Digital switchover explainedDigital switchover FAQs

You'll need to convert bedroom TVs to digital

I already have digital television. Do I need to do anything?

If you can watch and record digital programmes on every TV you want to, you won't need to do anything. 

But if you're only able to receive digital on one TV, you'll need to convert any other sets you own, too, if you want to carry on watching them after switchover. 

Most old TVs can be converted to digital by adding a set-top box such as those in the Which? review of Freeview and Freesat set-top boxes but if you want a new TV, it's worth looking at the Which? review of LCD and plasma TVs which have Freeview built in.

You will need to re-tune any Freeview boxes at the start and finish of your region's switchover period to continue receiving all channels. Your manufacturer's handbook, or the Digital UK website, will explain how to do this.

Will we still be able to watch TV in other rooms after digital switchover?

Yes. But to watch different channels in different rooms, each TV will need to be set up to receive a digital TV signal, either via its own Freeview set-top box or via a Sky TV or cable multi-room subscription.

If you're happy to watch the same TV channel on all televisions, you can network several TVs to one digital receiver using cables or a wireless transmitter and receiver set.

Do I need to get started with the switch to digital now?

It depends when your region switches – some TV regions have already switched, some are switching soon, while others won't experience digital switchover until 2012. We suggest starting a few months before your region switches, to iron out any glitches. If you need new TV equipment now, it's worth upgrading to digital.

If you want to watch HD on Freeview and don't urgently need to switch to digital, it's probably worth waiting until Freeview HD boxes become widely available. 

The first HD Freeview box was launched by Humax in December 2009, and will arrive in shops in 2010 – see the Which? guide to Freeview HD explained for more information and the latest news on Freeview HD boxes.

What help is available for people who have problems switching to digital TV?

How you can help

As official help is available only to particularly vulnerable groups, this could leave some people who don’t qualify left struggling to deal with new equipment.

Digital UK hopes that its new initiative, Digital Outreach, will plug the gap.

The programme involves three major charities: Age Concern England, Help the Aged and Community Service Volunteers. They will train volunteers, distribute information about digital switchover to potentially vulnerable people, conduct public events and home visits and set up a network of help centres at the time of digital switchover.

How long will the actual switch from analogue to digital take, and will I lose access to TV channels during the switch?

The technical processes behind switchover are quite complicated, so switchover of channels from analogue to digital within your region is likely to happen in stages over a period of around four weeks, rather than all channels being switched over at the same moment. 

This means that, if you've opted for Freeview to watch TV after switchover but can't get a good Freeview TV signal at the moment, there may be a period of time when you will need to switch between analogue and Freeview to get access to the full range of TV channels until digital switchover in your region is complete. 

You can use Digital UK's postcode checker to check your reception quality for different channels before, during and after switchover. Though there is the possibility of brief disruption to your viewing, it is unlikely to be significant. 

Digital UK says that it has erred on the side of caution when providing information on reception via its postcode checker, and in practice your Freeview signal should not be any worse during switchover than it is at present. 

Nobody who currently gets a good analogue TV signal should suffer significant loss of the basic five channels (BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4 and Five), via either Freeview or analogue, during or after digital switchover. 

Which is the best way to get digital TV – a one-off payment or a subscription?

A one-off payment for Freeview or Freesat is likely to be the cheapest way to get digital TV. 

A subscription TV service, such as is offered by Sky or Virgin Media, gives you the flexibility to add sports or film bundles and use more interactive services, plus you may be able to save money by bundling your TV subscription with home phone and/or broadband.

You can see how Sky and Virgin Media compare to other bundle providers for customer service and value for money in the Which? review of phone, internet and TV packages.  

I have only one TV in the living room. What's the cheapest way to get digital TV?

If you're in a Freeview area − find out on the Freeview website − the cheapest option is to buy a Freeview box for around £30 to £100. See our reviews of Freeview set-top boxes for our Best Buys. 

If you need a new aerial this will bump up the cost, so look at other options using the Which? guide to free TV and pay TV services.

I'm in an area that can't get Freeview. Will my only option be a subscription?

Most people will be able to receive Freeview after switchover. If you want a non-subscription digital service before then, consider Freesat, a satellite service offered by the BBC and ITV which gives you a range of channels for a one-off cost. Sky also offers a Freesat service.

A number of the flat screen TVs in the Which? LCD and plasma TV reviews have Freesat built in.

Will I get the full range of Freeview channels?

After switchover, most UK households will receive their TV signal from a main transmitter that will broadcast nearly 50 Freeview digital channels. But 10% of households, usually in more remote areas, will get their TV signal from local relay transmitters. 

Local relay transmitters will broadcast approximately 20 of the most watched free-to-air digital channels and text services. These will include BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1, Channel 4 (plus S4C in Wales) and Five and a range of associated digital channels such as ITV2, E4 and BBC Three. This covers all the channels paid for by your TV licence. 

The remaining Freeview channels are all commercial channels, which have not invested in extending their broadcast to local relay transmitters.

You may be able to access a greater range of free-to-air channels (such as Film4) by signing up to a Freesat service from the BBC/ITV or Sky.

I've had my Freeview set-top box for years – will I need a new one?

The majority of homes will be totally unaffected, but some older digital boxes will stop working, and viewers will need to replace their equipment to continue receiving the Freeview service. 

This only affects people who bought some of the early models of digital boxes branded Daewoo, Labgear, Triax and Bush and is limited to the following models:

Set- top boxes

• Daewoo DS608P
• Labgear DTT100
• Triax DVB 2000T
• Portland DP100

Combined set-top box and video recorder

• Daewoo SV900
• Bush IDVCR01

For a shared aerial, ask your landlord

What is an integrated digital television (IDTV)?

An integrated digital television is a TV with a built-in digital receiver. IDTVs are becoming cheaper. If your current TV is in good working order, you don't need to replace it with a digital television unless you want to.

What should I do if I live in a flat with a shared rooftop aerial?

If you don't get a digital signal with a shared aerial, you'll need to speak to your landlord. 

A simple way to check for a signal is to borrow a friend's Freeview box.

Is high-definition television (HD TV) the same as digital television?

No. HD TV is a high-quality format that some programmes are made in. When these are broadcast in this format and watched on a TV that is HD-ready, viewers will see improved clarity and detail. 

Our guide to HD TV explained outlines why it's worth upgrading to one of the Best Buy HD-ready TVs in the Which? LCD and plasma TV reviews.

At the moment, only digital satellite and cable have the necessary capacity to broadcast HD TV programmes. 

Sky and Virgin Media both offer this on top of their normal digital TV service for additional monthly fees. Freesat's HD content is free after you've paid for equipment and installation. A limited number of on-demand films are also now available in HD with BT Vision.

Freeview has started rolling out an HD service across the UK, too, and people will be able to start watching Freeview HD from 2010 – take a look at our guide to Freeview HD explained for more on this.

Will I still have to buy a TV licence if I have a subscription such as Sky TV?

Whichever way you receive digital TV, you'll still have to buy a licence.

Is it true that the analogue radio signal is being switched off too?

The government does not plan to switch off the analogue radio signal until at least 50% of radio listening is digital. Its anticipated deadline for this is 2015. 

Digital radio does offer a host more radio stations than analogue radio, so if you're buying a new radio anyway, pick a winner from the range of Best Buys on offer in the Which? review of digital radios.

Bad weather can affect my digital TV picture quality – will switchover improve this?

Digital UK, the organisation leading the digital switchover, says that poor reception on Freeview is because the signal is not at full power yet. Once the signal is boosted after switchover, such problems should dramatically reduce.

TV reception should be better once the switch is complete

Will I need to buy a new aerial?

It’s unlikely. If you receive a good analogue picture now, you should get a good Freeview picture after switchover. To find out how to do an aerial test on Teletext, visit the Digital UK website. 

If you want a second opinion, get your aerial checked by a registered digital installer. Or check Which? Local for recommendations in your area. 

Take a look at Will I need a new TV aerial? for more aerial advice.

To receive a separate digital TV signal, does every TV have to have a set-top box?

Unless you have IDTV (integrated digital TV) sets, which pick up a digital TV signal directly, if you want to receive separate signals (and watch different channels at the same time) on each TV, you will need separate set-top boxes for each set.

How can I connect a set-top box to an old TV that doesn’t have a Scart socket?

Look for a set-top box with a UHF modulator. You can connect the set-top box and TV via the aerial socket.

How can I reduce the environmental impact of switchover?

If you're buying a new TV, buy one with digital built in (an IDTV). It’s more energy efficient than buying a separate box and TV. Increasingly, packaging will display the digital tick logo. Most sets in the Which? reviews of LCD and plasma TVs have digital capabilities built in.

The scoreboard will include the energy in standby level and the Energy Saving Recommended logo (right) if the product conforms to the Energy Saving Trust measurement criteria. 

Also, recycle old TVs at a local facility or by returning them to the original retailer.

I’ve heard that my VCR will only record the digital channel I’m watching – how can I record one digital program while watching another?

• Buy a twin-tuner Personal video recorder (PVR). PVRs are digital TV recorders that record onto an internal hard disk, typically storing at least 40 hours of TV. They also double as Freeview boxes, so you won’t need a separate set-top box. Which? Best Buy PVRs start at £120.
• Buy a DVD recorder with an built-in digital tuner to use in conjunction with a set-top box or a TV set with Freeview built in (IDTV).

If you’re unsure how to connect digital TV equipment together, our online TV connection wizard can take you through the connection process in a few easy steps.