Switching From Analog To Digital

[porkchop]

Analog service will soon switch off in our area and we are told by Virgin we must switch to Digital when the switch off date in early 2019 arrives, otherwise we will have a blank screen.
We have two Sony Bravia sets in other parts of the house which are currently using Analog and manual says they are also compatible of using a Digital signal. These two sets are not in our Virgin bundle.
Instead of having to get Virgin out and make the switch over to Digital is it possible for me to purchase an indoor antenna and hook it up myself which will make it easy for me to get Freeview digital . If this is possible, any information on what brand of indoor antenna may be suitable would be appreciated.

[Jackdaw33]

I thought all analogue TV was switched off 7 years ago.

[ToraToraTora]

the last analogue system was turned off in 2012. Virgin and all it's former cable companies never did analogue. At the very least you should have a freeview service through the old ariel set up. Not sure what you mean can you clarify further?

[Gizmonster]

//// I thought all analogue TV was switched off 7 years ago. ////

I was also thinking it was completed a while ago, so a quick google brought this up:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_switchover_dates_in_the_United_Kingdom

[New Judge]

I thought so too, so I was surprised to find this:

"Cable has not fully transitioned to the digital format (DVB-C) as some parts of the physical cable network are not suitable for transmitting the digital signals.

In most analogue cable TV areas, customers received a letter from Virgin Media offering a free switch to their digital TV service. If the customer chose not to migrate to digital, they would've lost all TV channels when the switch off occurred."

[jourdain2]

I think we will soon be without radio. Mr. J2s daughter bought us a digital radio. We've tried for about a year, but I unplugged it about a week ago (so awful that it went off and the rest was inaudible) and we manage with an old (arielless - we lost it somewhere) radio, which is actually much better reception. The more modern it is = the worse it is i.m.o..

[ToraToraTora]

wow I had no idea!

[jourdain2]

^^ Some local cats may soon be minus their whiskers!

[ABerrant]

"Virgin and all it's former cable companies never did analogue."

Cable television existed decades before digital television and all of Virgin Media's bought-up cable companies (TeleWest, NTL, etc.) along with the other major players, such as Cable & Wireless, operated analogue cable television systems before digital cable was rolled out in 1999.

Cable was last to the digital party - on the heels of digital satellite (Sky Digital launched Oct 1998) and digital terrestrial (ONdigital launched Nov 1998, became ITV Digital before folding and leaving a vacuum subsequently filled by Freeview)

[Buenchico]

As has always been the case with terrestrial TV transmissions, Freeview signals are broadcast at power levels which assume that viewers will be using good quality outdoor aerials. i.e. ever since TV transmissions first started in the UK, it has never been the intention of broadcast engineers to transmit signals which can be received by indoor aerials. (Indeed, they deliberately keep signal strengths to a certain maximum level to avoid interference with neighbouring transmitters).

So your proposed method of resolving your current problem (i.e.using an indoor aerial) can't be guaranteed to work. If you happen to live very close to a transmitter though it's possible that you could get an indor aerial to provide an adequate signal. (It certainly wouldn't work around here though. Most people find that they need multi-element outdoor aerials, at the tops of very tall poles, to get a decent signal).

If a loft aerial would be possible in your situation then a decent tri-fold aerial, such as this one
https://tinyurl.com/y6uhdllv
(possibly with a signal booster as well) might well do the job. However, unless you live within 5 miles or so from a transmitter, most 'set-top' aerial simply aren't up to the job.

[Jackdaw33]

Anyone remember Rediffusion? That's going back some, but it seemed to be good quality.

[porkchop]

OK, i get it! all Analog was switched off in UK, but i do NOT live in UK. Do not forget that Answer Bank also have members who do not live in UK. Hope this clarifies my question.

[Peter Pedant]

yeah dont tell us then will you

*that you live elsewhere

[porkchop]

Thanks Buenchico, you always come up with the best answer.