DTV and HDTV - Why You Need To Understand the Difference
8118
Science and Technology > HDTV
Mar 1, 2007
Jim Johnson
DTV and HDTV - Why You Need To Understand the Difference
There are so many acronyms used in defining television technology that is difficult to keep it all straight, and even worse, sometimes the acronyms are almost the same. That's the case with DTV and HDTV. At first glance they would seem to be very similar, and yes they are definitely related, but there are also significant differences as well.
DTV stands for Digital TV, and HDTV stands for High Definition TV. To understand DTV, you have to go back before cable and satellite TV to the time when all broadcasts were picked up by antenna. Those television signals were broadcast in analog format, which is severely limited in how much audio and video information it can transmit. Back then all TV sets received analog signals and the main choice you had to make was how large the TV screen was going to be.
When first cable and then satellite came on the scene, they changed things dramatically. Instead of just sending analog signals they were able to broadcast in digital instead. That immediately improved both the picture and sound for televisions that were ready to receive digital signals. The improved video was far sharper and smoother than anything before, and the sound quality took a similar leap forward too. So DTV is simply a higher standard for TV broadcasting than was available in previous analog TV systems.
HDTV however, is the next evolutionary step in digital broadcasting. It takes DTV to a new level and makes both the television sound and video so much better. For instance, many DTV programs are sent in 525i format, which means that 525 lines of information are displayed on the screen and interlaced, or shown in alternate order. In other words, all the odd lines are shown in 1/10 of a second and then all the even lines are shown in the next 1/20 of a second. Because it all happens so fast you never clearly see the alternating pattern, but it is there.
Broadcasts made in HDTV however can reach up to 1080p, which is a standard where 1080 lines of information are shown on the screen and they are all shown together in a progressive scan instead of interlaced. What that means for you is a picture with much higher clarity and definition and action sequences that are much smoother to watch.
There are also other features of the HDTV format, including widescreen and Dolby 5.1 surround sound that take television viewing to a whole new level too, so DTV was the start of all of this improved entertainment, but HDTV is where we will really see the benefits unfold for all of us.
DTV stands for Digital TV, and HDTV stands for High Definition TV. To understand DTV, you have to go back before cable and satellite TV to the time when all broadcasts were picked up by antenna. Those television signals were broadcast in analog format, which is severely limited in how much audio and video information it can transmit. Back then all TV sets received analog signals and the main choice you had to make was how large the TV screen was going to be.
When first cable and then satellite came on the scene, they changed things dramatically. Instead of just sending analog signals they were able to broadcast in digital instead. That immediately improved both the picture and sound for televisions that were ready to receive digital signals. The improved video was far sharper and smoother than anything before, and the sound quality took a similar leap forward too. So DTV is simply a higher standard for TV broadcasting than was available in previous analog TV systems.
HDTV however, is the next evolutionary step in digital broadcasting. It takes DTV to a new level and makes both the television sound and video so much better. For instance, many DTV programs are sent in 525i format, which means that 525 lines of information are displayed on the screen and interlaced, or shown in alternate order. In other words, all the odd lines are shown in 1/10 of a second and then all the even lines are shown in the next 1/20 of a second. Because it all happens so fast you never clearly see the alternating pattern, but it is there.
Broadcasts made in HDTV however can reach up to 1080p, which is a standard where 1080 lines of information are shown on the screen and they are all shown together in a progressive scan instead of interlaced. What that means for you is a picture with much higher clarity and definition and action sequences that are much smoother to watch.
There are also other features of the HDTV format, including widescreen and Dolby 5.1 surround sound that take television viewing to a whole new level too, so DTV was the start of all of this improved entertainment, but HDTV is where we will really see the benefits unfold for all of us.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com
Jim Johnson writes about consumer related matters. Find out more about directtv hdtv and hdtv reviews at our HDTV website.
Write a Review
Add to My Favorite
Refer it to Friend
Report Article
Other links owned by this user
If you haven't experienced listening to satellite radio yet, be sure that you schedule some time to do so soon. It's a real breakthrough in radio ng technology that improves the entire listening experience. For so many years, radio
Category:
The a so many good ways to get fit and maintain good health through exercise and no one method works for everybody. That's why it's good to have a choice of fitness methods to use. One home fitness exercise that has been gaining in popularity in
Category:
These days mp3 players are all the rage and consumers are lining up to take advantage of this latest evolution in music technology. But there are already lots of portable mp3 players on the market and many don't understand what to look for when they
Category:
Not so long ago, home interior design was considered to be an industry of prestige. For those who could afford their services, interior designers could help them create a stunning and beautiful living space. But times have been changing, and that is
Category:
A cruise vacation is always an exciting opportunity to unwind and see places and people that you have never seen before. And in the meantime, you can get away from the regular pace of your normal life. But before setting sail it's a good idea to know
Category:
You have probably been hearing about satellite radio for a while and of course, lately there has been plenty of news about Howard Stwern setting up shop Sirius and bringing his fan base alg with him. So now you have decided that it's time to get
Category:
A camcorder is a great way to document the important events and experiences of your life just as they happened. Still pictures are great for some things, but nothing beats a high quality recording of audio and video from a special event. Because digital
Category:
I you don't have someone to take with you on a cruise vacation, you may just ind that someone instead, on an adult singles cruise. The cruise lines today are realizing that there is a huge market o singles that would like to get to know others in a
Category:
For the LPN or RN who wants to get a BSN in Nursing, there are several online nursing ams available. Although the ams do not encompass the entire curriculum, the additional work that is required for a degree in the field is offered. These
Category:
Trees can contribute to the oall appearance of your front yard perhaps more than almost any other part of your landscaping design. Unfortunately, many new homes that are now being built come with almost no trees on the property at all, or at least
Category:
When it comes to high quality flat screen TVs, there are a number of choices available these ays an the technology is constantly improving. However, as each competing TV screen technology matures an improves, the ifferences between them become more
Category:
Have you been hinking abou adding a pilaes exercise rouine o your daily workous? If so, you aren' alone. Millions are urning o pilaes exercises o help ge in shape and manage heir physical healh. In case you don' know much abou pilaes
Category:
Pursuing higher education is the goal of many people today as today's job markets increasingly require more and higher quality education in order to find meaningful employment. When faced with the decision of which college to attend in order to get
Category:
RV parks and campgrounds are a necessary part of traveling for most RVers, especially tse that travel on a full-time basis. They are a little oasis in an unfamiliar area, and can provide the necessary okups to let you enjoy many of the comforts of
Category:
If you have been thinking about hitting the road in an RV or motorhome whether for just a short vacation or a more long term trip, you probably have come to realize that there are plenty of choices available to consumers days when it comes to
Category:
For those that are suffering from mani depression symptoms, there is little good that they see or feel. Mani depression is muh different from that of linial depression. Mani is also and more ommonly known, as bipolar disorder, a life threatening
Category:
The internet has brought many new and exciting technologies into the homes of most people and one of the great innovations that has come about because of the internet is streaming digital video. The ability to install a webcam and communicate with
Category:
Most people would agree that the best home secury system is one that effectively avoids the crime, or prevents in the first place. Of course, 's a good idea to also have steps built into your home secury plan that helps foil a break-in after
Category:
Travel on the open road in an RV or motorhome can be very inexpensive to be sure, but there are some costs associated with it though. For those that travel on a budget, the challenge is to minimize those costs as much as possible. One way to really keep
Category:
Crime is unfortunately a part of life, and no matter where you live you can find yourself a victim of me intrusion. However, you can put into practice suggestions that can greatly reduce your odds of being the victim of an intruder. When it comes to
Category:
Other links at Science and Technology > HDTV
As with so many questions in life the answer to whether you neeed to buy a HDTV now or wait longer, is that it depends. It depends on your own viewing habits and how much television you like to watch. It also depends on how much you can afford to
Category:
If you have ever seen a plasma TV screen displaying HDTV programming, you know why so many people are rapidly discarding their old CRT type televisions and getting ready for the digital TV revolution. Plasma TVs produce such sharp, crisp images that
Category:
HDTV is a vastly improved method of broadcasting television shows and watching entertainment media. It is a byproduct of the digital age in electronics. By converting the picture and sound in digital format, great improvements have been made in the
Category:
Television, one of the greatest entertainment devices ever created. Back in the day, people were outstanded by the capability of being e to watch broadcasts in black & white. People were amazed by the technology of being
Category:
There are so many acronyms used in defining television technology that is difficult to keep it all straight, and even worse, sometimes the acronyms are almost the same. That's the case with DTV and HDTV. At first glance they would seem to be very
Category:
Site Sponsor
Directory Statistics
Articles: 68285
Categories: 501
Yahoo Entertainment
