• Can I record Digital TV signals on my current VCR?
• Can I view Digital TV signals on my current TV?
• Do I need a new TV Aerial?
• Do I Need to replace my existing Television for Digital TV?
• Is Digital TV a worldwide standard?
• What are the Digital Channel Allocation?
• What does "HDTV ready TV" mean?
• Why is Digital TV better than the current analogue system?
• When will Digital TV commence in Australia?
• What is Datacasting?

You must use a digital TV adaptor/converter, called a Set  Top Box (STB) to convert digital TV signals for recording on your current VCR.

Return

You must use a digital TV adaptor/converter, either a Set  Top Box (STB) or the equivalent hardware and software in a Personal Computer, to convert digital TV signals for viewing  on your current TV.

A Set Top Box should have the following:

1. Composite Video output.  (connection to a VHS video recorder)
2. Component Video output.  (connection to a video projector or rear projection TV)
3. S-Video output.  (connection to an existing TV with s-video input)
4. Digital Video output.  (connection to a D-VHS video recorder)
5. Dolby Digital AC3 optical output.  (connection to a A/V Receiver for Dolby 5:1 surround sound)
6. Standard Analogue Stereo output  (connection to a VHS video recorder)

We at DVD hope to have STB units available mid 2000.

Return

In most cases your existing aerial will be suitable for Digital reception.  Viewers in the northern beaches whose antenna is facing north will be operating from a high gain vertically polarised antenna capable of receiving all channels between 28 and 69. Such an antenna is easily capable of receiving digital transmissions. If you are currently receiving a poor picture with you existing aerial or do not have UHF capability, you may need to upgrade. Analogue Television reception has problems such as ghosting, snowy pictures and general interference.  The Digital Television signal will not degrade, if reception is poor the image will freeze while the sound may continue to be heard.

Return

There are several DTV standards world wide

• ATSC The Advanced Television Systems Committee

ATSC digital TV uses Dolby* Digital (AC-3*) for the sound, MPEG Layer II or AC-3 for the sound
Digital TV uses Dolby* Digital (AC-3*) for the sound, DVB
Digital TV uses MPEG Layer II or AC-3 for the sound and ISDB
Digital TV uses MPEG-2 AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) for the sound.
ATSC digital TV uses 8 level Vestigial sideband (8-VSB) modulation,

• DVB  Digital Video Broadcasting and the Integrated Services
  

DVB   digital TV uses Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division
Multiplexing (COFDM) modulation and ISDB digital TV uses Band
Segmented Transmission of Orthogonal Frequency Division
Multiplexing (BST-OFDM) modulation for terrestrial broadcasting.

• ISDB Digital Broadcasting digital TV systems use the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG-2) code for the picture.

ISDB digital TV uses Band Segmented Transmission of Orthogonal Frequency Division
Multiplexing (BST-OFDM) modulation for terrestrial broadcasting.

Return

Analogue broadcasts will continue until at least 2008, and possibly longer, so your current TV can be used until then.  The price of digital TVs will be way outside most people's budget for a long time, and most people keep their TVs for 8 - 12 years by which time the price of digital sets might be more realistic. The purchase a set-top converter box that allows you to receive digital transmissions on your existing set will be less expensive, probably around $200 - $300 and will give better pictures then you are currently receiving.

If you are considering the purchase of a new TV, it is a good idea to buy a good quality set to get the best out of the various digital sources now available such as DVD, D-VHS video recorders, also consider a Widescreen Television to take advantage of Widescreen digital transmissions and DVD technology, such as enhanced for 16:9 Widescreen.

Return

Current PAL analogue television sets display a maximum of 360 horizontal scan lines and 482 vertical scan lines in 1/50th (PAL) of a second.  The Digital TV capable of displaying up to 1280 horizontal scan lines and 720 vertical scan lines in 1/50th of a second, with a pixel ratio of 1920 x 1080. PAL DVD has a pixel ratio of 720 x 576, 500 horizontal scan lines and 480 vertical scan lines.

A television that is HDTV ready should be able to display an image of up to 1280 horizontal scan lines.

Return

The official commencement date for metropolitan areas is 1 January 2001. There is a requirement that the stations that are given a digital licence must start transmissions on this date.  Broadcasts may actually begin on a small scale as early as 2000.  Regional areas are to commence by 2004.

Return

Datacasting is the transmission of data into your television screen.  Under the provisions for digital television, spectrum not needed for simulcast transmission of programmes by broadcasters may be used for datacasting.  The Federal government is still considering an exact definition of datacasting, suggestions include, weather, stock reports, sports results, classified advertisements and online gambling.

Return

Digital TV offers better picture and sound quality and better reception.  HDTV offers approximately twice the vertical and horizontal resolution of a PAL analogue signal, providing a better picture quality and CD sound quality.  HDTV is particularly suited to large screen television display.  It has an Widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9 which will give you a more realistic cinema type experience then the current 4:3 television screen.

It will also be possible to transmit multiple Standard Definition Television (SDTV) programs.  Data capacity can also be allocated to provide closed captions, multiple language soundtracks. Other program-related data could also be sent in this way (such as sports scores or news headlines).

Return

The following table shows planned digital channels for main stations in metropolitan and certain major regional areas.

The ABA has issued a transmitter licence to TCN Channel Nine to carry out digital test transmissions in Sydney. Channel Nine is planning to begin its tests on 14 June and they will run until late August 1999.

TCN Channel Nine will use channel 8 (188-195 MHz) in the VHF television bands for its transmissions. This is the channel that has been nominated for use by Channel Nine in the ABA’s recently released draft digital channel plan.

Return