Tessa the Duchess Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 Is it true that when this finally happens, we will no longer be able to watch videos on a regular VHS machine? I have an image of massive landfill sites piled with unwanted, unwatchable videos and video machines Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 I believe so, but can't remember where I read it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 Can't see why that would be the case. You're just using a connection between your tv and video. The issue might be when they stop producing video machines (I had trouble buying one a few years ago - hardly any to choose from). I know what you mean about landfill - I have loads of tapes I made up for the kids (films/kids progs etc) which they've grown out of. I don't want to throw them away so I've put them in the attic . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 You will still be able to watch videos - digital is only about how the signal is sent. I have Sky Digital and I can record to video from there and watch it back. The digital switchover just means the programmes will be transmitted differently and that you have to have the correct reciever to get them. Mobile phones were originally analogue and switched to digital, the analogue ones used to have aerials sticking up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 As an aisde, it is possible to convert videos to DVD, but maybe not an option for a huge collection. OH has written one or two for his parents, but don't know about the process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted October 27, 2007 Author Share Posted October 27, 2007 So not true then. Weird I swear I saw a programme about this a while ago, must've been dreaming Vicki you could always freecycle your old children's vids, everything seems to find a home on freecycle. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 I've done some tricky stuff with video and digital recording. Sky make it hard for you to transfer from your Sky + box to the computer, I've put stuff on video from my Sky + and then had the techies at work transfer it to DVD. All mediums play. There are a lot of myths surrounding the digital switchover. All information can be found here http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/ Here is the important part that tells you what you need to do. "You don’t need to replace your existing TV unless you want to but you will need a digital box (via aerial, satellite dish or cable). However if you are thinking of upgrading your current set consider getting a TV with a digital box built in (a “digital TV”) and look for the 'digital tick’ logo. And don’t forget your video recorder: If you use a video (VCR) or a DVD recorder for recording you will still be able to record and play back tapes/DVDs as before. But, if you want to record one digital channel while you are watching another, you'll need a digital TV recorder with one or more digital tuners (Freeview Playback, Sky+ or ntl: Telewest TV Drive). Look for the 'digital tick’ logo which certifies products and services that are designed to keep working after switchover. Stores displaying ‘get set for digital’ will stock certified products." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 This switch over will be expensive, all your tv's will have to have freeview boxes or sky etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 This switch over will be expensive, all your tv's will have to have freeview boxes or sky etc It won't be very expensive Fred, the freeview boxes are down to £20 now. OK if you have 5 tellys that would cost a hundred pounds but the expense is another myth. We have Sky multiroom and I got an aerial engineer to wire up the whole property so that we can view from either box on any telly. One box is in my living room and one is in Mums, between us we have 6 telly's that we regularly view and 2 that are used occasionally oh and my PC is wired in. It cost a bit to get it wired up initially but now I can put a telly in every room if I want and get digital TV on any of them. We also have a Digital PVR that we don't use and when James gets old enough to have a telly in his room I will give him that so that he doesn't have control of our sky boxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clash City Rocker Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 This switch over will be expensive, all your tv's will have to have freeview boxes or sky etc Regardless of expense, it is a good and often missed point, ALL tv's will have to be connected to a digital signal, not just the "Main household TV" this will include:- Kid's Rooms, Bedrooms, Guest Rooms, Kitchen's, Conservatorys and any other places people choose to watch TV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 Regardless of expense, it is a good and often missed point, ALL tv's will have to be connected to a digital signal, not just the "Main household TV" this will include:- Kid's Rooms, Bedrooms, Guest Rooms, Kitchen's, Conservatorys and any other places people choose to watch TV. Thats sort of what I ment to type..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 There are also large rafts of the country where the cheapest option (freeview) simply doesn't work. Mine works in a so so way, the programmes break up quite a lot so I wouldn't rely on it as my only form of viewing. However its handy in a storm when your Sky goes mental! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted October 27, 2007 Author Share Posted October 27, 2007 I am one of those for whom a cheapie Freeview box doesn't work. I had to buy a £100 Sony box to get digital channels and still not all of them. The weird thing is I can't get ITV or Channel 4 on digital and have to switch back to analogue if I want to watch these channels. I am dreading switchover day and I suppose will end up getting some Sky package which I REALLY don't want to do heard really things about Sky. Mind you the quality of telly programmes today, I might just make an executive decision and junk watching telly altogether. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 Sky isnt the only option. have you tried Tiscali tv, thats what i have, it runs though your phone line and I get it for £11 a month! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 It's not the price of the freeview box that matters - it's the ariel you use to pick up the signal. As far as i know, the digital signal to freeview boxes via ariels is being trasmitted at a reduced strength until the analogue signals are switched off, to prevent interference, so if you live in an area that has a weakish digital signal at the moment (like us - the freeview will only work on certain channels), when the analogue signal is switched off, the digital signal will be boosted. If you live in an area that has a weaker signal, then you are better to speak to an ariel engineer, rather than struggle on yourself. We have a cheap (£15) freeview box at the moment in the bedroom, in a weak signal area, with a box top ariel. As i said, we can't get all the channels just now, but have been assured by the ariel engineer who came out to do next door, that once the signal is boosted, all channels will come through just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 Think yourselves lucky peeps I am in the next area to switch and currently I don't get channel 5 and freeview doesn't work at all because there is no digital signal at all I hate satelite dishes on old houses (200 year old lodge house) and I resent having to pay twice for something I don't really watch that much They say after the switch there will be a signal but until it goes over I have no idea whether I will be able to watch TV or not Watch this space Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted October 27, 2007 Author Share Posted October 27, 2007 Fred said Sky isnt the only option. have you tried Tiscali tv, thats what i have, it runs though your phone line and I get it for £11 a month! That would be a cable channel then? This would be the only option for me, as DH has just informed me that we can't have a Sky dish on the house as it is a conservation area Somebody said it is not the price of the Freeview box, but the quality of the ariel reception, which maybe true, but with a 20 quid box we got diddly squat, with the Sony box we get all but 4 digital channels. I am such a techno-idiot, that if something doesn't work, I just give up on it Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 Its possible that the expensive box has a signal booster in which would account for the better reception. Cheap boxes for all tellys and a new aerial would probably be the best option though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 I've done some tricky stuff with video and digital recording. Sky make it hard for you to transfer from your Sky + box to the computer, I've put stuff on video from my Sky + and then had the techies at work transfer it to DVD. All mediums play. It's encrypted. All signals in fact reach the box, but sky blocks which ones you have access to. OH has written his own version of sky plus under linux Apparently as long as the TV has a scart lead to connect to a video you can play videos. If TVs stopped having one, then that's when you wouldnt be able to record. He did wonder why I was asking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 That would be a cable channel then? Tessa Sort of, you just plug it into your phone line and you're off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 We have Sky+ and as soon as there is a drop of rain, we lose the signal Will the signal be stronger for Sky as well, once analogue is switched off in our area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 We have Sky+ and as soon as there is a drop of rain, we lose the signal Will the signal be stronger for Sky as well, once analogue is switched off in our area? I wouldn't think so, sky is diffrent as it is done by satellite (but I might be wrong) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 We have Sky+ and as soon as there is a drop of rain, we lose the signal Will the signal be stronger for Sky as well, once analogue is switched off in our area? I wouldn't think so, sky is diffrent as it is done by satellite (but I might be wrong) Great!! - so we'll have no choice when it all changes. At the moment, we switch back to analogue when we lose signal. They really ought to look at these problems before forcing us all to change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 Have you had your Sky checked? When we moved in here my signal was weak but Mum's was good. When the aerial man came to wire the house up for us he said it was becasue the dish was such a long way from my box - all the way over on the end of Mum's bit of the house. He put in a second dish and now my signal is great. Oh and both the dishes are out of the way on the sides of the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 We haven't had it checked - perhaps we will now. The dish is just a few feet above the box so it shouldn't be that. My son did tell me that it can be something to do with the little receiver thingy that sticks out at the front of the dish. (He didn't actually say that - he used the technical terms ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
