The big switch off

This year brings the start of the digital switchover, writes our technology blogger Tom Moore.

What is that I hear you cry?

Well the digital switchover is where throughout the UK, region by region the analogue TV signal that all TVs currently receive will be switched off and replaced by a digital one.

In other words if you don’t have a Digital set top box attached to your telly then it won’t work, unless of course you have built in freeview in your TV which is just another option to throw in to the mix.

With Telford set to switchover to digital in 2011 what does that mean we need to do?

Well, firstly, you need to make sure that you can receive digital in the area whether that be in terms of Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, or BT Vision, or built in Digital

As long as you have got one of these then the switchover will not affect you and then you can continue to watch all your favourite TV programmes as normal.

With the digital switchover it will NOT affect your VHS recorder as that will still be able to perform the functions it can do now.

Howeverm if you want to take the next step in televison technology then you could look at a digital TV recorder (DTR).

A DTR means that you can watch one digital channel whilst recording another, as well as being able to pause live TV and record an entire series with just one click of the button.

There are many different DTR setups available such as Sky+ from Sky, V+ from Virgin Media and Freeview playback.

Anyway, in other news my little girl Tiegan is learning to count and now is very clever for her age. Sarah my wife is due any day with baby number two so I will keep you posted on that one.