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?

My point was you can see the transmitter out of my window but the telly upstairs (on an aerial) can't get any freeview channels. Not that I am too bothered.
When the rain gets bad (so all the time) the satellite signal dumps out.

It hasn't really affected it we didn't use the upstairs telly much, I was just making conversation.

Sorry I mean can't get any channels with shelling out for a new box, even though the signal is right there which I am not going to do. It's only telly.

nymphadora - I suspect it was logistical - the resources funding/manpower for publicity campaigns and visiting elderly etc are finite, and the choice of locations might have been to do the harder sections first in case the costs were much higher (hopefully by the time the south-east is being changed, the engineers will have come across every possible problem so will fix them faster there (and thus not be as costly). Certainly Wales and Scotland will have given more challenges than much of England will...

QT - I expect the TV mast you can see will be upgraded to relay the regional TV stations in due course, but was not given high priority.

Unfortunately, shelling out for a new Freeview box will be the situation for a few million homes where second or third TV sets have been installed, eg in bedrooms.

Admittedly a cost we could do without, but the boxes nowadays are from 15 or 20 quid not 80 and up like a few years ago, after the OnDigital business went bust.

(Yes, I was a customer before Freeview came along, and tried BSB before Sky bought that one, too! Maybe I have the 'Kiss of Death'...)

We just didn't bother with the second tv. When we do get another it's going to be DVD projector & not tv( Networkguy- don't suppose you know much about them?)

I have friends who do

Certainly (depending on what you are after) I have irons in some fires concerning advice for screens, projectors, and sound systems to complement them.

Hope you are planning to leave plastering and any other decorating until after the kit goes in...

However, things in this area move so fast, the 'when we do' is the time to start asking about kit... new stuff coming out every 3-6 months so anything discussed today could be superceded by late Autumn.

Rooms not a proper room yet, so plastering can be any time!

Original plan was projector onto blank wall then I saw the screens that come down & if we had that we could have shelves behind it for our hundreds of DVDs. Room is approx 10ft sq so sound doesn't have to cover far but dh wants decent quality. Projector poss ceiling mounted.

Sounds like you are fairly close to wanting it done! Of course, a local installer may offer best options.

I just rang a friend (here in N Wales) and for that size room he would recommend the projector being ceiling mounted (to be out of the way and probably at opposite end of the room from screen).

There's a deal on for a projector with manual (pull down) screen at around 900 pounds at present. Electric drop-down screens are perhaps 500+

I had been about to suggest checking on cost of projector lamp when you are looking, but was told that so long as you use remote control to put projector to stanby (so fan is left running to cool lamp gently) the life is expected to be in region of 3000 to 4000 hours (ie a few years if you don't watch more than a few DVDs a week). By then one might be looking to buy a different projector as technology will have moved on.

If you turn power off at mains, it drops the life of the lamp considerably. Was told life of projectors has been improving and prices coming down every year or two but it all depends what you are after and how big a budget you want to set aside!

Never know, they may do the projector deal for you at 850 (mention Peter if you ring) and they do lots of mail order (and ship speakers and so on worth thousands, so hopefully there would be as much care taken with the screen as for the projector).

Won't put out their web address (too much like an ad at MN) but feel free to e-mail me at peter @ web-hints.info and will pass on their phone number and web link.

Ooops - don't forget something like speakers and AV amp on top - add another 500-700 maybe (or use some existing speakers - depends whether you are looking for 5.1 or 7.1 too!)

Oh, and no, I have none of this nice gear myself, not even a flat screen with Freeview in it yet One day... one day...

Cheers! Room still needs floor up & damp proofing. Hoping to get in done in next 2-3 m but we'd have to clear it which may take longer!

Not sure how long the offer is on the projector and screen - it might be to clear stock. Anyway, you may prefer to buy locally for on site support.