FAQs/Jargon buster

The UKs TV broadcasting system will be switching to digital, TV region by TV region between 2007 and 2012. If communal TV aerials haven’t been checked, upgraded or replaced, residents in blocks dependent on receiving their TV signals through these aerials may not be able to watch TV, even though they have upgraded or converted their own equipment. By starting the process now, property managers will have sufficient time to consult, prepare and procure the appropriate systems for the buildings that they are responsible for.

It is not only public and private sector housing providers that need to take action. Those with responsibility for care homes, hospitals, hotels, student accommodation, commercial buildings, barracks and prisons will all need to carry out work - the laws of supply and demand are likely to impact on prices the closer digital switchover gets.

This web site has been set up to provide help, advice and guidance for anyone who has an interest or responsibility for ensuring that homes are ready for switchover. Digital UK is working closely with partners across the industry to help you through the process.

Share ideas, issues and good practice on our discussion areas.

Leaseholders will need to check their leases to establish their obligations and responsibilities. It is usual that they will be responsible for the cost, through the service charges.

The landlord, managing agent or management company will normally take responsibility for co-ordinating the works to the communal TV system and recover the costs from the residents. The procurement and works are governed by the requirements of the Landlord & Tenant Acts.

The freeholder may be required to give consent.

For communal TV aerial systems, the costs will depend on a number of factors and will be influenced by the nature and layout of the building.

- If an existing MATV system can be used and the existing cabling can support the signal, an aerial check and head-end upgrade should cost £50-£70 per household.

- If you decide to install an IRS system then you should expect to pay £180-£220 per household. However if additional satellite dishes are required, each additional dish is likely to cost £50 per property.

- If residents want additional TV outlet sockets for satellite services this may result in additional costs. Landlords will need to consider how they will deal with the requests and costs incurred.

- For houses that need a new aerial, the cost per house will be in the region £80-£150.

If you need to check whether you need a new aerial, refer to our guidance

We currently do not recommend any individual or organisation, however if you need to check, upgrade or replace your aerial, look for a Registered Digital Installer (RDI) http://www.rdi-lb.tv/ or an associate RDI. They are security checked and are aerial experts. To find a RDI in your area, look in the Yellow pages, call 08456 50 50 50 or look for an aerial installer who belongs to a recognised trade body such as Confederation of Aerial Installers (CAI) http://www.cai.org.uk or Independent Digital Standard Commission (IDSC) http://www.idsc.uk.com/.

Providing you receive a strong digital TV signal and have good quality cable (minimum CT100), with an eight way screened amplifier, you will be able to provide up to eight digital TV signal feeds to the same number of digital boxes and associated TV sets.

Performance will be reduced by long cable runs over 30 feet between the amplifier and any of the connected digital boxes

If you wish to deliver TV to more that eight TV sets through a single aerial or satellite then you should look at communal aerial systems such as MATV or IRS. For more information on communal aerial systems visit the your options page.

The broadcast signal which delivers just five TV channels* to your set via the aerial.

* Not including other services and regional variations.

Television material is transmitted at certain frequencies, but, in fact, spreads a little either side of the frequency. The amount it can be spread is called Bandwidth. With digital, the greater the bandwidth, the faster the material can travel. This means that data such as the electronic programme guide or Teletext can appear on your screen faster, or picture and sound can be of a higher quality because the bandwidth can contain more information.

The areas that can receive digital television - you can check whether you are in digital TV coverage using the digitaluk.co.uk postcode database.

Digital audio broadcasting - The DAB service is radio’s equivalent of digital TV. It gives interference free reception and has room for extra stations, as well as all the usual ones. It is available in most of the country. You can receive DAB on personnal, portable, tabletop, or car radios. Digital radio stations are also received by digital TV set-top boxes and Idtv’s (Integrated digital television). Digital switchover does not affect radio services.

Needed for watching digital TV - it unscrambles digital signals and turns them back into sound and pictures. (Also see IDTV).

Digital terrestrial television transmitted through an aerial. In the UK, this includes the Free view service (which includes the traditional terrestrial channels, BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1, Channel4, and Five) and for an additional monthly subscription, Top Up TV.

Digital video broadcasting - a European standard for digital television technology. Also DVB-S for satellite and DVB-T for terrestrial.

A digital box or receiver that is also able to record programmes to a hard drive, sometimes known as a PVR (Personal Video Recorder). A DTR with an inbuilt digital box (tuner) will enable you to watch one programme while recording another.

A common name for the lead-in line that connects the antenna to the TV.

The main UK digital terrestrial television service that is transmitted through an aerial. No subscription is required. See also Top Up TV.

High-definition television is a new technology that will enable viewers to get higher definition television pictures. HDTV has four times as many pixels (dots on the screen) as standard TV broadcasts, meaning a clearer picture and stunning details on large screen TVs. An HD-ready TV is not necessarily a digital TV. Make sure that it carries a ‘tick’ logo, or get a digital box, to ensure that you are able to receive digital broadcasts.

Ways of interacting with a TV broadcast to get more information - a bit like an extension to the traditional Teletext service. For instance, you are able to select and watch a particular tennis match from a multi-screen selection, find out more information about a television programme, cast a vote, or take part in a quiz in real time.

Liquid crystal display. This is a particular type of flat panel television that is becoming popular as a replacement for conventional CRT TVs. They tend to be used most often for screen size up to 32 inch and can be suitable for display HDTV. (See also plasma).

An additional one-off payment to watch particular films and sporting events on satellite or cable/broadband television.

Personal video recorder. A smart digital receiver that records television programmes to a hard drive (like computer saves information) instead of on to a video tape.

A way of delivering and receiving digital television. Typical platforms are terrestrial, cable, satellite and the internet.

A television aerial on the roof of your house.

An aerial on top of your TV.

Set top box. See digital box.

TV transmission - analogue or digital - that are broadcast over the air directly to your TV aerial.

You pay this company for extra channels and programmes on digital terrestrial television. For this to work, your digital TV equipment must have a slot or hole to take the Top Up TV viewing card.

Video on demand - for a fee, films and programmes you want to watch are delivered when you want to watch them. You cann choose from a large library of films or programmes. Homechioce (which is currently available in the London area and in Stevenage, Hertfordshire) offers this service via broadband. A similar system, which is sometimes referred to as NVOD (near video on demand) is the ‘Bow office’ service offered by Sky. By using this service, viewers are able to choose from a small number of films. However, you may have to wait up to an hour for your film to start.

Ultra High Frequency Television aerial