Summer on Radio 1

[Bexy]

Can anyone explain to me, in simple terms, what the deal is with the digital switchover? When is it happening? What does it mean? Do I need to buy anything extra?

Thanks, and sorry for being so silly!

[Jono]

Hi love,

Basically it means that the current 'normal television' feeds you get (that's BBC 1, 2, ITV1, Channel 4 and Five) through your bog standard TV will be switched off. This is going to happen between 2008 and 2012 depending on your region. Digital is more efficent, and the way we watch TV is using a method that's been used since 1930s. They can now make more freeview channels, digital radio stations and stuff out of the five main channels, that's why their switching them off.

It means you'll need to get a method of digital television to plug into your set - that's either Freeview (the method that gives you 30 free channels for about £30), Digital Cable or Sky. You'll also need to set up your VCR to work with this new box, or get something else like Sky+ or a Freeview recorder.

So yeah, you'll need to buy something. Here's when it's happening -

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/en/where.html

[Bexy]

Thank you Mr Read. You're quite a good teacher!

One more thing, at the moment we can't get Channel 5 at home, so does that mean that after the switchover we will be able to get it?

[Jono]

Possibly. If you're talking about Freeview, you'll need to check www.freeview.co.uk to see what you can pick up. But if you can't pick it up Freeview now, doesn't mean you won't pick them up when the switchover happens.

I couldn't get Channel 5 on normal television, but can get all the channels on Freeview including Channel 5. The postcode checker was a bit pants too, as I can pick it up fine but needed a decent aerial, even though it told me I couldn't.

[Bexy]

Haha, I had a Freeview box for about a day one summer. It annoyed me too much, as every time I tried to tune it in I picked up a different set of channels. So in the end I gave up and returned in to the shop!

[charli]

I have A Freeview box and i cant get five on normal t.v but i can with freeview.

down here we get the switchover in 2009! a few years yet! x

[Mike]

Meridian (where i am) changes over in 2012.

[Chris.]

Meridian (where i am) changes over in 2012.

Yup, and we can't get freeview in our area because we're in a valley. So we're being forced to pay through the nose for Sky.

[Jono]

Freesat is still to come yet. It'll be expensive for the equipment, but you basically get a Sky box, and satellite. Then you get all the free channels, which is obviously more than Freeview and you get a better signal.

[Mike]

Yup, and we can't get freeview in our area because we're in a valley. So we're being forced to pay through the nose for Sky.

Oh, i'm about 15-20 miles away from where you live and i am at the bottom of the Kennet Valley, and our freeview works just peachy :confused: