1060 Television and Radio query

I can't answer your digital TV question but I'm fairly certain you can only get BBC World Service with a Short Wave tuner. I have tried to pick this up for football results when on my travels (not just to Italy) and only succeeded with a SW radio.

Have a look at the BBC web site for tuning details ref. radio, not sure how to help with digital TV, sorry... but, if you use the search button at top of page, there has been plenty of discussion ref. TV reception.

[QUOTE=CasaBianca]Also, it is possible to pick up the BBC world service on a FM tuner, as we can't find it?[/QUOTE]
The simple answer is no. FM (VHF) is really limited to line of sight plus a little bit so the chances of picking up the BBC World Service on FM in Italy is zilch, zip, nada. To span the distance from the UK to Italy you need to listen on shortwave and the World Service is broadcast on several shortwave bands. However the BBC did announce a few years back that it didn't intend to keep broadcasting the World Service on shortwave to Europe, so even that may only be a short term measure.

We use a Worldspace satellite radio to pick up the World Service in Italy. This uses a small aerial (about 3x3 inches) to pick up satellite transmissions and can work as a portable radio. But it's [b]not[/b] a Sky satellite receiver. See [url]http://www.worldspace.com/[/url] or more details. The receivers are now getting pretty compact and relatively cheap. They have been used by sailors for over a decade because they give coverage all over the world.

FWIW, I particularly like the African radio stations which broadcast some excellent music. We used to listen to Italian RDS in the UK, but they stopped broadcasting on Worldspace a couple of years ago :(

Alternatively you can tune into the world service via the internet at [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/[/url]

Ohh, as far as the TV goes, why not contact the manufacturer and simply ask for instruction reference the changes necessary???

We were told to buy a cheap video recorder here in Italy and put the aerial signal into that, then connect the video to your TV via a SCART lead and it would work.

Haven't tried it because our UK TV works fine as it is.

[QUOTE=Penny]We were told to buy a cheap video recorder here in Italy and put the aerial signal into that, then connect the video to your TV via a SCART lead and it would work.

Haven't tried it because our UK TV works fine as it is.[/QUOTE]

Hi Penny,

What brand and model is your TV ? Do you know if the person who told you to buy a cheap video recorder and connect your TV to it via the scart lead actually got it working ? Do you think a cheap DVD player will do the trick ?

Recently my TV broke down and I had it replaced by a one of those fancy new flat screen TVs by my insurance company. I've had this new one for only 3 months. Everyone I ask tells me that a UK TV does not work in Italy, unless I have it modified, and that will cost almost the same price as buying another one.

I really don't want to sell it - I know I'm not going to get anywhere near what it's worth. (I'm still in the UK, and moving to Le Marche early December).

Thanks for your advice,
Daniela

If you're using any kind of satellite receiver, or a digital terrestrial set-top box, connected to your TV with a SCART cable (the thick cable with a 21-pin plug) then it should work fine. The problem comes if you try to use an old-fashioned arial straight into the telly - what happens is that you normally get the picture, but not the sound. A good engineer should be able to adjust it though. He might even do it free.... if you're a babe with a Harley ;-)

Harleybabe, it is a SONY. I don't know if the make matters too much. It has to be a video you plug in as only a video has an aerial "IN" point. (unless you have a DVD recorder....).

We did not need to have out TV modified at all.

Where abouts are you going in Le Marche?

[QUOTE=lotaresco]
We use a Worldspace satellite radio to pick up the World Service in Italy. This uses a small aerial (about 3x3 inches) to pick up satellite transmissions and can work as a portable radio.
([/QUOTE]

We have been a bit dissapointed with Worldspace that promised great thing at the start. Some of the most interesting channels have stopped broadcasting or are now subscription services.

[QUOTE=Marc]If you're using any kind of satellite receiver, or a digital terrestrial set-top box, connected to your TV with a SCART cable (the thick cable with a 21-pin plug) then it should work fine. The problem comes if you try to use an old-fashioned arial straight into the telly - what happens is that you normally get the picture, but not the sound. A good engineer should be able to adjust it though. He might even do it free.... if you're a babe with a Harley ;-)[/QUOTE]

Ahhh - great news - thanks for that Marc.

:D LOL with regards to the "babe with a Harley" bit... Remember that "Non e' bello cio' che e' bello... E' bello solo a chi piace" (or something like that...). With my luck, I'll probably find an engineer who is totally adverse to women who ride 1400cc Harleys. But I'll let you know.....

[QUOTE=Penny]Harleybabe, it is a SONY. I don't know if the make matters too much. It has to be a video you plug in as only a video has an aerial "IN" point. (unless you have a DVD recorder....).

We did not need to have out TV modified at all.

Where abouts are you going in Le Marche?[/QUOTE]

Hi Penny - Great, THANKS for that. We'll definitely give it a go now.

We are looking around the San Ginesio, Amandola, Monterubbiano areas (in that sort of triangle area). We're moving on the 2nd December to a rented property in Mogliano for a few months while we look for the property we want to buy.

Where are you ?

Daniela

We are between Amandola and Servigliano in Montefalcone Appennino (well just outside the village). Good luck with the house hunting. There is stillplenty of choice!