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A helpful guide to recieving Digital TV


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1. Introduction
2. What is Digital TV?
3. Have I got Digital TV already
4. Ho do I get Digital TV and do I have to pay for it
Freeview   
Freesat   
Cable & Broadband   
5. Freeview Recievers (set-top boxes)
6. Aerials and reception information for Freeview
Troubleshooting recepetion and Aerial installations

Introduction


Questions we get from the less technical people indicate confusion over 'Digital' TV. Do they already have it. How do they get it. What is an [integrated] Digital TV set. This guide tries to help people people sort out their DTV requirements, whether a basic guide to DTV services, and how to get 'Free' TV without spending too much money and avoiding monthly subscriptions.


What is digital TV


Digital TV doesnt need too much technical discussion at this point. The technology is pretty irrelevant, other than it provides better quality signals, more channels, and sometimes, interactive features (starting from an advanced version of the old teletext service). It has been available nationally via TV aerials (Freeview) and satellite (FreeSAT) for a number of years now, and is also available via cable and broadband in some areas. (NTL, Telewest etc). There is a national programme running to turn off Analog TV from the transmitters, region by region, and by 2011 everybody will have to be digital.


Have I got Digital TV already


If you only have the old five channel format (BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, CH4, CH5) then you probably arent digital yet. I say probably, because you might have it, but you dont know how to use it. It happens!!. Read on, and if the answer is yes to any of the next questions, yet you only see 5 channels, then you will need to read instruction manuals for your equipment or get advice from a friend to find out how to access it.

If you have a set-top box (whose remote you use to control which channel you watch), then you probably do have it
If you get your TV from people like Sky, Telewest or Virgin (NTL), then you do, but you can ring them to check if you get all the digital services available (especially if your set-top box is older than 5 years)
If you have a TV that calls itself a 'Digital TV', and you have access to 20 or more channels then you do have it.

If you have no box, no provider who bills you, no 'Integrated Digital TV', then you dont get it...yet

How do I get it, and do I have to pay for it


FreeView (Free service)

FreeView is free to everybody. It provides 30 plus channels. You will need either an Integrated TV or a set top box. If you already have a telephone line (eg from BT) and you dot want to chenge to a internet/phnoe line and TV package, its probably the best, and cheapest way to go. Read the sections on "Set-top boxes" and "Freeview Aerials" below.

If you want to be able to record Freeview, you will need an advanced DTV reciever which has an integrated Disk and a decent EPG (Programme guide), and ideally your box should have 'dual/twin recievers' so that you can record programs regardless of which channel you are watching. Checkout our recommended Freeview receivers here

For more information and a "coverage check" to see if it is likely you can receive Freeview in your area is avaliable via www.FreeView.co.uk


FreeSAT (Free service)

Freesat is recommended if you dont want a bundled cable service, and dont get good freeview reception in your area (trees, hills and distance from transmitter can be a problem). You will get more or less the same programmes as FreeView, plus usually a lot of 'scrambled channels' clutter. You will need a dish pointing at the sky satellite, a sky set-top box and a Freesat viewing card (The yellow card with a house on it from a cancelled sky subscription is also usable as a Freesat viewing card). If you have some of these bits (eg from a previous sky customer in your house), you can buy the missing ones (Card is £20, box and Card is £120, Box, Card, Dish and Installation is £150).

If you want to be able to record Freesat programms (like you can with the Sky+ service) then you will need a Sky+ capable set top box and will have to pay a £10 monthly fee as recording is disabled for subscriptions below £25 per month

Further info and contact details are available via www.FreeSatfromSky.co.uk


Cable or Broadband TV (subscription and bundled services)

Virgin (NTL) Telewest, and a whole host of new cable and broadband providers such as HomeChoice can provide digital TV services, normally bundled with Internet and Phone lines. Some may require a BT line (or at least to have previously had a BT line installed). Some use fibre optic cables that means you dont need a BT line at all. BT even have a new service 'BT Vision' which connects a set-top box via your broadband router, and access freeview, record programms, downlaod music videos and movies. etc.


Freeview Recievers (set-top boxes)


The folllowing is a guide to the different freeview recievers. As this is something we often use daily, getting the right reciever can increase your quality of viewing.

Value DTV set-top box - Under £50 (mandated by Ofcom)

Small unit with no or few buttons, basic operation, very basic EPG (program guide), sometimes only showing next program. Often unreliable (lockups and screen freezes)

DTV Reciever - £50-100.

Basically a more advanced Freeview reciever physically resembling other AV components, normally with more features (7 day EPG with search and category functions and programme reminders), and faster channel change and EPG response times.

DTV Reciever/Recorder - £100-180.

Same as DTV reciever, but with the ability to record and schedule recordings via the EPG. Limited to recording on the channel you are watching as it only has a single tuner. Often unreliable (crashes and lockups).

Twin Tuner Reciever/Recorder - £150-300.

The elite of Freeview recievers with 'Sky+' like functionality. With twin internal tuners they can record programmes while you watch others, even pause and catchup live TV and catchup a recording. Cheaper models are unrelaible and have small disks. Checkout our recommended recorder/receivers here


Aerials and reception information for Freeview


Digital broadcasts are transmitted on reduced power (compared to Analog) to reduce congestion and interference, and reception is more fickle, so while digital TV quality is potentially better, people are having more reception problems.

For many people, the move over to Digital TV means a change to their Aerial setup. The required aerial type is generally considered to be a broadband aerial. This isnt strictly true (it may even cause interference from other transmitters).

An typical Aerial install by a aerial fitter may cost £160. Look in the Yellow Pages for a CAI registered Aerial fitter.

An easy first step before you start spending money is to compare your aerial to others in your borough, especially neighbours you know have Freeview. Compare the size, direction and polarity (horizontal or vertical direction of the small rods that come from the main beam). If yours is drastically different, an aerial upgrade is likely.

If your Aerial is setup the same as other freeview recievers in your neighbourhood, borrow a set-top box and check to see you have all the freeview channels.


Tips for installing and troubleshooting DTV reception (advanced)

For the more technical and DIY orientated of you, the following informaton may allow you to check your aerial supports DTV, troubleshoot reception problems, or even upgrade your aerial yourself (where safety allows).

The Wolfbane website should be able to help you work out which type of aerial you need for DTV, the polarity to mount it and where to point it, and what to point it at.


If reception conditions are excellent (check the Wolfbane aerial recommendation and check for high obstructions next to the house), you may be able to do a DIY loft installation (use a high gain aerial to compensate for loss through roof tiles).

Remove any amplifiers installed as part of a previous analog setup. Amplifiers are usually ineffective for resolving DTV reception problems (they amplify noise), and are frequently the cause of the problems.

A freeview reciever can help troubleshooting as they often provide signal strength and quality meters for each channel (quality should be 100% and strength should be >50%) and you can identify weak or missing groups of channels (NB Channel multiplexors). The DTG postcode checker can tell you which channels appear on which multiplex (enter postcode and click on 'by multiplex' link).

On your freeview box, there may be an 'Antenna Power' or 'Active Antenna' option, which may be required to supply a small voltage back up the cable to active splitters/filters on the masthead or cabling that you dont know about. If there is no signal, change this setting and retry.

Minor poor signal quality causes regular pixelations on the screen and some channels may not be received at all times. At only a small decrease in quality the error recovery processing will hit the digital cliff and no usable signal will be available.

Unnecessary joins in cables weaken signal strength significantly and can cause intereference. Use proper F-type or PAL connectors if a join is necessary, and use appropriately rated coax for any down cabling (from aerial to TV sockets). Use good quality splitters (for extension sockets) and filters (to remove unrequired frequencies, including interference from electrical equipment in the house).

Use of a CAI benchmarked aerials is highly recommended

All the hardware you require is available from stores such as Maplins, and Aerial fitters (of course) and we have even sourced CAI certified High Gain Aerials from B&Q for £40.


We hope this guide has been helpful


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