Approximately 900,000 Canadian households still rely on antennas, and therefore do not have televisions equipped to receive new digital signals.

As a result, the CRTC is calling for a public awareness campaign, and help for those consumers who need to upgrade their televisions or buy a satellite dish.

source:www.680news.com

LCD HDTV has become a trend in the home entertainment industry because of its sleek and thin design. It has gained recognition because of its innovative features and impressive picture quality. HDTV manufacturers continue to progress and modify the good features and make it even better. However, regardless of the development, the consumers are given an option to purchase a good LCD HDTV at a very reasonable price, which suits their lifestyle and needs. Here are some pointers to consider in choosing an LCD TV.

When you shop for a television, first thing that you would probably ask is the resolution. Nowadays, 1080p resolution is the best for consumer home theater. Some companies promote a 1080i LCD HDTV that has an actual widescreen resolution of 1,366 by 768 pixels, which greatly differs from the 1080p. 1080p resolution has 1,920 by 1,080 pixels.

Sometimes specifications that are worthless like contrast ratio and pixel response time. These specifications are problematic because there are many variations and each is calculated in notably different ways. Sales people tend to focus on whatever specification calculation offers the most impressive looking result.

Regarding pixel response time, what you need to know is if a particular LCD TV is optimized to reduce the smearing of an image when showing a fast motion video. Currently, the 120-Hz display technology is the feature that best addresses this problem. It is a premium LCD feature but its advantages are instantaneously recognizable.

Contrast ratio is the ratio of measured light output when displaying white to its measured light output when displaying video black, also called the black level. There are several types of contrast ratio calculations. These are sequential, intra-frame, and dynamic. But these calculation results are often useless when comparing one LCD HDTV to another. It is better to focus on which model makes the deepest and darkest representation of video black because the LCD TV that has a darker black level has the more detailed, enhanced saturation, and more appealing image.

An LCD HDTV screen can produce more than twice the light output of a Plasma TV. The extra brightness that an LCD HDTV can provide helps in maintaining picture detail by improving the dynamic range of the image in a well-lit environment. To minimize distracting light reflections, a lot of LCD HDTVs have a matte finish. However, there are some new LCD HDTVs that are incorporating glossy top filters that enhance apparent contrast and color saturation by making video black appear pitch-black dark. Glossy LCD screens make a slightly crispier picture than a matte finished outside filter can produce.

An LCD TV produces a picture by channeling the output of a very bright backlighting system through a series of optical filters. The capacity to control an LCD TV’s backlight can help minimize eyestrain in a dark viewing environment. In addition, the brightness level of an LCD HDTV’s backlight correlates to its power consumption. Lower backlight output to dark-room viewing levels can result in one-half to two-third less power consumed. Also, lower backlighting extends the lifespan of the lamp module.

Lastly, you should consider video port needs, particularly HDMI. High-Definition Multimedia Interface is the standard for digital video transfer in home-theater. The main benefits are the clarity of a digital signal and the audio and video that are streamed over a single cable connection. Common appliances that can be connected to an LCD HDTV through HDMI are DVD players and game consoles. Most LCD HDTV provides two to four ports.

Look for these different features when you are purchasing an LCD HDTV. This technical knowledge will help you decide which LCD HDTV meets your needs.

John V. W. Howe is an entrepreneur, author, inventor, patent holder, husband, father, and grandfather. His degree in physics makes him curious about how things work and he was naturally fascinated with early HDTV’s and has closely followed their development.

His website, http://www.The-Best-HDTV.com, helps readers identify the best HDTV units. Find out which are the top 10 HDTV units at http://www.the-best-hdtv.com/10-Top-HDTV.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_V._W._Howe

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from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Beginning some time on June 12, 2009 most US TV broadcasts will no longer be in analog format, so they cannot be received by older VCRs, TiVos, and DVRs (digital video recorders) that do not have DTV tuners. However, they can be used to receive these signals using a DTV converter box. Some DTV-capable televisions also have analog video and sound outputs that can be connected to video and sound inputs of analog VCRs in order to enable recording of a program you are watching, and can also accept audio and video from those VCRs, and can receive the older analog TV signals (“NTSC format”) on channels 3 or 4 from the antenna connection to your VCR output. So your older VCR or other recorder can still work either using a DTV converter box or most new DTV televisions. This article focuses on using your VCR, TiVo, or DVR with a DTV converter box.
The only difficulty is that the DTV converter box is probably not programmable to turn on and off at various times on various channels, so for timer recording your VCR will be limited to one channel — the one that your converter box is tuned to. Unless you are there to change the channel on the converter box at the right time, you are limited to a single channel. Most DTV converter boxes use no more power than a night light (most are 7 watts or less), so it is possible to leave them on all the time (tuned to the channel you intend to record) without using much electrical power.

Steps

1. Insert your VCR, TiVo, or DVR between the DTV converter box output coax connector and your TV set antenna input as shown in the figure below (if you have not yet set up your converter box, installation instructions can be found here and additional information on channel scan setup can be found here).
2. Using your remote control for your DTV converter box, enter the menu for “sleep mode” or “auto off” function, and turn it “OFF”. By default most DTV converter boxes turn off automatically after about 4 hours, but by turning this function off it will remain on until you turn it off.
3. Be sure your VCR is set up to output on the same channel that your DTV converter box output is on (usually channel 3 or channel 4, selectable) .
4. Program your VCR to record on the channel that is put out by your DTV converter box (channel 3 or 4) at the time of the program(s) you wish to record.
5. Leave your DTV converter box turned on and tuned to the channel you intend to record.
6. Later, the program(s) you recorded on your VCR can be played back on your TV as you normally would.

Tips

• If you are using an indoor antenna such as “rabbit ears”, be sure the antenna is oriented properly to receive the channel before you record (you can check this using your TV).
• If you have 2 DTV converter boxes and your TV has audio/video input jacks, it is possible to watch one channel on your TV and record another channel on your VCR. Click here (or here for zoomable PDF version) to see a fact sheet on how to do this (scroll down to “Set-up #2″). However, it is still not possible to program to record different channels at different times (unless someone manually changes the channel on the converter box connected ahead of the VCR between recordings). The VCR must always be programmed to record from channel 3 or 4 (what ever is put out by the DTV converter box).
• On the FCC web site there is a page [1] which lists a number of consumer publications on digital television. Scroll down to “Television” and look for “DTV” or “Digital” in the article title.

Related wikiHows

• How to Set up a DTV Digital Converter Box and Antenna
• How to Scan for DTV Channels Using a Digital TV Converter Box

Sources and Citations

1. ↑ http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/information_directory.html#broadcast lists FCC publications on DTV (scroll down to “Television”)

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Use Your Older VCR, TiVo, or DVR With a DTV Converter Box. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Having switched to the new digital television format, you may find the need to improve your reception. Explore a simple method for getting a better picture by following three easy steps.

Digital Television Broadcasting is pretty amazing. You’ll likely receive many more stations than ever before. Your old TV will deliver clear sharp picture quality like you never experienced! You’ll get more bang for your buck with additional features like Multicast and Electronic Program Guides…

You’re gonna LOVE digital reception – and then again maybe you won’t.

Digital TV is great when it works but when it doesn’t it will frustrate you beyond belief. This is because digital television is an ALL or NOTHING technology. In the old days, if your signal wasn’t the best or there was some sort of interference, your picture and/or sound quality diminished. You got snow and static. Not an enjoyable experience, but you did get something.

Digital, on the other hand is less forgiving. You will either get a great picture, or none at all. DTV can compensate for some reception errors. It has the ability to guess as what it needs to fill in the gaps when there are small pieces of digital information missing because of interference, etc. In addition, as the signal coming to your TV starts to degrade, you will see the picture pause, possibly jump, and maybe even pixelate.

However, once a certain threshold has been reached where the set can no longer guess at what is missing, the picture goes blank and sound goes dead. You see this banner scroll across your set saying “No Signal”. This will be especially true for viewers in outlying and rural areas where the broadcast tower is far away and signal strength is weak. This may also be true for folks living in urban areas where there are lots of obstructions and electro magnetic interference.

There’s actually a pretty simple solution to FIX this. It’s the three steps I mentioned earlier.

To make all this work, all you really need to do is increase your signal strength. Start from the TV set and work backwards towards the antenna. As soon as you reach a level of reception you’re satisfied with, stop and savor your efforts. If the last step you performed wasn’t quite enough to improve reception, move to the next until you’re content.

Step one (1): Install a TV Signal Amplifier

Sometimes the signal coming into your home is just below the digital threshold I talked about earlier. A boost, or amplified signal may be all that is needed to bring your set back to life. These devices are designed specifically to improve the signal strength needed for UHF/VHF/FM/HDTV antenna reception. For the best results and to prevent signal degradation, the amplifier should be installed where the antenna cable first enters the home. If this step is not quite good enough, proceed to step 2. Also note that this is not money thrown away. The next step involves getting a new antenna and this amplifier will help that do a better job – nothing is lost here.

Step two (2): Find the BEST TV Antenna for your Particular Needs

Many factors determine how an antenna works and unfortunately, there are no BEST units for all circumstances. You need to study your particular situation and determine what features will be required to meet your needs.

If you live in a rural area, antenna design is critical. You’ll want one with numerous elements to capture as much signal as possible. I wouldn’t even consider a “rabbit ear” type for this application.

Living in an urban location is much different. Other buildings and obstacles must be taken into account. Are there large power lines close by? Are the TV stations close by or in another town? In this situation, you may be able to use rabbit ears or an omni-directional antenna.

My point is that you need to do a bit of homework here. I know that may not be what you want to hear but it’s the truth and it’s necessary. Every situation and location is different and you will have to figure out your needs in order to select the best product.

One other bit of advice I’d like to pass on… Don’t scrimp on this piece of equipment. Buy the best antenna you can possibly afford. You are going to have to live with this purchase for some time so make sure that it’s an INVESTMENT and not an expense. I’ve never been sorry for buying the best I could afford, but many times I’ve kicked myself in the keister cause I skimped and got the cheap unit. Trust me, you won’t be sorry you got the best.

Step Three (3): Install an Antenna Rotor

While the old fashioned analog signals could bounce off objects and make their way to your set, the new digital signals are a “line of sight” signal. They tend to travel in straight lines and don’t take detours. Therefore there’s one last trick left up your sleeve for getting good DTV reception – add an antenna rotor to your setup so that you can aim your antenna at the broadcast tower.

This piece of equipment is one that you can shop around for and buy based on features and construction grade. If you live in an area that doesn’t get snow and ice, then a little lighter duty unit may work just fine. In addition, if you don’t need a lot of features such as location storage, remote control, or lit buttons, you can save yourself a few dollars here as well. However, if you happen to live in a hostile area with brutal winters, be sure to get a unit capable of standing up to that abuse. You don’t want to get up on the roof in the middle of winter risking life and limb to freeze your fingers off as you replace a bum unit. Shop wisely.

Alright, there are the three steps to better DTV reception. For more information, tips, instructions and product reviews, please be sure to stop by Converter Box Antenna Help and view some Smart Antenna Choices.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Mattelig

http://EzineArticles.com/?Improving-Digital-TV-Signals—3-Steps-to-Better-DTV-Reception&id=2496037

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