Digital switchover - pennies start to drop
Surveys show that only a minority of households in Whitehaven think they are ready for the Digital TV swithcover, which starts here on 17 October when the BBC2 analogue signal is switched off, and finishes when the other channels follow suit a month later.
Actually that may be a good sign - it indicates that a lot of people are aware they have to do something if they want to continue watching television and that they have not done it yet. If 100% of households said they were ready it would probably mean that a lot of them were in for a nasty shock.
On the principle that "there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents" I won't name the very large retailer whose Whitehaven branch has finally cottoned on that Digital Switchover is about to hit.
Let's just say that it's an organision who really ought to have known better than to have been blithely selling expensive analogue TVs until a few days ago with no indication that they wouldn't work here without a set top box in four month's time. However, when I went round this evening, the shelves which had recently contained a display of HDD ready, but not digital ready, televisions was now full of Digital TVs and signs with plenty of good information from Digital UK about the switchover. We do make some progress.
There is an old saying that nothing should ever be done for the first time, and there are bound to be teething problems with the switchover. I still think that the government help scheme has been made available to to narrow a range of people.
The golden rules remain
1) Don't spend any money on preparation for Digital Switchover without getting at least two quotes. Some local TV firms provide excellent value, but some people charge more than others
2) If in doubt, don't spend any money without seeking advice from someone who really knows what they're talking about
3) If your analogue TV gets an excellent signal with your existing aerial, you probably don't need to change your aerial to get Digital TV.
4) Don't buy any TV equipment that doesn't have the "Digital Ready" mark unless you are quite certain that it will still be a bargain when you've spent another £30 on a digital set-top box to go with it, and that it will work with that set-top box.
5) If you live in Copeland, don't buy any digital TV recorder which has a 14 day (rather than 7 day) programme guide. There is no definitive list, but a number of models with the 14 day guide will not work here after switchover.
Actually that may be a good sign - it indicates that a lot of people are aware they have to do something if they want to continue watching television and that they have not done it yet. If 100% of households said they were ready it would probably mean that a lot of them were in for a nasty shock.
On the principle that "there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents" I won't name the very large retailer whose Whitehaven branch has finally cottoned on that Digital Switchover is about to hit.
Let's just say that it's an organision who really ought to have known better than to have been blithely selling expensive analogue TVs until a few days ago with no indication that they wouldn't work here without a set top box in four month's time. However, when I went round this evening, the shelves which had recently contained a display of HDD ready, but not digital ready, televisions was now full of Digital TVs and signs with plenty of good information from Digital UK about the switchover. We do make some progress.
There is an old saying that nothing should ever be done for the first time, and there are bound to be teething problems with the switchover. I still think that the government help scheme has been made available to to narrow a range of people.
The golden rules remain
1) Don't spend any money on preparation for Digital Switchover without getting at least two quotes. Some local TV firms provide excellent value, but some people charge more than others
2) If in doubt, don't spend any money without seeking advice from someone who really knows what they're talking about
3) If your analogue TV gets an excellent signal with your existing aerial, you probably don't need to change your aerial to get Digital TV.
4) Don't buy any TV equipment that doesn't have the "Digital Ready" mark unless you are quite certain that it will still be a bargain when you've spent another £30 on a digital set-top box to go with it, and that it will work with that set-top box.
5) If you live in Copeland, don't buy any digital TV recorder which has a 14 day (rather than 7 day) programme guide. There is no definitive list, but a number of models with the 14 day guide will not work here after switchover.
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