6. Other digital TV Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

* What is DTV?
* What is HDTV?
* What is SDTV?
* Will I need to buy a new TV set to receive DTV programs?
* How is DTV different from digital broadcast satellite (DBS)?
* When will I be able to receive DTV?
* What is compression?
* What is multicasting?
* Will DTV interfere with other local services, such as my local hospital's medical equipment?
* Where can I find resources to choose the best antenna for DTV?
* What if I live in a Nursing Home?
* What if I receive my mail at a Post Office Box?
* Where can I find information about the DTV Conversion in Spanish?

Answers to many other questions about the DTV Conversion can be found at DTVAnswers.com.

Q. What is DTV?

A. DTV is digital television. Specifically, DTV is a revolutionary form of television that delivers top quality all-digital audio and video programming to viewers over the air, and via cable and satellite. DTV uses the new ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) transmission system standard. DTV encompasses Surround Sound audio, high definition pictures, standard definition pictures, multicasting pictures of several programs simultaneously, and data broadcasting. Many digital TV programs also will incorporate a wider-screen viewing area (known as the aspect ratio). The current analog aspect ratio is 4:3. The new aspect ratio for many (but not all) DTV programs will be 16:9, which approximates the more natural viewing experience of most motion pictures in theaters.

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Q. What is HDTV?

A. HDTV (High Definition TV) is a DTV format that offers the highest-quality images and CD-quality Surround Sound audio, and the 16:9 aspect ratio, with resolution that equals or surpasses 35mm film commonly viewed in theaters. Therefore, HDTV programming is noticeably superior to the audio and video currently seen on today’s analog sets. Currently, there are two widely accepted standards for HDTV: 1080i (interlaced) and 720p (progressive). Incidentally, The FCC has not specified how much HDTV programming a TV station must air on its DTV channel. It is likely that most early HDTV programs will air during evening prime-time hours.

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Q. What is SDTV?

A. SDTV (Standard Definition TV) is another DTV format. Since SDTV is transmitted digitally, the images usually are sharper and clearer than the analog TV we see today. It will likely be in the 16:9 aspect ratio familiar from movie theaters, as opposed to the 4:3 aspect ratio used by current conventional televisions. Because the SDTV format uses less spectrum than HDTV, this format can be used for multicasting capabilities.

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Q. Will I need to buy a new TV set to receive DTV programs?

A. No. Set-top converter boxes should make it possible to receive DTV (including HDTV) programs on your current analog TV set (converter boxes are not yet being sold). However, you will be viewing this programming in the traditional analog standard. To get the full benefit of DTV (including digital Surround Sound), you will need a new DTV-capable TV receiver.

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Q. How is DTV different from digital broadcast satellite (DBS)?

A. Broadcast DTV and DBS use digital transmission, and the quality of the two should be very similar. However, DTV uses the ATSC format (which brings you HDTV, multicasting, datacasting, and other ancillary services). Another key difference is that terrestrial broadcast DTV will be over-the-air, and is free to all viewers, whereas DBS is a pay subscription service. Regardless of whether a program is sent to consumers digitally, such as with many DBS services, consumers still must purchase a new digital receiver in order to view the program digitally.

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Q. When will I be able to receive DTV?

A. Limited DTV service in the very largest markets began in 1998. PBS began distributing to member stations some HDTV and SDTV programming that year. WTIU began transmitting a digital signal on May 20, 2003 in order to meet the FCC-mandated deadline. Consumers cannot receive this DTV programming without a set-top converter box, and/or be able to take full advantage of the enhanced digital video and audio quality and ancillary services until they purchase a DTV-capable receiver.

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Q. What is compression?

A. Compression is a technical way to reduce the amount of “information” in the TV signal that must be transmitted to offer a high-quality digital signal. Compression makes the U.S. standard of digital television feasible, given spectrum limitations in the U.S. Compression also makes it possible to offer more channels in the same amount of signal.

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Q. What is multicasting?

A. DTV will allow broadcasters to deliver more than one digital channel at the same time from one station. This multiple stream of services is called multicasting. Viewers may see this service, for example, as four program channels coming from one TV station (For example, WTIU-1, WTIU-2, WTIU-3, WTIU-4, or channel numbers 30.1, 30.2, 30.3 and 30.4), and would be able to select the multicast channel of their choice. The program streams can be a mixture of High Definition and Standard Definition streams. Depending on the type of programming and the spectrum it requires, TV broadcasters may feed 2, 3, 4, or more channels simultaneously. (The more "information" in a program--such as a live sports event vs. static pictures of a landscape--the more spectrum it requires.)

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Q. Will DTV interfere with other local services, such as my local hospital's medical equipment?

A. Wireless communications are transmitted over frequencies that are allocated by the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC has permitted some users to utilize unallocated TV channel frequencies for local emergency and other services (including some medical equipment). As terrestrial broadcasters now apply to the FCC to begin to use this spectrum for DTV, there may be the potential for equipment using these unallocated frequencies to be interrupted. Hospital administrators should be aware that if they are using unallocated frequencies for their medical equipment, the potential for interruption exists. In early 1998, this problem arose temporarily in Dallas and a handful of other markets. Hospitals, local broadcasters and the FCC are working closely together on a market-by-market basis to resolve potential frequency conflicts.

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Q. Where can I find resources to choose the best outdoor antenna for DTV?

A. The AntennaWeb.org mapping program, provided by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), locates the proper outdoor antenna to receive your local television broadcast channels. Indoor antennas are not included in this mapping system, because many variables impact the quality of indoor signal strength.

Based on geographical maps and signal strengths, AntennaWeb locates the best antenna for you -- whether the antenna is for use with a home satellite system, high-definition television (HDTV) or a traditional analog set.

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Q. What if I live in a Nursing Home?

A. Residents of licensed nursing homes, intermediate care facilities, and assisted living facilities are now eligible to request coupons from the TV Converter Box Coupon Program. Residents must use the special Nursing Home application form, found here.

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Q. What if I receive my mail at a Post Office Box?

A. The government can mail coupons to Post Office boxes in areas without home mail delivery. Post Office boxes will be accepted only for households on Indian reservations, Alaskan Native villages and other rural areas. The government may request additional information to validate the physical location of these households.

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Q. Where can I find information about the DTV Conversion in Spanish?

A. PBS has translated their in-depth web site about the DTV Conversion into Spanish here.

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