Digital TV

[Coldicote]

I see there are many references in AB to digital TV but I don't know where to start, so advice would be welcome please. Maybe I am still in the dark ages with just four TV channels - BBC 1 and 2, and commercial 3 and 4. Time will come for digital TV, but what do I actually need to do please? I see there are many adverts for Freeview and am toying with that idea. I have an old fashioned H type aerial in the loft - will I need a new aerial?
Is an additional box to plug into the back of my TV all that is necessary?
Will it display teletext as well as ordinary TV programs?
If I add Freeview now will I still receive the present analogue signal until the digital change-over? And what then?
Would a new TV set be the best answer?
Sorry to bombard with so many questions but I do need help with these basic points - many thanks.

[Ethel]

Firstly you need to check that you live in a digitally active area:

http://www.freeview.co.uk/home

You may need a new aerial - but you may not. Trial and error is the only way to be sure.

You do not need a new tv - just a freeview box. You will one box for each tv in the house.

If you NEED to buy a new tv it may as well be digital.

The teletext through digital tv is dire at the moment but will improve in time.

You can easily unplug the aerial from the freeview box and plug it directly back in to the tv if you want to switch between analogue and digital tv.

[Ethel]

And as you can buy a box for around �20 you may as well give it a go.

[markysngc]

he he lotsa question.... ok deep breath... here we go;)

First check freeview coverage for your area

http://www.freeview.co.uk/availability/

if you have coverage (BTW my postcode tells me I haven't but it still works fine!!) then you will require a set top box (STB) these will connect to your current tv by either the normal aerial socket, or for better results by a scart socket, if connected by aerial socket you will need to tune a spare channel on your tv into the STB, if connected by scart then you sellect the AV input on your TV. (basicly they connect in to the TV in the same manner as a video recorder does)

Once it is all connected you will still be able to get your normal 4 channels in the same way you do now untill the time the ananlog signal is cut off in your area (2012 at latest so little way to go yet)

Freeview boxes do have teletext, but not the same teletext as you get on your current analog setup, but you will still be able to get teletext from the analog signal on the normal channels just as you do now.

You may need a new aerial, best thing is to try it and see if it works.

if you are happy with your current television set then no need to get a new one.

I would suggest that as freeview boxes are available from most large supermarkets for less than �20 now to simply buy one and see how you get on.

Hope that helped

Mark

[Coldicote]

Very many thanks Ethel and Mark. The links to freeview.co.uk are very helpful. I never was the technical sort and hadn't a clue where to start, but you have pointed me in the right direction. It seems trial and error will have a lot to do with it, so I'll be off to buy a Freeview box at the first opportunity.

[Jenga]

I paid for a new digital aerial and bought a new freeview box last year for about �150 but now I have got Virgin broadband and if I hadn't of paid for a new aeral I could of had Virgin T.V for only another �5 per month.

[Coldicote]

Thank you for all this good advice; and Jenga I'm glad to learn from your experience.