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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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