Digital TV vs HD TV I am confused

[chirurgeon]

Are these the same thing? If not, what is the difference? I am so confused about these things. I don't have an HD tv. Yet. My regular one works just fine right now and I haven't seen a super good financing offer (i.e. 1 year same as cash) so I don't see a new TV in the relative near future.

I figured one or two of my friends might be able to help with my confusion.

Kim

 

[luke]

Not to sure how it works in the US, but here digital TV is just a different type of signal to the old "analogue" one.

We have 5 "terrestrial" channels here (which can use the soon to be defunct analogue signal) which are free to air but most newer TV's come with something called "freeview" which is kind of like what I imagine your "basic cable" is in the US, which has around 40 channels now. This freeview works on the digital signal, which is generally of better quality then the old analogue one.

HDTV is specifically High Definition channels, kind of like the equivilent of a Blu Ray disc/ps3 game.
This obviously needs at least a "HD Ready" tv - LCD or Plasma.

In the UK there's not an awful lot of HD channels on air yet - movies and sports on our satellite services are the most plentiful, tho a few of our main channels (BBC) have broadcasts in HD although this doesn't cover all their shows.

This is very rambly sorry, but it's how a simpleton like me understands it

 

[OKW Lover]

There is a difference between digital (which is referring to the method of transmission) and HD TV (which refers to the set itself).

Digital TV means that the signal coming down the cable (or over the air) to your house is encoded digitally, rather than the old analog method. The digital transmission has the ability to carry more data so it produces a clearer picture . But your TV may be the limiting factor. You can't get a better picture than your TV is capable of displaying. Thus, to really take advantage of digital TV, people are upgrading their TV's to High Definition so they can see the better picture that is now bring brought into their house.

 

[disprincessatheart]

What the PPs said was right on.

I work for a cable company, so hopefully this helps with what you want to know. You do NOT have to get a new tv for the DTV switch. You have a few options.

1. If you use cable or satellite now, you're all set - no need to do anything for any tv on one of these services
2. if your TV is dtv ready - these are newer tvs but not necessarily HD - you're ready
3. If you use no pay tv service and your tv is not dtv enabled, you can either buy a converter box for a one time charge (this is what the gov't coupons were for) or you can buy a new tv (dtv enabled, hd or not) or you can sign up for cable or satellite.

 

[chirurgeon]

Thank you. Now I have to decide if getting a new TV is what I want to do when I can get the money together. DVC fund or new TV. WHY HAVEN'T I WON THE POWERBALL YET?

Kim

 

[k5jm]

Digital TV is to Analog TV as a CD is to a cassette Tape.

Analog TV uses a traditional AM signal for it's video and FM for the audio. Digital TV uses a 4 level modulated digital signal.

HDTV is a TV that is capable of showing a picture greater that 480 progressive lines of resolution (720p, 1080i, 1080p, etc) A stand Definition TV can only show 480 interlaced lines, and an Enhanced Definition TV can show 480 progressive lines.

With an analog TV you would get snow on distant signals. With Digital, you are receiving 0's and 1's. So the signal is either there or it is not.

You do not need an HDTV to receive DTV. You need an ATSC Tuner (NTSC is the Analog Tuner). No TV stations are transmitting in 1080p, Most are 1080i or 720p. And many are changing their transmitters out from analog to digital and sending only Digital 480i.

I'm such a geek:-(.

 

[OKW Lover]

I'm such a geek:-(.

Spoken like a true Ham.

 

[k5jm]

CQ Geek CQ Geek

 

[OKW Lover]

CQ Geek CQ Geek

I speak Geek.

I see you're a tech, have you considered upgrading?
de NS1X

Sorry for the hijack Kim.

 

[chirurgeon]

That's ok. I didn't really understand much of what Mike talked about. I just figure at some point I am going to get a new tv. Of course then I will have to decide between LCD and plasma. But I'll cross THAT confusing bridge, when I get to it.

Kim

 

[wishspirit]

You guys really do need to digital up your TV's! I remember the quality of the TV's I saw when in the US the year before last, and i am sorry to say they pale in comparison in vividness to even my analogue TV at home.

Not to mention the amount of adverts you guys have, its crazy!!

 

[chirurgeon]

You guys really do need to digital up your TV's! I remember the quality of the TV's I saw when in the US the year before last, and i am sorry to say they pale in comparison in vividness to even my analogue TV at home.

Not to mention the amount of adverts you guys have, its crazy!!

Yeah, Katie, the amount of advertising is enough to drive a person insane. One of the reasons I am so glad I have a DVR and use it extensively. Another 4 months for digital on most stations. I so want an HD TV. I guess I'm going to have to save for that first and then DVC.

Kim

 

[aspen37]

I have an LCD TV. I live at 8,000 feet. To have a Plasma up here you must have one rated for the high altitude. It was much easier to just get an LCD.

 

[timmac]

You guys really do need to digital up your TV's! I remember the quality of the TV's I saw when in the US the year before last, and i am sorry to say they pale in comparison in vividness to even my analogue TV at home.

That's actually because North American TV signals (NTSC) are a different resolution than European ones (PAL). 480 scan lines vs. 576.

 

[wishspirit]

That's actually because North American TV signals (NTSC) are a different resolution than European ones (PAL). 480 scan lines vs. 576.

So they are officially worse?? Not just my eyesight then!

 

[FireDancer]

You analog only TV will not work after June 12th. You will need a digital TV or a converter, you do not NEED an HD TV so don’t let anyone sell you one under the false premise that it will be needed after the dtv switch. We were supposed to cut over to digital only on February 17th (today) but our government screwed it up. Now, stations have the option of changing at any time between today and June 12th. After June 12th the analog spectrum which was previously auctioned off will be turned over.

You can to www.dtv.org for more information.

 

[timmac]

You analog only TV will not work after June 12th. You will need a digital TV or a converter, you do not NEED an HD TV so don’t let anyone sell you one under the false premise that it will be needed after the dtv switch.

It's worth pointing out specifically, though, that if you currently have cable (with or without a box) or satellite, you're already all set.

 

[Twitterpated Dad]

That's actually because North American TV signals (NTSC) are a different resolution than European ones (PAL). 480 scan lines vs. 576.

So they are officially worse?? Not just my eyesight then!

No, absolutely not.

I'm not a tech, nor do I play one on tv, but I am a geek...

It's even worse than that (480 v 576). 480 lines is a theoretical maximum. You need a fairly new tv, a great source (usually DVD) and a component (3 cable) connection.

It's my understanding that even my beloved Directv, a digital signal, broadcasts most non HD channels at much less than 480 lines of resolution. It's still better than analog broadcasts and cable signals. Those are down at about 330 lines of resolution. And at the very bottom is VHS tape at about 220 lines of resolution.

To put it another way, most tv's in America are still showing pictures that are lower quality than your average computer monitor from 25 years ago.

 

[timmac]

It's my understanding that even my beloved Directv, a digital signal, broadcasts most non HD channels at much less than 480 lines of resolution. It's still better than analog broadcasts and cable signals. Those are down at about 330 lines of resolution. And at the very bottom is VHS tape at about 220 lines of resolution.

I'm in the same boat, not a bona fide tv tech, but enough of a geek that I can fake it. The lines of resolution you are referring to (330 and 220) are actually horizontal resolution. In the case of both analog broadcast signals and VHS tapes, those are estimates, since it's not a digital signal. The vertical resolution, however, is fixed at 480 (interlaced) in any case of the above.

 

[timmac]

One ancillary benefit of this thread: I now know which DISers I should expect to run into at the innoventions pavilion.