OK, So What Exactly is Digital Television?
For a number of years now, Australians have been preparing for the arrival of digital television. Most of us aren’t too fussed with the ins-and outs of how this stuff works – we’re just looking forward to the benefits this technology is promising to bring.
We hear ‘Digital TV’ mentioned all the time, but what do we really know about it, why we are switching and most importantly, will you have to do anything?
TV in Australia had always been broadcast using analog signals. Digital TV simply switches up the way television signals are sent and then received in TV’s around the country. At the moment, Australian TV is using both analog and digital signals (the ABC has already introduced a digital-only channel, ABC2 and Channel 10 has a sports-only channel, One) but analog signals will be phased out between 2010 and 2013.
What’s so good about digital TV?
The big benefits are higher definition, much better picture and sound quality, more free-to-air TV stations, fewer interruptions or delay in your signal and the ability to see pictures in widescreen.
As mentioned, the rollout phase is scheduled to kick off in 2010 and expected to finish by 2013 but if you want digital TV now – go for it! Digital TV is available now in most areas and you can check the rollout map here for full details.
What will it cost you?
There are two options when switching to digital TV. The cheapest is to purchase a digital set-top box to connect to your existing analog TV. These start at just under $100 (better quality equipment is available for closer to $200).
A better solution for the long term would be to purchase a television with an integrated digital tuner. Clearly this option is the pricey one but given analog TV signals will be switched off in 2013, it’s a necessary evil (eventually!).
It’s worth pointing out here digital TV and TV over the internet are not the same (in fact, they’re very different).
Stay tuned to an upcoming edition of the Westnet Newsletter to learn all about internet TV!
Posted by admin
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Thanks for the newsletter. One of the largest problems is staying in touch with all the changes that are going on with new digital media and all the add-ons accelerators and websites. So having this newsletter is a real help for us oldies!
Regards John.
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:46 pm
So far, digital TV has proved a complete con in our country area. The picture quality is little improved, and it is extremely susceptible to noise. When the neighbours fire up their stoves for the evening meal, the ’snap-crackle-pop’ (presumably from the thermostats) makes viewing impossible. The same goes for weekends, when electrical garden tools are in use. Like ‘next G’ mobile phones, we have are losing a good analogue service for a much inferior digital one.
July 2nd, 2009 at 4:18 pm
in the 4th paragraph it should read ‘fewer interruptions and less delay’. Fewer should be used for quantity or number of things being described. This is a very common grammatical error.
a phrase I dislike is ‘touch base with you’ ugh–’I am not playing baseball’ I tell people who say this.
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:20 pm
What does digital television mean for people on satelite free to air broadcast due to poor / non existing normal reception?
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Hi. Does the “eventually” mean that even with a set top box, I will need to buy a new TV after 2013 when analogue transmission is closed off?
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Nice technology, pity about the programmes.
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:51 pm
HI Guys
The problem with Digital TV is it is prone to interference, especially wheather.Not good wheather but bad of course.
I live in Darwin and we have storms over the wet season December to May. The big problem then is the cricket is on, or its wet outside and if you want to retreat inside and kick back to watch this fantastic new technology, you bloody well can’t. Most frustrating I am sure you will agree.In the southern states it would be AFL,Rugby OR the V8’s or whatever your into that the winter rolls in and BDA (blows digital away).
Good old analog TV was / is more resistant to the weather. How come our new technology is not as robust as the old.Are we really being sold a dud or will the transmittion technology of Digital improve as more people buy into it.Possibly making it more worth while to spend the money on quality transmittion.Big bussiness needs big numbers to make big profits.
Why can’t we have Digital TV, Radio etc through our landlines.It would be more reliable surely.Except for the Telstra factor.Cheers.
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:20 pm
OK som the anal.signal will be switched off between 2010 and 2013.So if I have already purchased a digital set top box will I be OK in using this after the digital commencement date? or will I then have to purchase a new TV with built in digital receiver?
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:15 am
Thanks for information on digital and related topics. Easy to read – easy to understand. It is difficult to keep up with all of the changes and your explanations have been excellent.
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:21 am
i feel sorry for those who can not afford a new t.v. they will go and purshaces one anyway and put themselves further in debt. and what is so good about them. we have digital with our foxtel and when there is a storm you loose reception. we dont with the old fashion t.v. barbara
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:20 am
The respondents who have experienced digital appear united in their disappointment. My big old telly works like a champion & I dont want to purchase more plastic. The environmental aspect of discarding untold numbers of televisions has obviously been overlooked. Yet again the big end of town get their way.
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:38 am
After reading the comments about analog and digital it is interesting to note that most comments are not in favour of digital. Last year I purchased a new digital TV because the old TV spat the dummy. I completed the new TV with a new DVD recorder of the same brand as the TV and I am very pleased with this new equipment.
On digital TV I appreciate the ABC and SBS for their various programs. The local TV station with many (too many) commercials who are in most cases too noisy and take a lot of time of their programs.
Also there are too many soap operas on the commercal TV.
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:38 am
I agree with posters that the wind has the capacity to blow the signal about, apart from that my picture quality has improved. Perhaps with time programs and the interferance problem will be overcome.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Thank you Anne!
I’ve gone in and made this change to the article
- Marika
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Hi Gavin,
I believe the set-top box will suffice after 2013 (if I’m wrong, I encourage people to correct to me!).
Marika
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:43 pm
I hope the programmes will improve in content (and in number) as digital TV becomes more common.
I heard the other day the ABC was commencing ABC3 – a station for children. I remember the ABC had many educational programmes for kids when I was in school, so maybe the kids of today are about to enjoy those sorts of programmes again.
- Marika
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Hi there,
My pleasure!
Feel free to let me know if there is anything else you’d like explained in a future article (I love suggestions).
- Marika
July 3rd, 2009 at 6:36 pm
I have worked in the TV transmission area and fail to completely agree with comments from some people that you must have a new ‘digital’ antennae with improved connections.
What is your opinion?
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:36 pm
David de Havelland, don’t hold your breath.
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Its funny, growing up with analog TV blk & white to colour very good picture & sound development in the last 20 years the signal is stable etc. Digital well, it seem likenearly everything these days change is a comin & as usual it seems throw it out there, untested, untried & full of bugs. I agree with most of the comments, No reception stabilty, all weather patterns here in the midwest of WA just screw it up totally. Come in the consumer sucker. Kind of glad I don’t watch much telly anymore but if some feature or rerun you want to watch is on, just about guarentee to forget it. I know my my very elderly parents bet totally peeved with it. The cost of all this, not just for consumers, think of the networks, blows my mind. Remember if it ain’t broke, why mess with it.
July 4th, 2009 at 7:18 am
Hi Everyone,
Many thanks for the newsletter.Great to see such wonderful comments.
I totally agree with Riky’s & Allan’s comments.
Being an ‘oldie’ I have a whole library shelf full of videos . I also have an old TV which works ‘a treat’.
After reading the newsletter I will definitely stay with the ’set top’ box a while.
Christine Elliott.
PS. some ‘pet hates’ re language
“Each and every!”
“Me having to do something” when it should be “My having to do something” !
July 4th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
We’ve had digital for a couple of years now, and reckon its pretty good. Will agree, however, we often lose signal. We’re about 80km from the CBD – far from the outback – but we have a hard time getting TV signals, have pathetic broadband speeds (not Westnet’s fault, the phone lines suck) and mobile phone reception with the much touted NextG is pretty “urine” weak as well. (Don’t get me started on how often we lose power)
Even with all that, we love the fact that with the addition of a DVD Recorder with hard drive we are able to record all our favourite shows and movies and miss all the ads, without having to stuff around with tapes. Was quite pricey, but well worth it! Death to ads!!
PS – I hate the phrase “At the end of the day” because the answer I always insert is: “IT’S NIGHT!!!!”
July 4th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
I heard that standard wireless signals are also to go digital.
Any info on that.
Pet hated word is EXPERT.
Expert motor mechanic, expert landscaper, expert TV technician and so it goes on and on.
Is the word designed to feel confident in bodgie workmanship?
Another word is FREEWAY.
Since when do Freeways have level crossing intersections?
Only in Aust., probably.
July 4th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
I have had a set top for 2 years. Are all set top boxes digital and is it written on the box. Are there two different types of set top boxes, analogue and digital please? Warren.
July 6th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Pet hates with grammar/spelling lifted straight from the comments above: “Loose” when it should be “lose” – “loose” means “not tight”
“Wheather” or “wether” instead of “weather”: “Wether” is a neutered male sheep or goat, “wheather” is just incorrect
Beginning a sentence with a preposition (”so”): The correct sentence construction would have a comma where the full stop is and the “so” flows from there.
Some others: People who will not pronounce “Australia” correctly and say “Ustraya” or something similar – ugh!
Finally, to those who insist on spelling “program” as “programme”: “Program” is *not* an “Americanism.
The acknowledged expert reference on English usage (Fowler) maintains that the “..mme” version is merely an affectation. We don’t use “telegramme” or “mamogramme”, so why “programme”? The answer, it seems, lies in the times when it was considered terribly chic to pepper one’s speech with French affectations, probably in an effort to curry favour with the Royal Court. (A number of British Monarchs were unable to actually speak English, French, or, in at least one case, German being their native tongue). So there
July 7th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Hi Warren,
Without knowing the brand and model of your set-top box it would be impossible for me to tell you what should be written on it, however if you have only had your set-top box for two years and you bought it brand new, it is ready for Australian digital TV.
- Marika
July 7th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Hey Hans,
Yes – radio went digital late last week I believe. I think you’ve given me a great idea to do a whole article on it, so stay tuned for next month and I hope I can answer all your questions
- Marika
July 7th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Hi Cathy,
You’re only 80km out and things are bad? I hope the powers-that-be are looking into strengthening that ASAP!
I, too, am not a fan of ‘at the end of the day’. It’s such a sentence-filler!
- Marika
July 8th, 2009 at 9:45 am
I can’t help thinking that, with the high capacity broadband internet rollout that’s now going on, all the money and fuss that’s being invested into digital TV may well end up being wasted. Will people actually bother with broadcast TV once they have the capacity to download TV programs on demand?
Perhaps it would have been a better plan to leave the analogue signal in place, and invest the money into the broadband cable and satellite network instead. Particularly since the broadband cable and satellite network potentially has the capacity to replace a large number of existing data transmission services (TV, telephone, etc).
July 11th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Just got back from 2 weeks holiday without TV – really!!. I have an old 1984 analogue TV, with rabbit ears anttena. I bought a cheap set top box – the result is amazing – the quality of the picture is equal to the quality on the main TV attached to the outside anntena. The picture does occasionally break up but only for a second. I love saving space, so a set top box incorporating a DVD and recorder would be ideal.
July 14th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Hi Everybody,
I HATE ” Level playing field” “The big picture” “The bottom line” “Put it this way”
I also don’t like Sarvo, & hate it when people say “Sustificate” instead of certificate.
Oh Dear, does
that make me a huge WHINGER? Don’t answer that. Sharon.
Thanks for Digital info.