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Top Three Things that Analog Users Need to Know
Analog television is the form of television broadcasting that has been used in
the United States for the past 50 years. At the time of its invention, it was
one of the greatest discoveries of all time. Later, as black and white analog
television evolved to color, people were amazed by its ability to transmit such
clear and wonderful pictures. But, analog television is quickly becoming the
dinosaur as it clears way for the new technology of HDTV.
What is Analog Television?
Analog signals are transported as electronic waves, in which sounds and images
are represented through changing voltage levels and frequencies. Transmitters
broadcast these signals over the air and they signals are, in turn, translated
into sounds and images by the television. The waves shape is, unfortunately,
prone to degradation as it travels from the transmitter to the viewer's home. In
addition, factors such as household appliances and planes passing overhead can
interfere with television signals. This can result in a less clear picture.
HDTV Produces a Clearer Picture
HDTV needs to be transmitted via digital television. Unlike analog television,
digital television is transmitted by dividing sounds and images into small
computer information components as binary code. This produces a more consistent
signal, which is capable of better resisting interference. Also, there is no
possibility of the computer data being misinterpreted, unlike the analog wave.
Digital television sets are able to receive data consistently in order to decode
it back into sounds and images. Digital television signals are free from
interference and, therefore, do not develop 'ghost' images or snow, as seen on
analog televisions. In fact, the result is a perfect picture that is comparable
to studio quality.
In addition, HDTV has much better sound quality. Just like the image, the sound
is digital. The difference between analog sound and HDTV sound is comparable to
the difference between the sound produced by CD's and that produced by
audiocassette tapes. Furthermore, most HDTV broadcasting offers Dolby 5.1
surround sound, which further enhances the quality of listening.
Basically, HDTV can make the television viewing experience comparable to that of
watching a movie at the theatre. Analog television simply can't compete.
FCC Regulations
Currently, digital television sets are set up to also display analog content.
The current FCC plan, however, calls for stations to give up their rights to
analog spectrums to the FCC by 2006 or when 85% of the households in the
station's market are capable of receiving digital television. Furthermore, the
FCC is dictating that all televisions made after March 2007 have digital tuners.
For most television companies, this means phasing out the production of analog
televisions altogether.
When this happens, it will be necessary for analog television users to purchase
digital-to-analog converters. Without one, the analog television set will be
completely incapable of receiving television signals.
The majority of HD tuners currently on the market are capable of making the
conversion from digital to analog, but less costly set-top-boxes will most
likely be available by the time the mandated digital transition takes place.
These boxes will be capable of converting the digital transmission to an analog
signal for analog televisions. Still, viewers using analog televisions will not
receive the extra quality and sound gained by HDTV technology. In addition, all
widescreen programming will be displayed as letterboxed on an analogy television
set.
Widescreen Viewing
Analog television is completely incapable of broadcasting in true widescreen
format. On the other hand, HDTVs are set up to accommodate widescreen movies and
television shows. Widescreen formatting allows the shape of the picture on the
television screen to resemble the shape of a movie screen, which is the way the
filmmaker intended it to be seen.
In addition, sports are more enjoyable to watch on an HDTV than on an analog
television. In fact, more sports action can be captured with HDTV than with an
analog television set. So much of the action can be seen on an HDTV that the
entire length of a football field can be viewed on the television, without
making it look like the field is a long distance away from the camera.
With so many advantages to HDTV it is hard to understand why so many people
continue to hang on to their analog television sets. Furthermore, within the
next few years, those still clutching to their ancient analog television sets
might find themselves without television unless they finally make that leap into
the wave of the future, HDTV.
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