Digital TV

[butter1]

This is probably not on the right topic but I just need to know something.  I bought a digital tv last year and I really want to find out how I apply for more channels.  The channels are there but they come up with no service.  I can receive ITV2/3 BBC3 etc and some music channels thats about it.  Does anyone know how I would contact to receive more channels?  I don't really want to pay extra with people like SKY and NTL.  Thanks.

[Loosehead]

Your TV has a built in digibox and will receive everything that is free, there is no application necessary. There should be a lot more than you describe. Perhaps your ariel needs boosting or improving some how. It may also be that the signal is weak from some of the channels in your area. Read the manual for your TV some TV's have a "sensitive" mode, that may pick up some more. I presume you've let the TV auto tune to whatever it can find. Can you get things like SKY news, CBBC, ITV news ? You should ba able to get:

http://www.freeview.co.uk/whatson/index.html

[butter1]

Thank you Loosehead, I will read my manual tonight.  I have obviously not tuned it properly.

[elframo]

The general rule of thumb is that if you can get channel five on your telelvision then you can get most freeview channels, if not you'll need a wideband aerial ..... 

[spudqueen]

I would definately check your manual first as when we first set up out digital box we didn't get all the channels we could have done, just didn't do it right.

Having said that though, some channels do come up with no service eg UK Gold, Discovery Channel, Cartoon Network, which you can only recieve on Top Up TV for which you need a slot in your TV or Digital Box and which you have to pay for.

[ipek]

It also depends on what transmitter your arial is pointed to - currently they don't all send out the full range of Freeview, although they do gradually bring more channels on-line.

We bought a TV with an integrated digital receiver several years ago, but nothing happened until we upgraded the arial and also fitted a booster because the signal is so bad where we are.  When the arial was renewed, the fitter found that the signals were better from our local transmitter rather than Crystal Palace, so aligned it accordingly.

So we get whatever Reigate care to air.  I also find that over time, my channels get scrambled (e.g. channel3 should be ITV, but at the moment it's ITV3) so every now and then I have to retune the TV.

Just bought a Digibox for the bedroom and so far that seems a bit more stable, but then it is considerably more modern than the set in the lounge. 

[butter1]

Hi ipek, if i bought a digibox for the bedroom would I have to get an longer ariel extention as my reception in the bedroom is terrible?  As you can tell, I'm totally clueless when it comes to things like this....

[ipek]

Hi butter1,

You would need a splitter for your arial and also a booster (helps with bad signal anyway, but running 2 TVs from the same arial can degrade the picture quality without one).

What we used to have (before we got the wiring done properly) was a device that did both.  You plug it into the mains and then plug the arial into the 'inbound' socket.  There are 2 'outbound' sockets, one for each telly (lounge & bedroom).  You then run enough arial cable to reach the bedroom telly and plug it in (or into the digibox if you get one).  It does mean you've got yards of cable running around the place (please tack it down with cable clips) - but it works.

You can get them easily from DIY shops (Homebase, B&Q, Focus) as well as extension arial cable.  Have a look and see what you think.....