dna23
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Registered: 1st Nov 04
Location: Northamptonshire
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I know you have to get a TV license if you're planning on using one of these computer TV thingys but... can they actually find you? I heard that their scanners or whatever can only detect a TV screen not a computer one and even then they only work horizontally not vertically so they can't find out what floor you are on.
Just wandering if anyone else has heard of this .etc
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Hammer
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Registered: 11th Feb 04
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its your house thats licensed so that would cover it?
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dna23
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Registered: 1st Nov 04
Location: Northamptonshire
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I'm at university now, in Halls so its different.
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Hammer
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Registered: 11th Feb 04
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ah right, is it in a communal area on in your own room?
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Ian
Site Administrator
Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
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They can detect CRT screens. They can also come in and look around.
I got another letter the other day to the Legal Occupier of my flat about fines and law crap, all of which only served to annoy me greatly as I've no means in which to receive TV here.
Tantamount to being called a liar.
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Hammer
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Registered: 11th Feb 04
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clicky
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dna23
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Registered: 1st Nov 04
Location: Northamptonshire
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Ian mine is a LCD monitor not CRT hence why I don't think they can detect it. What if they were to come in and look? If i have a receiver but its not plugged in and being run then surely they can't do anything?
Just trying to figure out how it all works.
Hammer - cheers for the info buddy I've had a look and know I need one just figuring out how they detect it .etc
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Ian
Site Administrator
Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
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I think the licence is to use the equipment not just own it.
Having said that, I'm sure if they sent you the bill you would have a hard time contesting it. Even if you hadn't actually ever used it and it was just sat on the desk I'm sure you would get done for it.
They write to me often enough and I really actually don't need one.
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
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They don't detect it.
They look at the computer and see if you have a licence.
If you don't they send you a letter just like Ian is getting.
Edit to say I would pay it.
Chances of getting caught are very slim but if you did its a lot of money for the fine.
[Edited on 30-09-2006 by John]
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dna23
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Registered: 1st Nov 04
Location: Northamptonshire
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quote:
Originally posted by John
They don't detect it.
They look at the computer and see if you have a licence.
If you don't they send you a letter just like Ian is getting.
Sorry mate don't get this, how do they look at the computer to see if it has a license  you mean they come round?
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
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No they look at their computer.
You need to give your name and address most of the time you buy any tv equipment.
They just check who has bought tv equipment with who has a tv licence.
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
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I'm sure they check halls as well do they not?
They're obviously going to get loads of people with no licence.
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dna23
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Registered: 1st Nov 04
Location: Northamptonshire
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Found out slightly more about how it works:
Every single item that contains a Tuner has to have the person who's buying it Name and Adress which is then forwarded to the TV Licensing Division. They use the evidence collected from these TV sales outlets and use detectors to 'zone in' on unlicenced homes where they deduce that a TV is being used.
A uni hall would probably also count for this due to the nature of students bringing TV's .etc
They use handheld detectors that work by detecting the TV tuner's local oscillator which always leaks a small amount of radiation back up the aerial. If they can't pick up the location of the oscillator in the house itself, they can confirm the fact that a TV is being watched by the stray emissions coming from your own aerial. Hopefully someone with formal electronic training can confirm or refute this.
Then there is the distinction between CRT and LCD/plasma displays. A CRT leaks RFI and also making a damn high-pitched whine sound. I don't know about anyone else, but I can tell when a TV is turned on in the house. LCD/plasma displays don't leak RFI in the same way and they don't make that high-pitched whine.
Most LCDs do however use a high frequency oscillator to run the backlight and could be detected that way but the equipment doesn't appear good enough to differ between room to room.
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JadeM
Premium Member
Registered: 9th Feb 06
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I thought there vans were set up with equipment to detect whether you were recieving a signal & can detect even if its through a PC!!
[Edited on 30-09-2006 by JadeM]
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
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They don't need any fancy equipment.
I'd say in at least 95% of cases if you don't have a tv licence you probably should.
Then there will be a few cases like Ians where they really don't have a tv.
I'm still sure halls are checked quite often.
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liveseytowers
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Registered: 18th Apr 05
Location: Blackburn
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I work for TVL so know a bit about all this. You can have a TV capable of receiving a signal and still not require a Licence. As long as its not tunned in then you don't need a Licence. If you have your PC at uni in halls and its not plugged into the ariel then I wouldnt worry about it. If someone does come round all you need to do is show them your PC/TV and that it isnt tuned in and there is nothing they can do about it. Which is fair enough if you aint watching TV on it!
I know that the enforcement teams focus on halls at this time of the year as there are loads of students who don't buy one when they should. There are ways around the system but in the end, if you are watching the TV then you might as well buy one as its not worth having a court case on your records.
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dna23
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Registered: 1st Nov 04
Location: Northamptonshire
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Thanks mate
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ChazSXi
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Registered: 26th Jan 03
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yeah the uni halls do get checked quite often...its a haven n seeing as they can fine stupid amounts...a days work going round the halls can net some decent money for them....just pay it...tis only like £100 a year!
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Dom
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Registered: 13th Sep 03
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Had to look into this all last year whilst staying at halls and ended up talking to someone that does law and from what i gather, they can't search your room without a warrant, and apparently they have gain warrants for the whole halls/campus (which never happens), and refuse them entry to your room without it!
Never knew if it was true or not, but did hear if from a few sources.....eitherway, plenty of people didnt get a TVL in halls and the threat letters were simply placed in bins 
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TheCrow
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Registered: 26th Apr 05
Location: Lincoln, UK
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I got away with one for two years by sending them letters saying my house was unoccupied, works a treat, but i think they twigged by me paying all the other bills.
So i gave up and just bought one.
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