I live in a block of flats and my tv operated off a communal aerial. Will everyone in the block have to watch the same programme, or will set top boxes in each flat decode the digital signal?
Provided that the aerial system serving the block of flats is capable of accessing the Digital Terrestrial signal; and provided each flat has its own set-top box, then each will be able to watch the programmes of their choice. It is exactly the same as for individual households: an appropriate aerial and set-top box is required in order to receive Digital Terrestrial Television. It is only where more than one television set is run off a single set-top box that determines the same programme delivered to each set. As to the aerial system itself, this is not an easy one to answer. For communal, usually smaller, aerial systems that do not translate channels and do not include filters, the digital signal will be able to get through. Larger and some of the newer systems quite often translate the channels. Older installations will not pass digital in the main. In truth the only way to answer this query is to refer to the supplier/maintainer or the landlord.
