Comments on: HDTV High Definition Television Terminology

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:27:54 +0000

Thanks, this really helped me digest the information. You have added knowledge to my brain and thus increased my power! Mo-wah-ha-ha-ha-haha

But seriously, good write up.

By: Doogie

Doogie — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:16:43 +0000

Hi David Good questions. We have updated this article to include information about Contrast Ratios and added a new article covering Frame Rate and Refresh Rate.

By: David Reid

David Reid — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:20:48 +0000

OK, you’ve given me the basics but all the newspaper ads and the in-store promo stickers give all kinds of other info about a particular HDTV…what do these terms mean?

Dynamic/static contrast ratio

Refresh rate

Frame rate

By: Doogie

Doogie — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:09:42 +0000

Hi Will

You will be able to pick up the DIGITAL transmissions with an antenna, but they will not necessarily be in high definition. Most will just be standard resolution digital signals. The switch to digital does not mean a switch to high definition. Many current analog antennas may still work, but there are specialized digital antennas on the market, as well.

Whoever told you that digital signals could only travel through coax was mistaken. Almost all computer communications are digital and they do not require coax. Coax just provides shielding, which helps eliminate interference from other signals and allows you to move information across longer distances.

By: Will Laing

Will Laing — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:06:50 +0000

I needed to go back to my owners manual to check and see if I had set my HDTV (CRT type) to take advantage of all it’s best settings. That’s when I discovered it was a 1080i. I kinda was disappointed but decided to find out what the difference actually was. I picked you site because it was the clearest definition of these differences. Thanks. My TV is a Sanyo 32″ Vizon HDTV and I bought it for my son’s room. He loves it, and his friends also love it because they are always over here to play video games on it. Also to, it is set up to pick up HD signals if they are broadcast over the air from the source. Our cable company carries these programs as well, but will not send the broadcast to it’s subscribers unless they buy a HD contract as well as the regular contract. I live in a neighborhood where people throw out the greatest stuff for trash pickup. I have got a really big antenna that someone threw out and it has the coax connector on it as well as the 300ohm screws. My owners manual indicates that I can swap out the cable company cable and attach the roof antenna coax for those signals. Will I actually be able to pick up those HD signals that are broadcast through the air? And how can they do that? I thought a HD signal was digital and could only go through a coax cable. Answer me back on those questions. Thanks again for a good site.

By: Carlaine Altland

Carlaine Altland — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:01:23 +0000

Thanks for putting this in terms anyone can understand. It will make the high definition transition a lot easier for me.