TV Detector people?

No.

There is no such thing as 'TV Detector Vans', it was a myth created by someone! It's all done on address and databases as another answer stated.

We used to constantly get letters saying the upstairs flat hasn't got a TV licence, there was no TV upstairs and no flat! Since 1986 the flats were converted into a house, each time they sent a letter, we sent a reply, but no one has ever come to check up on it or query it. We lived in that house for 19 years, so I wouldn't worry about anything to do with the TV license people, though you should have one!

As for the vans...yes your TV does give off various frequencies of EM radiation, so does every other electronic device, but the signals are so weak, they are indistinguishable with general background radiation especially if they are out on the road!

No, the signal that they detect is a superhet frequency given out by your tuner. you cannot shield it, but it is not present when the set is on standby.

If you are connected to a seperate digibox, or VCR - or basically, anything else with a TV tuner in it - they can get a signal, even if the TV is turned off

if they have a valid reason to believe that you are using a TV (ie a satellite dish on the wall, or an external aerial. they can get a warrent to search the premises.

It is not a good idea to try and get by without a licence, they will get you in the end

Do you think they just cruise round an area, detect signals and then check to see if you have a licence?

Wrong.

They have all the addresses of everyone who has not paid and they will sit in a covert little place waiting for the signal to come from your house...then they've got you!

A small, hand held portable device is all it takes, so just pay your licence fee. (Although it grieves me to do it as well!)

Who is going to invent the TV that does not pick up BBC channels? Look at all the others we can watch now!

It's more to do with 'databases' than 'detector vans' now....... I'm not sure about the hand-held device, but I do know that if a propertys' details shows that there is no licence at that address, then they will do their best to check if you have a TV or not. :)

Yes. The only way is to unplug it so that there is no radiation from it at all. Pay your licence and not leave it to the rest of us. They know that there is no licence registered at your address so they only need to knock and they have right of entry if there is even the slimmest chance of a TV being in the flat/house.

Sounds to me as though you don't have a licence!

Remember this Government can track you down easily if you don't but a TV licence or tax your car, you just can't get away with it.

Murder, robbery rape, child abuse, now they spend far less on these solving crimes!

the tv detector van was scrapped years ago its all on computers now.

Pay the fee you stupid fraudster!

Yup - there is no escaping them.

well yes there no escape them