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All About HDTV TCF April 2009. 1. They Look Great. 50” Vizio. All About HDTV - Outline. Digital TV (DT) and High Definition (HDTV) Frequency Allocation What are Broadcasters Doing Where are the Signals Coming From Plasma, LCD and DLP Displays How to Hook Up HDTV to Your System
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They Look Great • 50” Vizio
All About HDTV - Outline • Digital TV (DT) and High Definition (HDTV) • Frequency Allocation • What are Broadcasters Doing • Where are the Signals Coming From • Plasma, LCD and DLP Displays • How to Hook Up HDTV to Your System • HD Recording • Consumer Guide 3
Analog vs. Digital TV (DT) • OTA Analog transmissions ceased in 2009 after over 50 years. DT offers better picture quality – no “snow”, no geometric distortion, no convergence problems • Each pixel separately generated • Stereo and surround sound (5.1) built-in • MPEG-2 compresses 1 Gb/s video stream • One 6 MHz Channel can carry 20 Mb/sec or several DT (HDTV and SDTV) sub channels and other data (8-VSB and QAM) 4
Digital TV and HDTV (cont.) • DT Formats – 480i, 576i, 720p, 1080i, 1080p (1080p Blue-Ray, HD-DVD only) • Native HDTV Formats - 720p or 1080i, up or down conversion is required • Aspect Ratios – 4:3, 16:9 – black stripes, missing foreheads or 300-lb bodies • On-Screen Daily Schedules 5
2009 TV Receivers • Sets with HD display and no tuners (HD ready or HD monitor) • Sets with HD display, NTSC/ATSC and QAM tuners with or without cable cards (most common) • Sets with SD display (LCD or CRT) and NTSC/ATSC tuner (least expensive)
Frequency Allocation • Old Assignments: VHF (Ch. 2-13) and UHF (Ch. 14-68) • New Assignments: Upper VHF, lower UHF (Ch. 7-53) • Government Will Auction the Vacated Channels for $$ Billions, issued rebate coupons for converter boxes 7
What Are Broadcasters Doing? • Broadcasters take advantage of uninformed public • Saving on Quality for Profits – more channels, less HD • Few Broadcasters provide a consistent true HD Signal • Cable and satellite providers degrade the HD signal by further compressing it • Over-the-air still the best – not publicized and hushed up by cable providers and retailers 8
Transmission and Modulation NTSC/ATSC/QAM Tuners QAM (Cable) 6 MHz + Video Stream 1 Gbit/sec MPEG-2 20 Mbits/sec 8-VSB (OTA) 6 MHz
Digital Transmission • 6 MHz Channel
Are You Watching HDTV? • Sleeping in the Garage Doesn't Make You a Car • Nearly half of the 24 million households with HDTVs don't actually watch high-definition programs • HDTV Material Doesn't Grow on Trees 11
Where Are the Digital Signals Coming from? • Digital Cable • Satellite (Dish Network) • Over the Air – An old antenna, even rabbit ears will often do • Blue Ray DVDs and other new formats 12
Over the Air (OTA) Transmission • Free and of excellent quality • No such thing as an HD Antenna • Depending on location – Rabbit ears, a good antenna on the roof or in attic • An inexpensive RF amplifier may help • For available channels, signal strength and directions: www.antennaweb.org
Plasma, LCD and DLP Displays • Plasma – Generates its own light, vivid colors, best viewing angle, but subject to burn-in, ambient light a problem (glare, reflections) • LCD – Backlit, (Venetian blinds) good pastel colors, poor blacks, low power consumption, low weight, good in lighted areas, 42” or less • DLP – Reflected light (Rear projection), bright colors, relatively expensive, fragile, 50” and up, • www.howstuffworks.com/lcd2.htm 14
Plasma Display • Panel Cross Section 15
Plasma Display (cont.) • Cell arrangement 16
LCD Display • Polarization 17
LCD Display (cont.) • More Details 18
DLP (Projection) Display • How it works 19
How to Hook Up HDTV to Your A/V System • Typical Input/Output Panel in Back of the TV
How to Hook Up HDTV to Your System (A/V Components) • Over-the-air and cable combination • Analog vs. digital cable (cable cards, boxes) • Use of additional tuners (VCR, ATSC) • Analog and digital audio to your HiFi • Use with laptop as monitor • DVD Player • Games, computer and other components 21
How to Hook Up HDTV to Your System (Inputs and Outputs) • Varies between Manufacturers and Models • Composite (3 RCA cables) – OK quality • Component (5 RCA cables) – Excellent quality • HDMI – Excellent quality but DRM restrictions • S-Video + audio – Good quality • RGB (15 pins) + audio • Analog Audio (Stereo) • Digital Audio (5.1) 22
How to Hook Up HDTV to Your System (Cable Types) • HDMI, RCA, S-Video, RGB 23
How I Hooked Up HDTV to My System (OTA and Analog Cable) • Combining Over-the-air with analog cable HDTV Cable VCR AV1 Antenna DTV/TV 24
Recording of HD/SD Programs • Lack of video outputs on most HDTV sets makes recording difficult (DRM raises its ugly head) • Recording to PC hard drive with external tuner • Regular VCR if analog output available from HDTV or digital cable box • TiVo recording to hard drive • DVRs with built-in ATSC/QAM tuners and DVD recording media coming down in price 25
Current HD/SD Programming • Networks simulcast their main analog channel • Plenty of weather and cooking channels • News, sports, specials and some shows in HD • PBS carries a separate HD channel with high quality documentaries, cultural and science programs (3-hour operas from the MET, full concerts, etc)
Government Coupon Program • Analog OTA transmission ceased on 2/17/2009 • Between 1/1/08 and 3/31/09 you could call 1-888-388-2009 to apply • 1-2 $40 Rebate coupons per household • Coupons expire 90 days after issue • ATSC OTA to analog converters will give new life to old TVs and VCRs
Consumer Guide • Fit Size to Your Viewing Area • Built-in ATSC/QAM tuner or HD-Ready • Plasma, LCD or DLP • Availability of Inputs and Outputs • Price, warranties, repair cost • Ask questions on alt.tv.tech.hdtv and check http://www.avsforum.com 31
Additional Resources • Converter box site: www.dtv2009.gov: • Quiz to tell if you are ready for HDTV: www.dtvtransition.org: