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This
page will give you some more facts about Digital
Switchover. It is quite possible that it won’t answer all your
questions; if you do have any questions that aren’t answered below then please either email us
on enquiries@thedigitalwizard.co.uk
or via our contact page here.
Alternatively give us a call on 01353 675075 and we’ll do our very best to help.
On
this page (click to go to the section):
What
is Digital Switchover?
How
will it affect you?
What do you need to do in order to be ready?
Buying and installing a “set-top”
box
Buying and installing a personal video recorder
(PVR) with built-in digital TV receiver
Buying and setting-up a new TV with a built-in digital TV
receiver
What
is HD?
Some things you might not
know
What is Digital Switchover?
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Digital Switchover is the term to describe the process of switching TV signals in the UK from analogue to digital.
The existing analogue signal will be switched off and a new, stronger, digital signal will take its place. As a result of this switchover more channels will become available to those who receive digital television through an aerial (increasing from around 5 to as many as 40).
How will it affect you?
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If all of the televisions in your house receive signals from either satellite, cable or through a phone line you will not be affected by switchover. If, however, any of the televisions in your house receive a signal through an aerial then you will need to ensure you are ready for switchover.
What do you need to do in order to be ready?
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If you have televisions receiving analogue signals in your house there are many options for ensuring they can receive the new digital signal. These options include:
► Buying and installing a “set-top” box;
► Buying and installing a personal video recorder (PVR) with built-in digital TV receiver;
► Buying and setting-up a new TV with a built-in digital TV receiver;
► Signing-up with a subscription-based service (eg Virgin, BT Vision, etc.)
Buying a set-top box.
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A set-top box will allow you to receive digital TV signals and show the new channels on your current TV. It is, literally, a small box which connects to your existing aerial cable and will show you the new digital channels. It won’t allow you to pause live TV or record programmes, for that you will need a PVR…
Buying a personal video recorder
(PVR).
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A PVR will do everything a set-top box does, but will also allow you to pause and rewind live TV, and record programmes or a whole series of programmes. There are many PVRs available in the UK, and if you have any questions about them we are very willing to talk to you about the options available to meet your needs.
Buying
a new TV with a built-in digital TV receiver.
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Many new televisions will have a built-in digital TV receiver (you will often see this referred to as an “integrated tuner”). If you go for the option of buying a new
TV you would need a TV with a built-in Freeview tuner to allow you to receive digital TV signals through your aerial. Again, we are happy to offer advice as to which option would be best for you.
High Definition (HD)
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With lots of new terms it is easy to get confused! One thing to remember is that digital TV and high definition (HD) TV are two different things.
Analogue TV signals produced standard definition TV pictures; digital TV also produces standard definition pictures, but they are much clearer as they don’t have “snow” on them.
Some set-top boxes, PVRs and TVs with built-in digital TV receivers also show high definition channels. At the moment – March 2011 – free-to-air digital TV offers between three and six high definition channels. These channels are additional to the standard definition channels which you still receive on digital TV.
Some myths debunked:
1. You don’t need an HD TV to watch digital
TV
2. You can watch HD channels on a standard definition
TV
3. You don’t need to spend £40 on an HDMI cable to get a perfectly good HD signal.
Some things you might not know…
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• If you are over 75 or an eligible disabled person you are able to get help with everything you need in order to make one TV ready for
Digital Switchover. To check your eligibility click here, or call The Digital Wizard and we’ll do our best to help.
• You can check the condition of the signal you are receiving through your aerial by visiting Teletext page 284 on each of the analogue channels (BBC1 & 2, ITV and Channel 4).
• Depending on where you live, when switchover takes place in your area not all analogue channels will be switched off straight away. See
www.digitaluk.co.uk
for full details.
• Comprehensive information about Digital Switchover and how it will affect you and your area is available at the website
www.digitaluk.co.uk
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