This is a very exciting time for consumers, manufacturers and broadcasters. But, there are still some questions as we approach this date. CE.org/hdtv is your one-stop resource for information, numbers, education and updates. Click on the links below to learn the ins-and-outs of this breathtaking new era in TV!
In May 2007, CEA mailed a packet of information regarding the digital television (DTV) transition to all members of Congress. Electronic versions of these documents are available below:
DTV Letter to Congress 05-08-07
Sample Letter to Constituents
Key Points on the DTV Transition
CEA HDTV Education Efforts
CEA DTV Issue Brief - 2007
Key Resources - Contact Sheet
myGreenElectronics Fact Sheet
FAQ on the DTV Transition
NTIA - Preparing For The DTV Transition
NTIA Consumer Fact Sheet
FCC DTV Fact Sheet - Updated July 19, 2007
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- If I have an older analog television, will I have to throw it away after February 17, 2009?
- If I want a new TV, will I have to buy a High Definition TV (HDTV) to watch digital broadcast television after the transition?
- How can I be sure that I am buying a digital TV (DTV)?
- How do I know if I already have a digital TV (DTV)?
- What is the difference between “Integrated” DTVs and DTV or HDTV “Monitors”?
- What about my VCR, DVD player, camcorder, and gaming console? Will I be able to use them with a digital television set?
- How do I get DTV or HDTV programming?
- Will I need a special antenna to receive DTV over-the-air?
- How do I know if I already have digital programming through my cable or satellite TV service?
- My cable operator offers a digital cable package. Is this the same as HDTV?
- Do cable TV networks, like CNN, MSNBC, Lifetime, etc., have to switch to digital broadcasting as well?
- Can my cable system move programming to a digital tier that makes me subscribe to digital service?
- Can I hook up more than one TV and video recorder to a single digital-to-analog converter box?
- What about my portable, battery-powered analog TV? Will I be able to use it to watch broadcast TV after February 17, 2009?
- I have an old antenna that attaches to my TV with two wires. Will I be able to use a converter box with this antenna?
- What will happen to the old analog TVs that will be replaced by DTVs? Will there be an effort to recycle them?
- Will the February 17, 2009 date for the end of full-power analog television broadcasting be pushed back?
- What are low-power (LPTV), Class A, and TV translator stations and how does the DTV transition affect them?
- Will digital-to-analog converter boxes (used to convert over-the-air digital TV broadcasts for viewing on analog sets) also convert digital closed captioning?
- Will I be able to use parental controls like the V-chip with digital TV the same way I now can with my analog TV?
LCD, DLP, or plasma? Big, bigger, or biggest? We lab-tested 15 screens to find the best values in next-generation TV.
Increased resolution, new peripherals and connections promise the best TV yet.
Five-and-a-half things you should know before you buy your first HDTV.
Quick Guide to HDTVs : Yahoo! Tech
The Basics
There are four main types of HDTVs :
Pros: Very large screens available; vibrant color quality can't be beat
Cons: Screen brightness can dim over time; fragile; expensive
Pros: Thinnest and lightest of all TVs
Cons: Max size is limited for now; very expensive; can create ghosting in action scenes Projection
Pros: Cheaper than comparably sized flat-panels
Cons: Thicker than flat panels; lamps burn out and are pricey
Pros: Bargain-basement prices; best overall picture
Cons: Enormous at large sizes; limited maximum screen size; hogs power; yesterday's technology
Installation
Bring a friend; CRTs and larger projection TVs are huge and can weigh hundreds of pounds. Fancy wall-mount kits for LCDs and plasmas usually cost extra.
Read More
Quick Guide to HDTVs : Yahoo! Tech
The Basics
There are four main types of HDTVs :
Plasma
Pros: Very large screens available; vibrant color quality can't be beat
Cons: Screen brightness can dim over time; fragile; expensive
LCD
Pros: Thinnest and lightest of all TVs
Cons: Max size is limited for now; very expensive; can create ghosting in action scenes Projection
Pros: Cheaper than comparably sized flat-panels
Cons: Thicker than flat panels; lamps burn out and are pricey
CRT
Pros: Bargain-basement prices; best overall picture
Cons: Enormous at large sizes; limited maximum screen size; hogs power; yesterday's technology
What Matters Most
- Screen Size
- You won't see the benefits of HDTV if you sit too far away; at 10 feet you need at least a 35-inch set.
- Read More Search : under 27" / 27' to 42" / Over 42"
- Inputs
- HDMI offers a simple, all-digital connection for both video and audio in a single cable.
- Read More
- Resolution
- 720p and 1080i are the two major HD standards; but the high-end 1080p is even better.
- Read More Search : 720p / 1080i / 1080p
Installation
Bring a friend; CRTs and larger projection TVs are huge and can weigh hundreds of pounds. Fancy wall-mount kits for LCDs and plasmas usually cost extra.
Read More
