Is there major difference between analog and digital channels?

Question

I am planning to switch from satellite to cable. Reason is that every T-Storm the TV is out.

Answer 1

There is a very very major difference betwen analog and digital channels, i remember having analog comcast years ago then switched to directv and let me tell you that i would say that the overall picture is at least 2 maybe 3 times clearer than analog. Also let me remind you that comcast cable and if im not mistaking all cable providers claim that they provide you with digitla cable, WRONG !! only the premium channels are digital, this is the biggest misconception out there ! dont be fooled, directv is second to none ! However if you have frequent reoccuring storms that put your signal out then you may just be better of with your digital cable provider instead. just keep in mind that the sound and picture will be a bit different. i see that tv tech man here in yahoo answers said that direcvt is better in stroms lol that is so false, yes directv will go out more often than cable during storms.

Answer 2

Analog Channels Vs Digital Channels

Answer 3

There's a difference between how the TV broadcaster's signals are transmitted and how the cable or satellite companies transmit them. Unless you get digital TV channels (DTV), on a digital-capable TV set (HDTV), all of the broadcast channels are originally analog.

When the cable or satellite company retransmits these channels to you, they can alter how the signals are handled. With satellite, as far as I know, all channels are digitally compressed and encoded. That's the only way that they can cram hundreds of channels into the available spectrum. With cable TV, they can handle the signals in either digital or analog form. The cable industry wants to phase out analog systems and convert to all digital. This will be necessary anyway, when all TV must be DTV by Feb 17,2009.

I don't think that analog vs digital has anything to do with the issue you're experiencing with thunderstorms. Satellite signals are transmitted through the atmosphere, and are thus effected by weather. Cable signals, safely running through wires, don't have this problem, unless lightning brings a tree down on the cable lines.

Answer 4

To repeat what has already been said, the optical connection has the ability to carry multi-channel sound in a digital format (on a single wire) as opposed to the analog mono signal carried by each channel in the stereo audio connection. However, to say that the optical/digital connection is better, as other reviews have said, is not necessarily true. What it comes down to is which component in your setup, the CD/DVD player or the Receiver, has the best A/D (analog to digital) converter. If you have a expensive Receiver and a cheap CD player, the audio will most likely sound better if you use the optical/digital connection. If your CD player is great but your receiver is cheap, the stereo connection will probably give you a better sound. This example assumes that you are listening to 2 channel audio. If you want 5.1 sound, you will need to use the optical/digital connection so that your receiver will send the audio signals to the correct speakers. Take a listen! Try both ways and see which you like better.

Answer 5

Well you must OWN Direct TV ....those small dishes are hard to keep the signal Intact during storms.....

I had the same problem with Direct TV....so I switched to Dish Network and they don't fail during MOST storms....I had one 30 minute loss of signal during a REAL SEVERE storm.....once in 3 years isn't bad.
It's because their Dish is BIGGER

Comcast's dish is a good 30 footer, which makes them more reliable, but when they pump that RF signal 4 miles down a cable, you get a snowy/grainy looking signal on ANALOG....but not the Digital Stations. Snowy/grainy is a 24/7 situation....But Dish is clear all day long.

If you have Verizon Fiber optic TV...that will be clean on ALL stations!

Answer 6

This link might help you :
http://www.intuitivedesigns.net/analog-vs-digital-pros-and-cons-in-digital-technology
GoodLuck.