So the benefits of the digital switchover are what exactly?

[gaelicsheep]

We have Freesat from Sky already as we've no TV aerial here and inherited a Sky box, but I've been looking into all the alternatives that might be opened up to us when the magic switchover happens here in October.

And I've concluded that universal digital TV is a huge backward step from analogue for the following reasons:

1. You cannot watch something and record something else without buying expensive new equipment
2. If the signal loses strength it becomes not slightly fuzzy but actually unwatchable

The switchover is a huge waste of time and money because:

1. The vast majority of the extra "free" channels are full of crap and/or repeats
2. The one useful thing that could have been done already - namely Plus 1 versions of BBC 1, 2 and ITV - hasn't been done, god only knows why
3. We may be able to get Freeview after the switchover, but as switching from Freesat would mean losing the interactive content of the red button there are no benefits to doing so
4. Yes we can get better radio reception through the Freesat, but who wants to watch radio through their TV?

The benefits of the switchover are:

1. We can buy a hugely expensive HD TV to watch the same programmes a little bit clearer. Wey heh!
2. Can't think of any more.

Can anyone enlighten this hardened luddite?

Um..........

Meaning you can't think of any either? Or it's the most boring thread in history!

I don't own a radio - I use the TV to listen to it and have done for years (or the computer if I'm through here)

I don't own a radio - I use the TV to listen to it and have done for years (or the computer if I'm through here)

you see it was so important I had to say it twice

But it costs so much more to run a TV than a radio. And then don't you find yourself having to look at the screen?

I don't look at the screen, there's nothing on it - it's blank- why would I look at a blank screen

But it's blue isn't it? I'm always drawn to where the sound comes from.

Anyhow, this is possibly the most anal discussion in history. I'm still interested in hearing some actual reasons for the switchover though that don't involve making people buy expensive equipment that they wouldn't need without it. Not being able to video something while watching something else drives me crazy!

See? Video - we've not even moved into the world of DVD recorders yet!

no - when I listen to the radio on the TV it's a black screen....

I have to ask - if you're drawn to where the sound comes from..........does that mean you sit and stare at your radio .

Hmm actual reasons.........well...........will be nice for everyone to have the opportunity to watch the same channels. We can't get channel 5 round here on analogue (I was to discover this as we're not in the middle of nowhere)

Oh I wish it was a black screen here. P'raps it's a Sky thing then. No I don't stare at the radio - it must be the blue what does it.

I've watched Channel 5 about three times this year I think. You're not missing much!

oh I have digital

actually I'd miss the "all day" kids channels.

DS's have just discovered Cartoonito (sp) which is a little kids Cartoon Network......it does a "bedtime hour" type of thing too like Cbeebies..........EXCEPT it finishes nice and calmly at 8pm - bang on DS3's bedtime

Duh - radio through TV - duh!

Oh well, seems my rant is all academic anyway. Just typed my address into www.digitaluk.co.uk and it seems we're "not predicted" to get any Freeview service at all even after the so-called switchover . Guess we're sticking with Freesat then.

Well our freeview digital tv seems to be often out of sync. Does any one else have this problem?

You don't have to buy (very)expensive equipment to record one channel and watch another. You need a second set top box to attach to your video. They are about £15 if you buy a value one or even cheaper from the carboot.

We bought our first ever brand new tv about 3 years ago with integral freeview, HD ready etc. Since switchover the reception is as you say unwatchable at times, it seems to coincide with frosty or very wet weather. The only advice they can give us is to disconnect everything and retune. Makes not one jot of difference.

My mum's brand new tv doesn't pick up red button and no one can explain why not. The only solution to all the problems it seems would be to get satellite or cable but why the hell should we have to when we had a perfectly good service before? I'm with you gs I think it's all a bit of a con.

Phew, rant over

We went digital last year and we had to get our aerial upgraded with a booster and still have to retune the TV weekly as we lose signal.

We are drifting away from watching it. Think we are only payingthe license fee for Dr Who at the moment

My mum is in the Border tv region. They ahve a freeveiw box. The channels they get are
BBC1
BBC2
BBC4
BBC3
ITV1
ITV2
CHANNEL4 and +1
CHANNEL 5
BBCNEWS 24
CBEEBIES
CBBC
E4 +1 (but not E4)
GAY RABBIT
RABBIT and loads of other things like QVC.

That's it. They used to get ITV 3 and 4, and More 4, and all the toehr freeview channels,but the signal was changed so that some part of Cumbria could get channel 5,a dn they lost everything.
They ahve been told that they need to get a Sky box if they want to be able to receive the other channels, but why should they ahve to

And, our freeview box in our bedroom has to be reset every single day. We cna be watching a programme and the signal jsut drops out and it has to be reset, or sometimes we reset and get 5 channels, other times we get loads. It's very annoying

We've been switched already. You can still get tv using a set top box connected to an old black&white solid state tv. You do not need to buy a new tv. (Just to let everyone know.)

On digital we have found:

There are HUGE synchronisation problems, frequently. They make tv unwatchable.

Often, the picture becomes pixilated, making it unwatchable.

We hate digital but have no choice now.

You're right about the only possible benefit (the +1 thing) not having happened.

It's all a con to make everyone buy new equipment.

gaelicsheep - I agree with you i don't see the point. I also record a lot of stuff and it will be infuriating not to be able to record one channel whilst watching another. I suppose that means I will be forced into continuing to subscribe to SKY so I can get SkyPlus (which isn't that reliable I have heard), or is there another way?

You have to wonder who is gaining anything from this? I am concerend for old people who will no doubt wonder what the hell is going on. Its all so UNNECESSARY!

Humax is a digital non sky version of sky +
we stopped bothering recording. If we really want something it's usually on iplayer or 4OD

That's interesting about the second box connected to the video ANTagony. I guess we'd still have to faff with the satellite dish to install the second connection needed, but from Googling last night it looks like we can get the necessary kit for about £30 and do it ourselves.

nymphadora - we just don't bother recording at all now, but we've just got used to missing things as we can't watch iplayer or anything like that as we can only get 0.5MB broadband through the satellite. (Well we could get up to 3MB if we were prepared to pay over £50 a month ). I was looking into those Humax Freesat + boxes last night - I think that's the way we'll probably go in the future, but they're not cheap!

It's all a bit crap then really isn't it? What a shame that as with everything it has bugger all to do with improving the service and everything to do with profiteering.

you know if you have digital cable rather than sat then interupted coverage is virtually unheard off.

HATED it when we were with sky, bad weather, anything would cause the horrible distored screen...........no problems with cable

I like Freeview because it gives me Friends at many convenient times.