Digital tv – does this give you more channels then the normal 4 you get

[giggles321]

My brov has bought my dad a sony lcd digital flat screen 32” tv. My dad says he can only get channels BBC1, 2, HTV and channel 4. Dad said he wants to buy a freeview box to get all the free channels, my brov told him when the digital changeover happens he wont need a freeview box. (guess he means the changeover will give you all the free channels) Confused?? I am!! Help....

[Panic Button]

If the TV is digital ready he won't need a freeview box now or after changeover.

If it isn't digital ready (which would be unusual if it is new) then he will need a box now and after changeover.

[giggles321]

how will he know if its digital ready? he can only get 4 channels now.

[Panic Button]

Does he get any banner telling him what programme he is watching when he changes channel?

If he presses the 'Guide' button, does he see a display of current and upcoming programmes?

If he says yes to both, then he is already watching digital TV.

The instruction book should give more information.

If he is already receiving digital, but only getting four channels he may have an aerial problem.

When switchover happens the digital signal will be boosted about tenfold, so he will get better reception then.

[giggles321]

I'm doing my best on the phone trying to explain things to him!!! I have told him to read the manual properly and it will show you a pic of the handset and say what all the buttons are for and how to use them. He is at present pressing 1 for BBC 1, 2 for BBC2 etc which is as we know, not the way to do it!! Many thanks.

[rov1200]

All modern TVs are digital and usually Freeview is built into the set. It can receive a signal from your old roof aerial.

If you want to go more upmarket you can use a dish on the wall which receives pictures from a satelite. You need a satelite box to go with your dish. You then have a choice of SKy where you need to pay a subscription for films, sport, etc. or Freesat

The alternative to Sky is to purchase a Freesat box (not from sky) where all the programs are free to watch and you get about 200 channels at the moment. Beware that Sky also call their box Freesat.

[VHG]

Most modern TVs will show ANALOGUE and DIGITAL.

You can switch a TV from showing just ANALOGUE to DIGITAL.

If it is in ANALOGUE mode he will only get the 4 or 5 main channels.

If he switches it to DIGIAL mode he will get all the "freeview" chanels.

He may need to "tune" it to pick up the digiratal channels first.

But the key thing is he need to switch it from analogue mode to digital mode.

[VHG]

If you go to the Sony web site and select Support you can download the manual for his TV and guide him through it.

http://www.sony.co.uk/section/home