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FAQ's About Digital TV What is the digital TV transition? What is the February 17th, 2009 DTV deadline date? What is digital television (DTV)? How will digital television be different than the current analog television? What is high definition TV (HDTV)? How is it different from analog television? Is HDTV the same thing as DTV? Once broadcasters transition from analog to digital, will analog televisions will be obsolete? What is the difference between integrated DTVs and DTV monitors? Will I need a special antenna to receive DTV over-the-air? What do DTV sets look like and what will they cost? Can I see a big difference between analog TV and DTV? How much better is the quality of HDTV than analog TV? What about my VCR, DVD player and camcorder? Will I be able to use them with an HDTV set? When will the DTV transition be complete?
Do I already have DTV via
digital cable or satellite? What is the digital TV transition?The
switch from analog TV (the traditional TV system using magnetic waves to
transmit and display TV pictures and sound) to digital television (the new
TV system using information transmitted as "data bits" -- like a computer
-- to display movie-quality pictures and sound), is referred to at the
digital TV (DTV) transition. In 1996, the U.S. Congress authorized the
distribution of an additional broadcast channel to each TV broadcaster so
that they could introduce DTV service while simultaneously continuing
their analog TV broadcasts. In addition to improved picture and sound
quality, an important benefit of DTV is that it will free up parts of the
broadcast spectrum for public safety as well as other valuable uses. This
is possible because the modern technology of DTV is more efficient than
analog TV technology. DTV allows the same number of stations to broadcast
using fewer total channels (less of the broadcast spectrum) which will
free up scarce and valuable spectrum for public safety and new wireless
services. What is the February 17th, 2009 DTV deadline date?Congress
passed a law on February 1, 2006, setting a final deadline for the DTV
transition of February 17, 2009. Most television stations will continue
broadcasting both analog and digital programming until February 17, 2009,
when all analog broadcasting will stop. Analog TVs receiving over-the-air
programming will still work after that date, but owners of these TVs will
need to buy converter boxes to change digital broadcasts into analog
format. Converter boxes will be available from consumer electronic
products retailers at that time. Cable and satellite subscribers with
analog TVs should contact their service providers about obtaining
converter boxes for the DTV transition. What is digital television (DTV)?Digital
television (DTV) is a new type of broadcasting technology that will
transform television as we now know it. By transmitting the information
used to make a TV picture and sound as "data bits" (like a computer), a
digital broadcaster can carry more information than is currently possible
with analog broadcast technology. For example, the technology allows the
transmission of pictures with higher resolution for dramatically better
picture and sound quality than currently available – called High
Definition Television (HDTV) - or the transmission of several "standard
definition" TV programs at once – called “multicasting.” "Standard
definition" digital TV pictures would be similar in clarity and detail to
the best TV pictures being received and displayed today using the current
analog broadcast system and TV receivers. DTV technology can also be used
to provide interactive video and data services that are not possible with
“analog” technology. What is analog television?Analog
television service is the traditional TV system. Analog television has
been the standard broadcast technology since the inception of television
using magnetic waves to transmit and display pictures and sound. The best
obtainable picture using analog television is of SDTV quality. Analog
broadcasting will continue until the end of the transition period, which
currently is set for February 17, 2009. Most television stations will
continue broadcasting both analog and digital programming until then.
How will digital television be different than the current analog television?DTV
allows a number of new and better services. With HDTV, broadcasters can
offer far higher resolution and picture quality than exists with Analog
technology. Or, they can offer several different TV programs at the same
time, with pictures and sound quality equal to or better than is generally
available today. In addition, broadcasters can simultaneously transmit a
variety of other information through a data bitstream to both enhance the
TV programming and to provide entirely new services. What is high definition TV (HDTV)? How is it different from analog television?HDTV is a
name given to two of the digital television (DTV) formats. HDTV provides
high resolution programming. A current analog TV picture is made up of
horizontal lines on the picture screen; an HDTV picture can have more than
twice as many lines, allowing for stunning picture detail. HDTV uses a
“widescreen format.” “Widescreen format” refers to an image's aspect
ratio, which is a comparison of screen width to screen height. Analog
television has an aspect ratio of 4 by 3, which means the screen is 4
units wide by 3 units high. The aspect ratio of HDTV is 16 by 9, similar
to a movie theater screen. HDTV programs can include Dolby Digital
surround sound, the same digital sound system used in many movie theaters
and DVDs. HDTV uses the same amount of bandwidth (the size of the
communications channel) as the current analog system, but with HDTV, about
six times more information is transmitted. This capability translates to
much better quality in picture and sound. Is HDTV the same thing as DTV?No. HDTV
is the highest quality of DTV, but it is only one of many formats. In
addition to HDTV, the most common formats are Standard Definition
Television (SDTV) and Enhanced Definition Television (EDTV). SDTV is the
baseline display and resolution for both analog and digital. Transmission
of SDTV may be in either the traditional (4:3) or wide-screen (16:9)
format. EDTV is a step up from Analog Television. EDTV comes in widescreen
(16:9) or traditional (4:3) format and provides better picture quality
than SDTV, but not as high as HDTV. Why are we switching to DTV?DTV is a
more flexible and efficient technology than the current analog system. For
example, rather than being limited to providing one “analog” programming
channel, a broadcaster will be able to provide a super sharp “high
definition” (HDTV) program or multiple “standard definition” DTV programs
simultaneously. Providing several program streams on one broadcast channel
is called “multicasting.” The number of programs a station can send on one
digital channel depends on the level of picture detail, also known as
“resolution,” desired in each programming stream. DTV can provide
interactive video and data services that are not possible with “analog”
technology. Converting to DTV will also free up parts of the scarce and
valuable broadcast airwaves. Those portions of the airwaves can then be
used for other important services, such as advanced wireless and public
safety services (for example, police, fire departments, and rescue
squads). Once broadcasters transition from analog to digital, will analog televisions will be obsolete?No. Set-top boxes which convert digital signals to analog signals are available now and will continue to be available at lower prices to consumers as the transition progresses. However, to enjoy the full benefits of Digital TV, including superior sound and clarity, you must own a Digital TV set. An analog television, with the addition of a set-top box, will still allow viewers to enjoy all of the programming they have always enjoyed. How do I get DTV or HDTV?Receiving
the DTV and HDTV signals over-the-air requires an antenna and a new DTV
receiver that can decode the digital signals. In general, an antenna that
provides quality reception of over-the-air analog TV signals will work for
DTV reception. If you are a cable or satellite customer, you may need a
set-top box to receive DTV signals and convert them into the format of
your current analog television, even after the DTV transition is complete.
A DTV set-top box also may receive multicast channels and high definition
programming and display them in analog picture quality. Check with your
cable or satellite provider to determine if and when you will need a
set-top box. A listing of the operational DTV stations is available at
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonair.html. Satellite TV providers
and most cable systems are currently offering DTV programming. Subscribers
should check with their service providers to see what programming is
available in their area. What is the difference between integrated DTVs and DTV monitors?An
Integrated DTV set is a digital television with a built-in digital decoder
or DTV receiver. If you have an Integrated DTV and live in an area served
by a DTV broadcast station, you will not need any additional equipment,
with the exception of an antenna (preferably an outdoor antenna) to
receive over-the-air DTV broadcast programming. Integrated TVs can usually
receive and display current analog signals. In contrast, a DTV monitor is
not capable of receiving DTV broadcast programming without additional
equipment; it is simply a display device without the processing capability
for DTV reception. A DTV set-top decoder must be connected between the
antenna and the monitor to receive and display over-the-air DTV
programming. Confirm with your retailer that the DTV receiver or set-top
decoder is compatible with the DTV monitor that you are purchasing. Most
monitors have a built in analog receiver and can display regular analog TV
programming. They can also display standard resolution video from DVD
players and VCRs. Will I need a special antenna to receive DTV over-the-air?In general, dependable reception of DTV will require the same type of signal reception equipment that currently works to provide good quality reception of analog TV signals. If you now need a roof-top antenna to receive television, the same antenna generally will be needed to receive DTV. Will I need a new TV?Your current television will work as it does now until analog broadcasting stops. Under federal law, analog service will continue until most homes (85%) in an area are able to watch the DTV programming. Even after the transition is over, your current TV will not become obsolete. A converter box can be used to receive broadcast DTV signals and change them into the format of your current television. In addition, if you use your analog set with a multichannel pay service like cable or satellite, it will continue to work as it always has. Even with a converter box, however, your current analog television will not be capable of displaying the full picture quality of DTV. To enjoy the full picture quality, you must have a DTV set. Subscribers to cable and DBS services should contact their providers regarding converter boxes for those services. What do DTV sets look like and what will they cost?Most DTV
sets have wider, more rectangular screens than current analog TVs. This
widescreen format allows for images that are more like those shown in a
movie theater. Like current TV sets, a range of sizes is available. As
with most new consumer electronics technologies, DTV sets have become less
expensive since their introduction. Prices are expected to continue to
decrease over time and will vary depending on screen size, display
technology, and other features. For more information see the chart on
Digital Television Types. Can I see a big difference between analog TV and DTV?Yes. Viewers cannot ignore the dramatic improvements offered by the DTV conversion. Visually, HDTV captures viewers with crystal clear resolution and razor sharp detail. Individual hairs, labels on footballs and the subtle effect of wind blowing through grass are all clearly visible through HDTV. Also, the detailed resolution and color provides an image akin to movie-theater screens. Combined with the capacity to deliver enhanced Dolby Digital surround sound, HDTV produces an advanced home theater effect. DTV provides viewers with sharper images, better sound, and more viewing options than have ever been available over the air. How much better is the quality of HDTV than analog TV?Currently, television pictures are made up of lines that are scanned horizontally. HDTV pictures are created by scanning up to twice as many lines. This resolution and other technical factors improve the sharpness of the pictures, allowing you to read on your television screen small text commonly seen on your computer. HDTV sets have wider, movie-theater like screens that more closely resemble human peripheral vision, making it more natural to watch. What about my VCR, DVD player and camcorder? Will I be able to use them with an HDTV set?HDTV sets
are “backward compatible,” meaning existing analog equipment (VCRs, DVD
players, camcorders, video games, etc.) will work on digital TV sets, but
not in high definition. Their video will be displayed in the maximum
resolution that is available with each product. When will the DTV transition be complete?The final transition is February 2009. At that point, broadcasting the current “analog” channels will end and that spectrum will be put to other uses. Until the transition to DTV is complete, television stations will continue broadcasting on both their digital and analog channels. Do I already have DTV via digital cable or satellite?You may
have DTV if you subscribe to the digital package and get digital
programming, often described as HDTV. But the digital cable tier and
satellite service are not necessarily DTV. Your cable or satellite system
may be using digital technology as a more efficient way of delivering
analog programming to you. If you have an analog television set, then you
are probably not getting DTV, even though the reception may be somewhat
improved. Check with your cable or satellite provider to find out for
sure. |
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