FAQs
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.
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