TV switchover fiasco

Mike Henry wrote:
In , Kev
wrote:
Mike Henry said the following on 2005-04-02 14:33:
In , "DAB sounds worse
than FM" wrote:

But if you actually DID check the ranges, you'd find that IDTVs are
indeed just £30-£40 more than non-digital TVs. For example, the Sony
analogue KV-28HX15 is £280 from Empire Direct, and the equivalent
Sony digital KD-28DL11 is just £308 from the same place. That's a
premium of just £28. Other than the digital side, the feature set
of both models is more or less identical. For that £28 you get the
same fantastic UI and 7-day EPG as in the excellent Sony Freeview
VTXD800U box, which has a RRP of £129.99!

That does surprise me a little, i thought the differences would be
more dramatic...

As I say, I think it is because the high street shops have
deliberately lumped "digital tuner" into their "top end feature" list
for the last 7 years, that people are conditioned into thinking that
IDTVs are expensive. Whereas they are actually very good value
indeed. If you bought the analogue-only KV-28HX15 and then added the
Sony Freeview VTXD800U box, you would use up your only RGB SCART
socket and pay £100 *more*!


It's already been pointed out to you that the Sony VTXD800U does not
cost the RRP of £130, and is available from multiple retailers for £80.

Moreover, buying a Sony VTXD800U does not require you to spend the extra
£308. Furthermore, when there are HDTV transmissions on DTT then it will
be far cheaper to buy a new set-top box than buy another sodding TV set.




--
Steve - www.digitalradiotech.co.uk - Digital Radio News & Info

Find the cheapest Freeview, DAB & MP3 Player Prices:
http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/fr..._receivers.htm
http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/da...tal_radios.htm
http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/mp...rs_1GB-5GB.htm
http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/mp...e_capacity.htm

MJ Ray wrote:
"DAB sounds worse than FM" wrote:
thought you were talking about the DBRTF100 (that I've got) was
because you said you'd bought it 14 months ago, but you could of
course bought an ex-OnDigital Pioneer box 2nd hand 14 months ago.
[...]

Not my box - I don't live in a Freeview area - but family 200+
miles away. I'll try to remember to check spec next visit. 14
months guessed because that was first visit I saw it.


Yeah, it could well be the old Pioneer ex-OnD box then.


--
Steve - www.digitalradiotech.co.uk - Digital Radio News & Info

Find the cheapest Freeview, DAB & MP3 Player Prices:
http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/fr..._receivers.htm
http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/da...tal_radios.htm
http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/mp...rs_1GB-5GB.htm
http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/mp...e_capacity.htm

"Ivan" wrote in message
...
I found this snippet in this week's ERT, personally I don't think that
there
is anywhere near that amount of early receiver's still in use, but let's
hope that progress for the overwhelming majority won't be held up by a
vociferous few.

29 March 2005 TV switchover fiasco

GOVERNMENT regulator Ofcom is backing a change to the Freeview TV signal
that will render a million set-top boxes obsolete.

The switch from the 2k to 8k transmission standard will also adversely
affect 75,000 integrated digital TVs (IDTV).

The proposed modification would provide the UK with a more reliable
digital
terrestrial TV (DTT) system but because many older ITV Digital and
Freeview
receivers are incapable of handling the 8k carrier system they will stop
working if the change is made.


Bring it on. The more reliable the signal, the better off we will all be.
Make the switch as soon as possible. Anyone know when this might happen?

Michael Chare wrote:


with DTT. Just a pity ITV, CH4 and 5 are still encrypted.


satellite is not much better.


In terms of picture quality with a good signal, yes.

Yes what?


My impression of satellite is that if you have line of sight to the satellite
you should get good reception. Coverage is about 94% of UK homes.

It is not the reception so much, I got a very strong signal but once
again the bit rates of most of the channels is a bit low.


With DTT reception can be flakey and coverage is more like 73% at the moment.


Very flakey.

Archbold Pumper ESQ wrote:



Bring it on. The more reliable the signal, the better off we will all be.
Make the switch as soon as possible. Anyone know when this might happen?



The year 2020 probably.