Digital Television Questions Answered Part 1

I’ve had a number of friends, family, and co-workers ask me questions about the digital television switchover next year. Most questions involve confusion between standard definition and high definition. In addition, most people don’t realize that you may not even need to get a new TV in order to take advantage of digital signals! But mostly, people wonder what’s the point. There’s the answer the government will tell you, and the real answer.

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Digital Television is exactly what it sounds like. Channels broadcast their signal over the airwaves digitally instead of the regular analog channel. In many cases, this means standard definition. You won’t get that “squished” look on your TV with most standard definition channels. This may also mean that broadcasts may include “sub” channels. For instance, Channel 41 in the Kansas City area broadcasts weather data continuously on one of their sub channels. You won’t need a “High Def” TV to view this or any digital signal. A broadcast channel can choose to broadcast in high definition which normally results in features like better picture quality and surround sound. If you don’t have a HD TV, then you just don’t get the “special features.”

If you already have cable or satellite internet, you don’t actually have to think about this switch at all. This digital initiative will only affect over the air broadcast channels. The set top boxes for your cable/satellite are technically digital converters anyway. If you are receiving broadcast signals and don’t have a digital TV or tuner, you will either need to get a new TV with a digital tuner built into it, or purchase a converter box for which the government is offering a rebate program. The unfortunate nature of digital means that you would need one DTV converter box for each device in your house (TVs and VCRs included if you’re recording things over the air).

Tune in next time for what the FCC and others are telling you about the Digital Television Switch, as well as what they aren’t.