5 Differences Between Digital & Analogue Television

The government of Botswana has been trying to enlighten people about transitioning television broadcasting from analogue to digital technology. Everyone is eagerly waiting for this supposed huge step which is set to happen sometime in June. Although people are excited about this move, a lot do not really understand what the difference between the two is except that digital technology will be showing pictures of great quality.

Here are a few differences between the two.

1. Compared to analogue, digital TV channels take up less bandwidth, and the bandwidth needs are continuously variable, at a corresponding reduction in image quality depending on the level of compression as well as the resolution of the transmitted image. This means that digital broadcasters can provide more digital channels in the same space, provide high definition television service.

2. Digital TV can also provide other non-television services such as multimedia or interactivity and analogue TV cannot.

3.DTV also permits special services such as multiplexing, that is more than one program on the same channel, electronic program guides and additional languages both spoken or subtitled something that cannot happen using analogue technology.

4. Digital and analog signals react to interference differently. For example, common problems with analog television including ghost images, noise from weak signals, and many other potential problems which degrade the quality of the image and sound, although the program material may still be watchable. With digital television, the audio and video must be synchronized digitally, so reception of the digital signal must be very nearly complete; otherwise, neither audio nor video will be usable.

5. Digital TV allows the use of decoders only while in analogue TV, aerials can be used as signal receivers.• It has been said that some of the television sets would not be working after this transition so if you are still not sure whether yours will be working or not, check if your TV was manufactured before 1998, if that is the case, it is definitely analogue. Those made between 1998 and 2004 may have digital turners. If your TV set was made in 2007 it definitely has a digital turner so you do not have to be worried.