digital/hdtv tv's -- please explain
michael...@my-deja.com
questions. If there is, please tell me where it is.
I am looking for a new big-screen tv and there are so many options out
there. Some digital, digital-ready, hdtv, etc. I am at a loss as to
what the differences are.
My most basic confusion comes from the signal delivery. It seems as
though all components that produce a video signal are all analog. For
example... I have a DirecTV system -- digital signal from the stars,
but analog from the receiver to the TV. I have DVD player -- digital
audio to the audio reciever, but the video is analog. I have digital
cable -- digital from the cable company to the reciever, but analog to
the TV.
So, how does a digital TV get a digital signal? When will DVD players
and satellite receivers have digital outputs for video?
How does an HDTV know its getting an HDTV signal vs. a regular analog
one?
The best I've seen is simply SVideo, but that is still analog -- it's
just a little cleaner.
What is the difference between DTV and HDTV? Where is the future?
It all boils down to -- if I buy a digital/hdtv TV today, will I even
get to use the new capabilities any time soon?
Please email replies if possible to:
msm @ mcknet . com
Thanks to all in advance!
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Mike Rush
to actually paint the picture on the screen. Even when digital tuners are
built into the tv, the signal has to be converted to analog for actual
display on the screen. HDTV's generally use components video inputs (most
DVD players have component outputs for this purpose) that are much higher
quality than s-video. If there is a local high-end tv store in your area ask
them for a demo of HDTV. You should see a huge difference if the source they
are using is good. Even Best Buy in my area has a really good demo setup
with digital tv's, analog tv's and HDTV's all side by side showing the same
video. With some of the video material they show, especially nature footage
that was originally shot with HDTV cameras, the picture quality has to be
seen to be believed.
<michael...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:8upq8a$lpi$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
Jeff Rife
> So, how does a digital TV get a digital signal?
Right now, for consumer HDTVs with built-in ATSC (Advanced Television
Standards Committee, the official name for the HDTV standard in the US)
tuners, there are only 2 ways:
- off an over-the-air antenna
- off DirecTV (for the very few TVs [RCA] with a built-in HD DirecTV tuner)
For HD-ready TVs (without built-in ATSC tuners), there is one way:
- the HD-ready set has to have a digital input (usually some sort of VGA-like
15-pin plug), and you need a set-top box with a digital output *that
is exactly the same*, which usually means made by the same company
You can also get very good signals with component input on HD-ready sets,
if the set can understand progressive component signals. This is still not
100% digital, but very close to it.
> When will DVD players
> and satellite receivers have digital outputs for video?
RCA makes a satellite receiver/HDTV receiver (the DTC-100) that has VGA-
style digital output.
> How does an HDTV know its getting an HDTV signal vs. a regular analog
> one?
For over-the-air, HD signals are not on the same channel (frequency) as the
NTSC signal, and, like FM radio detecting stereo, or your receiver detecting
Dolby Digital from your DVD player, the TV just looks at the signal for some
"special" things that let it know the signal is ATSC.
> The best I've seen is simply SVideo, but that is still analog -- it's
> just a little cleaner.
Component video and RGB both exist. Someday FireWire should connect
these things, but don't hold your breath.
> What is the difference between DTV and HDTV? Where is the future?
DTV is just "digital TV", which usually means 4:3 aspect ratio, 640x480,
interlaced pictures. HDTV is pretty much everything else in the ATSC.
> It all boils down to -- if I buy a digital/hdtv TV today, will I even
> get to use the new capabilities any time soon?
Yes. A true HDTV will almost certainly be able to handle progressive
component input from a progressive output DVD player, and that (plus 16x9
enhancement on the DVD) will make the picture look pretty astonishing.
Depending on what city you live in, you may have HDTV available right now
if you put up an antenna (see http://www.titantv.com/ for information
about what is available in your area).
--
Jeff Rife | "She just dropped by to remind me that my life
19445 Saint Johnsbury Lane | is an endless purgatory, interrupted by profound
Germantown, MD 20876-1610 | moments of misery."
Home: 301-916-8131 | -- Richard Karinsky, "Caroline in the City"
Work: 301-770-5800 Ext 5335 |
Todd Christopher
[snip]
>So, how does a digital TV get a digital signal?
An excellent question. I have often wondered myself what is "digital"
about the many "digital TVs" without ATSC decoders. Of course they have
internal digital circuits, but so do "analog TVs". I guess for "HDTV
ready" sets the rationale is that when they are connected to ATSC decoder
boxes the combination is digital? Does seem like false (or at
least misleading) labeling to me.
Todd
Scott Moore
TV is digital, and many cable systems are as well. You will not
see a great difference between a good quality analog cable delivered
picture and a digital one. The main difference is that it takes longer
to change digital channels, because the picture must "sync up"
before you can see it, and occasionally you will see the picture
break up into small blocks, which is how digital handles noise.
Virtually all digital television feeds your TV set in analog. The feeds,
in order of quality, worst to best, are:
1. RF (coax jack on the back).
2. "composite" video, a single, usually yellow, jack.
3. S-VIDEO
4. "component" video, three separate jacks.
The difference between a high quality analog connection, and a
digital connection, to your set is virtually nil. It matters more
if the picture was transmitted to your home in digital fashion.
Since most/all of the digital interfaces introduced also
include "copy protection" that limits what you can do with
the signal, because being totally incompatible with standard
TV inputs, they have not been a big success (surprise).
michael...@my-deja.com wrote:
> First, let me applologize if there is a FAQ that answers these
> questions. If there is, please tell me where it is.
>
> I am looking for a new big-screen tv and there are so many options out
> there. Some digital, digital-ready, hdtv, etc. I am at a loss as to
> what the differences are.
>
> My most basic confusion comes from the signal delivery. It seems as
> though all components that produce a video signal are all analog. For
> example... I have a DirecTV system -- digital signal from the stars,
> but analog from the receiver to the TV. I have DVD player -- digital
> audio to the audio reciever, but the video is analog. I have digital
> cable -- digital from the cable company to the reciever, but analog to
> the TV.
>
> So, how does a digital TV get a digital signal? When will DVD players
> and satellite receivers have digital outputs for video?
>
> How does an HDTV know its getting an HDTV signal vs. a regular analog
> one?
>
> The best I've seen is simply SVideo, but that is still analog -- it's
> just a little cleaner.
>
> What is the difference between DTV and HDTV? Where is the future?
>
> It all boils down to -- if I buy a digital/hdtv TV today, will I even
> get to use the new capabilities any time soon?
>
> Please email replies if possible to:
> msm @ mcknet . com
>
> Thanks to all in advance!
>
> Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> Before you buy.
--
Scott A. Moore is sam...@cisco.com
I can't do it. So you can't do it either. QED.
AI Nut
>
> Standards Committee, the official name for the HDTV standard in the US)
> tuners, there are only 2 ways:
>
> - off an over-the-air antenna
> - off DirecTV (for the very few TVs [RCA] with a built-in HD DirecTV tuner)
>
> For HD-ready TVs (without built-in ATSC tuners), there is one way:
>
> - the HD-ready set has to have a digital input (usually some sort of VGA-like
> 15-pin plug), and you need a set-top box with a digital output *that
> is exactly the same*, which usually means made by the same company
>
> You can also get very good signals with component input on HD-ready sets,
> if the set can understand progressive component signals. This is still not
> 100% digital, but very close to it.
>
> > and satellite receivers have digital outputs for video?
>
> style digital output.
>
> > one?
>
> NTSC signal, and, like FM radio detecting stereo, or your receiver detecting
> Dolby Digital from your DVD player, the TV just looks at the signal for some
> "special" things that let it know the signal is ATSC.
>
> > just a little cleaner.
>
> these things, but don't hold your breath.
>
>
> interlaced pictures. HDTV is pretty much everything else in the ATSC.
>
> > get to use the new capabilities any time soon?
>
> component input from a progressive output DVD player, and that (plus 16x9
> enhancement on the DVD) will make the picture look pretty astonishing.
>
> Depending on what city you live in, you may have HDTV available right now
> if you put up an antenna (see http://www.titantv.com/ for information
> about what is available in your area).
>
> --
> Jeff Rife | "She just dropped by to remind me that my life
> 19445 Saint Johnsbury Lane | is an endless purgatory, interrupted by profound
> Germantown, MD 20876-1610 | moments of misery."
> Home: 301-916-8131 | -- Richard Karinsky, "Caroline in the City"
> Work: 301-770-5800 Ext 5335 |
Jeff,
Dish Network has more HDTV programming than DirecTV, but just a little.
The hardware is cheaper, too. I just became a Dish dealer just because
of that!
HTH,
AI Nut