Need Digital TV? Ready to switch over?
Get fair, unbiased advice in a language you understand
so you make the right choice.
What if I’m not technical?
By 2012 the entire country will have switched to digital and the last of the old analogue signals will have been switched off. This means that if you haven’t bought the necessary hardware to unscramble the new digital signals, you won’t be able to watch TV any more.
What hardware do I need?
This all depends on what kind of service you want, how much you want to pay and what you want to do with it.
If you want to go for the cheapest possible option then you can simply buy a set-top box, which start from as little as £20, and watch the Freeview channels. However, you need to bear in mind that your old VCR won’t work in the same way after the digital switchover and if you want to watch one channel while recording another, you’ll have to buy a digital TV recorder (DTR).
DTRs are more expensive than standard set-top boxes but they do work as a digital TV receiver too, so you don’t need to buy the two.
Your other options are buying an integrated digital TV - which is far more costly but an option if you’re already in need of a new TV - or you could sign up to a digital TV subscription. A subscription will cost more and commit you to a contract, but you’ll have access to more channels and your provider will also supply and install your hardware.
I want Freeview but I’m scared of the technicalities involved in set-up
Setting up is very easy to do but if you are worried and don’t want to try to do it yourself, then your retailer should be able to provide assistance installing your hardware, but there will be a cost for this.
You might be eligible for help from the Government’s Help Scheme (see useful links) if you’re over 75 or are registered disabled - you’ll be contacted nearer the time of the switchover if you are eligible.
However, if you’re not eligible for Government help and don’t want to pay out for installation, don’t despair - setting up your digital receiver is not difficult. Just follow these instructions:
Connect your aerial to the “RF in” socket on the back of your set-top box
Connect the “RF out” on the back of the set-top box to the “RF in” on the back of your TV (if your set-top box has a “RF out” socket)
If you have two scart sockets on the back of your TV: connect the “TV scart” on the back of your set-top box to scart number one on the back of your TV
Connect scart number two from the back of your TV to your DVD/VCR
If you have only one scart socket on the back of your TV: connect the “TV scart” on the back of your set-top box to scart number one on the back of your TV
Connect the VCR scart at the back of your set-top box to your DVD/VCR
What if I don’t have a scart socket at the back of my TV?
If you don’t have a scart socket at the back of your TV you can still connect providing your set-top box has a “RF out” socket - which many do not have, so double check before you buy yours.
Connect your aerial to the “RF in” socket on the back of your set-top box
Connect the “RF out” on the back of the set-top box to the “RF in” on the back of your TV
Connect the VCR scart at the back of your set-top box to your DVD/VCR
Bear in mind that this is not an ideal option and most DVD digital boxes and DTRs will need a scart connection.
