[broxibearz]

I hope i can explain myself here
at the moment i have a (NTL) Virgin Media TV package
i'm hoping to move to Sky
at the moment i watch TV through my set top box (Pace)
through the AV channel
101 = BBC 1
102 = BBC 2
103 = ITV
511 = Sky Sports
401 = Sky movie Channel
OK so far ?
when i switch off my set top box to standby
i can watch terrestrial TV
Channel 1 = BBC 1
Channel 2 + BBC 2
Channel 3 = ITV
all with a great picture & without any extra ariels
so here's my question if i move to Sky will i still be able to do this or will i need a Sky + box
my Dad has Sky (standard box) but when he trys this his picture on
Channels 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 are terrible

ps
i hope i'm in the right forum for this
any help would be appreciated
Thanx

[broadz]

If you can receive a decent terrestrial TV signal when your Virgin Media box is switched off (in fact, whether it is switched off or on), you obviously have a decent TV aerial capable of picking up analogue terrestrial TV. Replacing cable with Sky doesn't affect your aerial or your analogue TV at all - so yes, you will still be able to get them. Whether you go for a standard Sky box, or Sky+, or even Sky HD, has no impact on your analogue signal. That is the picture sent from your aerial to your TV - the various digital boxes sitting in the middle of this chain should have no impact on the picture.

While you're at it, why not get your dad a decent TV aerial so he can watch terrestrial - he has a crap terrestrial picture because his aerial isn't picking up the channels. His Sky box works via his satellite dish - the dish and the aerial are totally separate and independent of one another.

[mjk79]

Quote:

Originally Posted by broadz

If you can receive a decent terrestrial TV signal when your Virgin Media box is switched off (in fact, whether it is switched off or on), you obviously have a decent TV aerial capable of picking up analogue terrestrial TV.

Or is using the analogue cable feed which carries the terrestrial channels on normal UHF channels that a regular TV can tune to - if so then these will obviously (eventually) be disconnected once unsubscribed from cable.

[broxibearz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by broadz

If you can receive a decent terrestrial TV signal when your Virgin Media box is switched off (in fact, whether it is switched off or on), you obviously have a decent TV aerial capable of picking up analogue terrestrial TV. Replacing cable with Sky doesn't affect your aerial or your analogue TV at all - so yes, you will still be able to get them. Whether you go for a standard Sky box, or Sky+, or even Sky HD, has no impact on your analogue signal. That is the picture sent from your aerial to your TV - the various digital boxes sitting in the middle of this chain should have no impact on the picture.

While you're at it, why not get your dad a decent TV aerial so he can watch terrestrial - he has a crap terrestrial picture because his aerial isn't picking up the channels. His Sky box works via his satellite dish - the dish and the aerial are totally separate and independent of one another.

That's just it
I don't have an ariel
only cable

[mjk79]

If you're watching the analogue TV channels through cable then you will need to get a TV aerial when this is cut off.

Otherwise once you've switched to Sky, you will only be able to watch channels through the Sky digibox via AV - i.e. switch off the Sky box and your TV will receive nothing.

Of course with analogue TV being switched off over the coming years this is all academic unless you were considering upgrading your TV to a newer model with digital tuner. However the Sky digibox will still give you the terrestrial channels anyway so there may be no need for an aerial to receive channels 1-5.

[broxibearz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjk79

If you're watching the analogue TV channels through cable then you will need to get a TV aerial when this is cut off.

Otherwise once you've switched to Sky, you will only be able to watch channels through the Sky digibox via AV - i.e. switch off the Sky box and your TV will receive nothing.

Of course with analogue TV being switched off over the coming years this is all academic unless you were considering upgrading your TV to a newer model with digital tuner. However the Sky digibox will still give you the terrestrial channels anyway so there may be no need for an aerial to receive channels 1-5.

thanx for the info it was as i expected
i know i can still get terrestrial through Sky
but the way i'm set up with cable i have the ability to watch a terrestrial via channels 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
& record a different channel via cable
but if i change to Sky that's gone unless i get an outside ariel fitted or get Sky +
either way it's gonna cost extra money
tried to get Sky + for free but Sky won't budge
they'll wave installation fee but won't budge on £99 box fee
but thanx for the help guys

[simon1]

I think everyones missing the point here.

If you get Sky+, you'll get nice clear 'widescreen' pictures from BBC1, BBC2, ITV, CH4, FIVE - all via the Sky box. You can watch one channel while recording another. No aerial necessary!

I have excellent reception from my aerial, but never use it since getting Sky+. The tv's own tuner is never used, as I've got in the habbit of watching everything via the Sky box.

[bobcar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by simon1

I think everyones missing the point here.

If you get Sky+, you'll get nice clear 'widescreen' pictures from BBC1, BBC2, ITV, CH4, FIVE - all via the Sky box. You can watch one channel while recording another. No aerial necessary!

I have excellent reception from my aerial, but never use it since getting Sky+. The tv's own tuner is never used, as I've got in the habbit of watching everything via the Sky box.

I also always watch TV as digital via either Sky or Freeview, however the analogue channels are still essential to get Teletext.

[Harry, it sucks]

With the analogue pass through, presumably there is a short co-ax from the back of the cable box to the tv, the scart/av connection wouldn't be able to carry the UHF signals to the television's tuner, so it should be easy enough to check if this is what is happening.
Of course, in an extremely good signal area you could pick up signals just through the aerial socket, but i doubt they would be decribed as great.
With the analogue pass through on cable, is that available to everybody or only some areas?