I think you may be replying to the wrong post here...
I was not suggesting any particular technology is used, only highlighting the fact that there are many ways to detect signal leakage from largely unscreened boxes like TVs.
Because that is how the rules is writ. TBH they are too vague and haven't caught up with the fact that most broadcast TV is so dire that it's not worth watching but people have TVs for other purposes such has home cinema.
In message , Harvey Van Sickle writes
I understand that a TV run from batteries is exempt (well it used to be)
So, a couple of car batteries and an inverter then ...
Unfortunately the onus is on you to prove that. In some areas you don't need to connect any aerial to a set at all to receive a perfectly watchable picture and listenable sound. So simply not having an aerial connected doesn't work and as has already been pointed out a set top jobbie can be stashed in a cupboard...
The only real way is not to have any broadcast receiving apparatus, so use a monitor not a TV to watch your videos, played from a machine that also does not have any broadcast receiving circuitry.
No, it's obeying the rules. See other post...
Because if you don't, you have installed broadcast receiving equipment and therefore need a licence.
In message , Kalico writes
Well, if you put an IF filter on the aerial lead and enclosed it in an earthed metal mesh, they would have great difficulty in seeing it
... except that the commonest way of detecting AIUI is peeking through the curtains
Agreed. There was a case brought some time ago for a TV used as part of a security camera system and the case was thrown out of court. If you don't use it for TV then you don't need a licence.
However as the OP admits he does watch videos on it then he does need a licence.
When they knock on the door, you don't have to let them in. Tell them to go away and get a proper job as you hate snoopers.. They require a warrant to enter.
Why? A received broadcast may not have been involved - it could be videos from the rental shop. If the tape was recorded on a VCR, then a license would need to be in place for where the recording was made.
In message , BigWallop writes
Err ... sorry, whose money ?
In message , Pete C writes
Not exactly. There is a provision for televisions used (inter alia) by students living away from home, and (I believe) caravanners.
I'm pretty sure (from memory) that the batteries have to be 'internal'.
Also (more importantly) that this relates only to being able to use a 'base' licence to cover the portable set in question, so there must be a TV 'back home' with a real licence.
To be really picky on legal points, anything recorded on a VCR can only be watched by the person doing the recording at the place it was recorded (or something like that anyway) so he needs a licence to do this. If you have two houses then you still need a 2nd licence to watch the recording made in the first but watched in the second.
Videos from rental shops is a different issue but I'm sure I read somewhere these aren't exempt. DVD players on PCs come under this category.
Coming to this thread late... I have a television that is only used for videos and DVDs and I do not have a television licence. I checked with the licencing authority before acquiring the TV, because I knew that I'd only be watching films on it rather than broadcast programmes, and they said that I'd be OK if the *internal* arial on the TV was disabled. Thus, since the TV couldn't receive programmes if it tried (a lump of solder works wonders), it doesn't count for licencing purposes. I still have the external arial on the roof; however the set itself is incapable of receiving anything other than video/DVD and the arial cable enters the house and sits there doing nothing except look silly.
Not necessarily. If the set is *incapable* of receiving broadcast television a licence is unnecessary.
For the zillionth time, there is no 'exempt' about it - you need a license if you're going to be watching TV. If you are going to watch DVDs, play games, whatever, then you don't need a license. It says so on TVL's own website.
I've yet to see it writ like that. From
"Do I need a licence?
If you use a TV or any other device to receive or record TV programmes (for example, a VCR, set-top box, DVD recorder or PC with a broadcast card) - you need a TV Licence. You are required by law to have one."
The key phrase: "to receive or record TV programmes".
We have been without a TV licence since 2000. Our TV is not connected to an aerial, being upstairs in the bedroom and is used only for watching videos and DVDs. It has beeen detuned. When we took this step we called TV licencing and were told this was no problem and we got a refund on the unused portion of the licence.
An inspector came once to check our equipment - invited him in and he stuck his head in the sitting room door and said it was fine - even offered to show him the actual telly in the bedroom but he wasn`t bothered. No checks on tuning status aerial connection etc.
Have never had any threatening letters
Will
Define "to receive".
All of which is easier, or cheaper, to say than to do.
A simple solution might be to physically seal the aerial sockets of the TV and VCR by filling them with epoxy or hot-melt glue; and of course to remove any unused TV aerial from outside the house.
The objective is to do something simple and physical, that any "reasonable" person would see as obvious proof that TV reception has been thoroughly and permanently disabled [*]. If you then put it in writing, include pictures, and send it all to TVL with proof of delivery, I should think you could safely ignore them forevermore.
There are two different standards operating here. To stop TVL from pestering you, it seems that you have to prove your innocence beyond reasonable doubt... way, way way beyond or so it seems. But securing a conviction in court is a different matter - IANAL, but it seems to me that the burden of proof would then fall back onto TVL, to prove your guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Physically sealing the aerial sockets would seem to create enough doubt to prevent that ever happening.
[*] Yes, we all know there are ways to get around a sealed aerial socket, or even more drastic measures - but we are DIYers and techies, so by definition not reasonable people at all :-)
You don't. End of story. Anyone who thinks a detuned television or video with no aerial requires a licence is simply incorrect. From the horse's mouth:
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