all about hdtv tcf april 2009

All About HDTVCass Lewart © 200011

All About HDTVTCF April 2009


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


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)


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


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


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


Transmission and Modulation

NTSC/ATSC/QAM Tuners

Video Stream1 Gbit/sec

+MPEG-2

20 Mbits/sec

QAM (Cable) 6 MHz

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


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


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

http://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


Plasma Display

Panel Cross Section


Plasma Display (cont.)

Cell arrangement


LCD Display

Polarization


LCD Display (cont.)

More Details


DLP (Projection) Display

How it works

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


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)


How to Hook Up HDTV to Your System (Cable Types)

HDMI, RCA, S-Video, RGB


How I Hooked Up HDTV to My System (OTA and Analog Cable)

Combining Over-the-air with analog cable

VCR

HDTV

Antenna

Cable AV1

DTV/TV


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


Pinnacle PCTV HD Stick


HD Picture on PC Screen

.


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

D/A Converter Hook Up

.


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


Additional Resources

Converter box site: www.dtv2009.gov: Quiz to tell if you are ready for HDTV:

www.dtvtransition.org:

all about hdtv tcf april 2009

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