Milton Keynes television signal

[Ed Selley]

Dear All,
As my location shows I've just moved to the outskirts of Milton Keynes. All is going well with one exception- what on earth is coming out of the standard aerial wall sockets? Connecting the standard RF lead to the telly will only locate News 24, BBC2 and Channel 5 (not the stuff of balenced viewing) Is this normal? Will a freeview box make any difference to this? or because it is attached to the same aerial, will I still receive the same three channels?
Previous occupants had Sky (the dish and connecting cable for which are still installed incidentally) but as a first time buyer I simply can't afford the subscription charges currently so would like to know if there is a free option to cure this impasse. All suggestions greatfully received.
Ed

[MatC]

What you are getting is NTL's rather lousy cable service, thers a real basic version which needs no additional equipment to use.
You should be able to get BBC1, BBC2, ITV, CH4, CH5, News 24 and QVC through it.
It is however a subscription service, though the cost is minimal, about £2 a month if I remember correctly.
You can also use the system for FM as well, so you get decent FM reception through it, although all the frequencies are changed.
The picture quality through this is not too great though, and you can't plug a freeview box into it either!
Hope this helps.

Mat

[Ed Selley]

I suppose the next logical question is how do I ensure that I have subscribed to this rather tortuous method of getting my television? - Please tell me that I don't have to talk to NTL (I believe I'm more likely to get hold of Elvis through a seance than actually get the info I want from NTL). Or is it already in my (high) council tax payments? Ed

[MatC]

Unfortunately it's handled by NTL, so you'll have to ring them..
The biggest problem is that their website does'nt seem to admit Milton Keynes exists!
I'm not a subscriber myself anymore, I switched over to Sky Digital over a year ago, as the NTL service offered around this area are not very good. The whole system is analogue and dated from the time MK was built (Early 70's I believe)
Milton Keynes is covered by Freeview,
www.freeview.co.uk
which might be an option to get cheapish digital tv, now that sky/bbc have pulled the "free to view" cards. You will need to get an aerial, as the signal is not passed through the NTL system.
Richer Sounds have an offer on freeview boxes at the moment (If they have any in stock!)

Hope this helps


Mat

[Ed Selley]

Well I'm technically a Richer Group employer so getting hold of one of those natty little Thompson boxes won't be a problem. The only catch is the aerial- I'm busy paying off £1500 of re flooring at the mo so destitute doesn't come into it. The next question then I guess is if I were to get hold of a cardless Sky digital box (in laws have one having switched to plus) and connected it to the existing dish, will this work like the old ITV digital boxes after their network went off air? Or am I just clutching at straws? Ed

[MatC]

If you have an existing sky mini dish on the side of the house, then yes you can plug in a second hand box and recieve all the "free to view" channels, which includes the BBC. You won't be able to get ITV, CH4 or CH5, as these are encrypted and need a card from sky. You could get the basic subscription which is £12.50, P/M though there are slightly more expensive options.
So in short, yes you can, but to get the most from it, you will need to pay sky money.

Mat.

PS. My Mum and Dad want a freeview box, do they actually exist at Richer Sounds? Their always out of stock!

[Ed Selley]

The Thompsons (that is to say the decent ones) are thin on the ground currently- they seem to be very good so understandably have sold well. I'm told that more will be with the stores soon. If I find out anything more I'll PM you- the least I can do after you explained my unusual channel selection. Ed

[MatC]

Great,

Many Thanks

Mat