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TV Licence question

  • 15-11-2019 02:25PM
    #1
    SlowBlowin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,889 ✭✭✭


    Hi

    I have not watched TV at home for about 7 years.

    I have paid the licence for the last 7 years, I just never thought about cancelling it.

    This year I decided to stop paying, a couple of months ago. I have just had the chase letter and was filling it out.

    We have 2 TVs in the house, which are both connected only to computers and the CCTV system. As I understand it the law says "The licence must be paid for any premises that has any equipment that can potentially decode TV signal".

    My question is, as I am not bad with a soldering iron can I remove the tuner circuit and connector from the TV, so it is not capable connecting via anything other than HDMI. This makes it the same as a PC monitor.

    This question is not driven by the need to be some sort of rebel, more the price of large (48") monitors which are massively expensive (cost over 1000 for both), and not needed for our requirements.

    I know there will be lots of "just pay the 160", but as I am retired and have already paid over a grand I didn't need to, every penny counts, and I am happy to do the mods, keep the parts to show the inspector.

    Are then any precedents ?


Comments

  • #2
    Robbo
    Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 10,647 Mod ✭✭✭✭Robbo


    SlowBlowin wrote: »
    Are then any precedents ?
    If by precedents you mean judgments of the Superior Courts relating to the technical aspects of the licencing legislation, no.

    If you do a search, you'll find many other threads on this forum where people posit Rube-Goldberg devices that may or may not circumvent the requirement for a TV licence, some from the last fortnight.


  • #3
    SlowBlowin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,889 ✭✭✭SlowBlowin


    OK thanks, thats what I was really after if any one knew there was a precedent for modifying equipment..

    I think I am going to answer no TVs on the form I have and modify the sets and photograph/film it and keep the tuners, saves me the most money.


  • #4
    SlowBlowin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,889 ✭✭✭SlowBlowin


    Wow, it really needs its own dedicated area, amazed how many people are asking broadly the same question, feel better so many people are doing the same.


  • #5
    coylemj
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,035 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    SlowBlowin wrote: »
    Wow, it really needs its own dedicated area.....

    It does. And it has. A sticky thread which is permanenly glued (hence 'sticky') to the top of the Broadcasting forum....

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=58


  • #6
    SlowBlowin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,889 ✭✭✭SlowBlowin


    coylemj wrote: »
    It does. And it has. A sticky thread which is permanenly glued (hence 'sticky') to the top of the Broadcasting forum....

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=58

    But as my question is about legal precedent does it not belong in the legal forum ?

    If not, then do car legal questions belong in the motoring forum and legal questions about gun murders in the shooting forum ?

    Anyway as no one seems to know, I am going to do the mods and find out.


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  • #7
    SlowBlowin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,889 ✭✭✭SlowBlowin


    I found this thread from 10 years ago (in the legal forum):

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=63476088

    Anyone know if this advice below is still correct ?

    "your TV has to be decommissioned by a certified electrical engineer and you get a certificate from him saying it is no longer capable of receiving TV signals."

    Note: Mods if you feel this thread should be in broadcasting, I didn't initially, then please move it.


  • #8
    coylemj
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,035 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    SlowBlowin wrote: »
    But as my question is about legal precedent does it not belong in the legal forum ?

    If not, then do car legal questions belong in the motoring forum and legal questions about gun murders in the shooting forum ?

    Anyway as no one seems to know, I am going to do the mods and find out.

    Yes, you make a fair point. But there are lots of areas of discussion where a specialised forum will delve into associated legal issues - marital breakdown and divorce, motoring offences, firearms, public order issues etc. and not all of them will be aired in the Legal Discussion forum.

    There is a thread about the TV Licence over in Brodcasting, it's getting on for 10 years old and has >1,500 posts so I assume that the various mods have at this stage considered that that is the most appropriate home for it. You can make a case that it should be in any one of other fora - Legal, Terrrestrial, TV (General) and so on, there is no definitive answer.


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