Big monitor, Internet, win?

davestar_delux

davestar_delux

davestar_delux

Soldato
Joined
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Hi I am thinking of a little project of setting up a PC intead of a TV for entertainment using Internet and things like iPlayer, 4onDemand, Zattoo and TVCatchup... would I be able to set up a nice front-end and remote control to just work these channels? Are there any other worthwhile services (legal obv)? Any pitfalls of this idea?

It would save me a TV licence and all the best channels of freeview and freesat are available online. Only thing better would be Sky which I don't think is worth the money.
 
best way is a large hd lcd tv, far cheaper than a monitor.

best way is to use a wireless touch pad keyboard. As you want to use internet.

If you got sky you would need a tv license.
If you watch the itv live feeds or Iplayer live feeds you also need a tv license.
 
if you read up on the latest guides on tv licensing, having broadband and a pc means you can receive bbc iplayer which means you need a tv license. my niece was in halls of residence last year, and if you had a pc and subscribed to their network, the tv license fee was automatically included in your fees because of this very issue...

Otherwise there have been many threads on this subject and suggest you use the search tool to have a gander, it's been raised many times and there will be a wealth of reading!

:-)
 
3dcandy said:
if you read up on the latest guides on tv licensing, having broadband and a pc means you can receive bbc iplayer which means you need a tv license. my niece was in halls of residence last year, and if you had a pc and subscribed to their network, the tv license fee was automatically included in your fees because of this very issue...
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No it doesn't. You can use Iplayer without a tv license. Even the tv license website says so. what it does say is if you watch live feeds you need a tv license.
 
davestar_delux said:
Hi I am thinking of a little project of setting up a PC intead of a TV for entertainment using Internet and things like iPlayer, 4onDemand, Zattoo and TVCatchup... would I be able to set up a nice front-end and remote control to just work these channels? Are there any other worthwhile services (legal obv)? Any pitfalls of this idea?

It would save me a TV licence and all the best channels of freeview and freesat are available online. Only thing better would be Sky which I don't think is worth the money.
Click to expand...

Something like Windows Media Centre (either the XP version or the Vista version) would work well.

Not sure about a remote control for controlling 4OD/iPlayer etc. but all you'd do is set up Media Centre to monitor a particular folder (or multiple folders) where everything gets downloaded and it should work quite well.

I'm not sure on the remote control side of things really as I'm sure you'd want it to control Zattoo, iPlayer, 4OD etc. instead of a keyboard/mouse?
 
I stand corrected as the website says so...however I believe it's still a grey area. However I stand by the search function...
They have cleared up the "live" feeds bit...
 
Yeah, i always thought it was you need a license if you have equipment that is capable of picking up a live signal in its current state and you are using it to do so. So tv with no aerial and just a ps3 is fine but a personal video recorder recording stuff and saving it to watch later is still not as it records it as the programme is aired. Same with live internet based ones because you're receiving the live signal still.
 
Look at TunerFree MCE. Its a plug in for Vista Media Center. Can access things like iplayer from within media center and hence via a remote

Also what's your viewing distance/monitor size. This may have a bearing on browsing
 
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Zattoo includes "live broadcast" tv, including BBC1 etc, as its not timeshifted you do need a TV license to watch it within the UK. I believe TVCatchup also includes "live TV" and as such also includes the need to have a TV license.

iPlayer only shows selected "timeshifted / repeats", and therefor is not covered by the TV license (IE you dont need one to watch iPlayer).
 
the problem is the sellers pass the sale information about tv's onto the license people. then do they send a bill to your address listed eventually?
 
zophiel said:
the problem is the sellers pass the sale information about tv's onto the license people. then do they send a bill to your address listed eventually?
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That is why I said it's a grey area. The law stands as above, but I've been contacted after buying a freeview box from Argos, and a tv tuner card from somewhere else because the license wasn't in my name. Also see my post reference University taking tv license fees automatically, because they can't prove you won't watch tv, they presume you will and take the fees. A broadband connected pc is capable of watching live tv, so you will need to pay is how they see it. Also, you can goto bbc.co.uk and watch live feeds now, so once again, you will need to pay. I cannot see how you could possibly argue against this if you were pursued via the legal system, unless you got our whole access logs and proved beyond reasonable doubt that you never watched a live feed.
 
zophiel said:
the problem is the sellers pass the sale information about tv's onto the license people. then do they send a bill to your address listed eventually?
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TVL (TV Licensing) also have the nasty habit of sending threatening letters to random address that dont have a license, on the theory that "everyone" watches TV. If they do actually knock on the door and hear a TV playing, the game is up, unless your very quick headed.

Im pretty sure you can refuse entry to anyone who doesnt have a search warrent, so you can prevent them coming in if they are cold calling. And of course just because they can hear the TV, if you arnt watching live TV, they are just trying to decieve you into admitting you have no license. Your biggest enemy is your own guilt, a lot of people will start making lies and excuses when an authoritive figure starts making demands, sometimes even if they are innocent.

Regardless, in the UK TV licenses are legally required, regardless of the method used to watch TV.
 
3dcandy said:
That is why I said it's a grey area. The law stands as above, but I've been contacted after buying a freeview box from Argos, and a tv tuner card from somewhere else because the license wasn't in my name. Also see my post reference University taking tv license fees automatically, because they can't prove you won't watch tv, they presume you will and take the fees. A broadband connected pc is capable of watching live tv, so you will need to pay is how they see it. Also, you can goto bbc.co.uk and watch live feeds now, so once again, you will need to pay. I cannot see how you could possibly argue against this if you were pursued via the legal system, unless you got our whole access logs and proved beyond reasonable doubt that you never watched a live feed.
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You have things the wrong way round young man, The onus is on the TV licensing authority to prove beyond reasonable doubt that you have been watching a live TV feed. If you took them to court and simply said I only use my PC for games and surfing the net you would win unless they could prove otherwise.

The Univerity thats taking money direct from students for TV licensing is taking the mickey and being stupid, I would take it up with the students union as an unfair charge.
 
zophiel said:
the problem is the sellers pass the sale information about tv's onto the license people. then do they send a bill to your address listed eventually?
Click to expand...

They send threatening letters, but in the small print it says if you don't watch TV (live broadcast) then write a letter to them and they may send someone round to check. After that letters should stop.

Unless you watch live broadcasts you do not need a license and you can either ignore their threatening write to the TV licensing company
3dcandy said:
That is why I said it's a grey area. The law stands as above, but I've been contacted after buying a freeview box from Argos, and a tv tuner card from somewhere else because the license wasn't in my name. Also see my post reference University taking tv license fees automatically, because they can't prove you won't watch tv, they presume you will and take the fees. A broadband connected pc is capable of watching live tv, so you will need to pay is how they see it. Also, you can goto bbc.co.uk and watch live feeds now, so once again, you will need to pay. I cannot see how you could possibly argue against this if you were pursued via the legal system, unless you got our whole access logs and proved beyond reasonable doubt that you never watched a live feed.
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The shop has to tacke the info and has to pass that info on. You still don't need a license though.
 
AcidHell2 said:
Again that is wrong. You can own a tv without a license. How do people get so confused.

You only need a license if you watch or record live feeds. what equipment you own does not matter in the slightest.
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I wonder what the definition of a live feed is?

If there was something like a 10-15 minute delay on the feed; would you still require a TV licence?

If a service online streamed a TV show but 15 minutes behind realtime... would you need a licence to receive the show?

Bit of an odd train of thought I know. :p

AcidHell is spot on with the TV licencing notes so far by the way.
 
AcidHell2 said:
They send threatening letters, but in the small print it says if you don't watch TV (live broadcast) then write a letter to them and they may send someone round to check. After that letters should stop.
Click to expand...

It's not always as simple as that unfortunately, there are some real horror stories out there with genuine people who don't own a TV recieving these threatening letters etc...

We've been getting a few in the mail saying we don't have a TV licence when quite simply we do, and have proven multiple times that we pay... meh....
 
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