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