In this article, I'd like to discuss "DTV". So what does DTV mean?
DTV is the short, abbreviated form for 'Digital Television'. Sometime it is called 'digital TV'.
What is DTV (Or digital TV)?
DTV is a type of TV that uses using digital signals for transmission (instead of analog signals).
Yes, in the past we were all limited to analog Tvs which greatly limited the quality of the content we could watch.
The previous TV technology is known as ATV in the United States.
What is the difference between DTV and ATV
Both give users access to over-the-air channels.
However, they have very different signal types and equipments needed.
What is the difference between DTV and TV
DTV is the means by which the information will get to your TV (Physical equipment in your room).
In a sense, there is no real difference between “DTV” and TV for the one watching TV.
Advantages of DTV (Digital TV)
- Better resolution.
- Better compression (bandwidth savings).
- Also compatible with computers and mobile devices.
What is HDTV?
HDTV is television technology that which allows higher image resolution than the previous technologies.
But wait, isn't that what I was just talking about DTV?
What is the difference between DTV and HDTV?
Well, Digital television is not the same thing as HDTV.
- DTV is the way your TV receives the digital signal.
- HDTV is a standard of digital television that gives you a better images, videos and better sound. Its scope of work is the TV specs like 'aspect ratio' and 'pixel density'.
You may have a 'DTV mode' option in your TV because:
- Not all digital TV broadcasts are HD.
- Not all digital Tvs are HDTVs.
Note: All HDTVs are digital Tvs.
Which is better, DTV or HDTV?
DTV and HDTV do not compete with each other so there is not a better choice.
To sum it all:
HDTV does not describe how the content will be transmitted, which is the job of DTV.
What is 'DTV air'?
Basically it is a TV mode that allows you to watch live TV broadcasted over-the-air.
How does the information travel over-the-air?
The digital signal has a lot of ones and zeros, which combined will make up the images and sound of your TV.
The highway (or frequency used) used will vary from country to country. As an example, it may take the 6 Mhz frequency.
Is Digital TV free?
DTV may be free for over-the-air broadcasts if you have a digital tuner. That will usually require compatible hardware like a 'set-top box' (DTV Box).
Non free DTV is also available by other channels like cable and satellite.
How do I know if my TV has a built-in digital tuner (DTV Tuner)?
Almost all recent Tvs have a built-in digital tuner. But there are a few exceptions.
First of all, look for these keywords in your Tvs manual:
ATSC, DTV, Digital Ready, HD Ready, HDTV, Digital Tuner, Integrated Digital Tuner, or Digital Receiver.
If you can't find any of those, try to browse the channels. Does your TV include sub channels? (Does it show channel 4 or channel 4-1, 4-2 etc...?). If it does than you likely have a DTV tuner.
How to get DTV air channels
Tip: Turn on the caption button if you need it. Choose “automatic translation” in the settings button, if you are not familiar to the english language. You may need to click on the language of the video first before your favorite language becomes available for translation.
