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Television Specifications

Televisions manufactured since March 2007 have a built-in digital tuner (ATSC 1.0) for receiving over-the-air High and Standard Definition (HD and SD) broadcast. In 2020 NextGen UHD televisions became available that could also receive ATSC 3.0 Ultra High Definition (UHD 4k) broadcast. Some early NextGen UHD televisions do not have an authorized decryption key to view Content Protected channels. See Home page / Encryption Lock.

Most HD and UHD NextGen televisions can also process analog signals (NTSC) for older recordings etc.

Also see; -- Home page / Digital Televisions
-- ATSC 1.0 Standards Website
-- ATSC 3.0 Standards Website

ATSC -- Advanced Television System Committee
NTSC -- National Television System Committee

Some digital television tuners do not use a low noise (preamp) receiver and may not get weaker signals. One reason not to use a low noise receiver is to cut cost. Another reason is satellite and cable TV boxes do not need a TV with a low noise receiver. A few television models are video monitors only, and do not have a built-in digital tuner. Television monitors get raw video from a cable or satellite box, or a set top digital TV tuner.

Analog TV Set

Analog Televisions require a Digital to Analog Converter Box, sometimes just called a Digital Converter, to receive digital broadcast. Most converters are also recorders. The antenna cable connects to the converter. The converter is then connected to the TV antenna input. Televisions with a twin-lead connector will need a coax to twin-lead adapter. Some converters can also connect to the television with HDMI, USB, video, VGA, DVI, or YPbPr cable sets for better picture and audio quality.

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PICTURE DISPLAY
A TV channel resolution is set by the broadcaster and can be in SD, HD, or UHD. Picture definition is described by the height resolution in pixels per inch (ppi). The picture scan will be either Interlaced (i) or Progressive (p).

Picture Definition and Scan Type
UHD (4k) HD SD
2160p 1080p
1080i
720p
480p
480i


p = Progressive - picture lines displayed one after the other.
i = Interlaced - odd picture lines displayed then even lines.


Display Aspect Ratios (Width x Height)
Aspect Ratios
Analog TV used a 4:3 aspect ratio.

Specifications

Definition Resolution
W x H (PPI)
Aspect
Ratio
Frame
Rate
Ultra High
Definition
(UHD 4k)
2160p 3840 x 2160 16:9 24 fps
30 fps
60 fps
120 fps
High
Definition
(HD)
1080p 1920 x 1080 16:9
1:1
24 fps
30 fps
1080i 30 fps
720p 1280 x 720 24 fps
30 fps
60 fps
Standard
Definition
(SD)
480p 704 x 480 16:9
4:3
24 fps
30 fps
60 fps
640 x 480 4:3
1:1
480i 704 x 480 16:9
4:3
30 fps
640 x 480 4:3
1:1

W
H
= width
= height
PPI
fps
= pixels per inch
= frames per second

The 4k Digital Cinema Standard has slightly higher resolution than UHD (4k) TV.

Standard Resolution (ppi)
4k Digital Cinema 4096 x 2160
UHD (4k) (TV) 3840 x 2160

Most Hollywood movies run at 24 fps. The old analog TV system had a 525 line Interlaced (i) picture at 30 frames per second and an aspect ratio of 4:3.

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