As with anything digital these days, there's a dictionary full of terminology out there that is likely to confuse basic consumers who simply want to convert their television signals from analog to digital. Most of the terms out there, like codec, datacasting and upconverting are used in the techincal aspect of DTV. We won't worry about those right now, because as a basic television viewer, they really don't mean much.
Instead, here are some words you should know. In fact, when browsing for a DTV box, an HDTV set or a new subscription service like cable or satellite, I would recommend you print this page out and carry it with you as a quick reference. You're likely to see the following list of words printed in ads for converter boxes or television sets, or in public service announcements on television warning of the DTV transition in 2009.
ATSC: This is an acronym that stands for Advanced Television Systems Committee. That probably means nothing to you since it's a technical term for the television tuner, but if you see the letters ATSC printed on a television set or converter box, it means that set or box comes with a DTV tuner.
NTSC: This is an acronmy for National Television Systems Committee. This acronym is commonly associated with a tuner that is not digital. If you purchase a televison set with an NTSC tuner instead of an ATSC or DTV tuner, you will not be able to receive digital television without a converter box, cable or satellite. All television sets manufactured before 2001, and some manufactured afterward, have an NTSC tuner.
Aspect Ratio: The size of the video picture. There are two different aspect ratios--4:3, which is a square, "box" shaped picture; and 16:9, which is a wide, rectangular picture. Some television programs broadcast via DTV are in 4:3 while others are in 16:9. Converter boxes can accomodate for either aspect ratios, so determining the aspect ratio of your television set isn't important when purchasing the converter box so much as it is in installing the box (if you have a "box" type television set, choose 4:3; if you have a widescreen set, use 16:9).
Digital Subchannel: These are the "hidden" channels you can only receive with a DTV tuner. Think of these as "mini" channels. They are often labeled as 40-1 (or 40.1), 40-2 (or 40.2), 40-3 (or 40.3) and so on. In the future, stations will launch more content on their digital subchannels, which could include multicultural, childrens, music, entertainment or weather programming. All DTV tuners or converter boxes are capable of receiving digital subchannels.
DTV: Acronym for digital television. DTV allows for more channels of programming, clearer video, clearer audio and a better signal. The three different formats for DTV are SDTV, EDTV and HDTV. We'll be covering each here in our glossary as well as in future blog entries.
SDTV: An acronym for Standard Definition Television. If you're purchasing a converter box with a government voucher, SDTV is the format you'll be receiving. SDTV pulls in a completely digital, clearer picture as compared to its analog counterpart. However, if you want a crisp, sharp picture, you'll want to invest in either an HDTV.
EDTV: An acronym for Enhanced Definition Television. EDTV brings in a crisp, sharper picture than SDTV, but not quite as crisp or sharp as HDTV. EDTV exists mainly for flat-screen "box" television sets that would not be able to distinguish between the type of signal broadcast in either EDTV or HDTV.
HDTV: The total package. An acronym for High Definition Television, HDTV is commonly, and erroneously, used in conjunction with digital television. HDTV is not digital television; instead, HDTV is a type of digital television. It offers the sharpest, clearest video currently available for television broadcast. In order to receive HDTV, you must invest in a television set that has a tuner labeled "HDTV," or invest in cable or satellite. While there are a few HDTV converter boxes, they are often expensive and undermanufactured and therefore aren't a good, reliable option for receiving HDTV.
Terrestrial Broadcasting: This term is sometimes used when describing tuners that require an antenna to receive a signal. It's commonly referred to as "over-the-air" television, as opposed to cable or satellite.
For more terms you should know, check out the government's DTV glossary at DTV.gov.