FAQs

Help for older and disabled users

What help can I get to switch - I'm over 75?
If you are over 75 or have a disability you might be eligible for the government’s digital TV Help Scheme when switchover happens in your region. See Help Scheme and When will my area go digital?

Can you tell me more about subtitles on digital TV?
For information about digital subtitling and choosing kit that will enable you to easily access, use and record subtitles see Subtitles

You can also use our Product Search and select ‘Subtitle button on remote’ as a search criteria to easily find iDTVs, set top boxes and digital TV recorders that have this feature.

Have you got this information on tape, CD or print?
Audio tapes and CDs are available. All pages of the website have a ‘print friendly’ button for easy printing. See Audio tapes CDs and printing.

I have difficulty seeing the screen - what is audio description?
Audio description (AD) works like a commentary for people who have difficulty seeing the screen. It is available on selected programmes via a few iDTVs and digital boxes. See Audio description.

Can you recommend TVs with easy to use buttons on the front if you can’t easily use a remote?
Buttons on the TV are one of the six features that we assess for their ease of use on every iDTV we test. We take into account their position on the screen – whether they are on the top, down the side and how low down the side – the size and feel of the buttons and their labelling. The ratings are towards the bottom of our summary test reports.  Check out the iDTVs that score 4 out of 5 for ‘TV cabinet controls’.

Note that many set top boxes and a couple of digital TV recorders do not have any buttons on the box at all so they cannot be used without the remote.

Can I record subtitles?
Unlike analogue TV and VCRs it is easy to record the subtitles from digital TV. Information about subtitle facilities is given at the bottom of each summary test report on digital TV recorders. Of those we have tested so far, all except the Thomson DT16300-16 record subtitles, but not all have a direct access button to subtitles on their remote controls. Use our Product Search and select ‘Subtitle button on remote’ as a search criteria to find those that do.

Which set top boxes / iDTVs/ digital TV recorders have audio description?
Unfortunately not many products so far have audio description. Use our Product Search and select ‘audio description’ as a search criteria to find those that do.

For more information see audio description

How can I find easy to use remotes?
Our test programme includes a separate rating for everyday use with the remote control (out of 5). We take into account its layout, button design, labelling, comfort of handling, ease of accessing the system’s features and navigating the on-screen menus. You can see this star rating in the ‘Ease of use’ section of the summary test report. This rating is also built into the overall ease of use rating we give each product.

If you already have a system with a remote control that you find awkward, you could consider buying a replacement, so called universal control that operates the TV and other equipment. But check them out before you buy - many do not operate Freeview receivers and the better ones can be expensive.