EKLUND'S APPLIANCE & TV
1007 Central Ave West, Great Falls, Montana 59404
406-761-3430
THE TRUTH ABOUT HI-DEFINITION
AND DIGITAL TV.
WHAT IS DIGITAL TV?
The biggest buzz in the TV and Audio world is 2009 deadline for all High Power TV stations to make the move to Digital Broadcast of their signals. What does this mean to you?
We will answer this question and do our best to make you an expert.
At present most of the Television Stations in Great Falls broadcast their signal to your house using Analog technology. The best was to describe what an analog signal is, is to use the Tin Can and String as an example.
You may remember this trick. If you take two tin cans and poke a hole in the bottom of each, and then attach a string to the holes you could talk into one can, and be heard by someone with the second can. This is how it worked.
It worked because as you spoke the can would vibrate, and this would vibrate the string, then the string would vibrate the other can. Most of the work in getting the sound to you was done by the string.
The television signal that you receive today can be thought of as a really big string. In the electronics world these strings vibrate so much that they take up a lot of room. That is why the FCC is mandating that television stations move to Digital Transmission.
A Digital Transmission takes up much less bandwidth, or space. There is one primary reasons for this.
A Digital Signal only needs to send two pieces of information to your TV. It sends either a 1 or a 0. You can also think of this as either On or Off. A Digital Receiver can interpret these 1s and 0s and turn it into audio and video that is crystal clear. Since March of 2007 all TVs sold in the U.S. must have a digital receiver. If you bought your TV prior to this date you probably have an analog receiver. Call the Manufacturer or Call Eklund's to find out if your TV is ready for Digital TV.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
The FCC realized that many people are still using Analog Receivers. They have set up a program that will provide 2, $40 coupons for each household toward the purchase of a Digital Converter. To file for your coupon go to WWW.DTV2009.GOV to apply for your coupons. (Click here to be transported to the government site)
WHAT IS A DIGITAL CONVERTER?
A Digital Converter will receive the digital signal and convert it to Analog so that your TV can understand it. Not everyone needs a digital converter. If you receive your TV from cable, you already have a Digital Converter. If you receive your TV from Satellite Dish, you also have a Digital Converter.
WILL A DIGITAL CONVERTER MAKE MY TV HI-DEFINITION?
Sorry, a Digital Converter allows you to receive crystal clear transmission of a TV Broadcast, but it will not make your TV Hi-Definition. You must buy a Hi-Definition TV to see Hi-Definition signals.
WHY IS THE FCC CHANGING THINGS TO DIGITAL?
As with many types of technology things happened that no one thought possible. When the radio was invented no one expected that the Radio Frequencies (Strings) would ever run out. That is exactly what is happening. With so many requirements for transmitting information we are running out of space, or Bandwidth.
Emergency services organizations need the extra space to continue operating and sharing information. By switching to a Digital Signal we can not only free up that space, but transmit information faster and clearer.
IS DIGITAL ALL THAT GREAT?
Indeed it is! A digital signal can carry so much information at such a greatly increased speed you will see new services being offered. In fact, digital is so fast it can send and receive information from your TV!
This means that interactive content can be provided! The possibilities are endless!
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact Eklund's Appliance to check out all your options and to get the straight scoop on Digital TV
Eklund's Appliance & TV
1007 Central Avenue West Great Falls, Montana 59404
406-761-3430