FAQ - HDTV

What is HDTV?
HDTV stands for High Definition Television.

HDTV is a digital television broadcasting standard. Since it is digital, the signals are composed of ones and zeroes -- the language of computers -- instead of waves.

HDTV digital signals can contain more information that the old systems. The data can be compressed to allow up to six times more information in the same range of radio waves. Therefore, a broadcaster can send multiple data streams through the limited airwaves they are allowed to use. This is known as multicasting.

The old TV standard was for 625 lines (not 525 lines across), with the television screen having a 4:3 "aspect ratio" (that is, the dimensions of the TV screen would be IN A RATIO of 4 to 3). Aspect ratio has very little to do with the broadcast standard - widescreen TV's are not necessarily HDTV (Mine's standard 625 PAL). HDTV can give display of 720 or 1080 lines, and the aspect ratio is 16:9.

What TV formats are HDTV?
If the TV is 1080i, 1080p or 720p, they are HDTV.

What is HDTV cable TV?
HDTV refers to High Definition Television the new entrant and future of cable television. According to the promoters of HDTV and people who have had a chance to witness it, HDTV is definitely the talk of the television industry. While watching sports on HDTV you can not only see the action in all its glory, but can actually see every blade of grass on the sports field. Once you see HDTV, you will not wish to see regular cable television again.

HDTV is a kind of a digital television broadcasting system. Digital signal refers to the ones and zeros that a computer reads, and gives much better sound and picture quality than normal cable television.

Regular cable television uses cables to send signals to your television, which usually displays the signals in 525 tiny lines across the television screen. With HDTV Cable TV, the signals are digital and can thus give displays in 720 or 1080 lines, which translates into a much superior picture quality. The aspect ratio in HDTV is 16:9 and is more than the regular 4:3 ratio. This gives better resolution in HDTV than in regular cable television and sometimes as much as ten times more.

HDTV compresses digital data which allows up to 6 times more information to be sent in the same range of radio waves as of one analog cable channel. So any broadcaster can send multiple data waves through the limited airwaves they are allowed to use. This is known as multicasting and is not available with regular cable television.

HDTV can be obtained by getting a digital converter for the analog television. Although this will not give you the full experience of HDTV Cable TV, it will still be much better than the normal cable transmission. Newer television sets will be made with integrated receivers to avail of HDTV, but a separate set top box will be needed to get the programs.

HDTV Cable TV uses a superior technology and is thus better than digital cable television. The cable television industry is now promoting HDTV Cable TV as more services also translate into better profits. It is estimated that by the end of 2006, almost all cable television subscribers will be using HDTV Cable TV.

You can access HDTV with a digital converter on an old television. But this will not give you its full benefits. Newer models of TVs are being built with integrated receivers for HDTV.

Can an HDTV work without HD cable?
HD televisions can display both HD and SD signals. Putting an HD television into a system as a replacement to an SD television will still allow all the sources to operate as they have done in the past, even though no HD signals aver reach the television. As and when an HD source is available, the television will display that in HD resolution.

Are HDTV programmes available without using an HD cable receiver?
HDTV as a signal format can be sourced from HD cable receivers. However, if there is no HD cable receiver, or not cable service at all, satellite is another platform that can be used for HD reception. Alternatively, HD signals can be generated using high definition DVD. HD DVD and BluRay are the two formats available and both will deliver HD signals from an HD disc.

Can you get HDTV over the air broadcast on a HDTV monitor with a standard TV antenna or do you need a converter?
Yes, you can use the old antenna. However, some new antennas are specially designed to better capture digital TV signals. And the direction, angle, distance, and type of digital signals in your area could influence your choice of antenna.

HDTV is a picture format, not a signal format. Most likely a TV with an HDTV picture format already has a digital tuner (ATSC) rather than only an analog tuner (NTSC). However, if it is just a monitor, then you may have to attach a tuner to it, or attach a tuner to your computer, and the computer to the monitor.

Actually, there is no such thing as an "HDTV" tuner. There are analog and digital tuners. All HDTV is digital, but not all digital is going to be HDTV. In Feb 2009 the U.S. Government has mandated that all broadcasters will cease transmitting in analog format and begin transmitting their signals over the air in digital format only. This signal requires an ATSC type tuner (digital) to demodulate the digital signal and display it on your television screen. All TVs manufactured for use in the U.S. from 1 Jan 2006 must have an ATSC tuner. Older TVs with the older style NTSC tuner (analog) will require a converter box to demodulate the digital signals.

What is the difference between LCD widescreen HDTV and plasma HDTV?
Both types display the HDTV format which has much higher resolution and clarity than the old NTSC format.

LCD and plasma are two different types of display. Plasma screens are more expensive to buy and maintain. LCD screens have a backlight that has to be replaced when it blows out. Plasma screens, if they fail, generally have to be replaced completely. Quality varies widely so shop around before committing your dollars.

Widescreen is another question. Movies are displayed much wider than the old NTSC TV format. New TVs have lots of wide formats. A lot of new formats seem to be cropping up.

Is there a difference between HDTV and HDTV Integrated in 2007?
HDTV integrated is probably just marketing talk (written on the box) for HDTV. It means the same thing. HDTV is a new format that has higher resolution, higher clarity, and is all digital. TV stations in the USA are broadcasting digitally in HDTV format, or changing over by 2009. They are not required to stick to that format when they send digital signals, but if you get an HDTV you will probably be set up to receive most broadcast stations for a long time, as some stations will be reserved for that format. Also, your TV will probably still display other formats. For example, some channels are broadcasted digitally but still in the old NTSC format that old TVs display.