A Guide To Digital TV - DTV - HDTV

Chattanooga TN.
  

     The jump to digital television (DTV) is as significant as the change from black and white to color. DTV is more than just a new kind of TV set, and more than just high definition (HDTV) programs. DTV is a new way to broadcast and receive TV that gives you a better picture, better sound and more choices than ever before.

     Depending on what you're watching and what kind of equipment you have, digital television may enhance your viewing experience in any number of ways. You may see movies or sports in stunning HDTV resolution on a 16:9 widescreen with Dolby Digital sound.

~ Comparison chart to see how HDTV stacks up against standard Analog TV ~

     Every DTV program you watch will have DVD-quality pictures without any snow, ghosts or static. Some programs may offer multiple audio tracks, and some TV stations may offer up to four programs on a single channel. And others will give you access to interactive content, for learning more about your TV show, shopping online, and more.

Digital TV Timeline

     The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has mandated that all TV broadcasts must be in Digital format by the year 2006. What does the timeline look like from now until then?

     From the present to May, 2006 Broadcasters who begin DTV transmissions, will simultaneously broadcast analog TV as well.

     Also Note: These mandates have not stated anything about cable broadcasts and or high definition broadcasts. It is up to the cable companies to make the switch to digital on their own. As for the actual TV stations, they are only required to broadcast in a digital format and broadcasting in high definition is completely up to them.

The Basics of How to Get DTV

     Getting digital TV is easy. There are three things that you need to view true, all-digital DTV: First, you need a digital source such as an over-the-air broadcast signal. Second, you need a set-top-box (also called a "tuner" or receiver) like the Samsung SIR-T151 to receive, tune and decode the signal. Third, you need a digital TV to display the brilliant digital picture and sound.

       The good news is you don't have to upgrade to DTV all at once. You can view a DTV source on an analog TV by connecting the set-top-box like the Samsung SIR-T151 HDTV receiver to an outdoor antenna. With over-the-air DTV reception, you don't pay a monthly or per-program charge to watch TV - the broadcasts are free!

Why You May Need a Set-Top Box

     DTV signals are broadcast in a variety of ways by different providers. For example, an HDTV signal and a digital satellite broadcast are very different, and must be received and decoded differently. That's where a set-top-box (STB) comes in. Each STB is designed to receive and decode a different type of broadcast. Most DTVs require the addition of a STB because it would be too costly to equip them with tuners and decoders for every type of broadcast. It wouldn't make sense to pay for a TV with a satellite receiver if you're only planning on getting over-the-air HDTV. That's why you'll see the terms like "HDTV monitor" or "HDTV ready". This means that the TV is capable of displaying true HDTV, but it does not have a built-in tuner.

~ September 12, 2003 ~ FCC approves digital TV Plug-and-Play

     The Federal Communications Commission voted 5-0 to approve standards for equipment that lets digital cable plug directly into TV sets without the need for a set-top box and a tangle of extra wires. To watch pay television, consumers would insert into the set a security card provided by their cable service.

     Manufacturers hope to have high-definition sets with this "plug-and-play" technology in stores by late next year. They say the FCC decision will increase demand and prompt companies to boost production, making the new sets more widely available and affordable.

View Whole News Release @

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/09/12/tv.digital.ap/index.html

A Crisp, Clear, HDTV Picture With an Antenna

     If the word antenna makes you think of static, snow, and generally poor picture - fear not! DTV is different. The clear benefit of DTV is that the strength of the signal needed to produce high-quality images and sound can be lower than with analog TV. Because they are digital, even weak DTV signals can easily be restored to their original quality and strength by your DTV set-top box.

     The DTV signal is always perfect if it is received. Why the "if"? That's because of a characteristic of digital transmission known as the "cliff effect." Unlike analog transmissions, which get progressively weaker the farther the signal travels from the TV station, digital transmissions simply stop if the signal becomes too weak or is interrupted. This happens so quickly, it's as if the digital signal had fallen off of a cliff.

     As a result, you won't get any images or sound if your antenna is too far away from the transmitter. Frequent DTV signal drop-out can occur in areas with lots of buildings, hills or objects that cause signal reflections (known as multipath or "ghosts").

Note: The Telecommunications Act of 1996 allows residents of condominiums, townhouses, or members of neighborhood associations to put up outside antennas for reception of broadcast TV signals as long as those antennas are not located in "common" areas and do not exceed 12 feet in height above the peak of the roof.

DTV Term Glossary

Additional sources of information on Digital TV

     There are many places to find information and program listings. There are also informative newsletters and program guides to help you along.

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  www.RiverHillsManor.com provides these links to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by www.riverhillsmanor.com of the site. Please read over the rules and policies of these sites before proceeding.

Here are some suggested Web sites:

HDTV Magazine, a daily HDTV program guide www.ilovehdtv.com

Useful Information on selecting antennas www.antennaweb.com

Information on antennas, receivers, TVs www.projectorexpert.com

CBS Network HDTV program schedules www.cbs.com

PBS HDTV and SDTV program schedules www.pbs.org/dtv

Consumer Electronics Association Web site www.ce.org

National Association of Broadcasters Web site www.nab.org

Information on antennas and active DTV stations www.titantv.com

Chattanooga Digital Television is Here Today!

Sunday, December 14, 2003  Chattanooga PBS station WTCI first area station to go digital... will begin new broadcasts on monday December 15, 2003.... At 6:00 AM broadcasting will begin on channels 29.1, 29.2. 29.3 and 29.4... with channels 29.1 and 29.4 broadcasting the regular analog program schedule currently on channel 45... channel 29.4 will switch to arts and drama within 90 days... PBS Kids will be broadcast on channel 29.2 and PBS You (educational programs) will be shown on channel 29.3

~ As you can see the possibilities are endless. ~

Local Chattanooga TN. DTV Broadcast Stations

  Mistakes, Inaccuracies, Out-of-Date Links or Anything Else then Please  

NBC Analog Channel 3             WRCB-DT   Broadcasting DTV    DTV Channel 13  Frequency Band  VHF  @  210 - 216 MHz

Owner ~ Sarkes Tarzian  Locale ~ Walden, TN.  Tower Latitude ~ 3 5 - 0 9 - 4 0 N  Tower Longitude ~ 8 5 - 1 8 - 5 1 W  ERP and Polarization ~ 3 7 kW and H

TBN Analog Channel ?            WELF-DT  UnKnown    DTV Channel 16  Frequency Band  UHF  @  ??? - ??? MHz

Owner ~ Trinity Broadcasting Network  Locale ~ Lookout Mountain, GA.  Tower Latitude ~ 3 4 - 5 7 - 0 7 N  Tower Longitude ~ 8 5 - 2 2 - 5 8 W  ERP and Polarization ~ 3 0 0 kW and H

PBS Analog Channel 4 5             WTCI-DT   Broadcasting DTV    DTV Channels 29.1, 29.2, 29.3 and 29.4  Frequency Band  UHF  @  560 - 566 MHz

Owner ~ Greater Chattanooga Public Television Corporation  Locale ~ Falling Water, TN.  Tower Latitude ~ 3 5 - 1 2 - 2 6 N  Tower Longitude ~ 8 5 - 1 6 - 5 2 W  ERP and Polarization ~ 2 0 0 kW and H

PBS Analog Channel 1 8             WCLP-DT   Broadcasting DTV    DTV Channel 33  Frequency Band  UHF  @  584 - 590 MHz

Owner ~ Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission  Locale ~ Chatsworth, GA.  Tower Latitude ~ 3 4 - 4 5 - 0 6 N  Tower Longitude ~ 8 4 - 4 2 - 5 4 W  ERP and Polarization ~ 4 2 6 kW and H

UHF = Ultra High Frequency ~ The band in the 500 to 900 MHz range. Including TV channels 14 through 83. ~

VHF = Very High Frequency ~ The band in the 30 to 300 MHz range. Including TV channels 2 through 13. ~

Polarization Abbreviation ~ E = Elliptical ~

                                            ~ H = Horizontal ~

                                            ~ V = Vertical ~

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