Digital TV F.A.Q.'s:-
taken from www.digitalready.gov.au

Contents:-

1. Introduction
2. What is digital free-to-air television?
3. What is the digital switchover?
4. When did digital TV broadcasts commence?
5. How do I know if I'm watching digital TV?
6. What is Freeview?
7. What benefits will I get from Digital Television?
8. Why is the Government turning off analog signals?
9. I have subsctiption TV or I am planning to subscribe, what do I need to do?
10. Can I get digital free to air channels through subscription TV?
11. Does it cost more to run a digital TV or set top box?
12. What are Standard Definition (SD) pictures?
13. What are High Definition (HD) pictures?
14. What is an integrated digital television (iDTV)?
15. I have rabbit-ears / mobile antenna, will it still work?
16. Who is managing the Digital Switchover?
17. Can I continue to watch the community TV?
18. Can I still see Imparja with digital TV?
19. I have tried but I can't get a digital signal, does this mean I'm in a black spot?
20. Will the weather affect digital TV?
21. What do I do if i get 'freezing' and have pixilation problems?
22. What is the difference between high definition adn standard definition TV?
23. Is digital TV available in my area?

Introduction:

The Digital Television

What is digital free-to-air television?:

Digital free-to-air TV consists of the same TV channels you currently receive through analog television, as well as some additional channels (such as ABC2 or SBS World News). Free-to-air broadcasters (Seven, Nine, Ten, the ABC and SBS) are expected to be progressively adding new digital channels and content over the next few years.

What is the digital switchover?:

Digital switchover is the process of progressively turning off analog TV broadcasts across Australia and replacing them with digital.

Free-to-air television signals are currently broadcast in both analog and digital formats. During the digital switchover all free-to-air analog television signals across Australia will be progressively turned off and the broadcasters will provide only digital television signals.

When did digital TV broadcasts commence?:

Digital TV commenced in 2001 in metropolitan areas and digital signals have been broadcast in many regional areas since then.  Digital broadcasts are currently transmitted alongside analog broadcasts, but when the analog signals are switched off, only TVs which are capable of receiving digital signals through a set top box or built-in tuner will work.

How do I know if I'm watching Digital TV?:

If your TV isn’t capable of receiving digital signals, it’s likely that you’re still viewing TV that is transmitted via analog broadcasts. An easy way to tell is whether you receive ABC2 or SBS World News – these are standard definition digital channels and if you can view them (and you don’t have subscription TV), it means your TV is capable of receiving digital broadcasts.

What is Freeview?:

Freeview is a company formed by the free-to-air television broadcasters to promote and drive the take-up of digital free-to-air television in Australia. This includes the gradual introduction of new standard and high Definition channels which will come on air over the next few years. Freeview also intends to supply its own digital receiver and personal video recorder (PVR), which will include features such as an integrated Electronic Program Guide and recording functionality. However you will not need to have a Freeview receiver in order to view the additional free-to-air channels. Freeview is not a government organisation. For more information on Freeview visit www.freeview.com.au.

What benefits will I get from Digital Television?:

Digital television provides vastly improved picture and sound quality, including widescreen pictures and digital audio, including radio broadcasts. Digital television also offers the benefits of more channels and content. For example, the ABC has already introduced ABC2 which is only broadcast in digital. SBS has the SBS World News in digital. The Seven, Nine and Ten networks have introduced High Definition digital channels. Network Ten has also announced a digital-only sports channel, expected to be named One, to begin in 2009. Gradually, each of the free-to-air television broadcasters will be introducing new digital channels and content.

Why is the government turning off analog signals?:

Currently, analog and digital broadcasts are transmitted side by side. This process is costly and inefficient and uses most of what is known as the ‘broadcast spectrum’ – or the space that’s available for terrestrial television broadcasts. Turning off analog signals will free up a considerable amount of the spectrum so that it can be used for additional services.

Digital technology is being adopted all over the world, and it’s important that Australia keeps pace with global technological advances. Before long, analog TV equipment will no longer be available in Australia.

I have subscription TV or I am planning to subscribe, what do I need to do?:

If your subscription TV package provides access to some or all of the free-to-air channels, you'll still be able to watch these through your subscription TV box provided the broadcasters continue to allow their signals to be carried by the subscription TV provider. However, you may not be able to access all the free-to-air channels through subscription TV, so if you want to see the standard definition or high definition channels available in your area, you may need to connect a set top box (if your TV is analog) or get a TV with a built-in digital tuner. If you are already subscribing or planning to subscribe to a subscription TV service, you should check with your provider and enquire about their options.

Can I get digital free to air channels through subscription TV?:

Some subscription TV companies provide their customers with access to digital free-to-air channels as part of their package of channels. In this case, subscription TV provides an alternative option to convert to digital television. If you are already a subscription TV customer you may not need to do anything further to convert to digital TV if you are currently able to view free-to-air channels through your subscription TV box. If you are considering subscription TV as a means of viewing free-to-air television, you may wish to check with the provider in your area as to which of the digital free-to-air channels are offered. You should also consider what will happen to your free-to-air channels if you end your subscription TV contract after analog broadcasts are switched off in your area. At this stage, one of the subscription TV providers, AUSTAR, offers, to those customers who subscribe to their MyStar service, the option of retaining their access to free-to-air services if they end their contract by supplying them with a digital receiver. If you have a Mystar digital box you should check with AUSTAR about the details of this offer. Monthly fees apply to subscription TV services. Other than the AUSTAR service mentioned above you would generally lose access to free-to-air television if you were to end your subscription TV contract after switchover unless your television has a digital tuner built in or has been adapted by the addition of a digital set-top box.

Does it cost more to run a digital TV or set top box?:

A set top box consumes a small amount of additional electricity. A new television may consume more electricity than your old one, depending on what type you choose.  From April 2009, Energy Efficiency labels will soon be mandatory on all new televisions to help you choose the most efficient model.  Like all electrical equipment, televisions and set top boxes continue to use power while in stand-by mode, so its best to turn them off completely when you're not using them.

What are Standard Definition (SD) pictures?:

Standard definition broadcast quality is superior to that obtained from analog television broadcasts, traditionally viewed on 4:3 television sets, and is ghost-free and in widescreen format.

The SD picture resolution is 576 lines x 720 active pixels @ 50Hz interlaced (576i).

The Government requires broadcasters to provide a digital SD signal at all times, even when high definition programs are broadcast. This is to ensure that viewers with SD receivers will always receive a digital television service, even when the higher quality high definition television signal is transmitted.

What are High Definition (HD) picutres?:

High definition broadcasts have image resolution that is superior to SD pictures and to the existing analog television broadcast.

Australian broadcasters are currently using four different levels of HD:

The benefits of HD pictures at the highest resolution are particularly noticeable on larger screen sets and when using projection equipment.

HD pictures are also ghost-free and in widescreen format. When viewed on a HD capable television screen the viewer can enjoy cinema-quality viewing with Dolby Digital sound (where available with some HD programming).

What is an integrated digitial television (iDTV)?:

This is a television with a built-in digital tuner (iDTV) for receiving and displaying digital television transmissions. A set with iDTV generally incorporates a high quality widescreen display and a high-level audio capability with appropriate audio/video connectors. It does not require a digital television set top box, although connection of an additional set top box could provide recording or other functionality.

I have rabbit-ears / mobile antenna, will it still work?:

Generally, it is unlikely that reliable, ongoing digital reception will be received via an indoor antenna. Even the movement of people can cause problems, but the biggest issue is likely to be the availability of all digital channels with the same orientation of the indoor antenna. However, there may be occasions (i.e. in areas of high signal strength) where indoor antennas may be sufficient.

Who is managing the Digital Switchover?:

The Government has established the Digital Switchover Taskforce to manage the digital switchover process. The Taskforce is part of the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and is located in Sydney.

Can I continue to watch the Community TV?:

The Community TV channels (available in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney) are currently being transmitted in analog only. If you buy a digital set top box for your analog TV you will still be able to receive the Community TV channels if you have your TV set up to receive both analog and digital signals. If you do not know how to do this your local TV supplier should be able to supply you with the correct cabling. Many new sets on the market now have dual analog and digital tuners and are capable of receiving the Community TV channels. If you're buying a new digital TV and want to continue to watch the Community TV channels, you should ask your retailer to advise you which digital TV sets also have analog tuners.

The Government is working with Community TV to ensure Community TV channels are available to viewers in digital.

Can I still see Imparja with digital TV?:

If you currently watch Imparja through an antenna, as opposed to a satellite dish, then depending on when Imparja’s digital television network is rolled out you will be able to watch the digital services of Imparja and other remote area broadcasters.

If you receive Imparja via a satellite, then these services will continue to be provided in the same way.

I have tried but I can't get a digital signal, does this mean I'm in a black spot?:

If you have tried to switch to digital by installing digital equipment and you can’t get it to work, you should first ensure that your cables are in good condition and connected properly.

If you still can’t receive a picture, contact an experienced antenna installer to see whether digital signals are available where you live. Digital services may not be available; however, the Government is working on a number of solutions to deliver digital television signals to all households in the country by the time analog signals are switched off.

Will the weather affect digital TV?:

If you are living in an area that experiences certain weather patterns, such as heavy rain or frequent storms, there can be an impact on digital television. This is much the same as the impact weather can have on analog television, however the on-screen results can be quite different. This kind of weather can produce snow or ghosting with analog signals. But with digital, the result can be freezing of the picture, pixilation, or a temporary loss of signal.

What do I do if I get 'freezing' and have pixilation problems?:

This depends on how often this is occurring. If it is regular, you should contact a qualified antenna installer to see if the situation can be improved.

What's the difference between high definition and standard definition TV?:

Both standard and high definition television are digital formats.  Standard definition (SD) television provides digital images and sound that is considerably better than analog. High definition (HD) television is an enhancement that provides higher resolution images and Dolby Digital surround sound. If you connect a set top box to an analog television, or have a television with a standard definition digital tuner, you will receive all the standard definition free-to-air digital channels. To see all the benefits of high definition television, including the free-to-air HD channels, you need a television capable of displaying high definition images that either has a built-in HD tuner or is connected to a high definition set top box.

Is digital TV available in my area?:

Your local broadcaster can confirm whether a digital TV service has commenced in your area. Contact details for broadcasters can be obtained from Free TV

Additionally you can check the broadcasters’ websites for digital rollout information. The ABC and SBS provide detailed information on established digital services and information on the expected coverage of most of their digital services.

Local digital reception quality can be affected by trees, geography, buildings and other obstructions near your residence.

Reference:
Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.  (n.d.a). FAQs. Digital Switchover.  Retrieved 12 May 2009 from http://www.digitalready.gov.au/faqs.aspx