Modern digital TV uses a lot less valuable frequency space (bandwidth) than analogue TV services so you can fit more channels into the existing TV system. Digital switchover will complete by 2012 and will bring many advantages BUT check your postcode via www.digitaluk.co.uk to see what your options are. Then read on here!

 

Unlike the 70% of the UK population that can currently get 'FreeView' services, many of those currently served by relay systems are not guaranteed to get all the new services at switchover. You may only get 18 channels. Those who currently get very poor analogue reception may not get digital reception at all. Only 98.5% of the UK are to be guaranteed by OFCOM to get TV via the roof top aerial.

 

Worse, reception of digital signals using indoor aerials is not guaranteed. Although many people have put up with very poor analogue reception this way for years, digital either gives you a very good picture or none at all (at least nothing you can really watch).  For this reason you really DO need to get a good TV Aerial and distribute the signal throughout you property.

 

This is particularly important for owners of multiple dwelling units (Blocks of Flats, old peoples homes hotels guest houses etc.

 

However! Help is at hand. Satellite systems are readily available that CAN solve these problems - and you do NOT have to wait for the switchover. You have several options. You can subscribe to Sky, buy a FreeSat from Sky system or buy your very own independant satellite system (nothing whatever to do with Sky at all). For this there are two options:- buy a FREESAT receiver (the BBC/ITV sponsered version!) this give you at least 80 channels and includes BBC HD and ITV HD.

 

Contrary to popular belief, most UK TV is available for free from the ASTRA2 and Eurobird satellites. Broadcasters rent channels (known as transponders) from ASTRA (a company based in Luxembourg). Sky do this, the BBC do this, ITV do this. When you watch the BBC (or listen to BBC radio) using a Sky system, it is the BBC that are providing the channels NOT Sky. There are many other providers as well. This fact is used by the two Freesat versions but can also be used by independant providers.

 

You can also receive many other channels from all round then world this way. Although you may only be able to receive 4 TV channels today from your aerial you could receive literally thousands of channels of TV and Radio this way.

 

Soon you will also be able to receive TV via broadband (even in places until recently difficult to get broadband).

 

krypton.tv is working with equipment providers to bring clever receivers to market that can give you more for free than either freeview+ or freesat+. The first example is the lyngbox that can receive both and can connect to the internet to get a lot more now (and even more in the future!). This is available to buy from krypton.tv.