Heading toward dtv (digital TV) transition
Well, February 17, 2009 is the last day of analog TV broadcasts. There’s lots of information, buzz and rumor going around and I will be posting blogs to keep you up to date. I will be writing a series of blogs to make you familiar with the transition. Read ahead and if it doesn’t all sink in because of the jargon…know that I will cover each term later (like bandwidth, broadcast standard, digital and analog, frequency, tuners and more)or you can look them up here
First, what does the digital tv transition mean?
Since the early days of TV broadcasts a standard was created called NTSC so all broadcasters would send a signal that all TVs would be able to receive and show the programs.
With the invention of HDTV, and computers making it possible to send TV programming digitally (like the way the internet comes to your computer), digital television became possible.
The advantages were that you could get a much better picture and full digital surround sound that puts you in the middle of the sound. Another advantage was that there wouldn’t be interference from one channel to the next.
After the digital transition all local TV stations will send their programs digitally on the ATSC bandwidths (think frequency like tuning into a radio station– the ATSC bandwidth is on the UHF channel bandwidth like those TV channels above 13.)
Next up…Why should YOU care?
Just one note of clarification:
While the majority of U.S. DTV stations operate on UHF channels 14-63. Quite a few are now and many more will return to the VHF spectrum (channels 2-13) post transition in 2009 (by latest county approximately 500 stations).
Early in the planning process for the conversion to digital, there was talk of vacating channels 2-6 (low VHF)- but for a variety of reasons (mostly technical), the FCC has decided after 2009, the core television band will be channels 2 through 51. The upper end of the UHF spectrum is going away for use by public safety and land mobile.
Although, it should be said 80% to 90% of television viewers will not have any idea about any of this, since they will continue to receive their programming by cable, satellite, or fiber.