TV Licence people...

BoB3rt

BoB3rt

BoB3rt

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Liverpool
There seems to be some confusion in our halls (Student) about how they can detect if you have a TV.

1- You have a aerial plugged in watching TV
2- The TV is just switched on (playing xbox or w/e)
3- The TV is plugged into the wall (in standby)

so can anyone clear this up?

An yes we are a bunch of bums =( please dont judge me.
 
They can't AFAIK.

Apparently they have permission to search a hall whenever they like and that my halls at Bristol gets randomly done every few years.

Although we all use Freewire a internet TV service and as most of us use it on laptops and technically its not mains powered we don't need licenses!

Good eh? :p
 
it's perfectly legal to watch an unlicensed TV provided it's not tuned in to any of the terrestrial channels, there is a lot of crap about using 'detection vans' to pick up television signals, but as far as i'm concerned it's bull (far to expensive,/difficult to pinpoint who is and isn't), they just target high risk (student/council estate) areas in the hope that someone will crack and pay up.

tl:dr? they don't bother to detect, just target high areas of likelyhood
 
the best thing is the letters they send

"Don't have a TV? call this premium rate phone number and we'll organize an inspection."


"Don't tell us you have one, we'll organize an inspection!!"

Who would ever bother to inform them they don't have one :/


oh and you live in halls even with "detectors" the best they'd be able to manage is well one of the 200 or so people has a TV.....

So the odds of them bothering are slim to none.
 
They can detect you because your TV also transmits as well as receives. Yes they have a data base but obviously they can only fine you if your using your tv - as its not illegal to own it without a licence just to use it without a licence. From the quick check ive done tho it seems there is some doubt as to whether the vans actually exist - i for one have never seen one.
 
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If you are hell bent on not paying a TV licence it's perfectly possible; it's very very unlikely they will ever go as far to get a warrent to search someones hosue for a television, which is the only way they can really prove you have one. Then they have to prove you use it.
 
As Vincent says if it's not tuned to any channels it doesn't need a licence (you should really make sure it's not got any aerials connected). Note however that the licence makes zero differentiation between using an aerial, cable or satellite receiver for tuning into a broadcast.

As long as you are only using it for watching DVD's, pre-recorded videos, games consoles, cameras etc a licence isn't needed.

As for the technicalities of detection of the TV's any TV tuner puts out it's own faint traces on frequencies that vary depending on what it's tuned to (IIRC you can't get around this), and whilst with modern sets it's very faint the equipment almost certainly does exist, and would probably be very easily man portable these days (I suspect if they ever bother with the vans these days it's purely to transport the men around - so even though the modern sets might put out a much fainter signal the equipment could probably get without a few dozen feet ;) ).
Chances are they don't use any such equipment these days, but if they did it would be very simple for them, even easier than in the past - they don't need to check every address, just ones the data base show don't have a licence :p
 
The vans can really detect TVs - in fact, they can even detect which (analog) channel you're watching. IIRC your TV contains oscillators, whose job is to take the high-frequency broadcast signal and convert it into something which can be more easily converted into a picture. During the process the oscillators themselves emit a weak signal which can be picked up within a few hundred yards.

That said, it's a lot easier for them just to rely on the database and send threatening letters.
 
teulk said:
They can detect you because your TV also transmits as well as receives. Yes they have a data base but obviously they can only fine you if your using your tv - as its not illegal to own it without a licence just to use it without a licence.
Click to expand...

i think in the days of CRT tubes, with flyback transformers that emitted a frequency matching the tuned channel or something that may have been posisble. But these days LCD screens and stuff chance of 'detection' are for all intensive porpoises, zero.
 
Mattus said:
The vans can really detect TVs - in fact, they can even detect which (analog) channel you're watching. IIRC your TV contains oscillators, whose job is to take the high-frequency broadcast signal and convert it into something which can be more easily converted into a picture. During the process the oscillators themselves emit a weak signal which can be picked up within a few hundred yards.

That said, it's a lot easier for them just to rely on the database and send threatening letters.
Click to expand...

It is technically possible but they never ever do it as far as I know.
 
whitecrook said:
i think in the days of CRT tubes, with flyback transformers that emitted a frequency matching the tuned channel or something that may have been posisble. But these days LCD screens and stuff chance of 'detection' are for all intensive porpoises, zero.
Click to expand...

unless of course they require something built in for sale in the uk. *dons tinfoil deerstalker*

But yeah it;s easier just to look at your window, easy to tell if a tv is on even with curtains closed.
 
He's implying that conspiracy theorists believe that electronics can often be "bugged" so the government can spy on us/know we have a tv :p
 
If you live at uni then they send round a letter saying you must pay, then another saying you must pay and then another threatening one again. They get sent to every room in the halls that doesnt have a license, regardless if the room is empty or not. My flat had 2 2 spare rooms and they got letters about TV license.

From what Ive heard IF, massive IF, they came and knocked on your door and asked to come in, just say no. They cant come in unless you let them or they have a warrant. They wont have a warrant though and get one when refused entry, by that time you can have a license :)
 
Strife212 said:
They can't, they just have a database of adresses of who has paid and who hasn't.
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Exactly, and they send you cleverly worded letters like "we know you dont have a tv license get one asap or youll be prosecuted" They did this to us at uni in our halls and after some discussion we realised there was no way they could know if we had a tv or not. And vowed to hide it when-ever they came round, if they did..which they didnt :) Plus a mate in another flat in halls got letters even though he had a license.

If they come to search you, just stick it on the floor, cover with table cloth. Put kettle on top. Sorted.
 
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