Digital Box

[potty64]

My disabled brother lives in the Bristol area and has not been able to get BBC1 or 2 for the past month. Does this mean he HAS to get a digital box??

[AlBags]

You mean BBC1/2 Analogue terrestrial (through aerial)?
He should get a cheapie box and try it out.

[Buenchico]

He shouldn't have been able to get ANY analogue stations if (as is most likely) his aerial is pointing at the Mendip transmitter. BBC2 was switched off on 24th March. All other stations disappeared from the analogue platform on 7th April.

ALL analogue transmitters, across the whole of the UK, will be switched off by 2012. So everyone who wants to continue watching terrestrial TV will have to use digital equipment. (Either a Freeview box or a TV with built-in digital tuner).

Chris

[potty64]

Thank you for the info. He lives on the ninth floor of a block of flats but has an indoor aerial.(I'm sure it's not connected properly!!) Soo! How much for a Free view box?! Terribly awkward to sort the poor chap out as he lives 200 miles from me!

[Buenchico]

There are lots of makes of Freeview boxes, at widely varying prices, but there's very little to choose between them. (The only thing that some people need to look for is the presence of TWO Scart sockets, rather than one. But that only applies if the user intends to connect another device, such as a DVD recorder, to the box. For most users, a single Scart socket is perfectly adequate).

With that minor caveat, simply go for the cheapest box you can find. You definitely don't need to pay more than £20. The cheapest box in Argos is £17.99. A few places sell them for around £15. (The lowest price I've seen was around £12). You might also need to buy a Scart lead. (Don't both with the expensive gold-plated ones in places like Curry's. Any 'pound shop' or 'discount store' will sell you one for around a quid).

All TV signals (both analogue and digital) are broadcast with the intention of providing a decent signal for anyone who has a good-quality outdoor aerial, so there can never be a guarantee that a set-top aerial will be adequate. However the Mendip digital transmitter (which serves Bristol) is now using full power. (It was operating on reduced power until March, in order not to interfere with analogue signals). If your brother could get good analogue reception in the past, he may well be able to get a usable digital signal now. (If not, using an indoor aerial with a built-in amplifier might help).

Chris

[pusskin]

hi potty 64 such a shame that your brother lives so far from you, it must make it very awkward. Try and ring his local social services and explain his position, and maybe some one will come and help him sort the tele out seeing as he is disabled and has no one living nearby.
Good luck x pusskins

[potty64]

Thank you so much for your positive advice. I shall get on to Social Services first thing tomorrow! (And get a cheap scart lead sent to him!) By the way, I'm new at this Answerbank & don't know how to put your name in, ie Pusskin, Buenchico & Albags! SORRY!! Do I type it in where it says 'Enter Youtube Link here? Thanks once again for your help.

[pusskin]

potty64 --you dont have to put our names in any where. Your doing it ok. Carry on as you are, and just mention our names if you so wish while typing an answer or a question.. That ok? lol

Good luck with the Social services tomorrow, and hope your brother soon gets sorted.

[AlBags]

Cheapest .. Best I could find! ... If you are on eBay, you can add his address and get sent straight to him. £13.49 delivered.
Good litle receivers .. and a free scart lead.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk...L&hash=item1c1637ec8e

[mosesg]

www.helpscheme.co.uk

Think your brother might get financial help with this as well as there is a government scheme

[bednobs]

don't ring social services - they will not care if someone can watch tv or not
if he qualifies, these people will help
http://www.helpscheme.co.uk/