and people moan, we fall behind with another technology and people moan. Moan moan moan.

Its a little unfair on people with old sets but the digi boxes will prob be 'given away' sooner or later - there are already some as cheap as £30! 'Most' peeps will surely be able to forgo a few cans of stella to get one.

Fran

jezza1O1 wrote:

............. the digi boxes will prob be 'given away' sooner or later - there are already some as cheap as £30!

Surely we won't want them by then as that technology will come as part of new TV's & DVR's (Digital Video Recorders)? Will they still be too expensive for the majority to buy though? Or will we only have one gadget - which is the computer/TV/recorder all in one?

Loobeylou

Down here in the valley we cannot actually get digital signals from our transmitter, although our daughter who lives about a mile away at the top of the hill, can. So there is no point in purchasing a digital box at the moment anyway. We cannot get cable, and we don't want the dreaded big dish.

We have more than one TV which are several years old. I guess we will eventually have to go down the line of purchasing digital TV's as and when these go.

grumbler

Technical features of set-top boxes and recent best-buy guide are in my post here: Looking for a set top box ...

gizmoleeds

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4252198.stm

Borders will be switched off first (2008), London last (2012)

Joe_Bloggs

@Loobeyloo
You probably get your analogue TV from a relay transmitter somewhere in the valley. So many of these low powered transmitters do not carry digital signals or even Channel Five. It could be considered a low priority by those that have the job of ensuring that we can all get digital terrestrial TV. If you want it, you may have to lobby for it.
@Fran
The problem with many integrated TV/digital tuners is the expense. This leads to low sales volumes. The digital TV tuner is a low powered PC. These become old technology pretty quickly whilst TVs can run and run. Often the operating system of the box has to be updated over the airwaves. This never happens with many systems. Buyers of such systems should consider the update record of integrated digital TV tuner systems or just buy a £30 effort that can do the business.