Broadcast Information

What is Digital TV?

In April, 1997, the FCC announced that, by 2006, all television broadcasting would be digital. Digital TV broadcasting can deliver crystal-clear pictures that will approach the quality of 35mm movies and CD sound. One form of digital broadcasting will be HDTV (High Definition Television), which will provide the highest resolution quality picture.

Besides providing incredible picture and sound, the new digital standard has enough room in its signal to allow TV stations to broadcast multiple programs at the same time, if they so choose.

TV will also deliver data services, such as electronic program guides or information related to the programs you watch. Digital TVs are televisions that can receive and display digital television broadcasts sent using any one of eighteen digital signaling methods. Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) classifies digital televisions in three broad categories: HDTV (High Definition TV), EDTV (Enhanced Digital TV), and SDTV (Standard Definition TV).

How is my current television different from DTVs?

The TV you watch today is based on an analog system developed over 50 years ago. Due to the analog nature of the system, it is likely that your current TV was designed to receive analog signals only. You can receive and display digital broadcasts on your existing analog TV through a digital-to-analog converter box; however, its quality is compromised by the display limitations of the analog TV.

What is the difference between HDTV, EDTV, and SDTV?

HDTV, EDTV, and SDTV reference the ability of a digital television to re-display various digital TV broadcasts in its original format. Digital TV broadcasts can be transmitted using any one of eighteen resolution-formats (See#4); however, digital televisions differ in their ability to redisplay the image, especially when a high-definition image is received.

HDTVs can receive all 18 formats and re-display high-definition images using 540 lines (1080 lines interlaced) or 720 lines (progressive scanning method) without down converting.

EDTVs can receive all 18 formats including high-definition broadcasts and all 18 formats are re-displayed at 480 lines using progressive scan method. This method reduces flicker; however, picture quality may not necessarily outperform 480 interlaced when viewed at normal viewing distances.

SDTVs can receive all 18 formats including high-definition broadcasts and all 18 formats are re-displayed at 480 lines using interlacing (same resolution as current analog TVs). This means that high-definition broadcasts are down-converted in order to display the image at 480 lines.

What are the different display technologies used in Digital Televisions?

Digital televisions use the same display technologies available today for analog TVs and computer monitors.

They include CRT (Cathode Ray Tubes), LCD (Liquid Crystal Displays), front and rear projection, and PDP (Plasma Display Panels). Most digital TVs today use CRT and projection technologies; however, the CRT maintains an advantage over projection technologies with a wider viewing angle that makes it more suitable for living room viewing.

How is a HDTV/EDTV/SDTV different from a HDTV/EDTV/SDTV Monitor?

In order to receive digital broadcasts, a digital decoder must be used to receive and decode digital broadcast signals. Digital decoders can be built into the digital television itself or they may come in the form of a set-top box that is added separately to the television.

HDTV/EDTV/SDTV Monitors are digital televisions without a digital decoder built into the television. HDTV/EDTV/SDTV Monitors give you the flexibility to add a digital decoder in the future when digital broadcasts are more prevalent.

What are the benefits of a Digital Television?

The primary benefits of digital televisions are superior picture quality and better sound. The analog TV signals we watch today are made of 525 interlaced lines and are subject to screen flickering, ghost-shadows, and blurring. Digital televisions are dramatically different in that they receive signals digitally in the form of 0s and 1s so problems with ghost-shadows and blurring go away.

Digital signals also produce a higher quality TV picture, displaying crisp, sharp and vivid images using up to 1080 lines instead of 525 lines. Additionally, digital television signals can deliver cinema-quality sound effects using 6-channel Dolby Digital surround sound instead of only two regular stereo channels.

Are digital broadcasts available now?

Digital broadcasts are available through terrestrial (antenna), satellite, and in the near future, cable systems. Major television networks such as ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and HBO have already begun broadcasting digital TV programming.

Do I need component inputs or RGB inputs for my DTV?

RGB inputs and component inputs are the best connectivity interface for use with today's high-resolution digital sources such as DVD players (standard or progressive) and HDTV decoder set-top boxes.

RGB and component inputs work with video signals that are split into its base components, resulting in a cleaner and purer video signal than all other connection options.

There are two types of component inputs and Sampo HDTV Monitors/TVs are equipped with both. The standard component inputs can accept 480i signals while the high-definition component inputs can handle 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i signals from progressive DVD players and HDTV decoder set-top boxes.

Can I connect a DTV to my PC or Laptop?

Yes, as long as the digital television is equipped with an RGB input (15-pin D-sub connector). A digital television is essentially a high quality computer monitor capable of displaying various resolutions from today's advanced video cards. All Sampo HDTV Monitors/TVs are equipped with an RGB-output that lets you connect multiple monitors in series for multimedia presentation purposes.

What does "up-convert" mean?

Up-convert takes place when a digital television's display capabilities exceed the digital broadcast signal and the broadcast signal is increased to match the TV's display program using 480 lines (480i or 480p) and the digital television is able to display 1080 lines, the signal is increased or up-converted to match the TV, resulting in hazy picture quality.

Sampo HDTV Monitors/TVs can display all digital resolutions from 480 lines to high-definition 1080 lines, eliminating the need for the HDTV decoder to up-convert broadcast signals.

Are digital televisions compatible with my existing video equipment?

Most digital televisions are compatible with your existing video equipment; however, this depends on the types of connectivity options available on the digital TV.

All Sampo HDTV Monitors/TVs are equipped with multiple connection options for connections with your existing video equipment including VCRs, DVD players, Progressive DVD players, LaserDisc/VideoCD Players, analog and digital camcorders, Digital VHS players, and video game machines.

What will the future of digital television look like?

The broad bandwidth of the new digital television system facilitates a whole new spectrum of programming and data services for your home. For example, this bandwidth allows at least 4 standard-definition TV broadcasts to simultaneously display on your digital TV screen, in addition to displaying data content such as news, stock reports, email, and other data related services.

In the near future, your digital television will become an information resource hosting multiple broadcasts in multiple windows while displaying data content in banner strips.

Are digital televisions compatible with my existing video equipment?

Most digital televisions are compatible with your existing video equipment; however, this depends on the types of connectivity options available on the digital TV.

All Sampo HDTV Monitors/TVs are equipped with multiple connection options for connections with your existing video equipment including VCRs, DVD players, Progressive DVD players, LaserDisc/VideoCD Players, analog and digital camcorders, Digital VHS players, and video game machines.

When will TV stations start to broadcast digital signals?

This will be an evolutionary process. According to the FCC, digital broadcasting must be available in each of the top 10 markets, covering 30% of households in the U.S. by May, 1999. By the end of 1999, it must be available in the top 30 markets, covering about 50% of the households. The FCC requires that all 1678 US TV stations must be 100% digital by 2006.

Will TV stations stop broadcasting regular signals immediately when they switch to digital?

No. TV stations are required to continue broadcasting regular TV signals along side the digital until 2009. Cable TV and satellite TV are not affected by this FCC ruling. Cable operators are compelled to a "must carry" rule for HDTV, and pass thru it’s local transmission, just as they do with local analog television today.

Should I wait before I buy a new TV?

Conventional NTSC analog broadcasting will continue for some time up until 2009 when analog broadcast will cease. Any NTSC TV bought today will be able to work well beyond the digital deadline of 2009 with use of a set-top box, giving you the best sound and picture performance it has to offer. The cost of set top boxes and complete digital televisions are likely to come down over the next several years.

What DTV, HDTV, SDTV really mean?

'DTV' is a general reference to Digital Television technology. DTV broadcasts will either be HDTV (High Definition TV) or SDTV (Standard Definition TV). These have different levels of resolution - as high as 1125 scanning lines (interlaced), which is called HDTV or High Definition Television, to as low as 525 (interlaced or progressive) scanning lines, called SDTV or Standard Definition Television.

Individual broadcasters will be able to choose in which format to transmit their programming. Most digital TVs and digital set top boxes will be able to receive the signals no matter what is sent out on the airwaves. The FCC has allocated to each of the broadcasters a fixed amount of transmitting space or bandwidth for digital TV programming.

The signal must fit into a six (6) MHz bandwidth, and take no more channel space than today's NTSC broadcast signal. Yet with MPEG-2 video compression, at the highest resolution, one or two programs can be transmitted within that space and, at the lower resolutions, up to 6 simultaneous programs can be transmitted.

Generally, the higher the resolution, the clearer the picture. Broadcasters may choose to transmit different levels of resolution throughout the viewing day; perhaps broadcasting daytime programs in SDTV and switching to HDTV at night for movies or specials. At this time all of the major networks have announced their specific plans for HDTV. CBS, NBC and PBS have chosen the higher 1080I format, while ABC and FOX have chosen the 720p progressive scan format.

Both HDTV and SDTV are part of what's called 'DTV' (Digital Television) technology. HDTV pictures will most likely be a wide screen format (like a movie theater) which is referred to as 16:9 aspect ratio (referring to the ratio between picture width and height).

Today's conventional TV aspect ratio is 4:3. SDTV programming may be either. Keep in mind that wide screen programs will still be able to be viewed on conventional TV screens in letterbox format (black areas above and below picture). Likewise, regular 4:3 aspect ratio pictures will be able to be viewed on a wide aspect TV screen, with the picture digitally centered or even 'stretched' to fill the screen.

What do "analog" and "digital" mean, and how are they different?

Analog refers to the signal format used to transmit today's television, also called NTSC. Digital signals also can transmit television, but they are much more efficient and can carry many times more information than analog. The highest quality digital TV signals will be high-definition or HDTV, are defined as either 720 lines or 1080 lines of vertical resolution. While the signals are different, today's analog sets will be able to receive the new digital signals by using a TeVCA adapter box.

Who is going to broadcast the new digital TV programs?

The FCC has authorized and mandated all U.S. TV stations currently broadcasting analog television to set up and operate second channels for digital television.

This means that your local analog channel 6, for example, also will provide digital programming on another channel. You'll still be able to watch channel 6, but the same station will have digital programs for HDTV on its other channel. Every station will be able to operate two channels until February 18th 2009 when, the FCC will phase out our current analog TV broadcasting.

Why would I want to buy a HDTV set?

Digital television and its centerpiece application, HDTV, represent an advance in TV technology even more significant than the introduction of color. Besides delivering much clearer images and six-channel surround sound, HDTV lets you watch motion pictures the way they were intended to be seen: on a wide 16-by-9 screen, one-third wider than today's 4-by-3 screens.

In addition to its entertainment and home theater uses, digital TV will offer a variety of interactive applications. With a wider picture, over 1000 lines of resolution, and more than five times sharper than today's television, digital TV is capable of delivering virtually any combination of video, audio and data to the home.

All Americans offered $40 coupon toward certified Digital TV converter box

Does your TV receive free, regular, over-the-air signals, using “rabbit ears” or a rooftop antenna?

If so, you should know that broadcasters are switching from analog to all-digital broadcasting on February 17, 2009.

Digital television provides a clearer picture and more programming but also does it more efficiently, using less of the airwaves.

The digital transition will free up some of the nation’s airwaves for public safety providers, such as law enforcement officers and firefighters to better communicate during emergencies.

By February 17, 2009, all “over-the-air” viewers will need to take action to continue to receive television service.

You have three choices: either keep your TV and purchase a new device, called a digital-to-analog converter box; subscribe to cable or satellite service; or purchase a television with a digital tuner to watch TV after that date.

Starting January 1, 2008, you can get two $40 coupons on a first-come-first-served basis towards buying a government approved converter box.

To apply for a DTV Converter Box Coupon or to get more information, call 1-888-DTV-2009, or visit www.myDTV2009.gov.

Convert your TV to digital with free $40 government coupon

On February 17, 2009, television broadcasters are switching from analog to all-digital broadcasting.

By this date, all “over-the-air” viewers who use “rabbit ears” or antenna to get a TV signal will need to take action to continue to receive television service.

Choose one of three options: (1) purchase a digital-to-analog converter box; (2) subscribe to cable or satellite service; or (3) purchase a digital television.

Starting January 1, 2008, on first-come, first-served basis, consumers can get two $40 coupons towards buying a government approved converter box. For more information call 1-888-DTV-2009, or visit www.myDTV2009.gov.