Your conventional TV is known as an analog (linear) TV. It works by coding the image and audio data as an analog signal. The image on an analog TV is drawn on the screen one full frame at once. The analog signals are transferred ceaselessly even if there has no fresh data to transmit.

A digital TV picks up data as a digital signal. This is a completely modern technology and will finally substitute the analog TV system.

The digital signals are carried using code, which consist only of ones and zeroes. This is a hard conception to perceive but it does work. Digital signals are very much more effective, result in lower interference and hence it offers a best quality image and audio than analog.

Another important feature of digital TV is that it applies a significantly lower channel bandwidth. This signifies there has more ‘space’ for extra digital channels which will allow for other non-television services such as pay-multimedia services, multicasting (more than one program with the same channel), electronic program guides and interactivity to be utilized at the same time.

While digital TV frequently has superior sound quality, picture, and reception than analog, it’s still in the early stages of evolution and there are still a lot of advances required.

As with most things in today’s advanced society Digital TV comes in a few quality levels:

• Standard Definition TV (SDTV) – This is the fundamental level of digital television transmission. It’s a quality alike to nowadays analog TV.

• Enhanced Definition TV (EDTV) – This renders a better grade of quality and includes Dolby digital surround sound.

• High Definition TV (HDTV) – This as the name indicates gives the superfine quality digital image and Dolby digital surround audio.

Presently, most TV stations in U.S. are airing digital and analog. This signifies that you are able to view your favorite TV programs no matter what type of TV you have. Even so, after the 17th of February 2009 the full-powered television stations will no longer be capable to air in analog.

And if you have an analog TV you will not be able to view the shows unless you get a separate digital-analog convertor package or a modern digital television set.

Bear in mind though, that an analog television associated to a digital convertor package will show the digital programs but not in fully digital quality.

Digital television will be (and is now) usable over the air using a basic antenna or thru digital cable or satellite. Disregarding how you get your TV signal (satellite, cable or over-the-air), you’ll need the digital convertor or digital television set to watch the programming.

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