TV detector vans
In the UK we have to pay an annual license fee if we own a telly. In return we (supposedly) get top quality, commercial-free programming from the BBC.
However, to make sure everyone pays their license fee, detector vans drive round with little aerials on top apparently detecting who's watching unlicensed tellies.
I'm told, by a good authority, that this is purely scare tactics as there is no way a signal can be picked up from a receiving device, which after all a TV is.
I think they work on the assumption that everyone owns one and they just work their way through a database of homes that don't have licenses, then go round and try on the 'we-detected-you-watching-television-but-you-don't-have-a-license' thing.
Any thoughts?
However, to make sure everyone pays their license fee, detector vans drive round with little aerials on top apparently detecting who's watching unlicensed tellies.
I'm told, by a good authority, that this is purely scare tactics as there is no way a signal can be picked up from a receiving device, which after all a TV is.
I think they work on the assumption that everyone owns one and they just work their way through a database of homes that don't have licenses, then go round and try on the 'we-detected-you-watching-television-but-you-don't-have-a-license' thing.
Any thoughts?
Comments
I know that the UK BSA drives "pirate software detector" vans around England, but then I'd expect that from them.
Scare people into thinking they might be caught, and they will obey. You don't have to watch them all the time, but if you could be watching anytime, they will be obedient.
They can spy what TV emission you watch and more they can even spy your cathodic computer screen and read it.
However they cannot control LCD screen .LCD screen do not product such emissions and thus cannot be detected.
If you don't want to pay the tax : buy a LCD or plasma TV.
Originally posted by Powerdoc
TV detectors vans works unfortunately. The TV tuner is a recieving device, but the screen (the tube) is an emetting one.
They can spy what TV emission you watch and more they can even spy your cathodic computer screen and read it.
However they cannot control LCD screen .LCD screen do not product such emissions and thus cannot be detected.
If you don't want to pay the tax : buy a LCD or plasma TV.
Woah! Scary stuff.
Potentially this must impinge on various privacy laws.
Originally posted by PaulP
[B]In the UK we have to pay an annual license fee if we own a telly. In return we (supposedly) get top quality, commercial-free programming from the BBC.
B]
Chr..st you poor bastard...I lived in the Uk for years, 80's & I thought they dumped that tax..or at least they were thinking of it.....
...Why don't you migrate to OZ..
We got rid of that bullshit 30 years ago....
.
Besides which you won't have to just watch the aussie soap on telly..
You could be living it for real with a beach & all the beer you want for next to nothing....
F..ck-em....
Originally posted by PaulP
Woah! Scary stuff.
Potentially this must impinge on various privacy laws.
I have to precise that even if they can spy your computer, it's not their job and it's strictly forbidden.
Originally posted by Powerdoc
I have to precise that even if they can spy your computer, it's not their job and it's strictly forbidden.
At least it is covert.....
9/11 changed everything....so I work on the basis that my computer is being read all the time......such is life...Thanx.... Osama you rat arse...
Originally posted by aquafire
Chr..st you poor bastard...I lived in the Uk for years, 80's & I thought they dumped that tax..or at least they were thinking of it.....
...Why don't you migrate to OZ..
We got rid of that bullshit 30 years ago....
.
Besides which you won't have to just watch the aussie soap on telly..
You could be living it for real with a beach & all the beer you want for next to nothing....
F..ck-em....
Yeah, but you've got big spiders and sharks and things!
Originally posted by GardenOfEarthlyDelights
Is there any differences between a computer CRT and a tv? If not, hook up that old Commodor 64/Amiga 1500 to the back of the tv, and tell them it's a computer monitor.
Unfortunately, they've wised up to that one. The license is for ownership of the TV and not just the receiving of programmes.
Even if they can pick up signals from TV's they need to triangulate it and pinpoint exactly where it is located. Then they need to correlate that data with house locations and finally check against a database to see if that house has a license for a television.
Why not just skip all the technology and visit any house without a TV licence. After all, everyone has a TV these days so anyone without a licence is immediately suspicious.
----
On another note, the TV license is a very regressive tax (which is *bad*) and results in many poor people being put in jail for non-payment.
New schemes that make it easier to pay in stages are a step in the right direction but really there should be a portion of money set aside from general tax revenue.
For me personally however the licence is money well spent as I get a great benefit out of it despite basically never watching TV.
Originally posted by stupider...likeafox
I've always thought that this was BS and, with all due respect to PowerDoc, still think so.
...
Why not just skip all the technology and visit any house without a TV licence. After all, everyone has a TV these days so anyone without a licence is immediately suspicious.
In Germany, they go around knocking on doors auditing people for tvs and radios.
Originally posted by PaulP
Unfortunately, they've wised up to that one. The license is for ownership of the TV and not just the receiving of programmes.
Then run After Dark screen savers of fish, and call it an aquarium. Or use lead-based paints in your living room to shield the tv. Of fill you house with radon, to discourage them from coming in and checking for a tv.
Originally posted by GardenOfEarthlyDelights
Then run After Dark screen savers of fish, and call it an aquarium. Or use lead-based paints in your living room to shield the tv. Of fill you house with radon, to discourage them from coming in and checking for a tv.
Actually I'm a good, wholesome, law-abiding citizen and pay my license fee. But for future reference, and for my less-wholesome friends, I've made a mental note of the lead-based paints idea
But when they fropped the vans they almost publicly admitted that they hadn´t worked and they had always used lists...
Whacky.
Now, Scottish police shows freak me out. They're so overly complicated that I still don't know what happened even as I 'm watching the credits roll. McTaggart owes me a lot of explanations. A lot.
Maybe they should tax those MORE.
(I'm of Scottish descent btw, don't think of flaming)