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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Alarms, Phones, Aerials, CCTV & Datacomms >> Ofcom TV Aerial research https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1263297684 Message started by CWatters on Jan 12^th, 2010, 12:01pm

Title: Ofcom TV Aerial research
Post by CWatters on Jan 12^th, 2010, 12:01pm

Someone posted a link to this on another forum today. Might be of interest here. It's an ofcom report into TV aerials and the publics misconceptions about aerials.

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/research/tv/reports/dsoind/aerials_research.pdf

Title: Re: Ofcom TV Aerial research
Post by londonman on Jan 12^th, 2010, 12:08pm

Excellent link. Thanks.

Title: Re: Ofcom TV Aerial research
Post by Joiner on Jan 12^th, 2010, 1:22pm

Hmmm. Well, didn't read through the whole 80 pages, but we still didn't have a problem with reception until they started messing around "in preparation" for the switchover.

The "ordinary" aerial worked great through the digibox and we only had the current huge monstrosity put up because the old one was bent double in a gale. "You'll be ready for full digital when it comes", said aerial man. No problems and fantastic quality when we got the 42" plasma TV with all the freeserve bits.

And then they started assing around. Despite numerous auto-searches, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 (and 90% of the other commercial freeserve channels) are nowhere to be had, except through the DVD recorder via terrestrial, and that's a shite picture.

We're getting the dish fitted sometime this week. £370 because some clown has a bright idea.

Title: Re: Ofcom TV Aerial research
Post by londonman on Jan 13^th, 2010, 5:10pm

Dipped in and read the conclusions.

It could be summarised thus..

Don't buy a new aerial until after the switchover.

Or have I simplified things too much? More importantly I was disappointed to see that no reference was made to the quality of the downlead.

Title: Re: Ofcom TV Aerial research
Post by big_all on Jan 13^th, 2010, 8:01pm

londonman wrote on Jan 13^th, 2010, 5:10pm:

they did mention poor quality cable in the first few pages before my 2 bwain cells went to sleep :o :o ::)

Title: Re: Ofcom TV Aerial research
Post by CWatters on Jan 14^th, 2010, 7:59am

It's not really meant to be advice on buying an aerial, more a review of the situation.

It's unlikely anyone would need to change aerials twice (once to get freeview now then again after switchover) but I guess it's possible in some circumstances.

Title: Re: Ofcom TV Aerial research
Post by londonman on Jan 15^th, 2010, 3:37pm

big_all wrote on Jan 13^th, 2010, 8:01pm:

londonman wrote on Jan 13^th, 2010, 5:10pm:

they did mention poor quality cable in the first few pages before my 2 bwain cells went to sleep :o :o ::)

I never found it! Before posting I searched for cable and only saw reference to cable as in Virgin Cable!

Title: Re: Ofcom TV Aerial research
Post by big_all on Jan 15^th, 2010, 4:39pm

1.1 near the top

Previous technical and consumer focused research studies have consistently
indicated that due to both ageing and damage, approximately 5-10% of UK
households have aerial installations of insufficient quality for reliable reception of
digital terrestrial television. The estimate of 5-10% of aerials being of insufficient
quality includes those providing poor reception because of the quality of the aerials
themselves, and also the quality of cabling from the aerial to the wall plates.

Title: Re: Ofcom TV Aerial research
Post by Joiner on Jan 15^th, 2010, 8:24pm

Dish fitted today. Nice to have all the channels back. But what's the guide that gives you the listings for ALL the freesat channels?

Title: Re: Ofcom TV Aerial research
Post by londonman on Jan 15^th, 2010, 9:22pm

Thanks, Al. Teach me to only search on 'cable' ...doh!