Digital TV Reception Advice

For consumers across the country the digital switchover is going improve the viewing quality to a very high standard. This revolutionary step in the way we receive our television signals will place us positively for future advances in the area of home entertainment. Whilst there are a lot of positives associated with the switchover, it is to be expected that many people may have a lot of unanswered questions on the subject.

Whilst Electapro Digital will offer free and unbiased advice on demand, we are proud to make available to you a very useful link to the national body on this subject. They are completely independent and are there to serve you. Please click here to enter the Digital UK national website.

Digital Help Scheme

It is widely accepted that large parts of the community will find this process difficult. As a result a 'Help Scheme' has been launched to help those that need it most. You can receive help to convert your TV to digital if you:

• Are aged 75 or over
• Have lived in a care home for six months or more
• Entitled to (or could be entitled to) certain disability benefits
• Are registered blind or partially sighted.

To get more advice on the HELP Scheme please click here.

Will I need a new TV?

Let's cut to the chase. The simple answer is no. As long as you're TV has a socket to fit an aerial or a SCART socket to connect to a digital set top box. If you have an analogue TV you will need to buy a digital box to allow it to continue to work. These can be bought for as little as £20.

Will I need a new aerial installed?

Now this is a simple question that deserves a simple answer. The fact is if you are getting a good picture now, you should get a good picture after the switch over. There is no difference between a digital aerial and an analogue aerial. The important point is the level of signal it can receive from the transmitter and this is due to your geographical location.

Please ensure that your television is either compatible with receiving a digital signal or you have a digital set top box (STB) that can do the job for you.

How to test your aerial

If you are currently watching analogue channels 1 - 4 and can bring Teletext up on the screen, you can conduct a small test that takes just a couple of minutes to complete. If you start with BBC1, bring up Teletext and look at page 284 where you should see a test pattern. You should do this on all four channels. If there are more than 4 squares missing (randomly spaced - complete lines missing are fine) then your aerial needs to be checked or replaced.

Ideally, the screen should display a full grid of vertical/horizontal white boxes. For this to be an effective test you should apply it during different weather conditions. If it looks as though you may need a new aerial it is advised that you approach an aerial installation business that has been certified as a Registered Digital installer. Look for the digital tick certification mark and the words digital installer beneath it (like the one on our home page).

If you're in doubt, request to see their card.

Have more questions?

If you have any further questions please click here and navigate to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page, or just give us a call.