What is HDTV? How is it different from normal television?

HDTV is high-definition television, a method of digital broadcasting that results in high-quality pictures and Dolby Digital surround sound.

HDTV uses the same amount of bandwidth (6 megahertz) as used in the current analog system, but HDTV can transmit more than six times the information as the analog system. This translates to higher quality in picture and sound.

How Much Better Is The Quality?

Currently, television pictures are made up of 525 lines that are scanned horizontally. HDTV pictures are created by scanning 1,080 lines. Adding twice the amount of lines multiplies the amount of pixels (the small dots that create the picture).

Current sets have about 300,000 pixels, while the HDTV screen is composed of more than 2 million pixels.

Here is a traditional image resolution:

Here is an HDTV image:

Having more pixels on your screen will also improve the sharpness of your pictures, allowing you to read on your television screen small text commonly found on computers.

HDTV sets have wider, movie-theater like screens that more closely resemble human peripheral vision, making it more natural to watch.

A WIDER VIEW

HDTV screens are about one-third wider than existing TV screens. They have similar dimensions to movie screens. HDTV screens closely match the peripheral vision range of the human eye, making it more natural to watch.

HDTV 16:9 ratio Regular TV 4:3 ratio

Is The Sound Different?

Complimenting the lifelike pictures are 5.1 channels of CD-quality digital audio. Current stereo TV sets offer only two channels of audio. HDTV delivers true surround sound: front speakers on the right, center and left, along with two back speakers and a subwoofer.

Are HDTV Signals Broadcast On Special Frequencies?

No. HDTV broadcasts use the same channels as regular analog television. While many DTV stations are now occupying UHF broadcast channels, the plan is to allow many broadcasters to move back to their original VHF or UHF TV channel once the transition to DTV is complete.

You should be able to receive DTV with any standard UHF antenna. The exact style of antenna that you will need for optimal reception may vary depending on your geographic location and distance to the transmission source.

Is HDTV Similar To Interactive Television?

With HDTV, broadcasters can now broadcast data via "datacasting." Datacasting opens up the possibility of interactive television, empowering the viewer to make television-viewing an incredible experience.

With More Space, Can You Have More Channels?

We can squeeze in more than one "channel" of television or data into our digital TV channel. In special circumstances, we can choose to send a channel of high-definition TV, up to two channels of standard-definition TV (SDTV) and a channel of data at the same time.

In severe weather, we can send regular programming over one channel and weather information over the other channels. During sporting events, we can broadcast more than one game at the same time, giving you the choice of which game to watch.

Where Can I Buy An HDTV Set? How Much Do They Cost?

If your TV has progressive-scan inputs for connection to a computer display card or DVD player, you'll be able to see some HDTV signals by adding a set-top box receiver (STB), which will generally yield some but not all of the advanced resolution of HTDV. These cost in the range of $400 to $1,000.

Otherwise, you can buy new HDTV sets at most electronics stores. Just like any cutting-edge electronic equipment, the early receivers are expensive. When HDTV sets came on the market, they cost as much as $8,000. In a short amount of time, prices have dropped to around $2,000, and prices may drop to $1,500 within a year.

What Is The Difference Between An HDTV Set And A Digital-Ready TV Set?

An HDTV set is able to receive all digital formats and display them in super-high resolution on a wider screen than analog TV.

A digital-ready TV set (or HDTV-ready) is designed to receive digital signals with a decoder box. These sets are usually capable of providing higher resolution pictures than analog TV sets, but some sets marked as "digital-ready" are not capable of carrying HD programming.

As with any major purchase, do you homework before buying a set.

How Long Will It Take For The Television World To Switch To The New Digital Technology?

Originally, the Federal Communications Commission set Jan. 1, 2007, as the final date to turn off the existing analog television systems. Congress will inevitably delay that date until more than 85 percent of the people have access to digital television signals.

A deadline recently passed for having 1,300 commercial broadcasters offering a digital signal. The General Accounting Office in Washington reported that three-quarters of the stations that were supposed to be airing digital programs are still lagging.

Will My Current TV Set Be Obsolete?

You will be able to watch digital TV signals on your existing TV set with a set-top digital receiver. However, you will not be able to enjoy the crisp high-definition picture.

What About My VCR, DVD Player And Camcorder? Will I Be Able To Use Them With An HDTV Set?

HDTV sets are "backward compatible," meaning all existing analog equipment (VCRs, DVD players, camcorders, video games, etc.) will work on digital TV sets, but not in high definition. Their video will be displayed in the maximum resolution that each product is capable of.