Digital TV for Residential Care Homes

This may not be the right place to post this, but it's a start
Am looking into the above as we have a number of residential care homes with
40+ residents in London and the South East and with digital switchover in
the not too distant future, we are looking for a viable solution
I know there are solutions for hotel chains and the like, but is anyone able
to point me in the right direction in terms of where to start looking

Thanks

Nicola

"Nicola Redwood" wrote in message
...
This may not be the right place to post this, but it's a start
Am looking into the above as we have a number of residential care homes
with 40+ residents in London and the South East and with digital
switchover in the not too distant future, we are looking for a viable
solution
I know there are solutions for hotel chains and the like, but is anyone
able to point me in the right direction in terms of where to start looking

General advice.

1. In places of that size and type the conversion of the TV system often
requires minimal work (the exception being when the TV system is more than
about 30 years old). Quite often all that's required is a different aerial
and main amplifier. Sometimes not even that. The sensible way to proceed is
often to attend to these items, then check each outlet and deal with any
individual problems.

2. Post-switchover, your existing system would probably work fine as it is
now! The problem is getting to the switchover moment, because until then
digi will be low powered on sometimes on 'awkward' channels.

3. Many installers will see your organisation as a cash cow, and will
recommend totally unneccessary work at every establishment. They will also
try to panic you by saying that if you don't get all the work done now
everyone will be too busy later. This has a grain of truth in it, but is not
sufficient reason to start throwing money about.

4. If you have any old systems that need a complete new installation, put
satellite on them as well as terrestrial. Your next generation of residents
will expect it.

There's a chap on this newsgroup who does good work and is based in the
south east. Let's see if he pops up.

If you're wondering how I know so much, it's because we maintain systems for
quite a few outfits like yours in the north. I don't think there's much on
our website that directly answers your questions but it's wrightsaerials.tv
if you want to have a browse.

Bill

"Nicola Redwood" wrote in message
...
This may not be the right place to post this, but it's a start
Am looking into the above as we have a number of residential care homes
with 40+ residents in London and the South East and with digital
switchover in the not too distant future, we are looking for a viable
solution
I know there are solutions for hotel chains and the like, but is anyone
able to point me in the right direction in terms of where to start looking

Thanks

Nicola


I think the solutions will depend on what kind of system each home has in
place and what you want to achieve.

You might find that many of the homes don't need any work doing to the
distribution system, but in these you will need to solve the problem of
residents not having a digital (Freeview) box if they don't have one
already. You could of course make sure they each have their own box, and
that might be the end of it for some of the homes. Where this wouldn't work
though, there are solutions available so they can pick up the 5 channels and
use the TVs as they normally would without needing a digital box for each
resident. They can have extra channels if required or just the same 5 as
they always had.

Many of the homes will probably have a poor distribution system so these
will need additional work to bring them up to scratch. As Bill said though,
this usually just means a new aerial and / or amplifier then some time
picking up any problems with small problems such as sockets / leads etc.

At the other end of the scale there are IPTV systems which use the buildings
structured cabling network. If the building already has an IP network
installed, and the old TV system is beyond repair, then this can be quite a
cost effective solution, especially for much larger buildings.

In article ,
Nicola Redwood wrote:
This may not be the right place to post this, but it's a start Am
looking into the above as we have a number of residential care homes
with 40+ residents in London and the South East and with digital
switchover in the not too distant future, we are looking for a viable
solution I know there are solutions for hotel chains and the like, but
is anyone able to point me in the right direction in terms of where to
start looking

In the majority of the London area, assuming your communal aerial works ok
for analogue it will work ok for FreeView. So only the sets themselves
will have to be changed.

--
*If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends? *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Carpy" wrote in message
...
Where this wouldn't work though, there are solutions available so they
can pick up the 5 channels and use the TVs as they normally would without
needing a digital box for each resident. They can have extra channels if
required or just the same 5 as they always had.
I'm really not in favour of this. It's very backwards looking, and it's just
postponing the inevitable and confusing the issue. It isn't such a massive
thing for people to use a set top box, and the few that really can't manage
a second remote need an IDTV. I think that post-ASO we will laugh at the
idea of converting DTT signals into analogue for distribution. When BBC2
started people just had to learn to use the system switch, which was a
bloody sight more difficvult than using a DTT set top box. There was no
question of converting 625 to VHF 405!


Many of the homes will probably have a poor distribution system so these
will need additional work to bring them up to scratch. As Bill said
though, this usually just means a new aerial and / or amplifier then some
time picking up any problems with small problems such as sockets / leads
etc.

At the other end of the scale there are IPTV systems which use the
buildings structured cabling network. If the building already has an IP
network installed, and the old TV system is beyond repair, then this can
be quite a cost effective solution, especially for much larger buildings.
I think 40 bed homes will have conventional copper wired RF for a long time
yet.

Anyway Carpy, give this lady your business card. It sounds as if you could
save her getting ripped of by some of the sharks that infest your southern
waters.

Bill

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Nicola Redwood wrote:
This may not be the right place to post this, but it's a start Am
looking into the above as we have a number of residential care homes
with 40+ residents in London and the South East and with digital
switchover in the not too distant future, we are looking for a viable
solution I know there are solutions for hotel chains and the like, but
is anyone able to point me in the right direction in terms of where to
start looking

In the majority of the London area, assuming your communal aerial works ok
for analogue it will work ok for FreeView. So only the sets themselves
will have to be changed.

Yes, we find that many housing organisations are being railroaded into
unneccessary work. Most of the Emley Moor systems need zero work.

Bill

In article ,
Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
Nicola Redwood wrote:
This may not be the right place to post this, but it's a start Am
looking into the above as we have a number of residential care homes
with 40+ residents in London and the South East and with digital
switchover in the not too distant future, we are looking for a viable
solution I know there are solutions for hotel chains and the like, but
is anyone able to point me in the right direction in terms of where to
start looking

In the majority of the London area, assuming your communal aerial works ok
for analogue it will work ok for FreeView. So only the sets themselves
will have to be changed.

I'd disagree with that statement for 2 possible reasons.
1. The distribution system might have channel pass filters.
2. The system might be using 'translated' channels .
neither of these types of system would carry digital signals.

--
From KT24 - in "Leafy Surrey"

Using a RISC OS computer running v5.11

"Bill Wright" wrote in message
...

"Carpy" wrote in message
...
Where this wouldn't work though, there are solutions available so they
can pick up the 5 channels and use the TVs as they normally would without
needing a digital box for each resident. They can have extra channels if
required or just the same 5 as they always had.
I'm really not in favour of this. It's very backwards looking, and it's
just postponing the inevitable and confusing the issue. It isn't such a
massive thing for people to use a set top box, and the few that really
can't manage a second remote need an IDTV. I think that post-ASO we will
laugh at the idea of converting DTT signals into analogue for
distribution. When BBC2 started people just had to learn to use the system
switch, which was a bloody sight more difficvult than using a DTT set top
box. There was no question of converting 625 to VHF 405!


Many of the homes will probably have a poor distribution system so these
will need additional work to bring them up to scratch. As Bill said
though, this usually just means a new aerial and / or amplifier then some
time picking up any problems with small problems such as sockets / leads
etc.

At the other end of the scale there are IPTV systems which use the
buildings structured cabling network. If the building already has an IP
network installed, and the old TV system is beyond repair, then this can
be quite a cost effective solution, especially for much larger buildings.
I think 40 bed homes will have conventional copper wired RF for a long
time yet.

Anyway Carpy, give this lady your business card. It sounds as if you could
save her getting ripped of by some of the sharks that infest your southern
waters.

Bill



I agree but as I said it's really only for those who simply couldn't cope
with a digital box / new televsion. I would sometimes spend afternoons
sitting at my nans house trying to convince her to try one of my Freeview
boxes. I tried every possible approach, but she wouldn't hear a word of it.
She simply did not want to entertain the idea and would eventually become
upset if I even mentioned it. I know she would have loved it if she stopped
being so afraid of it but there comes a point where it's best just to let
things lie. She died a few months back aged 92 and with one leg! Tough as
old boots she was!

....snip...
In the majority of the London area, assuming your communal aerial works
ok
for analogue it will work ok for FreeView. So only the sets themselves
will have to be changed.

I'd disagree with that statement for 2 possible reasons.
1. The distribution system might have channel pass filters.
2. The system might be using 'translated' channels .
neither of these types of system would carry digital signals.

The simplest way to see is to borrow a Freeview box, talk to a few of the
more helpful residents and plug it in in their room and try. Problem might
be getting them to give the box back afterwards!

Don't forget to mention the radio stations too. Often overlooked but you
never know how many residents might welcome the chance to listen to "Around
the Horn" again.

Paul DS.

"Paul D.Smith" wrote in message
...
...snip...
snip
Don't forget to mention the radio stations too. Often overlooked but you
never know how many residents might welcome the chance to listen to
"Around the Horn" again.
Paul DS.

BBC7 my favourite radio channel

Around the Horn.
Bona!

Steve Terry