This is about HD tv..does the switchover mean that we cannot watch tv at all on a normal tv anymore?

Question

This is about HD tv..does the switchover mean that we cannot watch tv at all on a normal tv anymore?

Answer 1

HD and digital are two different animals.

Digital TV means without a Digital Tuner either built in or bought . old tv's will no longer receive an analog signal like through Rabbit ears or Roof antennas.

If you subscribe to satellite or cable, you don't have to worry about this at all.

HD, or High Def TV,.. is a pay for Service with your Cable or Satellite TV. The picture and sound quality is tremendously better.  You have to have a HD compatiable TV, DVD etc.

To watch everything in HD.

Some broadcast channels alread broadcast in HD.

If you really want to take advantage of HD you have to subcribe to cable or satellite HD service.

Answer 2

there should be a setting on your tv on which you can change the quality which ranges from about 1080(HD) to 800(standard tv)

Answer 3

No, it absolutely does not mean you can't use your existing TV. If your standard resolution tv has a digital tuner, than you're already set. It will be stamped with SDT (Standard Defination Tv). If it is not, there are converter boxes available, as well as a federal rebate that covers most of the cost of the converter. The Digital TV switchover, and the end of Analog TV does not mean that stations are all broadcasting in HD, most will continue to transmit in Digital standard defination.

Answer 4

You can still watch digital TV on your old TV, you'll just need a digital box, but you won't be able to watch High Definition (HD) TV on a Standard Definition (SD) TV.

Answer 5

you will have to get freeview or sky!

Answer 6

You are confusing two totally different things.

Digital TV (Freeview) is not HD.

The digital switchover has nothing to do with HD.

All you need is a Freeview box (from about £15) and you can watch digital broadcasts on any TV set.

One day, all TV broadcasts will be HD - but not for about 10-15 years!!

Answer 7

No you cannot view the old TV format,every thing

is broadcast in the new digital format.Soon all

the old signal TV will be shut down,the digi TV is

a much better picture that you receive.

Answer 8

I think you mean digital free view, yep it is the big switch over soon, and the old receivers will not work any more (as a TV receiver). free view boxes are cheap at around £15

Answer 9

the only people who should be concerned about this are people who don't have cable and use an antena to get a signal!!!  if that's your case, you can get a converter box for pretty cheap.  that's it.

Answer 10

What you are talking about is the analog terrasterial switchoff. In the next few years each mast will have their analog signal turned off so you will have to get a digital box.

If you have sky or virgin etc you'll be fine but if you use an aerial you will have to get a freeview box. You can get these from only £15 now so it's not neccessary to get a new tv.

However if you want to be 'future ready' you might want to get a new TV with both freeview and HD ready, this will allow you to be ready for when it all moves to HD. Don't worry though this won't be for years though and you'll be safe just to get a digital box for now.

Answer 11

you can if you buy a digital conversion box which cost about 50$ but if you go to wall mart or sears they can use a discount card which will make it cost only 10$ + tax.

Answer 12

When the digital switchover happens in your area it just means that the current analogue broadcasts will cease.

This means that you will only have digital transmissions so you will need a digital tuner.

All modern tv sets (except the cheapest and nastiest) have digital tuners built in. If you have an older set then all have to do is buy a Freeview box (about £18 from Tesco) and plug it into the tv SCART socket.

HD Television is digital-only and will very-very slowly take over the airwaves. It will be transmitted in parallell with SD.

The current 625 line standard system will be live and available for at least 10 more years.