How will the switchover affect you?

TV in Sussex is going Digital, and the existing analogue signal will be switched off in March 2012.
Switchover means that almost everyone in Sussex will be able to receive digital TV through their aerial, giving you a wider choice of channels.

SWITCHOVER DATES

There are two switchover dates. BBC2 will be
turned off on the first date. BBC1, ITV and Channel
4 will all be turned off on the second date.
The switchover dates for the transmitters
covering Sussex are:

• Brighton (Whitehawk Hill) 7th March and 21st March
• Isle of Wight (Rowridge) 7th March and 21st March
• Midhurst 29th February and 14th March
• Steyning (Heathfield) 30th May and 13th June..

RE-TUNING

TV Channels will move to new frequencies, which means you may find some of your channels missing. Re-tuning will bring them back.And two dates means that a re-tune of all digital equipment will need to be done twice (once on each date) to take advantage of all the digital features

What about my aerial?

Most rooftop aerials in good condition are capable of receiving digital TV services. There is no such thing as a “digital aerial”.
If you are already getting a good analogue signal, it is unlikely that you will need to replace your aerial.

However, even after the switchover not all areas will receive all the channels – including Findon Valley and parts of Steyning, Henfield and other areas which currently receive their signals from small relay transmitters.

For these areas, Freesat is still the best answer. Unlike Freeview, with Freesat you will be able to receive a wide range of channels. We stock a range of Freesat Digi boxes, televisions and recorders so you can decide what is best for you.

What if I have an older,analogue-only television?

There are a number of ways to receive digital television, and both subscription and nonsubscription services are available.

• Convert your TV by adding a Freesat or Freeview set-top box
or digital recorder

• Add Sky or Virgin (this can be
quite expensive!)

• Replace your TV with an Integrated Digital TV

What channels will I get?

With Digital TV, you can enjoy the five traditional TV Channels, plus lots more.

All viewers who receive Freeview services will get around 15 channels, with most receiving more than 40, depending on where they live. Freesat will give you more than 150 to choose
from.

What about my other televisions?

You may already have a digital television or a satellite service in your lounge, but what about those other sets around the house.

Will they still work?

Again it will depend on how old they are, and whether they get their signal from your aerial or from their own satellite or cable box.
So before March, please check the sets in your kitchen and bedroom to make sure they will work after switchover.

How will recording be affected?

If you currently record TV programmes on an analogue recorder, its functions after switchover will be limited, e.g. it may not record! So what are your options?

We can offer you a number of digital recorders giving you many
different options.
These allow you to...

• Convert to digital without having to buy a new TV
• Record with the touch of a button – no tapes or timers
• Pause and rewind live TV

VHS/DVD Combi

Panasonic DMR-EZ49V

The built-in Freeview tuner allows you to record
onto either VHS or DVD. It also gives you the
opportunity of copying your old VHS tapes onto
DVD for more secure long-term storage.

PVR and PVR/DVD

Sony SVR-HDT500
Panasonic DMR-EX773

These recorders are a real step forward from the
old days of VHS. You can record hundreds of
hours onto an internal hard drive so you don’t
even need DVDs.
The twin tuners allow you to record two
programmes at once, or watch one whilst
recording another. You can even start watching
a recording before it has finished (catch-up TV).

PVR/Blu Ray

Panasonic DMR-BWT700

The ultimate recorder with twin high-definition
tuners so you can now watch programmes in full
HD quality. They have massive hard drives and a
disc drive so you can watch Blu Ray films or your
existing DVDs. Panasonic recorders are the last
word in quality and ease of use, and we can
advise you on which model is best suited to you.