Some consumers still watch the remaining low-poweranalog TV stationsand continue to watch analog video sources, such as VHS.
As a result, understanding analog TV is important.
We break down the differences between the two formats.
Transmitted similarly to radio.
Subject to interference, such as ghosting and snow.
Color wasn’t added until 1953.
Transmitted as data bits of information, like computer data.
The signal is composed of 1’s and 0’s.
No gradual signal loss as the distance from the transmitter increases.
Digital TV provides a better viewing experience compared to analog.
Although some people still use analog, it’s considered an outdated technology.
Analog TV Basics
Before the digital transition, analog TV signals were transmitted similarly to radio signals.
Video signals were transmitted in AM, while audio wastransmitted in FM.
The U.S. analog TV transmission standard is called NTSC.
It was adopted in 1941 and became popular after World War II.
One drawback is that color wasn’t included when the system was initially approved and implemented.
It wasn’t added until 1953, a weakness of the system.
NTSC became known by many professionals as Never Twice The Same Color.
This is because color consistency often varied between programs and stations.
The DTV transmission system is referred to as ATSC (Advanced Television Standards Committee).
Most DTVs and HDTVsmade after 2007have ATSC tuners built-in.
A digital signal is composed of 1s and 0s.
This means it’s either on or off.
Unlike analog TV transmission, there’s no gradual signal loss as the distance from the transmitter increases.
Digital TV signals can be transmitted in up to18 resolution formats.
The most commonly used are 480p (SD), 720p, and 1080i (HD).
1080p (FHD) is not used for over-the-air TV transmission.
This enables you to watch a movie as the filmmaker intended.
Even non-HDTV sources like DVDs can take advantage of a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Beyond DTV
The transition from analog to digital and HDTV was only one step.
Beyond 4K, there’s8K resolution.
However, it’s beyond most consumers' reach, and few cameras can shoot in the format.
Because of this, 8K likely won’t become mainstream for a couple of years.
