What is analog television?
Analog refers to the transmission standard used to send most television signals today. It is comprised of a continuous electronic wave that can experience electrical interference as it travels from the signal transmitter to your TV set. Interference can be caused by a number of things, from high-tension power lines to thunderstorms. Therefore, the quality of the picture you see when it arrives on your standard analog TV set is somewhat degraded from its original quality. An analog transmission system can only deliver Standard Television signals.
An analog signal delivered to your home via cable television is superior to antenna. Antietam Cable has a huge master antenna and satellite dish at our facility that capture the analog signal in its best form. We then send it to you via our cable, which protects the signal from the majority of external interference.
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What is digital television (DTV)?
Digital television is a new transmission standard superior to analog. With a digital system, the pictures and sounds are represented using zeros and ones, just like the digital code your computer uses. While the signal can still be affected by the same interference as analog, it is easier for the system to correct the signal since it only has to replace a zero or a one. Therefore, digital television is sharper and clearer than analog. A digital transmission system can deliver both Standard Television (SDTV) signals and High definition (HDTV) signals.
Antietam Digital Cable uses this standard. A digital signal also uses less bandwidth - or space - so we can add many more channels to the digital level than our analog service level.
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What is a Standard Television Signal?
In the current television signal standard in the United States, the television signal is made up of 525 scan lines. It has around 300,000 pixels (the small dots that create the picture). The shape of the screen is almost square – a 4 to 3 aspect ratio – which simply means the screen is 4 units wide by 3 units tall. A standard television signal can be delivered by either an analog transmission method or a digital transmission method.
Both Antietam Cable’s Basic and Digital services employ the Standard Television Signal.
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What is HDTV?
With the most popular high definition television signal standard, the signal is made up of 1,080 scan lines. It has over two million pixels (the small dots that create the picture.) With twice as many scan lines and pixels, the HDTV picture has a higher resolution, meaning it is clearer, crisper and more detailed than the Standard Television signal. The shape of the screen is wider – a 16 by 9 aspect ratio – which simply means it is 16 units wide by 9 units tall. This is much like the shape of the screen you see in a movie theater. Many people find viewing HDTV more natural, because the 16 by 9 aspect ratio closely matches the peripheral vision range of the human eye.
HDTV signals are delivered by a digital transmission method.
Antietam HD offers the HDTV signal delivered digitally. Because it is sent to your home via cable technology, the signal is protected from the majority of external interference common to home satellite system users, such as wind, rain, snow, trees, new structures on the landscape, and a host of other line-of-sight and environmental issues. Antietam Cable’s master satellite dish is 15 feet wide compared to home satellite systems, which are less than 2 feet wide. Because of its size, our satellite dish is affected much less by external interference when compared to home satellite systems!
A high definition signal delivered by Antietam Cable turns your home entertainment center into a private movie theater, with a superb picture, CD-quality surround sound, and the technical reliability you’ve come to expect from superior cable technology.
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What equipment will I need to receive Antietam HD?
You will need an HDTV compatible television set, which can be purchased at many area retailers. You will also need an HD compatible cable box, available from Antietam Cable Television.
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Is my standard TV obsolete?
You can watch all Antietam Cable Television video services – including Antietam Digital Cable - on your standard television set with the exception of Antietam HD. An HDTV set is required to receive any high definition signal, like those featured on Antietam HD.
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What is the difference between an HDTV set and an HDTV-ready set?*
Both sets are compatible with the HDTV standard. HDTV sets usually cost more and include a tuner. HDTV-ready sets usually cost less and do not include a tuner. With the Antietam HD service, the HD cable box serves as the tuner. If you have an HDTV-ready set, you will not need to purchase a tuner separately in order for your set to work with our service. Both HDTV and HDTV-ready sets will work with the Antietam HD service.
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What is an EDTV set?*
EDTV stands for Enhanced TV. Despite its appearance, this set is NOT an HDTV set. It manipulates a standard television signal to fit a 16 x 9 aspect ratio. An EDTV set will work with all Antietam Cable video services – including Antietam Digital Cable - with the exception of Antietam HD. A true HDTV compatible set is required to receive any high definition signal, like those featured on Antietam HD.
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