HDTV Basics

•Standard definition is what most people would consider a “normal” TV. Unless you’ve purchased a high-definition TV (HDTV), you’re watching standard definition. The screen ratio is 4:3. Standard definition is considered the lowest level of resolution

•High definition TVs have bigger screens than standard TVs. The screen ratio is 16:9.

•TV pictures are made up of lines called “lines of resolution.” High definition TVs offer much sharper images than standard definition TVs because there are more lines of resolution. The difference is striking.

•Digital television means the signal is transmitted digitally as opposed to an analog signal. Digital signals are sharper and crisper than analog signals but they don’t match the clarity of high definition signals. Remember, high definition has a larger picture and more of those important lines of resolution.

•Digital Cable is not the same as digital television. Digital Cable is a marketing term. In fact, most Digital Cable signals are regular TV signals being transmitted in a digital instead of analog format.