The digital switchover has had some of our clients tearing their hair out over the barrage of terms and conditions faced when simply trying to make provisions for the swansong of analogue TV. First off (and this goes for everyone expecting to see any kind of aerial-received TV signal) you’ll need a digital TV aerial by 2012. Once the switchover is complete, your regular analogue aerial will be useless.

Of all the digital TV options, the simplest solution for most folks is probably Freeview digital TV. To get Freeview you’ll need to settle a one-off payment for a digital set top box or TV with built-in set top box (iDTVs). Freeview set top boxes can cost as little as £15-£20. The important thing to remember about Freeview is that there is no monthly subscription.

Freeview set top boxes are pretty easy to self-install; as you basically plug-in and go. Still, should you run into difficulty, our team of aerial installers are happy to sort it out for you when we upgrade your aerial. Freeview digital TV is received via your digital TV aerial and offers a standard package of about forty TV channels and twenty digital radio stations (depending on location). The same regional variations as well as regular BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 apply.

Freeview HD (High Definition) will become the norm once the entire country switches to digital. The service is free, however those with older set top boxes may need to upgrade to a Freeview HD version.