TV detector vans and laptops

[MigX]

you know that there is foreign sites that transmit the games.
and as tv licence is only for bbc broadcasting you dont have to worry if you have... lets say. a satelite receiver from portugal...

[lestag]

All a TV licence is is a tax.
These days, considering "everyone" has a TV, why doesn't some bright spark in government abolish the licence and fund BBC from general tax. It would sure cut the cost of administering it.

[trooperiziz]

ShadownINja said:

trooperiziz said:

ShadownINja said:

The only way of proving you don't watch live TV is by making sure the TV, when switched on, shows grey fuzz, or goes immediately to the Playstation.

Good job you don't need to prove that you don't watch TV then They have to prove that you do...

Quite easy. They ask you to turn on the TV. Oh, look, TV shows. I suppose at that point even if you never watched it but left it tuned in, you're watching it there and then.

They ask you to turn on the tv, you say no, they say go on, you say no and get off my property, they go away.

[smack]

darth_pies said:

Some interesting research into the existence - or not - of detector vans.

http://www.bbctvlicence.com/Detector%20vans.htm

Seems like pure propaganda worthy of any third world dictatorship....why has nobody ever called them out on it?

From a friend who worked for TV Licencing years ago, yes it is BS.

Anyhow, if you think it is right to pay, well pay. If you don't, then just play the game, and there is FA they can do.

[The_Jackal]

Is this thread really a load of grown adults, that are arguing the toss over paying £145 a year to watch TV?
I expect most of you piss more than that down the bog in a month.
What are you trying to prove and to who?

[Rusty Arches]

The_Jackal said:

Is this thread really a load of grown adults, that are arguing the toss over paying £145 a year to watch TV?

No, I suggest you read it again.

[B160 AVE]

We`ve just done a fair bit of research into this and it would appear that you can watch it on a laptop without a licence providing it is only powered by the battery. As soon as you plug the power lead in, you need a licence!! (so just turn it off when you charge the battery and then unplug it when you want to watch something) HTH

[V8mate]

B160 AVE said:

We`ve just done a fair bit of research into this and it would appear that you can watch it on a laptop without a licence providing it is only powered by the battery. As soon as you plug the power lead in, you need a licence!! (so just turn it off when you charge the battery and then unplug it when you want to watch something) HTH

I'd love to see the evidence for your 'research'.

It's very simple. If you watch or record something live, as it is broadcast, you need a licence.

If you watch it from another source, e.g. an internet 'catch-up' site, you don't.

[Nolar Dog]

B160 AVE said:

We`ve just done a fair bit of research into this and it would appear that you can watch it on a laptop without a licence providing it is only powered by the battery. As soon as you plug the power lead in, you need a licence!! (so just turn it off when you charge the battery and then unplug it when you want to watch something) HTH

Comings soon: Research into mythical pink dragons. For fks sake man. Shut up about things you don't understand.

[pacman1]

^Aww, c'mon guys, give the newbie a break, he might have a point, you know. If the laptop is on battery power does it not become 'mobile'? He could also be getting a wifi signal from his neighbour's property, which has a license.. or does the laptop need to be away from the premises?

Edited by pacman1 on Friday 11th June 09:15

[V8mate]

Please stop. You're making the baby Jesus cry.

[pacman1]

V8mate said:

Please stop. You're making the baby Jesus cry.

shhhhh..

[marshalla]

B160 AVE said:

We`ve just done a fair bit of research into this and it would appear that you can watch it on a laptop without a licence providing it is only powered by the battery. As soon as you plug the power lead in, you need a licence!! (so just turn it off when you charge the battery and then unplug it when you want to watch something) HTH

This does seem to be the case - as long as the receiver is battery powered and you have a valid licence at some address, then you're OK (in the eyes of TVL) - I wonder what it means for those who use a TV, which is plugged in, in a caravan which is connected to a mains hook-up though ?

[B160 AVE]

Nolar Dog said:

B160 AVE said:

We`ve just done a fair bit of research into this and it would appear that you can watch it on a laptop without a licence providing it is only powered by the battery. As soon as you plug the power lead in, you need a licence!! (so just turn it off when you charge the battery and then unplug it when you want to watch something) HTH

Comings soon: Research into mythical pink dragons. For fks sake man. Shut up about things you don't understand.

Ok, you obviously know more about it than me, but it`s there in black and white on their website, we even rang up to confirm and they said yes, if it`s a battery operated device requiring no external power, you are covered under your home tv licence. If you have to plug it in to gain a power source you require a new licence. We are in the process of opening a trade counter and are putting tv in there, so did all this last week to confirm. Believe me or not, I`m not that bothered, just thought it might help as we spent hours researching it last week!

[rpguk]

V8mate said:

B160 AVE said:

We`ve just done a fair bit of research into this and it would appear that you can watch it on a laptop without a licence providing it is only powered by the battery. As soon as you plug the power lead in, you need a licence!! (so just turn it off when you charge the battery and then unplug it when you want to watch something) HTH

I'd love to see the evidence for your 'research'.

It's very simple. If you watch or record something live, as it is broadcast, you need a licence.

If you watch it from another source, e.g. an internet 'catch-up' site, you don't.

I suspect he is referring to the licence allowing usage of portable equipment under your existing home licence (for example you don't need a licence for a motorhome or to use one of those old handheld TV's while out and about - the one time I did see one it was totally useless mind)

It would appear that he might actually be right and once it's plugged in it becomes 'installed' in the premises and the premises requires a licence.

I think this still requires the owner to have a licence at home and I doubt the argument has been tested.

Either way, as I said before if the TVL come knocking tell them to ps off or ignore them.

[Jayzee]

Regarding using a TV for games consoles - if it has a tuner fitted capable of receiving BBC signals, you must pay the licence fee. If you can prove that you do not have a tuner fitted to the screen, then this could be argued.

iPlayer - you cannot get iPlayer outside of the UK, and I'm assuming this is because it is assumed that as a UK resident in the UK, you have paid your licence fee.

I think it is generally accepted by the licencing people that every UK household has a screen with a tuner built in to receive broadcasts.

I had a big argument with those feckers a few years back regading the business premises I was renting. The previous occupants had a roof aerial fitted, so they naturally assumed we were using it too. In the end I had to prove that all the terminations going to the sockets had been cut!

We sorted that one, then the performing rights feckers had a go for using a radio in the workshop. I'm sure these departments talk to each other...

[OllieC]

lestag said:

All a TV licence is is a tax.
These days, considering "everyone" has a TV, why doesn't some bright spark in government abolish the licence and fund BBC from general tax. It would sure cut the cost of administering it.

EFA

[Rusty Arches]

Jayzee said:

We sorted that one, then the performing rights feckers had a go for using a radio in the workshop. I'm sure these departments talk to each other...

Which is why you should never comply or even enter into discussion with them.

[B160 AVE]

rpguk said:

V8mate said:

B160 AVE said:

We`ve just done a fair bit of research into this and it would appear that you can watch it on a laptop without a licence providing it is only powered by the battery. As soon as you plug the power lead in, you need a licence!! (so just turn it off when you charge the battery and then unplug it when you want to watch something) HTH

I'd love to see the evidence for your 'research'.

It's very simple. If you watch or record something live, as it is broadcast, you need a licence.

If you watch it from another source, e.g. an internet 'catch-up' site, you don't.

I suspect he is referring to the licence allowing usage of portable equipment under your existing home licence (for example you don't need a licence for a motorhome or to use one of those old handheld TV's while out and about - the one time I did see one it was totally useless mind)

It would appear that he might actually be right and once it's plugged in it becomes 'installed' in the premises and the premises requires a licence.

I think this still requires the owner to have a licence at home and I doubt the argument has been tested.

Either way, as I said before if the TVL come knocking tell them to ps off or ignore them.

Bingo!! You`ve hit the nail on the head chum, cheers

[trooperiziz]

Jayzee said:

Regarding using a TV for games consoles - if it has a tuner fitted capable of receiving BBC signals, you must pay the licence fee.

OH FFS, do people not even read the tv licencing website, this bullst just gets repeated every single time in these threads.

Direct quote from http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one...

"You need to be covered by a valid TV Licence if you watch or record TV as it's being broadcast. This includes the use of devices such as a computer, laptop, mobile phone or DVD/video recorder."

Purely owning a TV with a tuner is not enough.