TV Aerials

[bruce5755]

With the digital TV signal switch over imminent, will TV aerials become redundant. And how does the "digi-box" recieve its signals? Will, and how will you be able to record programs, whilst watching another? (if you know what I mean).

Many Thanks, bruce5755.

[vehelpfulguy]

Why should TV Aerials become redundant ?. Freeview gets its digital signal via the aerial.

There are 3 main ways of getting digital TV, from Sky via satellite, from Freeview via your aerial, and via cable if you use NTL or Telewest.

All three will still be available after we have switched off analogue and switched to digital.

After that date the only people who will NOT be able to watch TV is those with an analougue TV (currently most of them) who do NOT have a freeview box, sky or cable.

[Postdog]

And in answer to the bit about "can you watch one while recording another" the answer is no. However, there seems to be more and more "dual" digital recievers coming out, and by the time of the change, I should think these will be the norm.

[vehelpfulguy]

To answer your other question about watching one program while recording another.

Well if you currently have a TV AND a video then when you record onto the video you are actually using a TV receiver inside the video machine.

So you are WATCHING the TV while the "TV" in the video is recording the other program.

In future videos (or more likely DVD recorders) will have a freeview TV tuner built in (as does a Panasonic DVD recorder already)

So you will record onto tape or DVD from the freeview TV receiver in the video/DVD box, and watch the other channel on TV from the "normal" freeview box.

I have just got Sky+ which has a hard disk I can record to (no video or DVD) and I can record one channel while watching another.

In fact I can record TWO programs at the same time, although I can only watch one or the other, not a third.

[Ethel]

I can record one digital signal, on either the vhs or dvd recorder, record a terrestial signal on the other and watch a third terrestial signal at the same time.

(I wish there were enough decent programmes to warrant doing this!)

I have a digital aerial that will receive digital tv when they switch the transmitter on and cable tv.

When the time comes I will be able to record either aerial or cable and record the other if I buy a freeview box.

[commoner]

......until the final demise of the analogue signal we have lots of combinations....I can record Freeview on DVD hard drive, record analogue on VHS Tape and playback a DVD disc all at the same time..........the aerial is very important when receiving Freeview. more so than analogue tv which can be received with almost any old thing stuck in the socket....a proper aerial is the only way to get satisfaction if that is your chosen method....or you will get picture breakup and missing channels to say the least.

..........a double tuner box is neccessary to watch and record two different Freeview channels simultaneously .........or if you have a TV which has a built in freeview receiver you can add another digibox to the set up and watch the TV and use the Digibox to record..........

....lot's of ways to skin a cat as my old gran used to say in those far off pre PC days.......<G>