want home entertainment but not TV!

frost · 05-12-2005 12:47am #1

Ok, maybe we're odd, but we don't watch broadcast television at home. Almost never anyway. However, we do enjoy watching videos and dvds regularly.

So I would like to keep the ability to watch our rented movies, but don't want to have to pay a TV license fee every year for the privilege.

What options are there, that allow us to this -- legally I mean!

Also there is a working TV aerial on the house - are we supposed to get rid of that too?

optiplexgx270 · 05-12-2005 1:53am

Could you get an lcd panel / crt monitor and hook it up to your stystem. Would he still need the TV licence if their unit has no TV tuner in it does anyone know? Working aerial is fine, its the TV set you pay for.

Lump · 05-12-2005 2:11am

The tax is for any device capable of receiving a television signal. As optiplexgx270 says, you could use an LCD that doesn't have a tuner in it. Or just watch DVD's on your PC, or maybe you could break the RF connection going into a standard TV and then if they come knocking show them that you're not receiving signal... although they might not like that too much.

John

Lump · 05-12-2005 2:14am

As it happens....

BBC License Site wrote:

What if I only use a TV to watch videos/DVDs/as a monitor for my games console? Do I still need a licence?

You need to notify us in writing that this is the case and one our Enforcement Officers may need to visit you to confirm that you do not need a licence.

Please write to us including your name, address and the reason you believe that you don't need a licence at:

TV Licensing
Bristol
BS98 1TL

I assume there's something similar for Ireland.... Ring/Write to the license people.

John

frost · 05-12-2005 8:51am

thanks!

sounds like my tv would need to be clearly disabled from receiving tv if i want to keep it. any electronics whizzes out there know how hard that would be?

i suppose i will contact An Post directly. since an inspector already called to my door the other day (i admitted nothing, he seemed to assume i had a tv, and told me there wasn't any rush to get a license and gave me a receipt which i can't decipher), i'm on their database to be revisited soon anyway, so best take the lead in this...

Sparky · 05-12-2005 9:58am

you could get a cheap projector.

just a thought.

Idleater · 05-12-2005 11:28am

frost wrote:

thanks!

sounds like my tv would need to be clearly disabled from receiving tv if i want to keep it. any electronics whizzes out there know how hard that would be?

Someone that I know, took a pliers to the Cable in socket. He just mangled it good. Aparently the Licence inspector took it okay. But I would check with the Licencing Authority first anyway.

You would have to do it to all tuners like video and HDR etc too.

L.

frost · 05-12-2005 11:40am

Sparky_S wrote:

you could get a cheap projector.

just a thought.

interesting idea. any suggestions?

Lump · 05-12-2005 12:25pm

Eh.... Did you read my reply?

John

BrianD · 05-12-2005 1:39pm

nereid wrote:

Someone that I know, took a pliers to the Cable in socket. He just mangled it good. Aparently the Licence inspector took it okay. But I would check with the Licencing Authority first anyway.

You would have to do it to all tuners like video and HDR etc too.

L.

Is the cable socket not the property of the cable company? Is it yours to mutilate?

Idleater · 05-12-2005 2:47pm

BrianD wrote:

Is the cable socket not the property of the cable company? Is it yours to mutilate?

The cable socket on the wall is probably the property of NTL all right- you might want to check your T&C's before doing something like that...
:
:
:
However, I was referring to the cable socket (also known as Aeriel/RF) on the back of all the appliances (TV/Video/HDR/PVR/USB Tuner etc) that the OP owns.

Butchering the NTL socket on the wall does not inhibit your ability to plug an Aerial/Coat hanger into the back of your TV or whatever and therefore still be able to use the TV Tuner on that device.

I think one has to demonstrate/argue their case that they can in fact NOT decode or display ANY broadcast pictures on ANY of the tuners in that house.

L.

frost · 27-12-2005 12:24pm

Sparky-s wrote:

you could get a cheap projector.

I've since had a loan of a projector and we tried it out on our wall and it is great, especially compared to watching DVD's on my laptop! ;-)

So if it's affordable, I'm looking to find a basic projector. I'm a bit concerned about the life of the bulb as the replacement costs are very high

Any suggestions make/model/Irish suppliers?
Thanks

want home entertainment but not TV!

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