HDTV - What is it.

The real question is what is DTV. DTV is not to be confused with digital cable, satellite, Direct TV or Dish. DTV, digital television, is a new RF transmitting standard for over the air broadcasting which will replace NTSC, our old standard, in 2007. The greatest problem with our old NTSC system is that the public could not get consistent quality results. Analog cable service helped a lot but also has consistency problems. This new system, DTV, resolves this issue by using digital technology so you either get a perfectly clear picture or nothing at all making it very different from our past TV experience. DTV is the same as DVD quality in this regard. DTV adds other services such as Dolby Digital 5.1 and multi channel programming meaning you can watch 2 or more different programs from the same station. DTV has 18 different kinds of picture quality standards or transmissions and these are called signal formats. Some of these formats carry so much information providing movie theater quality images that they are called HD, high definition, and that is what HDTV is all about.

Minimal requirements to receive DTV transmissions requires a set top box, STB, and any TV or display with A/V inputs. A/V connectors are those round plugs found on the back of the STB and your TV labeled video, left and right. Depending on the TV you may have different video connection options to improve the picture such as S-video and component video. The source of the signal determines what type of STB you need. If it is cable, more than likely you will have to lease or purchase a proprietary STB that only works with their signal. If it is mini dish then there will be additional costs for the STB and additional dish equipment required to receive HDTV signals from satellite. With most HDTV dish STB’s you can also receive OTA. There are “over the air” or OTA STB’s which are similar to our old analog system in that you will need a UHF/VHF antenna to receive the DTV signals. If you already have an antenna then you can also use it for DTV. Expect to pay $400 to $800 dollars for one of these STB’s. Another consideration is using a personal computer and HDTV card. If you are into computers this may very well be what you want.

You do not need an HDTV display to view DTV/HDTV content. While you will not be getting the full resolution you will still get many of the benefits. If you have a home theater you can get Dolby Digital 5.1 on your sound system. The picture will be of DVD quality or better. The larger your TV the more you will appreciate DTV/HDTV. Aspect ratio is a way of saying how wide the picture is. 4:3 or 1.33 is what we have been watching for years and is like a box. 16:9 or 1.79 is wider and this is the wide screen HDTV’s you are seeing in the store that look like rectangles. HDTV is a 16:9 aspect ratio that will put black or grey bars on the top and bottom of the picture on a normal TV which has an aspect ratio of 4:3 or none at all on a 16:9 HDTV. The advantage here is that you see more of the action with sports programs and there is no picture content loss due to cutting off the sides of the picture so it will fill out a 4:3 screen. To get the full experience of HD resolution you will need an HDTV or display. These come in all kinds of shapes and sizes and make HD pictures look like a window into reality. At HDTV Magazine we call it the “WOW”.

At this time recording or time shifting of programming is very limited and requires just the right puzzle pieces to make happen. Expect an additional $1000 to $2000 dollars to make this occur using specific brands and products. You can use a personal computer for receiving and recording HDTV but you will be on your own - use the internet and our Forum to help you with such a product. Mitsubishi has two D-VHS VCR’s. Currently you can watch HD prerecorded movies using a JVC D-Theater DVHS VCR. Check with your sales person for what is required. HD-DVD is due to be released in 2003/2004.

Richard F. Fisher
Mastertech Repair Corporation, Lawrenceville, GA
770-513-3987 E-Mail - help@mastertechtv.com
Have you been calibrated? ISF and HAA Certified
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Mitsubishi, Hitachi, Toshiba, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, NAD

Richard,

You've provided a very nice, and concise, primer on DTV/HDTV. You did, however, miss one more way to get DTV. A DTV/HDTV that is integrated. This set has a built-in Digital tuner. You won't be required to have a Set Top Box for Over The Air digital signals. An antenna capable of receiving local broadcasts connected to the TV is all that is required in this case.

Bobby C

If you will go to the following web site and go to the box in the bottom right corner titled HDTV Antennas and Reception you will find a great FAQ on HDTV. To my knowledge it is the best info available for anyone interested in HDTV, newbie or pro.

www.projectorexpert.com

This site is owned by Peter H. Putman, one of the really sharp guys around. He subscribes to HDTV Magazine and contributes to the Tips list which is an email format discussion group free to anyone subscribing to HDTV Magazine.

Hugh

www.samsungusa.com/pdf/dtv.pdf