If you’ve looked at television sets at any of the big electronics retailers in the United States lately, you know that digital TV, or DTV, is a big deal right now. Most stores have whole areas devoted to digital TV sets. You’re also hearing a lot about four other topics:
- HDTV and HDTV broadcasts
- Digital satellite services
- Digital cable
- DVDs and DVD players
Unless you are among the people in the United States who have purchased a DTV set, what you have in your living room is a normal analog TV that seems to be working just fine despite all the hype. Most people, faced with this level of product proliferation, can only ask, “What the heck is going on here?!”
On June 12, 2009, television stations in the United States completed the transition from analog to digital broadcasting. Consumers receiving local television signals over analog antennas now must use converter boxes to receive programming on their TVs. This deadline was pushed back several times in the last few years because of both broadcasters’ and consumers’ inability to meet the FCC’s criteria for a successful transition to digital broadcasting.
The change was last scheduled to take place on Feb. 17, 2009, but was pushed back one final time to allow more people to purchase new TVs or converter boxes to allow them to make the transition. Some stations, however, switched to digital broadcasting in February 2009 anyhow because they’d already contracted time to broadcast on digital transmitters and staying analog would require a costly budgetary adjustment. Buy television with payday advance
Home audio and video systems have changed dramatically from their earliest incarnations. Television began as a mechanical device but didn’t really catch on until electronic TVs began to hit the market and more broadcasters began signing on.
It grew more popular as it changed from tiny black-and-white screens to large color sets. And now you can buy TVs that can take up the whole wall of your living room! In February 2009, television stations in the United States will switch from analog to digital signals, encouraging people to buy converter boxes or make the move and upgrade, which means plunking down big money for new high-definition sets.
Televison may be the cornerstone of home audio and video setups, but most people need more than just a good TV. We started recording TV shows on videocassette recorders, but fewer people use them anymore. They’re all switching to digital video recorders, DVDs and Blu-ray discs. And then there’s those sophisticated component sound systems and surround sound systems that add so much character and depth to our television and movie watching.
No doubt, home audio and video equipment is very popular, but deciding on the best equipment can be a challenge. Each person has his or her own preferences that lead to very different choices. We have a whole library of home audio and video articles that will help you learn more about different technologies. Find out what’s inside a remote control. Learn the differences between plasma and LCD televisions. See how speakers work. Find out how to bend your TV schedule to suit your viewing habits, with Internet TV, the TiVo and the Slingbox. We’ll even sneak a peek at the next wave of technologies, such as ultra-high definition TV. Explore our Home Audio and Video articles to find out more.
