Analogue TV

Can an analogue television be adapted to high definition? The short answer is no; however, it is possible for you to watch a high definition signal that has been stepped down to the lower resolution through a television converter. Digital to analogue TV converters make it possible to receive a digital signal, like the signals that all television broadcast networks will be required to switch to in a couple years from now, and have that signal be instantly converted into an analog signal that can be played on your normal television set. A digital to analogue TV converter can let you watch analogue satellite TV from a digital satellite signal, or watch all of the shows on TV with your old analogue TV set by converting the digital signals when analogue television services will end.

Analogue TV broadcasting is not over yet, however; analogue television is still the only choice in some areas, and is likely to remain so for some time even after the law goes into effect, as stations will take time to acquire the new digital equipment that they need and there will be some stragglers. If you have a digital TV and you want to pick up the analogue TV signal, you need analogue to digital TV converters. Analogue and digital TV signal broadcasts can each be viewed on the opposite type of television, as long as you have the right converter to switch the type of signal from digital to analogue or from analogue to digital as you need to.

The analogue system we currently use was invented in the fifties as a way to add color to the old black and white television system without having to require everyone to change their broadcast hardware. These days with a much stronger technology infrastructure, the government is requiring broadcasters to change. The digital TV signal is transmitted through the air just like the analogue TV signal; it just represents digital characters instead of smoothly transitioning analogue waveforms that are converted into pictures. Analogue TV has a lower picture quality and a lower sound quality, while digital TV is much clearer and capable of being broadcast in high definition. Finally, analogue TV is more easy to broadcast without restrictions, while various copyright restrictions could eventually be put in place over digital broadcasts; such things are still a little bit in the future, however. For the moment, it looks as if making the switch to digital TV is the best move for viewers and broadcasters alike.