| Digital TV is on it's way. Do you know what you need | | | | As with most things in today's modern society Digital |
| to do? Are you prepared? Find your answers here. | | | | Television comes in a couple of quality levels:- |
| Your traditional television is known as an analog | | | | Standard Definition TV (SDTV) - This is the basic level |
| (analogue) television. It works by encoding the picture | | | | of digital television transmission. It has a quality similar to |
| and sound information as an analog signal. The picture | | | | today's analog TV; |
| on an analog television is drawn on the screen one | | | | Enhanced Definition TV (EDTV) - This gives a better |
| entire frame at a time. The analog signals are | | | | level of quality and includes Dolby digital surround |
| transmitted continuously even if there is no new | | | | sound; |
| information to send. | | | | High Definition TV (HDTV) - This as the name |
| A digital television receives information as a digital | | | | suggests gives the best quality digital picture and Dolby |
| signal. This is an entirely new technology and will | | | | digital surround sound. |
| eventually replace the analog television system. | | | | Currently, most TV stations in America are |
| The digital signals are transmitted using computer code, | | | | broadcasting digital and analog. This means that you |
| which consist entirely of ones and zeroes. This is a | | | | can view your favourite TV shows no matter what |
| difficult concept to perceive but it works. Digital signals | | | | type of TV you have. However, after the 17th |
| are much more efficient, result in less interference and | | | | February 2009 the full-power TV stations will no longer |
| therefore it provides a better quality picture and sound | | | | be able to broadcast in analog. |
| than analog. | | | | And if you have an analog TV you will not be able to |
| Another significant feature of digital television is that is | | | | view the shows unless you obtain a separate |
| uses a significantly smaller channel bandwidth. This | | | | digital-to-analog converter box or a new digital TV. |
| means there is more 'space' for other digital channels | | | | The National Telecommunications and Information |
| which will allow other non-television services such as | | | | Administration (NTIA) will sometime at the start of |
| pay-multimedia services, multicasting (more than one | | | | 2008, issue qualifying households with $40 coupons |
| program on the same channel), electronic program | | | | towards the purchase of a converter box. For more |
| guides and interactivity to be used at the same time. | | | | information on how to qualify go to |
| Whilst digital television often has superior audio quality, | | | | Bear in mind though, that an analog TV connected to a |
| image, and reception than analog, it is still in the early | | | | digital converter box will display the digital broadcasts |
| stages of development and there are still many | | | | but not in full digital quality. |
| advances needed. | | | | |