[Jools27]

I am planning on buying my mam, who is 80 this year, a digital TV for her birthday. She already has freeview but for some reason (her memories not good!) she can't get to grips with switching from analogue to freeview. When the digital switchover happens in September, she won't be able to use her normal channels so we want to get her a digital tv. I haven't got one myself, as I have virgin, but can anyone tell me if, on digital tv, you can just press number 1 button on remote for bbc and number 3 for itv etc?

[ProDave]

Yes it really is that simple.

Just about all tv's will power up in the last mode they were used. So if it was watching freeview when it was turned off, it will come back on in freeview mode.

And yes, pressing "1" will get you to BBC1.

But do show her how to use the EPG or at least channel+ and channel - so she can see there is a LOT more than than 5 channels available.

From my experience, what "older" people have trouble with is setting the things up in the first place, but also all the "extra" buttons on the remote. The usual culprit being pressing the source button and selecting say hdmi input, and then phoning you up saying there's "no signal"

So choose carefully. Find one that has a "TV /DTV" button, as that's usually 1 press to get it back to freeview.

[Nigel Goodwin]

It's even simpler than that - most modern TV's won't allow to switch between analogue and digital UNLESS you've tuned them both in.

During initial set-up they ask if you want to tune digital, analogue, or both - as long as you select digital only then you aren't able to select analogue at all.

[emptybox]

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

It's even simpler than that - most modern TV's won't allow to switch between analogue and digital UNLESS you've tuned them both in.

During initial set-up they ask if you want to tune digital, analogue, or both - as long as you select digital only then you aren't able to select analogue at all.

I probably wouldn't be able to recommend my TV then, which is a Samsung.
Although on initial setup I chose to tune the digital tuner only, you can still select the analogue tuner.

There's no button on the remote, but if you are on digital channel 1 say, then press '1', you are taken to analogue channel 1 (which is just static). You then stay on analogue until you do the same again.
I could see this being confusing for someone if they did it by accident.

[Nigel Goodwin]

Originally Posted by emptybox

I probably wouldn't be able to recommend my TV then, which is a Samsung.
Although on initial setup I chose to tune the digital tuner only, you can still select the analogue tuner.

Another reason not to buy Samsung then

[emptybox]

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

Another reason not to buy Samsung then

Somehow I manage to cope.

[stanandjan]

Out Hitachi was super for the Analogue of FREESKY that my wife enjoys..UNTIL we tuned it up for DIG just to check it out..
Now on switch on Lunchtime Noon.. it goes to DIG ..BUT No aerial on purpose so nowt there ..and i press the Button to change to Analogue..
HOWEVER..when we switch on the TV for Teatime at 5PM the set goes straight to the Analogue..as though there is a small Battery memory of 'Last prog' for at least 4 hours..
My wife is now very Fragile and the Freesky keeps her happy..
I could take off the Dig Freqs with a retune and then it would go to the Analogue..But is there any other way please?

Stan

[coachtrip_fan99]

Originally Posted by stanandjan

Out Hitachi was super for the Analogue of FREESKY that my wife enjoys..UNTIL we tuned it up for DIG just to check it out..
Now on switch on Lunchtime Noon.. it goes to DIG ..BUT No aerial on purpose so nowt there ..and i press the Button to change to Analogue..
HOWEVER..when we switch on the TV for Teatime at 5PM the set goes straight to the Analogue..as though there is a small Battery memory of 'Last prog' for at least 4 hours..
My wife is now very Fragile and the Freesky keeps her happy..
I could take off the Dig Freqs with a retune and then it would go to the Analogue..But is there any other way please?

Stan

what?

[emptybox]

Originally Posted by stanandjan

Out Hitachi was super for the Analogue of FREESKY that my wife enjoys..UNTIL we tuned it up for DIG just to check it out..
Now on switch on Lunchtime Noon.. it goes to DIG ..BUT No aerial on purpose so nowt there ..and i press the Button to change to Analogue..
HOWEVER..when we switch on the TV for Teatime at 5PM the set goes straight to the Analogue..as though there is a small Battery memory of 'Last prog' for at least 4 hours..
My wife is now very Fragile and the Freesky keeps her happy..
I could take off the Dig Freqs with a retune and then it would go to the Analogue..But is there any other way please?

Stan

Presumably this is a second set, that receives the Sky signal through RF out from the box, so you can't connect by scart or HDMI?

ETA: I guess the obvious solution would be to leave the set on standby, rather than turning it off at the plug.
Then the 4 hour battery thing shouldn't be an issue.

[coachtrip_fan99]

Originally Posted by emptybox

Presumably this is a second set, that receives the Sky signal through RF out from the box, so you can't connect by scart or HDMI?

ah ok, it makes a bit more sense now.

freesky = free sat from sky, delivered over RF
and dig = digital terrestrial (but no aerial connected)

correct?

[stanandjan]

Indeed it is for when we have a meal and then my wife continues to watch the same programme as she was watching in the Thru' lounge..
One of the less mentioned aspects of modern drugs is the Psychotic effect which makes the patient suspicious of even the slighest deviation from normal.. even when married for over 50 years..
Thank you for the suggestion..It made me think..
The standby may well work..from the remote i guess..we usually for years press the silver button on the set as we walk past.. as it is so inviting at eye level..and we do not need to pick up Remote then..
I'll try it later..and report back..Thanks

Stan

[Jools27]

Hi everyone - thanks for the replies. Narrowed it down go two in Currys - Samsung LE32Dd400 and Toshiba 32BV702B - both £249. Tried instore and they both seem to be pretty simple. Does anyone have any thoughts or experiences with either of these to make my choice?
Also I wondered if it's easy enough to record programmes onto an old fashioned video recorder?

[ProDave]

Originally Posted by Jools27

Also I wondered if it's easy enough to record programmes onto an old fashioned video recorder?

Simple answer NO

An old fashioned video recorder will only have an analogue tuner. Once analogue has gone, that's useless.

It should be possible to record with a video recorder from a scart source. So that could be the tv itself, but would limit you to recording the channel being watched, and would require the tv to be on.

you could set up a dedicated freeview box just for the video recorder to record from.

But the subject of the thread is SIMPLICITY. None of those options are simple and, knowing "older folk" they just won't get it to work.

Buy a PVR and show them how to use it. But even then, "older folk" often have difficulty with the concept that it's not necessary to "rewind" it before you can watch it.

[coachtrip_fan99]

Originally Posted by ProDave

Simple answer NO

An old fashioned video recorder will only have an analogue tuner. Once analogue has gone, that's useless.

It should be possible to record with a video recorder from a scart source. So that could be the tv itself, but would limit you to recording the channel being watched, and would require the tv to be on.

you could set up a dedicated freeview box just for the video recorder to record from.

But the subject of the thread is SIMPLICITY. None of those options are simple and, knowing "older folk" they just won't get it to work.

Buy a PVR and show them how to use it. But even then, "older folk" often have difficulty with the concept that it's not necessary to "rewind" it before you can watch it.

honestly..... for my gran..... VCR is still the easiest way for her to record......... she simply could not get her head around a PVR. anything with an on screen menu confuses the hell out of her.

This is what I did:

get a freeview box with a display that shows the channel number its tuned to.
Connect it to VCR by scart lead.
set the vcr onto av2, and leave it at that.

Situate the freeview box directly on top of the vcr.

Then I got a universal remote control, and programmed it so that the chnl + and chnl - buttons changed the channel on the freeview box.

All she does is get the channel number to the one she wants and presses record........ then presses stop, rewind, and play when she is ready to watch it. (the TV automatically switches over input when she presses play on the VCR, and goes back to freeview when she presses stop )

[Jools27]

Does anyone know if you can programme your old tv to come straight onto digital instead of it going onto analogue?

[Nigel Goodwin]

Originally Posted by Jools27

Does anyone know if you can programme your old tv to come straight onto digital instead of it going onto analogue?

It depends entirely on the TV - as I said above, many modern ones will always come on in digital if you only tune the digital channels (and likewise, will always come on in analogue if that's all you tune). In both cases, you are unable to access the untuned mode.

[stanandjan]

I have nowcompared the 'Switch off at TV set' and then 'Switch off with Remote'..seemingly no difference..
I I find that the analogue start up channel is ok for say around 6 to 7 hours with either way but an overnight period makes the start auto into Dig again..
Well way back I recall capacitors that did this sort of thing for holding functions..
Just curious but What is holding my Initial start at aanalogue for some hours and has it other functions perhaps or have i discovered an 'Accidental Design Feature?
It is almost like a Tempory HOTEL mode that is so useful on the Panasonics in other rooms

Stan

[ProDave]

What type of Freeview program guide does it have?

If it has Teletext Extra (now Radio Times Extra) or 4TV, then those rely on downloading the freeview EPG at 3AM in the morning.

So could it be switching over to freeview to do that?

Try setting the EPG type to "7 day" or "now and next" to see if that stops that behaviour.

[stanandjan]

Originally Posted by ProDave

What type of Freeview program guide does it have?

If it has Teletext Extra (now Radio Times Extra) or 4TV, then those rely on downloading the freeview EPG at 3AM in the morning.

So could it be switching over to freeview to do that?

Try setting the EPG type to "7 day" or "now and next" to see if that stops that behaviour.

Thank you very much.. that sounds very plausible..
I will try that out