Digital TV Facts
Digital Set Top Box
Analogue TV transmissions will cease from January 1, 2010. Therefore to receive digital TV programs on your analogue TV receiver after January 1, 2010 you will need to purchase a Digital Set Top Box. This unit will allow you to receive digital Television programs and view them on your analogue television set.
Digital Television will enable viewers to enjoy Cinema type pictures with Dolby digital sound on a wide screen format.
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Why Digital?
Digital Television will overcome the limitations of Analogue television. The main features are:
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Noise free pictures (snow free)
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Higher resolution images (Wide-screen / HDTV / 16:9)
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No ghosting (double imaging)
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Multi-Channel, Enhanced Sound Services (Mpeg1, Mpeg2 video, AC-3 5.1 channel sound)
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Other Data Services (Electronic program guide, Test, Interactive TV)
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Better coverage and lower transmission levels
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To enable full Fee For Service DTV
In addition more channels will be available within the same bandwidth that a single analogue channel requires. This is known as Multi-Channelling. This means that that you will have a greater selection of TV programs to watch. This will be become available in 2008.
Digital TV Modes
There are 3 modes of transmitting digital television programmes. These are:
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High Definition TV
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Standard Definition TV
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Combination of High & Standard Definition TV
Digital television sets will include the digital TV tuner which will be either a High Definition or a Standard Definition tuner.
Some Plasma or LCD television sets are fitted with an analogue tuner, so these will require the use of a Digital Set Top box in order to receive the Digital Television programs.
Lower cost Set Top boxes generally only can receive Standard Definition television programs. High Definition Set Top Boxes are generally more expensive but will receive both Standard and High Definition TV programs.
Other Available Services
A number of new services will be accessible as a result of Digital TV. These are:
Data-Casting
Data-Casting is a home shopping or home banking service available through your television by using your remote control.
Internet Access
By plugging a keypad to your Set Top Box you will be able to surf the internet which will enable you to choose your favourite web sites. The Set Top Box will require a connection to your Internet Service provider.
Interactive TV
Interactive TV will give you a choice of selecting camera angles for favourite event e.g. Sport event. Also, you can select via the remote control a library of programs that you can view. Another advantage is that if you missed the local news for the night, you may be able to view it later, at a time that suits you.
Digital TV Reception
With analogue television, as the signal strength is reduced, the picture will steadily become noisier. With digital transmission however, the quality of the picture remains unaffected until quite suddenly the picture disappears altogether. This is due to the nature of the signals being sent from the transmitters. Therefore with Digital terrestrial TV reception you have basically two conditions “you either get a picture or you don’t”.
It's clearly very important to make sure that a receiver is normally operating well above the Threshold, so that variations in signal level(due for example to the antenna moving in the wind, or due to foliage growing on trees between the antenna and the transmitter) don't tip the signal over the Cliff.
To ensure that a strong clean signal is being received by the television set it is essential that the antenna system and cabling conforms to digital TV standards.
STARS Installations specialises in installation of TV antenna systems. We use only the highest quality materials and are equipped with the latest test equipment. This ensures that the installation will be guaranteed to provide the highest quality reception as well as a reliable service for years to come.