How Can I Tell If My TV is Ready For Digital TV?

Just like the 5 fingers of the hand are not similar, similarly the thinking of all people are not the same. Some of them believe that their analogue TV is well equipped to receive digital broadcasts. Though digital TV has taken the world by storm, it is a fact that a large percentage of people worldwide, still use analogue TVs. Some of them are planning to switch over to the digital gizmos, but they want to know if their analogue TV can receive digital broadcasts.

The best way to answer their queries is to check out the stark difference between the two types of transmissions and how the receiver identifies these signals and convert them into images on the TV screen. The basic difference between these two types of TV lies in the way the TV signal is transmitted. The signal of an analogue TV is transmitted in a manner which is similar to the manner radio signals are broadcasted. The video signals of the analogue TV is transmitted in what is technically known as `amplitude modulation’ or AM whereas its audio signals are transmitted via `frequency modulation’ (FM).

This is why you can catch the audio signals of analogue TV broadcasts in your FM radio. This it totally different as far as digital TV signals are concerned. Over here, the signals are transmitted as bits of data, similar to the data that is there on your CD. Being composed of data or a series of `0’ & `1’ (meaning `on’ & `off’) means that in the `0’ phase, there is no image and in the `1’ phase the viewer sees the full image. There is no gradual loss of signal as in the analogue TV. If you are far away from the transmitter, you just cannot receive the signals and hence cannot see anything.

Unlike the analogue TV, where one can use `signal boosters’ to enhance or amplify the signal quality, digital receptions are either available or not available. You must have noticed the small dish type things on rooftops. These are the antennas for receiving broadcasts to your digital satellite TV through telecasters like Sky TV. The designs of digital TVs are totally different from the analogues ones. These new breed of TVs are designed keeping all aspects of television signals into consideration so that color, black & white, and audio can be transmitted together as either an progressive or interlaced signals.

These signals are not supported by analogues TVs. If you still have any doubts whether your TV can accept digital telecasts or not, check out the manual and see if there is any mention about a digital tuner or better check if there is any mention about an ATSC (advanced television systems committee) on the set. If your TV set has them, then your TV will support digital telecasts. A simpler way would be to check the manufacturer’s website and see if the model you own is digital ready or not.

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