Are you ready for AETN in 2009?
What is analog television?
Analog television service is the traditional method of transmitting television signals to consumers. Analog transmission has been the standard broadcast technology since the inception of television. Most current television transmissions are received through analog television sets. Analog signals vary continuously, creating fluctuations in color and brightness. TV stations can only transmit one program on a channel with analog signals.
What is Digital Television?
Digital Television, or DTV, is a new type of broadcasting technology that enables stations to provide clearer pictures and better sound quality. DTV can also offer multiple programming choices, interactive capabilities and data services, such as enhanced closed captioning.
DTV is more efficient and flexible than analog. For example, DTV makes it possible for AETN to broadcast multiple streams of programming instead of broadcasting only one program at a time.
What is the DTV Transition?
The DTV transition is the switch from analog to 100% digital broadcasting of free television programming. The transition from analog to digital television represents the most significant advancement of television technology since color TV.
What does the digital transition mean for me?
Analog TV sets with rabbit ears or rooftop antennae will not receive over-the-air programming after midnight on Feb. 17, 2009, when the nation completes its conversion to 100% digital broadcasting.
The switch will enable television stations to offer clearer pictures, better sound quality and more programming choices and is a result of legislation passed by Congress – the Digital Television and Public Safety Act of 2005.
Why the switch?
All-digital broadcasting will free up parts of the broadcast spectrum for public safety communications (police, fire, rescue) and advanced wireless services. Digital will also allow stations to offer improved picture and sound (High Definition) or multiple “standard definition” channels of programming at the same time (multicasting).
Who is affected?
Consumers who receive free television signals through antennas on TV sets that are equipped with analog tuners and who do not subscribe to cable, satellite or other service providers.
What do I need to do?
You have three options:
- Purchase a DTV converter box for each television used to watch over-the-air broadcasts (don’t forget RVs, vacation homes, etc.)
- Purchase a new television set with a built-in digital tuner
- Subscribe to a cable, satellite or other provider that carries the channels you want to watch, including AETN.
What is a DTV converter box?
A DTV converter box is an easy-to-install electronic set top device that plugs into your analog TV and over-the-air antenna or rabbit ears and converts the DTV signal into analog. It enables you to continue watching free television on analog sets.
Do I need a DTV converter?
Yes, unless:
- You subscribe to a cable or satellite service and don’t want to watch television over the air.
- You recently bought a TV that has a built-in digital tuner.
Is there any kind of discount for DTV converters?
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will issue up to two (2) free coupons per household, each worth $40, to reduce the cost of a DTV converter through March 31, 2009. For more information, visit www.dtv2009.gov, or call 1-888-DTV-2009.
What is a digital-ready television set?
Some televisions on the market are called “Digital Ready.” These are sets that do not have a built-in digital tuner and will require a digital tuner box to receive and view any digital television programming.
What if I use a satellite dish with a digital, digital-ready or analog television?
No action is required if you don’t want to watch television over the air. You should receive digital television signals on your analog TV just as you do now, and you will receive AETN and other over-the-air broadcasts in your local-into-local program package. You will not need to purchase additional equipment because you already have a special receiver to view programming from a satellite provider. Just to be sure, check with your satellite provider.
What if I use cable with a digital, digital-ready or analog television?
No action should be required if you don’t want to watch television over the air outside of your provider’s offerings.
For three years starting on Feb. 17, 2009, all cable providers are required to provide a converted digital-to-analog version of all over-the-air broadcasters that the cable company can receive. There is no provision in this requirement for anything other than over-the-air broadcasters. If you are satisfied with those channels, then nothing more is required for those three years.
You should not need to purchase any additional equipment, but check with your cable provider to be sure you know how digital will affect your viewing.
What if I use an outside antenna or rabbit ears with a digital, digital-ready or analog television?
If the TV has a built-in digital tuner, no action is needed. Televisions purchased after May 2007 most likely have a built-in digital ATSC tuner even if they are Standard Definition (SD) digital television sets. If you have one of these digital SD televisions, you should not need to take any action and can use a VHF/UHF antenna to receive digital signals over the air.
With a digital-ready or analog TV set, action is required! Since your analog television does not have a digital tuner, you have three options:
- Purchase a DTV converter for each television used to watch over-the-air broadcasts (don’t forget RVs, vacation homes, etc.)
- Purchase a new television set with a built-in digital tuner
- Subscribe to a cable, satellite or other provider that carries the channels you want to watch, including AETN.
Will I need a special antenna to receive DTV over-the-air?
In general, dependable reception of DTV will require the same type of signal reception equipment that you use to receive analog TV. If you currently need a roof-top antenna to receive television, the same antenna typically will be needed to receive DTV.
There is no such thing as a digital television antenna. A good, VHF/UHF outdoor antenna will maximize your DTV reception.
Generally speaking, you should not expect to receive a reliable digital signal with rabbit ears if you are more than 10 miles from the broadcaster’s transmitter. An outside antenna will be needed for anything beyond that short distance.
What are some reasons that I may have trouble receiving AETN’s digital signal via my antenna?
Unlike the old analog signal where you could receive a “snowy picture” or a fading picture on the fringe of the broadcast area, digital transmission will provide you with either a clear picture and sound or nothing at all.
Tall buildings, large hills or mountains, dense tree foliage and electric lines can also affect the ability to receive a digital signal. It is possible that where you previously received a marginal analog picture, you will get no digital signal. You may find that a TV set in one room using rabbit ears receives a signal and another TV set in a different room does not.
What changes will DTV bring to my favorite AETN programs?
To see for yourself, tune into one of the four digital channels we’re already multicasting:
- AETN-1 A digital duplicate of our AETN analog schedule.
- AETN-2Create/World a lifelong learning channel featuring cooking, painting, home repair, gardening, travel, crafts and how-to, self help programs and documentaries for adults.
- AETN-3 Scholar an instructional channel for distance-learning students to earn college credits (and even a college degree); instructional programming for school children; professional development courses for educators; and training seminars for state agencies and businesses.
- AETN-4 Kids non-commercial, educational programs for grades K-7.
These digital channels offer Arkansans clearer pictures and improved sound quality.
Where does AETN broadcast?
AETN has been preparing for the DTV transition for years and now broadcasts digital channels alongside our regular analog broadcasts from:
- KAFT/Fayetteville
- KEMV/Mountain View
- KETG/Arkadelphia
- KETS/Little Rock
- KTEJ/Jonesboro
- We also have a digital-only transmitter, KTEZ/El Dorado.
Is Digital Television (DTV) the same as High Definition Television (HDTV)?
No. HDTV is the highest quality of DTV, but it is only one of several forms:
- SDTV (Standard Definition): the most basic form that delivers a picture without interference at a resolution slightly higher than that of analog.
- EDTV (Enhanced Definition): delivers better picture quality than SDTV, but remains a level below HDTV.
- HDTV (High Definition): provides the highest resolution and picture quality and is the only TV option that includes digitally enhanced sound.
Consumers who have high definition TV sets may receive free high definition programming over the air using an antenna. All HD programs are digital, however, not all digital programs are HD.
Will all programming be broadcast in HD?
No. HDTV uses more of the allotted digital signal to provide superior picture. Broadcasters who multicast convert all picture resolution to SDTV quality, allowing two to four separate programs to be broadcast on the same digital channel at the same time. It is also possible to broadcast an HDTV signal along with one or two SDTV signals on the same digital channel.
Why is the digital TV screen wider than the old analog TV?
Analog television was broadcast with a picture in what is known as a 4x3 aspect ratio. That means the picture is four units wide by three units high.
Digital television (and HDTV) will be broadcast in a 16x9 ratio, or 16 units wide by nine units high. This change will allow for the viewer to see more of the picture, especially when viewing movies.
What things do I need to know when considering what kind of digital TV to buy?
First, consider your options for different types of digital TVs
- LCD
- Plasma
- Flat panel
- Stand alone sets
- Sets only a few inches thick that can hang on the wall
- Sets with up to 60-diagonal inch screens
- Picture tubes
- Rear projection
- Front projectors
Next comes quality. Digital television signals can be broadcast in many different formats. All television pictures are comprised of a series of horizontal lines scanned across the picture. SDTV sets will have about the same number of lines of resolution as analog sets – around 480 lines. HDTV pictures are broadcast in 720p, 1080i and 1080p. This means that there are either 720 lines or 1,080 lines comprising the picture. The “P” and “I” stand for how the picture is refreshed per second. The “P” stands for “progressive,” which means that all lines are refreshed sequentially. The “I” stands for “interlaced,” which means that the odd and even groups of lines are interleaved together to form the picture. All of this helps determine the ultimate quality of the picture you see and the cost of the set.
Finally, take into account such things as:
- The size of your room
- How far you are away from the TV set
- How bright or dark the room is
- If you watch mostly directly in front of the set or also from an angle
- The size of the screen you want
- How much you are willing to spend
All of these factors will help you decide which type of TV is best.
Why do I see the picture “freeze” into tiny little boxes?
This “freezing” is called “pixilating”. It occurs when the digital data stream is interrupted. The television set cannot continue to receive the required information needed to recreate the pictures being broadcast. When this loss of information occurs, the digital equipment may freeze until more information is received to continue. This pixilating may last for a second or two or indefinitely. Occasionally when the program stream is interrupted you may see a blue screen on your TV set with a message indicating that there is no signal.
How can I learn more?
You can also learn more about how to prepare for DTV at DTV Answers.com.