How do I get Digital?
Digital Terrestrial Television - reception:
Ofcom have stated that “if you can receive ordinary analogue TV today, you will receive digital TV on switchover”.
Many people can already enjoy Digital Terrestrial TV (Freeview) today – it depends purely on whether your aerial can ‘see’ (line of sight) a main transmitter e.g. Stockland Hill near Honiton, Beacon Hill near Torquay or Rowridge on the Isle of Wight. All these transmitters are sending out both analogue and digital TV today.
However, for those who have to rely on local transmitters that relay the signal on from the main ones, they will only receive analogue TV (the 4 basic channels) until switchover. But after switchover these will be changed to transmit digital transmissions only. At that point, the vast majority of residents in Dorset will be able to receive a digital terrestrial TV signal.
The exceptions are those residents who just can’t receive terrestrial TV of any sort because of the terrain blocking the signal. They will have to go for Sky (you can get a non-subscription version) or the new BBC FreeSat service (due to be launched early in 2008)
Aerials:
For advice on aerials see the following:
- BBC Spotlight video showing an installation of two digital ready aerials and the results
- Tower Hill Technical Services, a local company and aerial installers, have written an article on aerials to explain the problems and what you need for optimum reception.
- The BBC analogue terrestrial aerial survey shows clearly typical problems with today’s aerial installations in the area, and makes a wide range of useful recommendations/tips to help you get the best reception.
Digital televisions – set top box or integrated TV?
As we near the beginning of switchover to digital, we see the prices of Digital Televisions (with the digital √) dropping fast. Ideally it is best to buy an integrated TV (with Freeview built in) so you only have one box and one controller. If your aerial is in good condition you may well not need to buy a new one – you can simply try it and see or pay a local reputable aerial company to do a survey for you. However, you still have the choice of whether to either buy a set top box (quite cheap) to connect between your aerial and your TV to enable you to receive digital TV, or buy a new television with Freeview built in. In the future you will only be able to buy digital TVs – set top boxes are an interim solution only. Most digital TVs today can receive both analogue and digital so they would be practical to buy even if you are on a local transmitter today – it is getting closer to switchover every day and you would then be set up and ready to go!
DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting):
This service is still quite new and is not complete by any means. Coverage is patchy as the transmitters are not all in place. However, if you want to have DAB anyway, you should consider having an external aerial, and buying a set with a socket for the external aerial. Aerial suppliers such as Tower Hill Technical Services (or any member of the Confederation of Aerial Industries - CAI) will carry out a survey for you (there would be a small charge) for digital TV and/or DAB reception, and can then advise on the best aerials for your particular situation or whether your present installation is sufficient.
See USEFUL LINKS to get more information.
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