Digital TV vs. HD TV: Decoding the Digital “Switch”

The digital TV upgrade that occurred over the last decade in the United States was largely over-hyped and more confusing than relevant to the average television viewer. For one, it had absolutely no effect on people who were receiving their TV signal from a cable or satellite TV provider. Because it also happened at a time when high definition TVs were becoming "in-vogue," many people who had regular definition TVs believed that their signal was instantly HD. This compounded even further with those who had purchased high definition sets and were now confused on what was required to operate them.

The first confusion occurred when non-HD TV owners were told that they might have to purchase a "converter box" to covert their regular over-the-air TV signals to the new, government mandated digital signal. The FCC provided a hotline number and vouchers to aid in the purchase of converter boxes for those wishing to receive their TV through a standard antenna. This wrongly convinced a number of people that they were now watching HD TV, when in fact they were watching a digital signal "down-converted" to analog.

Another large misconception about the "digital TV" conversion occurred with people who were already receiving a digital signal, but mistook the conversion for a high-definition switch. This included people who were already receiving a digital signal through their satellite TV receiver or cable TV set top box. These people saw no actual change in their signal or service. Some purchased high definition televisions however, expecting to get a new richer, more brilliant picture. These buyers represented the third category of disappointed consumers confused by the digital television transition.

The buyers of high-definition TVs have experienced a good bit of misinformation, partly from sellers of televisions, and partly from service providers who did a sloppy job of explaining the new technology. In order to receive a proper high definition signal, these people could actually use their old antenna. That's right - the same one that required a converter box to work before. How? Simple - with a tuner and TV that could accept a high definition signal, they could get an HD picture over the air with a regular antenna. This confused the heck out of people who wrongly assumed that subscription service was required.

That being said, the best way for new HD TV buyers to experience the picture they're looking for is with subscription service. Satellite TV provides the programming that most people are looking for, including network TV, movies, and sports packages like NFL Sunday Ticket. Available anywhere with a view of the southern sky, satellite is free of many of the restrictions experienced by cable customers. By purchasing a package from a satellite provider, the receiver can usually record programs in HD using a built-in DVR, and deliver outstanding picture, color, and clarity.

For the best satellite TV coverage for your home or business, check out direct tv business services. For discounts for businesses, look at the wide range of direct tv business rates.