Yext TV Repair Article

04.01.09

The Switch to Digital

June 12th, 2009 will be a date that goes down in television history. It will be the last day Americans can expect to serve as human antennas, fumbling with wire coat hangers in an attempt to correct fuzzy pictures. Starting June 13th, 2009 full-power TV stations will broadcast only digital television (DTV).

Some readers may find this shocking, while others may feel the need to call their local TV repairman for an explanation, but regardless of which camp you fall in, there’s no turning back, DTV is here for good.

What Is Digital Television?
If you’ve ever been approached by a TV salesman or a cable company that offers digital broadcast options such as HDTV (High Definition TV) then you’ve heard of digital television. Digital television simply means television that is broadcast digitally, i.e. bits of data. Anything broadcast on the Internet, from online TV shows and movies, to clips on YouTube, are examples of digital broadcasts.

The Difference between Analog and Digital
Analog TV is transmitted in a similar way to traditional radio and is affected by the distance from the source to your TV set. Unlike digital signals, analog signals cannot be compressed. This means that given the same amount of bandwidth, a digital signal can transmit more information. (If you’re still curious about the details, we recommend consulting your local TV repairman for a more in-depth explanation.)

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Digital Television
DTV offers a number of benefits including better picture and sound quality, and more interactive programs. In addition, moving to DTV nationwide will free up scarce broadcasting bandwidth, which can then be used as communication channels for public, safety and emergency services. DTV also boasts ghost and snow free transmission, which means that viewers can say goodbye to fuzzy white spots and the irritating double image where shows appear to be playing instead of one. But even with all the professed benefits, DTV is not without drawbacks. Current subscribers of digital television complain that DTV tends to be all or nothing: when it’s on, the picture is great, but when it’s not on, there is nothing, no semi-viewable show or fuzzy picture, just black screen. Since DTV utilizes compressed data, this also creates the possibility of blocky or jerky picture quality. If you already have a DTV subscription with your cable company and experience blocky or jerky pictures, calling a TV repairman might not help; there’s a good chance that the problem lies with the broadcast and not the TV itself.

How Will the Switch to Digital Affect Me?
The switch to DTV means that families with analog television sets will have to either buy a digital to analog converter box , or they will have to purchase a new television with a built in digital tuner. Cable stations will not be affected by the switch. Most TVs sold today are DTV ready, but if you haven’t bought a new TV in recent years, it’s best to give a call to your local TV repairman to find out whether your TV model is DTV ready. For families who have TV sets that need repairing, the more cost effective solution may be to buy a new DTV ready TV than spend the money on TV repair and a converter box. However, if you decide to purchase a converter box, The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) offers eligible households up to two $40 coupons towards the purchase of converter boxes. Check out this site for eligibility.

For better or worse the digital television age is upon us. In order to ensure that you don’t wake up one morning without your favorite TV programs, give a call to your local TV repairman to make sure that you have everything you need for the switch.