PE
yes but what about in 2008? will everyone have a box on every tv and vcr? and is 6 weeks between turning BBC2 off and the rest enough time?
Sky are certainly upping the propaganda on Radio Borders at the moment
"let's talk to makie-up person from tweedbank"
"oh i love sky, gush gush gush"
"did you ever consider getting freeview?"
"oh god now, i spit at it"
I can't remember the exact words but they're essentially the above
Pete
Founding member
Banksoriginal posted:
Most people will have Digital within 2010 so it will be calm
yes but what about in 2008? will everyone have a box on every tv and vcr? and is 6 weeks between turning BBC2 off and the rest enough time?
Sky are certainly upping the propaganda on Radio Borders at the moment
"let's talk to makie-up person from tweedbank"
"oh i love sky, gush gush gush"
"did you ever consider getting freeview?"
"oh god now, i spit at it"
I can't remember the exact words but they're essentially the above
MA
I know loads of people who seem to think you need a new aerial for digital. In a lot of cases, you don't at all. Selling "digital aerials" is a total con. The only time you need a new aerial is if you live in a weak signal area and need a higher gain one, of if you have a Band A (or similar) aerial, and some digital signals are on higher frequencies. Sadly, I know quite a few people who have done this- my aunt got a new aerial to get Freeview, even though her old one was fine. If I can get a strong DTT signal on a cheap indoor aerial, there's certinally no need for anyone to change their rooftop ones at all.
All the New Aerial thing has to be aload of b*llocks, fair enough if you live in a region where reception is 50/50, probably due to hills or what have you. We got my Nan a Freeview box a few months ago, it works fine, even though she has a really old aerial, probably from the 1970's as the Aerial cable is brown, not white like todays. The reception on the SDN MUX does break up from time to time, but it does for us on our Freeview box, our aerial for this one is only 5 years old.
BTW We weren't conned here, we only got a new aerial as the old ones fell off during bad weather one Winter.
The colour of the aerial cable is no indication of anything, and the age of the aerial isn't really relevant either.
There are crap old aerials and crap new ones, crap old cable and crap new cable.
nwtv2003 posted:
james2001 posted:
RJG posted:
I think the biggest problem of the digital switchover will be the numberr of "cowboys" who try to take advantage of the analogue switchoff. With Selkirk and its relays scheduled to lose analogue in the second half of 2008, there will be dodgy aerial installers and the like swarming in from all over the UK. "You need a new aerial, love"
I know loads of people who seem to think you need a new aerial for digital. In a lot of cases, you don't at all. Selling "digital aerials" is a total con. The only time you need a new aerial is if you live in a weak signal area and need a higher gain one, of if you have a Band A (or similar) aerial, and some digital signals are on higher frequencies. Sadly, I know quite a few people who have done this- my aunt got a new aerial to get Freeview, even though her old one was fine. If I can get a strong DTT signal on a cheap indoor aerial, there's certinally no need for anyone to change their rooftop ones at all.
All the New Aerial thing has to be aload of b*llocks, fair enough if you live in a region where reception is 50/50, probably due to hills or what have you. We got my Nan a Freeview box a few months ago, it works fine, even though she has a really old aerial, probably from the 1970's as the Aerial cable is brown, not white like todays. The reception on the SDN MUX does break up from time to time, but it does for us on our Freeview box, our aerial for this one is only 5 years old.
BTW We weren't conned here, we only got a new aerial as the old ones fell off during bad weather one Winter.
The colour of the aerial cable is no indication of anything, and the age of the aerial isn't really relevant either.
There are crap old aerials and crap new ones, crap old cable and crap new cable.
MI
Yeah, so what? That's their fault for not being proactive enough in getting the correct equipment to watch TV. It's this attitude which would still see us watching 525-line black and white VHF TV.
> when Colour TV came in, people bought colour televisions
> when UHF TV was introduced, people bought UHF-capable televisions
> when widescreen TV was introduced, people bought widescreen TVs.
> when digital TV is introduced, people will buy freeview boxes.
It's not rocket science. You need the right equipment to watch TV - any defiance (and scaremongering) in the face of this is stupid. And it's not like it's going to happen overnight. The public information campaign has started NOW!! Two whole blinkin years before it's even going to start!
RJG posted:
The main problem will be of time. On a certain date, say the 26th of August 2008, BBC 2 analogue services from Selkirk and its relays will disappear. Overnight one multiplex, carrying the main BBC channels, will be switched on at higher power from Selkirk and, for the first time, from the relays. People may, or may not, have purchased digital boxes in advance.
Yeah, so what? That's their fault for not being proactive enough in getting the correct equipment to watch TV. It's this attitude which would still see us watching 525-line black and white VHF TV.
> when Colour TV came in, people bought colour televisions
> when UHF TV was introduced, people bought UHF-capable televisions
> when widescreen TV was introduced, people bought widescreen TVs.
> when digital TV is introduced, people will buy freeview boxes.
It's not rocket science. You need the right equipment to watch TV - any defiance (and scaremongering) in the face of this is stupid. And it's not like it's going to happen overnight. The public information campaign has started NOW!! Two whole blinkin years before it's even going to start!
SP
...but existing black and white TVs continued to work, and do to this day.
...but existing VHF TVs continued to work into the 1980s.
...but existing 4:3 TVs continue to work, and are still in the majority of sets.
...but when analogue TV is switched off, anything without digital capability will cease to work.
Alexia posted:
> when Colour TV came in, people bought colour televisions
...but existing black and white TVs continued to work, and do to this day.
Quote:
> when UHF TV was introduced, people bought UHF-capable televisions
...but existing VHF TVs continued to work into the 1980s.
Quote:
> when widescreen TV was introduced, people bought widescreen TVs.
...but existing 4:3 TVs continue to work, and are still in the majority of sets.
Quote:
> when digital TV is introduced, people will buy freeview boxes.
...but when analogue TV is switched off, anything without digital capability will cease to work.
SD
Pedantic I know, but VHF television transmissions were actually 405 line. As I recall the move up to 625 line UHF black & white was greeted in our house (in 1971 - hell I'm old) in the same way as HD is now
Alexia posted:
It's this attitude which would still see us watching 525-line black and white VHF TV.
Pedantic I know, but VHF television transmissions were actually 405 line. As I recall the move up to 625 line UHF black & white was greeted in our house (in 1971 - hell I'm old) in the same way as HD is now
MI
My point is - when analogue TV is switched off, anyone who hasn't made the conversion to digital is either stupid or in denial.
Yes black and white sets still work but very very few people rely on purely a black and white set - and then its only misers.
Yes VHF continued to work throughout the 80s, but lets not forget digital TV isn't coming in and taking over in a blitz of lightning now over a two year period: it'll have been a TWELVE year period by 2009.
Yes 4:3 TVs continue to work, but with most broadcasters switching to 16:9 filming and broadcasting they will eventually become obselete. (Apart from those with 16:9 modes that is). Admittedly this isn't as big a problem as DTV
Yes black and white sets still work but very very few people rely on purely a black and white set - and then its only misers.
Yes VHF continued to work throughout the 80s, but lets not forget digital TV isn't coming in and taking over in a blitz of lightning now over a two year period: it'll have been a TWELVE year period by 2009.
Yes 4:3 TVs continue to work, but with most broadcasters switching to 16:9 filming and broadcasting they will eventually become obselete. (Apart from those with 16:9 modes that is). Admittedly this isn't as big a problem as DTV
SO
yes but what about in 2008? will everyone have a box on every tv and vcr? and is 6 weeks between turning BBC2 off and the rest enough time?
Sky are certainly upping the propaganda on Radio Borders at the moment
"let's talk to makie-up person from tweedbank"
"oh i love sky, gush gush gush"
"did you ever consider getting freeview?"
"oh god now, i spit at it"
I can't remember the exact words but they're essentially the above
They've even interviewed A. Viewer from Annan - which is outwith the Radio Borders area by some distance...!
Hymagumba posted:
Banksoriginal posted:
Most people will have Digital within 2010 so it will be calm
yes but what about in 2008? will everyone have a box on every tv and vcr? and is 6 weeks between turning BBC2 off and the rest enough time?
Sky are certainly upping the propaganda on Radio Borders at the moment
"let's talk to makie-up person from tweedbank"
"oh i love sky, gush gush gush"
"did you ever consider getting freeview?"
"oh god now, i spit at it"
I can't remember the exact words but they're essentially the above
They've even interviewed A. Viewer from Annan - which is outwith the Radio Borders area by some distance...!
PE
HAHA, i haven't heard that one yet.
Have you been getting their mailshots promising completely free subscriptions to the first billion people who phone up but then when you phone up are mysteriously all gone?
Pete
Founding member
Steven O posted:
They've even interviewed A. Viewer from Annan - which is outwith the Radio Borders area by some distance...!
HAHA, i haven't heard that one yet.
Have you been getting their mailshots promising completely free subscriptions to the first billion people who phone up but then when you phone up are mysteriously all gone?
SO
HAHA, i haven't heard that one yet.
Have you been getting their mailshots promising completely free subscriptions to the first billion people who phone up but then when you phone up are mysteriously all gone?
I have but haven't called the number.....
I believe they're still debating what to do with the Berwick-on-Tweed relay, as it receives its BBC services from Chatton and ITV/C4 from Selkirk - one idea being mooted is to change it so that all services come from Chatton. Otherwise, people in Tweedmouth and Spittal will be left with blank screens in a few years' time while the rest of Berwick - which gets Tyne Tees - will still be able to watch analogue until 2012!
Hymagumba posted:
Steven O posted:
They've even interviewed A. Viewer from Annan - which is outwith the Radio Borders area by some distance...!
HAHA, i haven't heard that one yet.
Have you been getting their mailshots promising completely free subscriptions to the first billion people who phone up but then when you phone up are mysteriously all gone?
I have but haven't called the number.....
I believe they're still debating what to do with the Berwick-on-Tweed relay, as it receives its BBC services from Chatton and ITV/C4 from Selkirk - one idea being mooted is to change it so that all services come from Chatton. Otherwise, people in Tweedmouth and Spittal will be left with blank screens in a few years' time while the rest of Berwick - which gets Tyne Tees - will still be able to watch analogue until 2012!
SP
What an ignorant and conceited thing to say. Have you not considered that some people aren't as technically minded as you? Have you ever tried explaining a Freeview box to an 85 year old granny who currently uses an indoor aerial and hasn't even found Channel 5 yet?
True, but compared to other switchovers (such as from 405 to 625 and B&W to colour), there's much more equipment these days. If it was a case of just upgrading the one TV in the living room, as it was for most people in the 70s, it'd be fairly straightforward. But nowadays, you've got to convert TVs in bedrooms, kitchens, etc., making sure each is connected to an outdoor aerial and has a freeview box connected or is an iDTV.
Have you ever tried buying a reasonably priced 16:9 portable?
Alexia posted:
My point is - when analogue TV is switched off, anyone who hasn't made the conversion to digital is either stupid or in denial.
What an ignorant and conceited thing to say. Have you not considered that some people aren't as technically minded as you? Have you ever tried explaining a Freeview box to an 85 year old granny who currently uses an indoor aerial and hasn't even found Channel 5 yet?
Quote:
Yes black and white sets still work but very very few people rely on purely a black and white set - and then its only misers.
Yes VHF continued to work throughout the 80s, but lets not forget digital TV isn't coming in and taking over in a blitz of lightning now over a two year period: it'll have been a TWELVE year period by 2009.
Yes VHF continued to work throughout the 80s, but lets not forget digital TV isn't coming in and taking over in a blitz of lightning now over a two year period: it'll have been a TWELVE year period by 2009.
True, but compared to other switchovers (such as from 405 to 625 and B&W to colour), there's much more equipment these days. If it was a case of just upgrading the one TV in the living room, as it was for most people in the 70s, it'd be fairly straightforward. But nowadays, you've got to convert TVs in bedrooms, kitchens, etc., making sure each is connected to an outdoor aerial and has a freeview box connected or is an iDTV.
Quote:
Yes 4:3 TVs continue to work, but with most broadcasters switching to 16:9 filming and broadcasting they will eventually become obselete. (Apart from those with 16:9 modes that is). Admittedly this isn't as big a problem as DTV
Have you ever tried buying a reasonably priced 16:9 portable?
RJ
Incidentally, this week's "Peeblesshire News" highlights the fact that digital "cowboys" are already in action. The story doesn't appear on its web edition but tells of trading standards officers investigating an incident where an 80 year old woman was allegedly told she'd have to sign up to a £28 per month deal to continue watching her favourite soaps.
On the subject of the timescale for DSO, compared with the 405 line switch-off, most areas had been able to receive 625 line services for well over a decade before the vhf TV service was turned off. There were pockets, and there probably still are, where this left viewers, albeit a handful, with no TV service. Some homes near Bonchester Bridge, for example, were left without any TV reception from January 1985 until the autumn of that year when the local relay was opened. Even with high levels of digital penetration via satellite or, where available, Freeview, there will be a substantial number of households, and a greater number of sets, still needing adapted.
On the subject of the timescale for DSO, compared with the 405 line switch-off, most areas had been able to receive 625 line services for well over a decade before the vhf TV service was turned off. There were pockets, and there probably still are, where this left viewers, albeit a handful, with no TV service. Some homes near Bonchester Bridge, for example, were left without any TV reception from January 1985 until the autumn of that year when the local relay was opened. Even with high levels of digital penetration via satellite or, where available, Freeview, there will be a substantial number of households, and a greater number of sets, still needing adapted.