Analog To Digital Broadcast changeover

[Groundbound1]

And I thought the U.S. had some odd rules, I don't understand that one. I could see requiring a license to BROADCAST a low power TV signal, but you need one just to receive? What's the average breathing bill over there?

*EDIT*
Well Tweek explained why, but still.

[Fozzer]

In the U.K. the air waves used for broadcast transmission and reception are controlled by British Telecom, and the Licence Fee is paid to a division of British Telecom.
(The BBC receives a proportion of it).

It matters not which program you wish to watch from any Broadcaster, you are still obliged to Pay a Licence Fee to the owner of the air waves covering the United Kingdom...
...like it, or not... ...!

A licence for domestic Radio reception is not required, due to the obvious problems in obtaining it, ie; portable Radio Sets.

The cost of BBC Radio programs is covered by a proportion of the Television Licence Fee....the majority of Folks have a Television Receiver to receive Television broadcast programs.....
...except yours truly... ...!

Paul....The air waves over the U.K. are controlled by a single Monopoly since the start of Broadcast Transmission and Reception, and their use is charged for, in the payment of a Licence fee.

Paul.... ...!

P.S. Many years ago it was necessary to purchase a separate annual Licence to listen to broadcasts on the Radio, (most Radios were in a fixed position ie; Mains powered), but as they became transistorised, and therefore portable, there was no way to keep track of them, and the requirement for a Licence was dropped.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/keyfac ... efee.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licence

[H]

In the U.K. the air waves used for broadcast transmission and reception are controlled by British Telecom, and the Licence Fee is paid to a division of British Telecom. (The BBC receives a proportion of it).

Although I've known for a long while of the U.K. licencing*, I didn't know the cost. I didn't see the mention but I was told that the U.K. had "Television Police" that drove around detecting receiver oscillators and referencing for licences*?
It was also my understanding that your televisions were, at least originally, reverse polarized (to ours)?

*Note that I've opted for your spelling only because we're concerned with U.K. licences rather trhan U.S. licenses.

8-)

[Fozzer]

In the U.K. the air waves used for broadcast transmission and reception are controlled by British Telecom, and the Licence Fee is paid to a division of British Telecom. (The BBC receives a proportion of it).

Although I've known for a long while of the U.K. licencing*, I didn't know the cost. I didn't see the mention but I was told that the U.K. had "Television Police" that drove around detecting receiver oscillators and referencing for licences*?
It was also my understanding that your televisions were, at least originally, reverse polarized (to ours)?

*Note that I've opted for your spelling only because we're concerned with U.K. licences rather trhan U.S. licenses.

8-)

...you are quite correct...

They drive around in White Vans with "TV Licencing" boldly stencilled on the sides, and rotating aerials on the top, searching for an absorption signal emanating from the TV set, hoping to detect some unlucky user tuned into "Big Brother" without a TV Licence*...
...serves 'em right I say. if they actually watch that stupid, bloody program, etc... [smiley=evil.gif]...!

The "enlightened ones" amongst us, wrap aluminuim* cooking foil around the inner workings of our TV sets, to prevent random transmissions from being detected......!

LOL... ...!

Paul... 8-)...!

*Licencing.
*Aluminium.
Tyres.
Metres. (Distance).

It was also my understanding that your televisions were, at least originally, reverse polarized (to ours)?

Only during the Pre-Cambrian Period when the Earth's polarity swopped over for a short while.
The TV sets had to be turned upside down, and were difficult to watch.

[Hagar]

Never mind Foz. In a couple of years time you get a free licence. How your licence is spent

And I thought the U.S. had some odd rules, I don't understand that one. I could see requiring a license to BROADCAST a low power TV signal, but you need one just to receive? What's the average breathing bill over there?

Britain is not unusual in that. The USA is one of very few countries in the world that never had some form of TV receiving licence. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licence

I didn't see the mention but I was told that the U.K. had "Television Police" that drove around detecting receiver oscillators and referencing for licences*?

Quite right too. It's like everything else. If everyone paid their dues the price could be lower. (In theory anyway).

[Brett_Henderson]

If they tried to enact a TV-watching tax over here... we'd wait for a container ship loaded with TVs.. sneak out in the middle of the night, and dump the TVs into the harbor  :P

[Hagar]

I'm sure you pay for it in other ways. You don't get anything for nothing.

[Groundbound1]

[quote]If they tried to enact a TV-watching tax over here... we'd wait for a container ship loaded with TVs.. sneak out in the middle of the night, and dump the TVs into the harbor

[Brett_Henderson]

I'm sure you pay for it in other ways. You don't get anything for nothing.

That's for sure... tax dollars are tax dollars.. and if something is government funded, we're all paying for it.. whether or not it has a named tax

[JBaymore]

I honestly can't imagine many people still using an arial to tune their favorite stations, but the U.S. gov seems to think they are still out there as they've set aside $1.5 billion to fund a coupon campaign for those that do.

I'm one of those -- cut the dipoles to length and assembled the antenna, myself.

No offense intended (hope you didn't take it that way) Reminds me of myself back when I was tweaking for the lowest swr, and trying to work the "skip"! (That will probably be the next thing " they" try to take.)

Aha... a couple more Hams!  

best,

KA1HLI  (General)

[JBaymore]

[quote]If they tried to enact a TV-watching tax over here... we'd wait for a container ship loaded with TVs.. sneak out in the middle of the night, and dump the TVs into the harbor

[Groundbound1]

I honestly can't imagine many people still using an arial to tune their favorite stations, but the U.S. gov seems to think they are still out there as they've set aside $1.5 billion to fund a coupon campaign for those that do.

I'm one of those -- cut the dipoles to length and assembled the antenna, myself.

No offense intended (hope you didn't take it that way) Reminds me of myself back when I was tweaking for the lowest swr, and trying to work the "skip"! (That will probably be the next thing " they" try to take.)

Aha... a couple more Hams!

[H]

No,no,no......I was never a "ham", I was just into CB pretty heavy for a while. (back in my pre-sim days)

The same for me, although I was started with morse code towards getting a license; that was while in the "memorization" school that I transferred out of before completing the code training.

:-/

The Nebraska epispode I mentioned was while I was engaged with tornado spotting. I had to tweek everything to get through thunderstorm static. Somewhere there is a mobile Cobra CB stolen from me that I'd recognize immediately -- I moved the mike jack to the side and incorporated a noise limiter control in its place.

....
8-)

[Mushroom_Farmer]

....................I still don't totally understand the need for the change in the first place. They say they need to free up those bands to use for police, fire, and other emergency service communications, but almost all of those services have already changed over to digital, on currently existing bands anyway!

The whole thing seems a little fishy to me.

Odd thing is, those bands for emergency services are in the UHF range and all above frequency 681.25 (channel 49).
As for using ariels for reception, it's still the best way to go for picture quality. It's the best HD signal out there. I use a C/ku band satellite system, which is capable of receiving both analog and digital signals. Analog blows everything else away simply beacause there's no substitute fo bandwith. Next is digital C-band, which cable also uses. Digital ku-band is the worst, which is what the mini dish systems use.
49 satellites, 5878 channels, and not a darn thing worth watching.  ;D

[BFMF]

[quote] 49 satellites, 5878 channels, and not a darn thing worth watching.