TV License-Remove Tuning Circuit from TV?

scoobsky

Hi All,

Hoping for some advice here please: I'm really angry at having to pay a TV license as I don't have an aerial or satellite dish. My TV is only for my PC and games console, and I don't have any way of receiving TV signals.
The TV licence inspector was around recently and says I have to pay the license fee anyway, but my question is, if I remove the tuning circuit from my TV, is it still considered a TV and do I still have to pay the license?

If I had any interest in RTE's sub-par service, I'm sure i wouldn't be so angry but I refuse to pay the Mrs. Brown tax and will go out and spend the money on a projector if I have to.

Thanks,
Scoobsky

The Cush

scoobsky wrote: »

The TV licence inspector was around recently and says I have to pay the license fee anyway, but my question is, if I remove the tuning circuit from my TV, is it still considered a TV and do I still have to pay the license?

Even with the tuner removed the TV can be used to display TV programmes via a scart/HDMI connected Saorview/satellite receivers.

From the Act

“ television set ” means any electronic apparatus capable of receiving and exhibiting television broadcasting services broadcast for general reception (whether or not its use for that purpose is dependent on the use of anything else in conjunction with it) and any software or assembly comprising such apparatus and other apparatus;

gctest50

The Cush wrote: »

Even with the tuner removed the TV can be used to display TV programmes via a scart/HDMI connected Saorview/satellite receivers.

From the Act

“ television set ” means any electronic apparatus capable of receiving and exhibiting television broadcasting services broadcast for general reception (whether or not its use for that purpose is dependent on the use of anything else in conjunction with it) and any software or assembly comprising such apparatus and other apparatus;

But if you don't have any Saorview/satellite tuner it should be ok ?

Say if you had no TV, no Saorsat, no satellite tuner but had one of these :

http://www.lg.com/za/47-inch-monitor ?

Shouldn't that make you not liable for "the Mrs. Brown tax"

scoobsky wrote: »

Hi All,

Hoping for some advice here please: I'm really angry at having to pay a TV license as I don't have an aerial or satellite dish. My TV is only for my PC and games console, and I don't have any way of receiving TV signals.
The TV licence inspector was around recently and says I have to pay the license fee anyway, but my question is, if I remove the tuning circuit from my TV, is it still considered a TV and do I still have to pay the license?

Would filling the antenna connector with solder be enough ?

- if you are converting say a 7 seater 4x4 to commercial it is enough to fill the seat-belt holes with weld

.

scoobsky

Yeah, I'm struggling with that part. Does that mean that if there is no tuner and no other devices attached then it is not a TV or does it mean that it's still a TV because other devices can be attached?
You could attach a digibox to a standard PC monitor, does that make the PC monitor a TV?

timetogo

scoobsky wrote: »

Hi All,

Hoping for some advice here please: I'm really angry at having to pay a TV license as I don't have an aerial or satellite dish. My TV is only for my PC and games console, and I don't have any way of receiving TV signals.
The TV licence inspector was around recently and says I have to pay the license fee anyway, but my question is, if I remove the tuning circuit from my TV, is it still considered a TV and do I still have to pay the license?

If I had any interest in RTE's sub-par service, I'm sure i wouldn't be so angry but I refuse to pay the Mrs. Brown tax and will go out and spend the money on a projector if I have to.

Thanks,
Scoobsky

I had the same idea a couple of years ago and contacted somebody in the licensing office. They said that a TV that was modified to remove the tuner could be modified to put the tuner back.

I had visions of explaining it to some bureaucrat and then to a judge and gave up.

scoobsky wrote: »

Mrs. Brown tax

I think Mrs Brown is a BBC programme.

The Cush

There's a thread in Broadcasting where that's been discussed many times no doubt - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055794011

timetogo

scoobsky wrote: »

You could attach a digibox to a standard PC monitor, does that make the PC monitor a TV?

No it doesn't make the monitor a TV but you need a license if you have any device that can receive a TV signal (aerial, Sky box,digibox too I'm guessing).

gctest50

timetogo wrote: »

I had the same idea a couple of years ago and contacted somebody in the licensing office. They said that a TV that was modified to remove the tuner could be modified to put the tuner back.

My point about filling the connector with solder is its there to be inspected at any time by the TV-licence inspector since inspections are not scheduled

- same as your converted 7 seater 4x4 - you could be stopped at a checkpoint at any time

.

gctest50

timetogo wrote: »

No it doesn't make the monitor a TV but you need a license if you have any device that can receive a TV signal (aerial, Sky box,digibox too I'm guessing).

Are the 42" 3D monitors any good ?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-FWD-42W800P-LCD-Monitor/dp/B00EF1G8R4/

if so ..... no more Paddy-Kenny-tax

Rachiee

It won't matter next year when they bring in the universal media charge. Which will cover internet and radio too

winston_1

People seem to get very upset about the TV licence but compared to all the other taxes we pay it is pretty insignificant.

HurtLocker

winston_1 wrote: »

People seem to get very upset about the TV licence but compared to all the other taxes we pay it is pretty insignificant.

All the little taxes add up.

GerardKeating

scoobsky wrote: »

Yeah, I'm struggling with that part. Does that mean that if there is no tuner and no other devices attached then it is not a TV or does it mean that it's still a TV because other devices can be attached?
You could attach a digibox to a standard PC monitor, does that make the PC monitor a TV?

In theory, if you replaced your TV with a computer Monitor then (assuming no Aerial/Dish on the house) you would not be liable to have a TV licence, but the mythical TV licence inspector will look in your eight story Window, see the "Monitor" and serve you a summons for having a TV.

Then you have to go to court, and hope the Judge understands (cares) about the legal distinction.

A licence would/might be cheaper than the hassle, if any event, as others have mentioned, they will eventually change so that you will be liable if you have a either a

• net connection
• cell phone,
• Wire Coat Hanger

Sam Russell

GerardKeating wrote: »

A licence would/might be cheaper than the hassle, if any event, as others have mentioned, they will eventually change so that you will be liable if you have a either a

• net connection
• cell phone,
• Wire Coat Hanger

You will be liable if you have a either a

• net connection
• cell phone,
• Wire Coat Hanger
• net curtain
• A carpet
• A washing machine
• Anything at all

The new tax/charge will be universal and apply to all households, whether they have electricity or not, television or not, internet or not. It will be universal - that is it applies to all.

gctest50

Sam Russell wrote: »

........The new tax/charge will be universal and apply to all households, whether they have electricity or not, television or not, internet or not. It will be universal - that is it applies to all.

It's a tax on (breathing) air then really ?

.

Sam Russell

You could say that - but we already have the property tax which is a tax on homes and gardens, water tax which is a tax on washing and flushing, so a tax on broadcasting is a tax on what goes through the air whether you can get it or not.

If we all have to pay, is that fair or not?

gctest50

I meant to post : it is a tax on ( breathing ) air

Sam Russell

gctest50 wrote: »

I meant to post : it is a tax on ( breathing ) air

It is a tax per household so if there are a lot in a house, they get great value compared to those that live alone. So no, it is not a tax on (breathing) air.

It may be a tax that is (unf)air.

Voyager II

And you can be sure that revenue will be collecting this tax, so no hope of avoiding it.:-(

Gerry Wicklow

When is the sunlight tax coming into effect?

loyatemu

Voyager II wrote: »

And you can be sure that revenue will be collecting this tax, so no hope of avoiding it.:-(

I wouldn't bet on it - An Post get a subsidy for collecting the current license, they won't want to lose that.

Sam Russell

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

When is the sunlight tax coming into effect?

The water tax is a rain tax.:D

styo

winston_1 wrote: »

People seem to get very upset about the TV licence but compared to all the other taxes we pay it is pretty insignificant.

if you don't use the service its a significant charge, amounting the value of the set in 4/5 years.

Sam Russell

styo wrote: »

if you don't use the service its a significant charge, amounting the value of the set in 4/5 years.

I have just bought an LG 40 inch HD for €299 so only two years worth of licence. But then again some pay nearly the full licence fee every two months over to Sky and the like.

styo

Sam Russell wrote: »

I have just bought an LG 40 inch HD for €299 so only two years worth of licence. But then again some pay nearly the full licence fee every two months over to Sky and the like.

Indeed, hard to keep track of dropping prices for decent sized TVs. You make the point very well.

icdg

We don't drag up old threads