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Consumer - Home Theatre Buying Guide - HDTV
What is DTV? | What
is HDTV? | How is HDTV different? | Is
DTV and HDTV the same thing? | What does HDTV-ready
mean?
How can I get HDTV? | Aspect
Ratios| Scanning lines | FCC
information
What is DTV?
As defined by the Federal Communications
Commission, DTV is anew technology for transmitting and receiving
broadcast television signals. DTV provides clearer resolution
and improved sound quality.
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What is HDTV?
As defined by the Federal
Communications Commission, HDTV is an improved
television system which provides approximately
twice the vertical and horizontal resolution of
existing television standards. It also provides
audio quality approaching that of compact discs.
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How is HDTV different
than regular TV?
Resolution:
Where regular TV has 525 lines of resolution, HDTV can have 720, or 1080
lines:
- 720 progressive resolution (720p)
- 1080 interlaced resolution(1080i)
- or 1080 progressive resolution(1080p).
Understanding progressive vs. interlaced scanning
Aspect Ratio:
Where regular TV broadcasts in 4:3, HDTV broadcasts in 16:9 wide screen.
Understanding standard 4:3
aspect ratio vs. 16:9 wide screen
Audio:
Regular TV broadcasts in 2-channel stereo sound, whereas HDTV broadcasts
in Dolby Digital sound which is comprised of up to six distinct audio
channels.
Enhanced Viewing Opportunities:
HDTV also has the capability to carry other data other than a television
signal. Information such as program data, maps, weather, and biographies
can be broadcasted simultaneously over the air and viewed similar to
a web site - on your TV set.
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Is DTV and HDTV the same thing?
No. DTV is a standard television signal
being transmitted digitally, whereas HDTV is a high-definition
signal being transmitted with HDTV features such as 16:9 aspect
ratio, and progressive scanning.
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What does HDTV-ready mean?
HDTV ready means that the TV is capable
of displaying high-definition images and information. It does
not mean that the TV will receive HDTV. Generally, in order
to receive HDTV you will need a separate HDTV receiver.
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How can I get HDTV?
HDTV is transmitted over the air just
like your regular television stations are. If you have good
reception through an antenna, then you will be able to receive
HDTV, providing you have an HDTV-ready TV and an HDTV receiver.
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For more information on DTV and
HDTV visit the FCC web site
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4:3 Aspect Ratio Vs.
16:9 Wide screen
Wide screen TVs and projectors
feature a width-to-height ratio similar to movie theater
screens, providing cinema-style entertainment at home.
Also enables full-screen viewing of high-definition broadcasts
and DVDs produced in 16:9 format.
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Progressive Vs. Interlaced Scanning
Standard TV use interlaced scanning
to produce a picture. Interlaced scanning combines two
fields to generate a picture of 525 scan lines (480 of
which are displayed). Your television projects an interlaced
image by first scanning the 240 odd-numbered lines of one
field (in 1/60th of a second), followed by the 240 even-numbered
lines of the other field (in 1/60th of a second). So, it
takes two fields to build one frame of video. The result
or progressive scan is a smoother and sharper picture,
with high resolution and no motion artifacts.
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