Digital TV(DTV) is an entirely new television system that will ultimately replace the existing analog system, commonly known as NTSC. The term "DTV" refers to a television system that can transmit, receive, and display digital images.

The digital television industry in Australia is using the DVB-T standard, first developed in Europe, rather than the American-developed ATSC standard. DVB-T is proving to be a very high quality system and is being used in many countries around the world. In Australia it will replace the analog PAL system.

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What benefits will digital television provide?

'Ghost free' reception
Widescreen 16:9 pictures
Standard Definition pictures (SD)
High Definition pictures (HD)
High quality audio and surround sound
Multi-channel programming
Closed Captioning of programs for the hearing impaired
Electronic Program Guides (EPGs) with 'now & next' program information for some channels
In selected markets, on-screen program guide channel with today's program information for Nine Network, Seven Network, Network Ten & SBS
In selected markets, HD demonstration channels

Multi-camera views and enhancements during selected programs

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Why are digital TV pictures sharper than with analog TV?

Analog television can suffer from multipath interference, which results in a 'ghosted' picture on your screen. Free to view digital tv is not affected by multipath interference and picture 'flutter'. So the digital result is a sharper, cleaner and clearer picture.

In areas of low signal strength, viewers of analog tv may experience 'snowy' pictures. Without adequate signal strength to the set top box, digital tv may not improve the viewing experience compared to analog. The digital tv pricture and sound may be affected by poor quality cables and connectors. DBA recommends the use of quality F-type connectors and quad shielded coax cables to ensure optimum picture and sound performance.

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What is the ATSC?

Advanced Television Systems Committee) An international digital television (DTV) standard adopted by the U.S., Canada. Broadcast over the air (terrestrial), via satellite or cable, ATSC transmits in a 6MHz channel and uses MPEG-2 video compression and Dolby Digital audio compression. ATSC was adopted by the FCC in 1996.

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What is the DVB-T?

DVB-T stands for Digital Video Broadcasting - Terrestrial and it is the DVB European consortium standard for the broadcast transmission of digital terrestrial television. This system transmits an MPEG-2 family digital audio/video stream, using OFDM modulation with concatenated channel coding.

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What is widescreen?

Digital television will be broadcast in widescreen mode. Widescreen television has a different aspect ratio (ratio of width to height) than traditional analog. The aspect ratio of a widescreen is 16:9, while Australian viewers have been accustomed to viewing a 4:3 aspect ratio since television began in this country.

Widescreen will, in many cases, literally mean you see more of the picture. Most movies are currently made in 16:9 and are converted to 4:3 to allow us to watch them on television or video, so there is a lot of information that you don't see on your television that you would see in the cinema version of the film. Live sporting events will benefit in particular from the extra detail and wider frame.

For some time now television production has been converting to widescreen, both locally and overseas. Widescreen programming is becoming more readily available and will eventually become the global standard.

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What are Standard Definition (SD) pictures?

SD picture quality is superior to that obtained from analog 4:3 sets, and is 'ghost free' and in widescreen format.

The SD picture resolution is 576 lines x 720 pixels @ 50Hz interlaced (576i).

The Federal Government requires broadcasters to provide a digital SD signal at all times, even when HD programs are being broadcast. This is to ensure that viewers with Standard Definition receivers will always be able to receive a digital television service even when the higher quality HD television signal is being transmitted.

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What are High Definition (HD) pictures?

HD pictures have image resolution which is superior to SD pictures and to the existing analog, with up to three times the improvement in detail.

There are two different levels of high definition:
1920 pixels x 1080 lines @ 50Hz interlaced
720 pixels x 576 lines @ 50Hz progressive

The benefits of HD pictures at the highest resolution are particularly noticeable on larger screen sets and when using projection equipment.

HD pictures are also ghost free and in widescreen format. When viewed on an HDTV screen the viewer can enjoy cinema-quality viewing with Dolby Digital sound (some HD programs).

Commercial free to air broadcasters are required to transmit a minimum of 1040 hours of 'native' HD programs (including advertisements) each year. In regional areas this is a requirement after two years from the commencement of digital tv transmissions in an area. Programs transmitted in High Definition will also be simultaneously broadcast in Standard Definition.

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What is multichannelling?

Because a digital signal can carry much more data than an analog signal, more than one channel of television programs can be broadcast in SDTV at the same time. This is known as multichannelling.

The Federal Government has decided that commercial broadcasters are not allowed to multichannel.

The ABC and SBS are allowed to broadcast, in addition to their main services, a wide range of programs including educational programs, regional news and current affairs, science and arts programs, children's programs, subtitled foreign programs, foreign language news and occasional dramas.

The ABC and SBS are able to transmit their radio services through their television channels, extending the reach of these services. The ABC also broadcasts its internet radio service - DiG - via digital television.

Broadcasters are also offering a number of program guide and information data channels and some are providing High Definition demonstration channels.

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What is Closed Captioning?

Closed captioning provides deaf and hearing-impaired viewers with the text of what is being spoken on television. The text is usually shown in a black box at the bottom of the picture. Hearing-impaired viewers will be familiar with current analog captioning which can be received on analog receivers with teletext capability. Captioning is normally 'closed' to viewers but can be accessed by those who need it.

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What is an EPG (Electronic Program Guide)?

An electronic program guide (EPG) is an on-screen listing of television programs, similar to the TV listings in your local newspaper. Digital television technology allows local broadcasters to transmit program-guide information to your digital TV along with regular programming content. Digital TV brings electronic program guides already familiar to many satellite and cable viewers to households that rely on over-the-air broadcasts.

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What equipment do I need to receive digital TV?

There are a number of ways to receive DTV signals. Some digital television sets have the digital decoding and tuning functions built into the TV - an integrated, one product solution. Others are a two-part system-a digital monitor, capable of displaying HDTV, EDTV, or SDTV signals-plus a tuner/demodulator/decoder in a separate set-top box. The two-part solution allows consumers to upgrade to DTV when they are ready.

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Will I need to upgrade my antenna?

If your antenna and antenna cabling is relatively new and in good condition, you should not need to replace your antenna. However as we find many digital reception problems are related to the antenna and or cabling, you should consider replace the antenna and cabling to receive uninterrupted digital television viewing.

Viewers in areas of poor analog reception may need specialist advice about antenna requirements for digital tv reception in their area.

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What is V-VChip 2.0 with Downloadable Rating?

The V-Chip is a device built into most newer television sets. The V-Chip electronically reads television-programming ratings and allows parents to block programs they believe are unsuitable for their children. Parental Controls can be used in conjunction with the V-Chip. The V-Chip is in every television set 13 inches or larger manufactured after January 2000 and some sets sold after July 1, 1999. This means if you bought a new television set after July 1, 1999, your television is most likely equipped with a V-Chip.

What is ASTC (SDTV-Tuner 480i) compared to your other Boxes?

All Artec convertor boxes with Standard Definition is output resolution at 480i.

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What is Channel Recall?

This function could return to the previous channel you viewed.

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What is Over-The-Air-Terrestrial 8VSB?

8VSB is the 8-level vestigial sideband modulation method adopted for terrestrial broadcast of the ATSC digital television standard in the United States, Canada, and other countries.

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What is Demodulation?

Demodulation is the act of removing the modulation from an analog signal to get the original baseband signal back. Demodulating is necessary because the receiver system receives a modulated signal with specific characteristics and it needs to turn it to base-band.

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What is picture in graphics?

It's picture freeze.

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What is Signal Quality Indication?

It views signal strength of the current channel.

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What is Display all multicast channels?

Because a digital signal can carry much more data than an analog signal, more than one channel of television programs can be broadcast in SDTV at the same time. This is known as multichannelling.

The Federal Government has decided that commercial broadcasters are not allowed to multichannel.

Broadcasters are also offering a number of program guide and information data channels and some are providing High Definition demonstration channels.

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What is seen in Display program information?

It displays the information of the active TV program.

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What's a splitter?

A splitter is a wiring device that can send a signal from your antenna into both your converter box and your TV set. With a splitter your TV set can receive analog signals directly from the antenna, while your converter box receives the digital signals from the antenna.

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