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Digital Tv Question

Shaners

By Shaners
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Shaners Senior Enthusiast

Shaners

Posted
Posted

I just bought a new Sharp Aquos 46D64U. This TV is a 1080P HDTV.

 

When I did an auto scan of my channels (cable), I picked up all these channels like 92.3, 93.12, 95.4 etc. There are a few channels that I didn't get before, but most seem to be a digital version of a channel that I can also recieve in analog form.

 

Digital TV is new to me, and I have never seen anything like this. My cable company doesn't show these channels on their lineup page.

 

Can someone explain how this works? It appears to me that since digital takes less band width, they have broken channels down into 12 or more pieces...

 

BTW, it seems that I also am able to pick up the PayPerView channels too... after about 1 hour they go away...

dsmazz Enthusiast

dsmazz

Posted
Posted

The local channels in my area are:

 

4 - CBS

6 - NBC

8 - ABC

12 - PBS

18 - FOX

20 - ???

24 - PBS

 

We have an HDTV, and it picks up all of those above which are analog, plus the following HD channels:

 

6.1, 6.2, 6.3 - NBC

8.1, 8.2, 8.3 - ABC

18.1, 18.2 - FOX/CW

24.1, 24.2 - PBS

 

4, 12, and 20 don't broadcast in HD in our area.

 

My wife works at the local ABC station, and she knows about this stuff, but I myself don't have a clue. In order to receive the extended HD channels, I use an HD antenna on my set. We have DirecTV and don't subscribe to local channels, but I don't think they carry the HD local channels, but maybe they do. Don't get the PayPerView issue. I doubt that has anything to do with the TV.

-Devil- Enthusiast

-Devil-

Posted
Posted

i wouldn't worry about it to much .. i think it is next year when they start the push over to all digital channels ... then it becomes a requirement in 09 (may have the year wrong) ...

dsmazz Enthusiast

dsmazz

Posted
Posted
i wouldn't worry about it to much .. i think it is next year when they start the push over to all digital channels ... then it becomes a requirement in 09 (may have the year wrong) ...

 

Well it was originally pushed out to '09 from like '07. My wife came home the other day and said now it's pushed out to 2013. It costs a television station anywhere from 1 to 3 million dollars to convert their equipment over to broadcast in HD. A lot of stations don't have the money, so that's why it's getting pushed out again.

  • 2 weeks later...
sk Senior Enthusiast

sk

Posted
Posted

Here are a few quick points to clarify:

  • * The changeover to all-digital is still set for February 17, 2009
    * Digital and HD are NOT the same. The stations MUST broadcast in digital after the change but they do not have to broadcast in HD. Some are switching to HD at the same time but many are not because of the high cost involved with HD equipment.
    * The move to digital DOES free up bandwith. A digital station can supply numerous feeds on the same "frequency". That is why you have a 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, etc. Most of the stations in my area that are broadcasting digital use ".1" for the standard program, ".2" for the same program in digital, and ".3" for either a different digital program or 24-hour local weather.
    * If you buy a digital-ready TV you need to do NOTHING (all of the new flat-panel HDTV's are ready for digital). If you use an old analog TV with a cable or satellite box you need to do NOTHING. If you use an old analog TV with an aerial you will have to purchase a digital converter box but your old TV will still work once you have one of these.

The above is a really basic summary. If you want technical details search the web and you will find alot of discussions on the changeover. You can also get alot of information at the official government site at Government DTV Site

Roofer Senior Enthusiast

Roofer

Posted
Posted

Does this mena local channels through an antenna will not be on anymore? Is that considered analog? Can this signal be converted to digital through the antenna?

 

I am just curious. I have Directv for most of my tv's, but I don't have one single HDtv yet.

 

Also, are you saying that we do not have to replace tv's??

 

This is confusing and no one seems to know exactly what is going to happen. My friend just tried to tell me that the signal through your antenna with a coax is the best signal yet to date, but it's not digital?? Doesn't make sense to me.

Silverado4x4 Senior Enthusiast

Silverado4x4

Posted
Posted
Does this mena local channels through an antenna will not be on anymore? Is that considered analog? Can this signal be converted to digital through the antenna?

 

I am just curious. I have Directv for most of my tv's, but I don't have one single HDtv yet.

 

Also, are you saying that we do not have to replace tv's??

 

This is confusing and no one seems to know exactly what is going to happen. My friend just tried to tell me that the signal through your antenna with a coax is the best signal yet to date, but it's not digital?? Doesn't make sense to me.

 

Its only if you recieve your signal through a antenna that yor tv wont work, cable boxes, Directv boxes will decode the signal and your old tv will work. If you dont have a box hooked to your tv and recieve your signal through the airwaves you can go out a buy a converter box for like 40 bucks.

1999 Tahoe 4x4 Enthusiast

1999 Tahoe 4x4

Posted
Posted

How about wide screen, HD and digital?

Is widescreen necessarily HD? And can digital be regular format or digital means it is always widescreen too?

 

I'm very much computer savy, just never really devoted any time to TV yet. Now with 2009 on the doorstep I have to chatch up.

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