TV Licence Question

Alfie_E

nige wrote:

I would just suggest using internet TV...

If the “Internet TV” you’re watching coincides with the material also being broadcast in a conventional manner somewhere in the world, the TVLA say you need to be covered by a TV license!

Wig

sfboy wrote:

as soon as you plug it in you need a licence though.

I have checked the regulations, and I have decided from reading them, that whilst you use your laptop as a TV, it should be by battery power only. Whilst you use it "plugged in" for other applications, it is not in use to recieve TV signals (aerial not plugged in therefore not capable of recieving signal) Therefore at those times it is not requiring a TV licence. If you want to do this and you are unsure just ask TVLA.

I am now sure also that this rule of batteries applies to any second home situation eg:

student in halls of residence
student in shared house privately rented
Normal Joe Bloggs who has a second home (holiday home)

Incidentaly A holiday home using a normal mains powered TV does not require a second license if the TV is not in use simultaneously with the TV in the main home.

Wig

JimArnold wrote:

TVLA agree that a laptop running of its own internal batteries does not need a license - if you normally live at home AND your parents have a licence. It doesn't matter what sort of aerial you are using. However the training of TVLA men is pretty poor and many do not know this.

See my post above, for my interpretation. The regulations do use the word "solely" powered by internal batteries, so if it is plugged in as you say it can be argued it is still running on the battery, but it is also unquestionably recieving power from an external source.

You are right though that there is no way on earth that they could know what power source it was using. and if you don't admit them for five three minutes, you can easily pull the lead out if the TV is on at the time, if it's not on you just makesure you unplug the TV aerial.

You can then choose to admit them or not it's up to you, there's no requirement for you to admit them. And the chances of them obtaining a search warrant is slim.

As part of your defence it would be good backup to get a written letter (in advance i.e. now) from TVLA confirming your intention to use your laptop as a laptop with the TV aerial pulled out, and as a TV with the power cable pulled out.

jenny_f

Savvy_Sue wrote:

If you all signed the same contract, then one TV licence should be enough (and you are ALL liable for the rent if ONE of you fails to pay). If you each signed an individual contract then you need an individual licence for each room (but on the plus side if one of you fails to pay the rent then the rest of you aren't liable for their share).

Does that help?

Thanks, we all signed an individual contract. Suppose though it was a family home and the children had locks on the doors, then there'd only be the need for the one license, so why more in a student house when we're poorer!!!

Wig

btw the wesite reffered to a wee while ago was

tvlicensing.biz

Yes you can mention it. But it has not been updated for over a year. although I spose you can still sign the petition.

melancholly

I don't know if it's just an urban myth, but I heard that the Houses of Parliament only has one licence which covers everyone....! Anyone know if that's true?!

gizmoleeds

melancholly wrote:

I don't know if it's just an urban myth, but I heard that the Houses of Parliament only has one licence which covers everyone....! Anyone know if that's true?!

Probably true - a business premises only needs one licence (ie. £126 a year) so even the BT Tower, HSBC building or the headquarters of Vodafone would only pay £126 a year.

Wig

btw, a few of you talked about TV detectors, I would think They can only "detect" old style TV's, not modern plasma screens or LCD screen TV's or a Laptop used as a TV.

The only thing they can do is use a directional microphone.

bbruce

Wig wrote:

I have checked the regulations, and I have decided from reading them, that whilst you use your laptop as a TV, it should be by battery power only. Whilst you use it "plugged in" for other applications, it is not in use to recieve TV signals (aerial not plugged in therefore not capable of recieving signal) Therefore at those times it is not requiring a TV licence. If you want to do this and you are unsure just ask TVLA.

I am now sure also that this rule of batteries applies to any second home situation eg:

student in halls of residence
student in shared house privately rented
Normal Joe Bloggs who has a second home (holiday home)

Incidentaly A holiday home using a normal mains powered TV does not require a second license if the TV is not in use simultaneously with the TV in the main home.

RU sure about the last point? This used to be true 10 years ago but I believe it was changed a few years ago.

nadnad

so quick question - if you've more than one tv in your house do you need more than one TV license?