2006-09-15 19:39:21 · 20 answers · asked by Anu B 2 in Consumer Electronics ➔ TVs
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When the first high-definition television (HDTV) sets hit the market in 1998, movie buffs, sports fans and tech aficionados got pretty excited, and for good reason. Ads for the sets hinted at a television paradise with superior resolution and digital surround sound. With HDTV, you could also play movies in their original widescreen format without the letterbox "black bars" that some people find annoying.
But for a lot of people, HDTV hasn't delivered a ready-made source for transcendent experiences in front of the tube. Instead, people have gone shopping for a TV and found themselves surrounded by confusing abbreviations and too many choices. Some have even hooked up their new HDTV sets only to discover that the picture doesn't look good.
Fortunately, a few basic facts easily dispel all of this confusion. In this article, we'll explain the acronyms and resolution levels and give you the facts on the United States transition to all-digital television. We'll also tell you exactly what you need to know if you're thinking about upgrading to HDTV.
Analog, Digital and HD
For years, watching TV has involved analog signals and cathode ray tube (CRT) sets. The signal is made of continually varying radio waves that the TV translates into a picture and sound. An analog signal can reach a person's TV over the air, through a cable or via satellite. Digital signals, like the ones from DVD playersDVD players, are converted to analog when played on traditional TVs. (You can read about how the TV interprets the signal in How Television Works.)
This system has worked pretty well for a long time, but it has some limitations:
Conventional CRT sets display around 480 visible lines of pixels. Broadcasters have been sending signals that work well with this resolution for years, and they can't fit enough resolution to fill a huge television into the analog signal.
Analog pictures are interlaced - a CRT's electron gun paints only half the lines for each pass down the screen. On some TVs, interlacing makes the picture flicker.
Converting video to analog format lowers its quality.
United States broadcasting is currently changing to digital television (DTV). A digital signal transmits the information for video and sound as ones and zeros instead of as a wave. For over-the-air broadcasting, DTV will generally use the UHF portion of the radio spectrum with a 6 MHz bandwidth, just like analog TV signals do.
DTV has several advantages:
The picture, even when displayed on a small TV, is better quality.
A digital signal can support a higher resolution, so the picture will still look good when shown on a larger TV screen.
The video can be progressive rather than interlaced - the screen shows the entire picture for every frame instead of every other line of pixels.
TV stations can broadcast several signals using the same bandwidth. This is called multicasting.
If broadcasters choose to, they can include interactive content or additional information with the DTV signal.
It can support high-definition (HDTV) broadcasts.
DTV also has one really big disadvantage: Analog TVs can't decode and display digital signals. When analog broadcasting ends, you'll only be able to watch TV on your trusty old set if you have cable or satellite service transmitting analog signals or if you have a set-top digital converter.
This brings us to the first big misconception about HDTV. Some people believe that the United States is switching to HDTV, that all they'll need for HDTV is a new TV and that they'll automatically have HDTV when analog service ends. Unfortunately, none of this is true.
HDTV is just one part of the DTV transition.
2006-09-15 19:52:23 · answer #1 · answered by mallimalar_2000 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Crap up to dat tv's!
Stands for high definition which means clearer sharper picture (thats the gimmick!) but in use its not environment freindly as it uses more power and you'll be damaging the planet with global warming and you'd have a higher electricity bill!
My local pub recently installed HD TV's and to be honest a complete waste of time as picture quality is exactly the same!
2006-09-17 13:05:43 · answer #2 · answered by stevenjohnevans 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is the next big thing, and - surprise surprise- you will have to buy a fancy new TV to watch it.
Its just a way of shifting more new TVs. The reality is that only the same boring rubbish programs will be available.
Having said that, I watched a basketball game once in a bar in Houston. It was on HDTV and it was absolutely stunning. So for armchair sports fans, it might be OK. Personally I think that televison is finished.
2006-09-15 21:01:55 · answer #3 · answered by Not Ecky Boy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if your Tv has a DTV input.. then all you need is an antenna... vhf/uhf... they make special ones for the new tv's but the old ones will work fine... just plug it into the DTV input and scan for the new channels... you may have to play with the antenna placement a little.. i did. But once you get the antenna you will get the shows that are filmed in HD in HD... but its not all of them.. .just the prime time ones mostly... and it should be built in if you bought a new tv... so just plug in the antenna and get your HD stations... the wall cable will not get you HD unless you rent the HD box from your cable supplier... mine charges 8 dollars a month for basic HD tv.. make sure you get the right cable when you get the blu ray player and enjoy your HD.. just get the antenna
2016-03-27 03:43:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
High Definition Television
2006-09-16 12:42:53 · answer #5 · answered by rheckels 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
High Definition TV is a much clearer form of TV transmission. This will allow much larger screens to show images without distortion. One side effect, apparently, is that it shows up peoples blemishes !At present, there are limited transmissions and for some, there is an extra charge.
2006-09-15 19:58:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
H D TV is High definition television making the pictures a lot clearer.
2006-09-15 19:55:55 · answer #7 · answered by shadowman 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
High-definition television offers a clearer and more detailed picture because it contains more information. Television pictures are made up of many dots or pixels that form the image you see, therefore by using more of these pixels, in a high-definition (HD) transmission a more clear and sharp image is available.
2006-09-18 00:06:59 · answer #8 · answered by s__i 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
High Definition TeleVision
2006-09-15 20:02:47 · answer #9 · answered by brogdenuk 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
High definition and it makes a hell of a difference I have it and man can I tell the difference but you have to make sure that you have a high definition TV,,,,,other wise it won't work=)
2006-09-15 19:47:37 · answer #10 · answered by ♠ melisa ♠ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋