Everyman's Non-Technical Guide to HDTV - By: Gareth Black

The Dish Network satellite TV provider is not only one of America's most progressive TV companies but also has a reputation for being at the forefront of the latest technical changes in the provision of programming options. Along with the introduction of plasma and LCD televisions, HDTV (high definition television) programs are becoming more and more popular.

Brief overview of TV Transmission
In 1996 the introduction of Digital TV transmission sounded the death knell of Analog television. Although it's taken many years for Analog to finally succumb to the improved technology that is Digital, the end came in early 2009 when broadcasters had by law to cease transmitting Analog TV signals and transmit only in the Digital format.

Digital TV (SDTV) gave a superior picture and clearer sound than the out-of-date Analog system. Viewers had a TV viewing experience far in excess of what Analog could ever provide.

However in the years since the start of Digital transmission, television technology has improved even further and now one of the latest features is High Definition TV (HDTV). This again is a vast improvement on its predecessor the SDTV and provides a greatly improved television viewing experience.

HDTV is becoming more and more popular with new television buyers particularly at times when an important sporting event such as the Olympic Games is due to start. HDTV is particularly suited to sporting events - the movement of an athlete or a ball is crisp and precise. There is no 'shadow' behind the athlete during fast movement.

What is 'Digital TV' and 'HDTV'
'Digital TV' is the term used to describe SDTV
'HDTV' is the latest form of 'Digital TV' and is simply called 'HDTV'
'Digital TV' does NOT refer to HDTV. HDTV is the superior form of 'Digital TV'

HDTV is the latest and best in modern TV technology
High definition TV was released in the late 90s to much acclaim from the TV experts because of the precise, improved picture clarity and clearer sound. The quality of HDTV cannot be matched by standard definition TV, a point understood by someone seeing HDTV for the first time. Once the superiority of HDTV has been acknowledged, a family will have difficulty in going back to the inferior SDTV format.

The factor that determines the quality of a TV picture is the number of vertical lines on the screen. The SDTV system is based on 480 to 576 lines. The more acceptable HDTV figure is about 1080 lines, with the minimum being set at 720 lines. At 1080 lines, the narrower lines gives a picture resolution of between 2 and 5 times better than SDTV, a difference that would persuade many to adopt HDTV.

What's needed to enjoy high definition reception in addition to a HD television:

1) A suitable tuner will be needed. This could be incorporated in the TV, or else a set-top box unit may be necessary.

2) An appropriate satellite dish will be needed if the viewer subscribes to a satellite TV provider.

3) The viewer will need to be signed up to receive HD programs from the TV program provider.

4) The whole system will need to be configured correctly.

As families replace and upgrade their televisions to the newer HDTV system, the TV providers, both satellite and cable, are having to greatly increase the number of HD channels available for their customers. The Dish Network satellite TV company, for example, has at the moment over 140 channels in HD, with more to added as time goes by,

Families today are looking for improvements in their life-styles, and the increasing popularity of a home entertainment system with the most up-to-date features is testament to this. The center piece of such a system is a HDTV, along with programs from either a satellite TV provider such as Dish Network, or a cable TV company.

About the Author

The author, Dave Neville, has an interest in a website that deals with satellite TV, and includes a review of the range of programs included in the Dish Network HDTV packages, and a look at the best dish TV deals.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Gareth-Black/31719

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