How is it better and how can you get digital TV?
Simply put, digital TV refers to the technology of broadcasting television signals in a digital format. Since the inception of television and up until the late 1990s, TV signals were exclusively broadcast in analogue form. This involved using an analogue carrier wave to transmit the signal through the air to be picked up by an aerial and transformed into a picture on the screen. However, analogue signals have their limitations.
The quality of the signal can vary and, even today, some areas of the UK struggle to get a decent analogue reception. TV viewers that find it difficult to pick up Channel Five will know about this problem. Furthermore, there are limits to the amount of information that can be transmitted in an analogue signal.
In contrast, digital signals are far more efficient and, crucially, can include far more information. A digital signal can be compressed so that much more information can be included. The result of this is that the quality of picture and sound on your TV set is greatly enhanced.
But that's not all - by compressing the data and including more in the signal, digital TV has the capability to deliver much more and thus it significantly broadens the scope of possibilities in television broadcasting. With the advent of digital TV has come interactive TV, in which the user can control their viewing experience and access extra features. Also, with digital TV there have come other user- friendly features, such as electronic program guides, additional languages, flexible subtitle choices and a host of multimedia options.
The invention of digital TV has also precipitated the development of High-Definition television. It is specifically designed to work with digital TV signals to maximise the medium to deliver the best clarity of sound and picture the television industry has ever known. High-Definition television sets are already in the shops, enabling viewers to enjoy the benefits of digital quality broadcasting today.
So how can you take a giant step into the future and get digital TV? Technology-wise, you can receive digital TV in four ways: through an aerial, cable, satellite dish or broadband. As the signal is compressed and coded, a decoding device is needed. Many new television sets have these decoders built in and so the viewer simply needs to buy the television set to get Freeview digital TV. However, for those using older sets, a 'set top' decoder is required. These can be bought from many electronics outlets. Appropriately fitted PCs can also receive digital TV signals.
Suppliers of digital TV
Supplier-wise, there are a number options for you to consider including BT Vision, Freeview, Sky TV and Virgin Media. Freeview allows you to watch all free to air channels. That means around 40 channels including all the BBC and ITV options, Channel 4 and Channel 5. Freeview is the cheapest way to access digital TV and the minimum requirement needed once total switchover is completed by the end 2012. Freeview can be accessed via a one-off payment for the receiver box, or by purchasing a Freeview-ready TV, and from then on you will have access to digital TV at no further cost.
Alternatively, BT, Sky or Virgin Media can offer a subscription service that provides many more channels. Each of the subscription TV companies provides all the Freeview channels as well as many others. Subscription digital TV services are available in a range of packages to suit any budget, so, whatever your viewing habits, there is a digital TV package that is right for you, right now.
