Visiting aged relatives (A-Rs) yesterday, I was shown a support booklet
they'd got about DSO. For those over 75 (they qualify) there are
a set of subsidised options.
Top of the list is getting a Freeview box installed for £40.
However, A-R's location is in a dip in the landscape and terrestrial TV
coverage had never been good. All the houses in the area have high poles
attached to their chimney stacks and even then the analog signal was never
great - and digial doesn't detect the full range of channels either.

Also on the list is a Freesat digial box and satellite dish. The
cost of this is £67, which would like a much better option.

Apart from the poor location, A-R's TV aerial has been up for
30+ years and could probably do with being replaced, just due
to wear and tear, pigeons and water ingress. Now, the DSO options
seem to imply that the Freeview box option would NOT get them a
new aerial/downlad, whereas the Freesat optionb does provide a dish.

The first question is: Is this the experience of others who've taken
up the Freesat option? That A-R's will get not only the Freesat
box, but dish + cabling all installed for just an extra £27?

A subsidiary question would be: Would their application for Freesat
be turned down on the, on the basis that:
(a) they already have a TV aerial
(b) they _can_ receive terrestrial TV - although not very satisfactorily.
(c) they already have a freeview box
(d) There's a lot more work involved in installing dish+cables.

"root" wrote in message
...
Visiting aged relatives (A-Rs) yesterday, I was shown a support booklet
they'd got about DSO. For those over 75 (they qualify) there are
a set of subsidised options.
Top of the list is getting a Freeview box installed for £40.
However, A-R's location is in a dip in the landscape and terrestrial TV
coverage had never been good. All the houses in the area have high poles
attached to their chimney stacks and even then the analog signal was never
great - and digial doesn't detect the full range of channels either.

Also on the list is a Freesat digial box and satellite dish. The
cost of this is £67, which would like a much better option.

Apart from the poor location, A-R's TV aerial has been up for
30+ years and could probably do with being replaced, just due
to wear and tear, pigeons and water ingress. Now, the DSO options
seem to imply that the Freeview box option would NOT get them a
new aerial/downlad, whereas the Freesat optionb does provide a dish.

The first question is: Is this the experience of others who've taken
up the Freesat option? That A-R's will get not only the Freesat
box, but dish + cabling all installed for just an extra £27?

A subsidiary question would be: Would their application for Freesat
be turned down on the, on the basis that:
(a) they already have a TV aerial
(b) they _can_ receive terrestrial TV - although not very satisfactorily.
(c) they already have a freeview box
(d) There's a lot more work involved in installing dish+cables.

Phone DSO scheme for over 75s 0800 40 85 900
I found them very helpful.
Regards
David

In article ,
root wrote:
Top of the list is getting a Freeview box installed for £40.
However, A-R's location is in a dip in the landscape and terrestrial TV
coverage had never been good. All the houses in the area have high poles
attached to their chimney stacks and even then the analog signal was never
great - and digial doesn't detect the full range of channels either.

Has DSO happened in this area yet? Signal strength is likely to
be stronger afterwards.

-- Richard

All those questions can be answered if they do as the booklet I got said and
contact them as soon as possible on the number. as far as I'm informed when
I asked when deciding what to do Its all included and they can convert a
second set if you already have one digital set.
Brian

--
Brian Gaff....Note, this account does not accept Bcc: email.
graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them
Email:
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________


"root" wrote in message
...
Visiting aged relatives (A-Rs) yesterday, I was shown a support booklet
they'd got about DSO. For those over 75 (they qualify) there are
a set of subsidised options.
Top of the list is getting a Freeview box installed for £40.
However, A-R's location is in a dip in the landscape and terrestrial TV
coverage had never been good. All the houses in the area have high poles
attached to their chimney stacks and even then the analog signal was never
great - and digial doesn't detect the full range of channels either.

Also on the list is a Freesat digial box and satellite dish. The
cost of this is £67, which would like a much better option.

Apart from the poor location, A-R's TV aerial has been up for
30+ years and could probably do with being replaced, just due
to wear and tear, pigeons and water ingress. Now, the DSO options
seem to imply that the Freeview box option would NOT get them a
new aerial/downlad, whereas the Freesat optionb does provide a dish.

The first question is: Is this the experience of others who've taken
up the Freesat option? That A-R's will get not only the Freesat
box, but dish + cabling all installed for just an extra £27?

A subsidiary question would be: Would their application for Freesat
be turned down on the, on the basis that:
(a) they already have a TV aerial
(b) they _can_ receive terrestrial TV - although not very satisfactorily.
(c) they already have a freeview box
(d) There's a lot more work involved in installing dish+cables.

On Wed, 7 Dec 2011 12:56:17 +0000 (UTC), Richard Tobin wrote:
In article ,
root wrote:
Top of the list is getting a Freeview box installed for ??40.
However, A-R's location is in a dip in the landscape and terrestrial TV
coverage had never been good. All the houses in the area have high poles
attached to their chimney stacks and even then the analog signal was never
great - and digial doesn't detect the full range of channels either.

Has DSO happened in this area yet? Signal strength is likely to
be stronger afterwards.

Yes, that's a good point. They're in London. Well, the CP service area at least.
The reason I suggested to them that they go for Freesat is that, while a
Band A aerial like the one they have is correct, their particular one is
on its last elbows. Getting a new aerial installed would be somewhere over
£100 (did I mention "London") and would likely be needed quite soo. Even
now, the number of digital channels they _do_ pull in is reducing over time.

So, rather than shell out for a new aerial, if there's an option to get a
nearly-free satellite dish installed and possibly restore some of their
lost channels (ITV3 was the latest one to drop out) then it seems like a
sensible course of action. Provided the rules don't preclude existing
installations or choosing more expensive options when cheaper ones are
available, hence the questions about other peoples' experience of dealing
with this.

I can't answer your specific questions but ...

1) If you don't mind giving us the A-R's postcode, even the first
half of it would help, there are those here who could probably give
better advice as a result. Alternatively or additionally, you can use
the official Digit UK Postcode Checker (note that you can get more
detailed information by choosing the trade view) ...
http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/postcodechecker/
.... and/or my own calculator, which can draw a vertical signal profile
between a given address and a given transmitter, which enables you to
see what may obstruct the signals ...
http://www.macfh.co.uk/JavaJive/Audi...Calculator.php
.... also there are pages about satellite TV available from the same
section of my site ...
http://www.macfh.co.uk/JavaJive/Audi...telliteTV.html

2) As another respondent has pointed out, post-DSO digital signal
levels are significantly boosted in power compared with pre-DSO
digital signal levels. Allowing for the fact that digital receivers
are more sensitive than analogue ones were when the analogue network
was built, the general aim is for Public Sector Broadcasting (PSB)
from the post-DSO digital network to have comparable or better
coverage to the former analogue network.

In addition, where there were known analogue 'not-spots', there have
often been special attempts to cover these better by moving
sub-transmitters (aka relays) or supplying additional ones, adding
extra beams from transmitters (for example Rowridge on the IoW will
broadcast both vertically and horizontally to provide better coverage
in problem areas nearby), etc.

Thus recent threads in this ng leading up to DSO about a former
'not-spot' in East Anglia (IIRC Halesworth) ended with the OP stating
that, contrary to his fears, post-DSO reception had proved to be
adequate.

There are also consistent reports that post-DSO digital reception is
so much more robust that for many people the problem is that they can
now receive from so many transmitters that they can't get their
equipment to tune to the one that they actually want to receive,
because their equipment is finding a more distant one first!

On Wed, 7 Dec 2011 11:17:56 +0000 (UTC), root
wrote:

[snip]
--
================================================== =======
Please always reply to ng as the email in this post's
header does not exist. Or use a contact address at:
http://www.macfh.co.uk/JavaJive/JavaJive.html
http://www.macfh.co.uk/Macfarlane/Macfarlane.html

"root" wrote in message
...
Visiting aged relatives (A-Rs) yesterday, I was shown a support booklet
they'd got about DSO. For those over 75 (they qualify) there are
a set of subsidised options.
Top of the list is getting a Freeview box installed for £40.
However, A-R's location is in a dip in the landscape and terrestrial TV
coverage had never been good. All the houses in the area have high poles
attached to their chimney stacks and even then the analog signal was never
great - and digial doesn't detect the full range of channels either.

Also on the list is a Freesat digial box and satellite dish. The
cost of this is £67, which would like a much better option.

Apart from the poor location, A-R's TV aerial has been up for
30+ years and could probably do with being replaced, just due
to wear and tear, pigeons and water ingress. Now, the DSO options
seem to imply that the Freeview box option would NOT get them a
new aerial/downlad, whereas the Freesat optionb does provide a dish.

The first question is: Is this the experience of others who've taken
up the Freesat option? That A-R's will get not only the Freesat
box, but dish + cabling all installed for just an extra £27?

A subsidiary question would be: Would their application for Freesat
be turned down on the, on the basis that:
(a) they already have a TV aerial
(b) they _can_ receive terrestrial TV - although not very satisfactorily.
(c) they already have a freeview box
(d) There's a lot more work involved in installing dish+cables.

It really is a no brainer. A new terestrial aerial professionally fitted is
likely to cost £200. Go for the Freesat option.


Peter Crosland

root wrote:

Visiting aged relatives (A-Rs) yesterday, I was shown a support booklet
they'd got about DSO. For those over 75 (they qualify) there are
a set of subsidised options.
Top of the list is getting a Freeview box installed for £40.

Would you add the following line to your .slrnrc file, please:

charset editor "utf-8"

On Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:15:45 +0000, Java Jive wrote:
I can't answer your specific questions but ...

1) If you don't mind giving us the A-R's postcode, even the first
half of it would help, there are those here who could probably give
better advice as a result. Alternatively or additionally, you can use
the official Digit UK Postcode Checker (note that you can get more
detailed information by choosing the trade view) ...
http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/postcodechecker/
... and/or my own calculator, which can draw a vertical signal profile
between a given address and a given transmitter, which enables you to
see what may obstruct the signals ...
http://www.macfh.co.uk/JavaJive/Audi...Calculator.php
... also there are pages about satellite TV available from the same
section of my site ...
http://www.macfh.co.uk/JavaJive/Audi...telliteTV.html

2) As another respondent has pointed out, post-DSO digital signal
levels are significantly boosted in power compared with pre-DSO
digital signal levels. Allowing for the fact that digital receivers
are more sensitive than analogue ones were when the analogue network
was built, the general aim is for Public Sector Broadcasting (PSB)
from the post-DSO digital network to have comparable or better
coverage to the former analogue network.

In addition, where there were known analogue 'not-spots', there have
often been special attempts to cover these better by moving
sub-transmitters (aka relays) or supplying additional ones, adding
extra beams from transmitters (for example Rowridge on the IoW will
broadcast both vertically and horizontally to provide better coverage
in problem areas nearby), etc.

Thus recent threads in this ng leading up to DSO about a former
'not-spot' in East Anglia (IIRC Halesworth) ended with the OP stating
that, contrary to his fears, post-DSO reception had proved to be
adequate.

There are also consistent reports that post-DSO digital reception is
so much more robust that for many people the problem is that they can
now receive from so many transmitters that they can't get their
equipment to tune to the one that they actually want to receive,
because their equipment is finding a more distant one first!

On Wed, 7 Dec 2011 11:17:56 +0000 (UTC), root
wrote:

[snip]

Thanks for your response, the link looks interesting - I'm keeping it
for reference.
The thing is, I'm less concerned with diagnosing their particular
reception problems than I am with hearing peoples' experiences of
getting the subsidised Freesat option and any gotchas / restrictions
that may apply. So far it sounds like it's all fairly straightforward
so I'm probably going to suggest to A-Rs that they overcome their
aversion to change and let the government[1] buy them a satellite dish,
rather than them ponying up to have their aerial replaced - to regain
the channels they've lost so far.
I just hope they don't then get a taste for satellite TV and decide to
waste^H^H^H^H^Hspend their pension on Sky

[1] I.e. you and me through our taxes. I thank you for your contribution!

"root" wrote in message
...
Visiting aged relatives (A-Rs) yesterday, I was shown a support
booklet
they'd got about DSO. For those over 75 (they qualify) there
are
a set of subsidised options.
Top of the list is getting a Freeview box installed for £40.
However, A-R's location is in a dip in the landscape and
terrestrial TV
coverage had never been good. All the houses in the area have
high poles
attached to their chimney stacks and even then the analog
signal was never
great - and digial doesn't detect the full range of channels
either.

Also on the list is a Freesat digial box and satellite dish.
The
cost of this is £67, which would like a much better option.

Apart from the poor location, A-R's TV aerial has been up for
30+ years and could probably do with being replaced, just due
to wear and tear, pigeons and water ingress. Now, the DSO
options
seem to imply that the Freeview box option would NOT get them a
new aerial/downlad, whereas the Freesat optionb does provide a
dish.

The first question is: Is this the experience of others who've
taken
up the Freesat option? That A-R's will get not only the Freesat
box, but dish + cabling all installed for just an extra £27?

A subsidiary question would be: Would their application for
Freesat
be turned down on the, on the basis that:
(a) they already have a TV aerial
(b) they _can_ receive terrestrial TV - although not very
satisfactorily.
(c) they already have a freeview box
(d) There's a lot more work involved in installing dish+cables.



A few cautions:

If anyone in the house is 75 or over and also gets or qualifies
for certain support tax credits or payments then the supply and
fitment is free.

The DHS won't tell you that their only commitment is to provide
the three PSB muxes. If you happen to be in an area where all six
are available then you are in luck but they are only concerned
with PSB1-3.

The people that do the work look generally as if they have been
pulled off the street, given an hours training, and sent out in a
fully equipped van. When my wife's 84 year old aunt had them
visit it took three different people to get it to work.

The option of Freesat is theirs. If, after erecting a new aerial
and if necessary fitting a new downlead and installing a masthead
amp they still cannot get a reliable signal on PSB1-3 they will
fit Freesat at no extra charge. This is not clearly explained on
the web site but if you ring them they will explain it.

One thing that will happen: if they visit before DSO1 and they
cannot get a signal they will stop at that point and come back
after DSO2 (why not after DSO1 baffles me given PSB1 will be at
full power) to try again. Only then if they cannot get a
terrestrial signal will they contemplate Freesat.

I will say one good thing: they supply a TVonics MDR252 which is
a proprietary box and it is both sensitive and user friendly bar
one thing. It sorts out the channels itself albeit rather slowly.
The user unfriendly bit is that the guide does not show the
station numbers so the only way to find a station is to step up
and down through the guide. It will however accept numeric input
if the station number is known. The remote is also special in
that it has on/off buttons both for the box and for the TV. I
would assume that the Freesat box is similar.


--
Woody

harrogate three at ntlworld dot com