Cable Forum - View Single Post - Will the digital switch improve reception?

Paranoimia · 03-03-2008, 22:21

We live in a cabled area, and are Virgin Media subscribers, but I have a question about Freeview and the digital switchover.

I have a Sony Bravia and DVD recorder, both of which have built-in digital tuners. However, the reception in the area is and always has been very poor; I have an indoor analogue/digital aerial, basically to feed the analogue GuidePlus system on the DVD recorder. I can only get a digital picture on a perfect day, and then only if all the planets are in alignment and I spin around 3 times and offer prayers to whatever Gods will listen!

We live in a natural 'bowl', and even rooftop aerials offered little improvement in picture quality. Hence the entire local community used to be served by a huge antenna in the centre of the estate, which has long since been removed.

According to digitaluk.co.uk, this area will not switch to digital until 2011. My question is: when the switch happens, am I likely to be able to make proper use of the digital tuners in my equipment?

i.e. Will the switch boost or otherwise improve signal strength and reception? Or is it a case of a permanently poor signal, and being tied to cable until such (unlikely) time as a new transmitter is erected nearby?

At the moment, I feel I'm only using half the functionality of my equipment, and that's such a waste.

03-03-2008, 22:21	#1
Paranoimia Inactive Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 353	Will the digital switch improve reception? We live in a cabled area, and are Virgin Media subscribers, but I have a question about Freeview and the digital switchover. I have a Sony Bravia and DVD recorder, both of which have built-in digital tuners. However, the reception in the area is and always has been very poor; I have an indoor analogue/digital aerial, basically to feed the analogue GuidePlus system on the DVD recorder. I can only get a digital picture on a perfect day, and then only if all the planets are in alignment and I spin around 3 times and offer prayers to whatever Gods will listen! We live in a natural 'bowl', and even rooftop aerials offered little improvement in picture quality. Hence the entire local community used to be served by a huge antenna in the centre of the estate, which has long since been removed. According to digitaluk.co.uk, this area will not switch to digital until 2011. My question is: when the switch happens, am I likely to be able to make proper use of the digital tuners in my equipment? i.e. Will the switch boost or otherwise improve signal strength and reception? Or is it a case of a permanently poor signal, and being tied to cable until such (unlikely) time as a new transmitter is erected nearby? At the moment, I feel I'm only using half the functionality of my equipment, and that's such a waste.