Digital Television; are you ready for the switch?

Digital Television (DTV) is the sending and receiving of moving images and sound by discrete (digital) signals, in contrast to the analog signals used by analog TV.

While the majority of the viewers of over-the-air broadcasting in the USA watch full-power stations (which number about 1800), there are three other categories of TV stations in the USA: low-power stations, class A station and TV translator stations. There is presently no deadline for these stations, about 7100 in number, to convert to an all digital signal.

The switch from analog to digital broadcast television is referred to as the digital TV (DTV) transition. In 1996, Congress authorized the distribution of an additional broadcast channel to each broadcast TV station so that they could start a digital broadcast channel while simultaneously continuing their analog broadcast channel. Later, Congress has set June 12, 2009 as the final date that full-power television stations can broadcast in analog only. Your local broadcasters may make the transition before then, and many already have.

Under the law, on Feb. 17, some full-power broadcast television stations in the United States stopped broadcasting on analog airwaves and began broadcasting only in digital. The remaining stations will most likely stop broadcasting analog sometime between April 16 and June 12.

Because Congress mandated that the last day for full-power television stations to broadcast in analog would be June 12, 2009, all over-the-air TV broadcasts will be in digital after that date. If you have any televisions that receive free over-the-air television programming (with a roof-top antenna or "rabbit ears" on the TV), the type of TV you own is very important. A digital television (a TV with an internal digital tuner) will allow you to continue to watch free over-the-air programming. However, if you have an analog television, you will need a digital-to-analog converter box to continue to watch broadcast television on that set. This converter box will also enable you to see any additional multicast programming that your local stations are offering. Do not wait until June to prepare. Many stations may be converting early and you need to be ready beforehand.

To help consumers with the DTV transition, the Government established the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a part of the Department of Commerce, administers this program. Every U.S. household is eligible to receive up to two coupons, worth $40 each, toward the purchase of eligible digital-to-analog converter boxes. The coupons may only be used for eligible converter boxes sold at participating consumer electronics retailers, and the coupons must be used at the time of purchase. Digital-to-analog converter boxes sell for $40 to $70 each.

As of March 1, 2007, all television receivers shipped in interstate commerce or imported into the United States must contain a digital tuner. Also, effective May 25, 2007, the Commission required sellers of television receiving equipment that does not include a digital tuner to disclose at the point-of-sale that these devices include only an analog tuner, and therefore will require a digital-to-analog converter box to receive over-the-air broadcast television after the transition date. Retailers must inform consumers by displaying a sign that they are selling TV equipment with only an analog tuner with a referral for more information to the Federal Communications Commission at 1-888-225-5322 (TTY: 1-888-835-5322) or visit the Commission’s digital television website at: www.dtv.gov.

How do you determine whether your television equipment purchased prior to May 25, 2007 is a DTV? Your DTVs and digital television equipment will have labels or markings on them, or statements in the informational materials that came with them, to indicate that they contain digital tuners. These labels or markings may contain the words “Integrated Digital Tuner” or “Digital Tuner Built-In.” If your television equipment contains any of these labels or markings, you should be able to view digital over-the-air programming without the need for a digital-to-analog converter box. You do not need an HDTV to view free over-the-air digital programming. As long as your television equipment contains a digital tuner, you can view over-the-air digital. An HDTV is only necessary if you want to view digital programming in “high definition.”

To help summarize DTV for you, here are some quick facts:

Analog
~Date for final transition to digital is June 12, 2009. After that date, full-power stations will only broadcast digital signals.
~Consumers will always be able to connect an inexpensive receiver, a digital to analog converter box, to their existing analog TV to decode DTV broadcast signals.
~Digital to analog converter boxes will not convert your analog TV to high-definition.
~Analog TVs will continue to work with cable, satellite, VCRs, DVD players, camcorders, video games consoles and other devices for many years.

DTV
~Digital cable or digital satellite does not mean a program is in high-definition.
~Digital pictures will be free from the "ghosts" and "snow" that can affect analog transmissions.
~Multicasting is available.
~HDTV is available.
~Data streaming is available.

HDTV
~High-definition broadcasts offered.
~Best available picture resolution, clarity and color.
~Dolby theatre surround-sound.
~Dolby surround-sound.
~Wide screen "movie-like" format.


http://www.dtv.gov/whatisdtv.html

~ Lester Miyasaki, National Sales Manager


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WTI (Wireless Technology, Inc.)

Video Surveillance Products Dedicated to the Broadcast, Global Security and Transportation Markets!

www.gotowti.com ● www.wirelesstech.com

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