iDTV's

[compunightmare]

The government wants us all to “go digital”. They've even set up schemes whereby they give digital equipment away free of charge to certain “deprived areas”, whilst hard working people have to pay for their digital gadgets.

They want to sell off the analogue system for around £20 billions, so please help them by rushing out and purchasing a brand new, top of the range, rip-off price iDTV (integrated digital TV) first thing tomorrow, because they need the money.

According to this article ...

globalarchive.ft.com/globalarchive/article.html?id=010508001460&query=Digital+

... we'll still be receiving Eastenders and the like through analogue signals for a long time yet.

Craig.

[Magnum malum]

Am I missing something here, or will a normal TV with either digital satellite or digital cable or ondigital box pick up the digital channels anyway?
So why would anyone buy a digitally integrated TV?
Most people who want more channels have one of the above and have no need of a special TV to get extra channels.

I live in a poor recetion area so would gain nothing from owning a DVB TV, is that correct?

[compunightmare]

Originally posted by Magnum malum
Am I missing something here, or will a normal TV with either digital satellite or digital cable or ondigital box pick up the digital channels anyway?
So why would anyone buy a digitally integrated TV?
Most people who want more channels have one of the above and have no need of a special TV to get extra channels.

I live in a poor recetion area so would gain nothing from owning a DVB TV, is that correct?

Hi Magnum ...

No, you're not exactly missing anything, but production of analogue TV's will cease one day, and then, unless you're already equipped with digital satellite through a dish, digital cable through, well ... through a cable of course :) or digital terrestrial TV through an aerial, all of which use set top box technolgy, or intend taking up one of the aforementioned services that you'll have to in most cases pay for/subscribe to, you may say to yourself, “hey, my TV is due for an upgrade and I think I'll get one of those iDTV thingies”, which will give you access to the FTA (free to air) channels at no cost.

Craig.

[airport]

compunightmare.

You say the government have set up schemes to give away digital equipment free of charge in certain deprived area.

Where can I find any info on these schemes as I have not heard about them yet.

Thanx.

Keith.

[compunightmare]

Originally posted by airport
compunightmare.

You say the government have set up schemes to give away digital equipment free of charge in certain deprived area.

Where can I find any info on these schemes as I have not heard about them yet.

Thanx.

Keith.

Hi Keith ...

Please, call me Craig ... “compunightmare” is just a username :)

I haven't got the details to hand at the moment, but I'll dig out some stuff later (if I can) and post it for you. In the meantime, if anyone else has URL's that connect with the details Keith is looking for ...

The “scheme” does not extend nationwide at the moment Keith, its just a trial in certain areas from what I've read about it.

Craig.

[airport]

Thanx Craig for your prompt reply and sorry for using your username I am having a bit of a bad day today.

Keith.

[compunightmare]

Originally posted by airport
Thanx Craig for your prompt reply and sorry for using your username I am having a bit of a bad day today.

Keith.

No need to apologise - everyone has bad days. Mine usually begin on a Monday and last until Sunday :)

I'm listening in to an ntl: conference call soon, but when its over I'll have a dig about for the info you're after.

Craig.

[airport]

No prob`s Craig no need to rush as I am about to log off anyway, and will not be back on till about 3.30-4.00.

Keith.

[compunightmare]

Hi Keith ...

You may want to read this article (http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4170874,00.html) from the Guardian newspaper entiled “Plan to give out free digital TV sets”.

I will try and find you some more detailed, specific information later today. Unfortunately, the discussions that we had on this issue over at the forum I use have long since disappeared.

Craig.

[Magnum malum]

Thanks for you reply, that's pretty much what I figured. I can't get the free to air channels that are analogue let alone the digital ones, so I have just ordered a digital dish.

[Rock DJ]

great service ya get with sky, although open is a pile of dogs dirt

[compunightmare]

Originally posted by Magnum malum
Thanks for you reply, that's pretty much what I figured. I can't get the free to air channels that are analogue let alone the digital ones, so I have just ordered a digital dish.

Hi Magnum ...

I don't understand !. Are you saying that you live in a “blackspot” that cannot receive TV receptions ?.

Craig

[Magnum malum]

Yeah pretty much. We get BBC1 and ITV OKish BBC2 is very snowy and CH4 is pretty bad, Channel 5 doesn't exist.
I have an aerial booster to get it this good! I could probably get a huge high gain aerial but it seemed more sensible to go for Sky and get a decent picture for all the channels.

[airport]

I did find a site that claim`s it can provide a free digital set top box which also combines several other features. Namely a DVD player for DVD films, Audio CD`s and MP3 format CD, Internet access and at a latter date satalite access.

The set top boxes according to the site will be ready for shipping from June/July 2001.

The url is www.free-box.co.uk

Keith.

[compunightmare]

Hmmm ... I see now !. You do realsie the Sky Digital doesn't carry any of the ITV channels at this time. They should be available by the end of this year though, last I heard.

[compunightmare]

Originally posted by airport
I did find a site that claim`s it can provide a free digital set top box which also combines several other features. Namely a DVD player for DVD films, Audio CD`s and MP3 format CD, Internet access and at a latter date satalite access.

The set top boxes according to the site will be ready for shipping from June/July 2001.

The url is www.free-box.co.uk

Keith.

The important wording here is “claims to provide”.

Leave them alone Keith. Nobody seems to know what the company is about (is it a scam ? if so, how ?) but I know of people who've been waiting for STB's from them since they appeared back in September/October last year.

Craig

[Magnum malum]

Originally posted by compunightmare
Hmmm ... I see now !. You do realsie the Sky Digital doesn't carry any of the ITV channels at this time. They should be available by the end of this year though, last I heard.

Yeah I'd heard that, we get ITV OK and I can wait for the others. ITV are shooting themselves in the foot by not letting sky broadcast them.

[Rock DJ]

Sky should be getting ITV soon apparently

i am just waiting as soon as it comes on Sky Dig mammy will get rid of rip off on digital

[compunightmare]

Originally posted by The Rock DJ
Sky should be getting ITV soon apparently

i am just waiting as soon as it comes on Sky Dig mammy will get rid of rip off on digital

You told us that you already had Sky Digital John. I even recall you coming over to the digital spy forums that I use and asking a question about it in the Sky Digital forum.

Strange, very strange.

Craig

[Rock DJ]

we have both On DIG and Sky Dig maybe i didn;t make myself clear