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Imagine, TV so lifelike you'll want to stroll into it- this is HDTV. Hi-Definition Television, or HDTV has been around for years, but only recently has readily available technology made it the coolest, thing to happen to home entertainment since color. HDTV has lifelike, crystal clear pictures and digital sound - so you get more of a panoramic view, enhancing your home theater experience.
| You might have seen a "Simulcast in HDTV" logo at the beginning of shows on the major networks and some cable networks as well. The network programming is there, and more is being added all the time. |
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First a little history
For the past 60 years, the standard in broadcasting has been the analog signal. In analog TV, a 6 MHz signal carries intensity and color information for each scan line of the picture. This equals 525 scan lines for the image, which is refreshed every 30th of a second. The horizontal resolution is around 500 dots per inch, with an aspect ration of 4:3, which is why traditional television is boxy.
Along comes HDTV
You may have heard about HDTV years ago. Well that's because the technology has been around since the mid 80's. However not until recently have television shows been broadcast using HDTV technology. HDTV is defined as high-resolution digital television (DTV) combined with Dolby Digital surround sound. In almost every major city, network shows are broadcast in HDTV. You might have seen a "Simulcast in HDTV" logo at the beginning of shows on the major networks and some cable networks as well. The network programming is there, and more is being added all the time.
HDTV tech-specs
The higher resolution picture is the main selling point for HDTV. Imagine 720 or 1080 lines of resolution compared to the 525 lines which people are used to - it's a huge difference!
The formats used in HDTV are:
- 720p - 1280x720 pixels progressive
- 1080i - 1920x1080 pixels interlaced
- 1080p - 1920x1080 pixels progressive
Of the 18 DTV formats, six are HDTV formats, five of which are based on progressive scanning and one on interlaced scanning. Of the remaining formats, eight are SDTV (four wide-screen formats with 16:9 aspect ratios, and four conventional formats with 4:3 aspect ratios), and the remaining four are video graphics array (VGA) formats. Stations are free to choose which formats to broadcast.
"Interlaced" or "progressive" refers to the scanning system. In an interlaced format, the screen shows every odd line at one scan of the screen, and then follows that up with the even lines in a second scan. Since there are 30 frames shown per second, the screen shows one half of the frame every sixtieth of a second. For smaller screens, this is less noticeable. As screens get larger, the problem with interlacing is flicker (screen appearing lighter and darker).
Progressive scanning shows the whole picture, every line in one showing, every sixtieth of a second. This provides for a much smoother picture, but uses slightly more bandwidth.
Know your receiver
In order to get HDTV there are three basic ways to receive signals. Over-the-air (OVA) broadcasts such as network stations; digital satellite TV providers like DIRECTV or DISHNetwork; or HDTV via cable. When you come into Myer-Emco, we'll help you to determine what type of receiver is best for you.
The future of television
It's not just the consumer who needs new equipment; HDTV requires new production and transmission equipment at television stations as well. Currently, the FCC plans on transitioning from analog to digital broadcasts in the year 2009, making the switch to an all-digital system. The change will mark the end of the traditional analog method of broadcasting over-the-air television. This doesn't mean the end of free broadcast television for all your favorite programs. As we get closer to 2009, your current analog television set will either have to be replaced or you will need to buy some sort of set-top box for converting the digital signal. Subscribers to "pay" television services such as cable and satellite aren't likely to be affected by the switch. Only analog television owners who currently receive analog broadcasts over the air via an antenna will need take action prior to the switch. So now is definitely a great time to upgrade. To really take advantage of HDTV today, we recommend getting a HD ready flat panel television. Come by MyerEmco AudioVideo today. Our expert staff will design a home entertainment system with a HDTV that best suits your needs. For more information please call MyerEmco at (301) 921-0700 or email us at Custom@myeremco.com.
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LCD Panel features an extremely wide viewing angle of 178, so whether you're right in front of the TV or sitting off to the side, you'll still get great image quality. A 10,000:1 contrast ratio delivers beautiful, natural colors and deep blacks. Includes 3 HDMI Inputs and VIERA Link HDAVI control. C32LX85
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