12/06/2014 1. A Taming Technology Presentation by Sutherland Shire Libraries

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A Taming Technology Presentation by Sutherland Shire Libraries

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Digital TV and Radio

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In Today’s session we will cover:

What is digital TV and why you have to go digital.

Your digital TV options: Set top boxes, PVRs, etc.

Making connections: Video, Audio, HDMI

Picture quality and aspect ratio HD, Full HD, 16:9

Types of TV LCD, LED, Plasma, 3D TV, Smart TV.

Surround sound and Home Theatre

Digital Radio. DAB+ Internet Radio.

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The digital TV story.Computer technology is now embedded in everything

from watches to washing machines, cars to TVs

Computers can accurately process massive amounts of data at speeds unmatched by other methods.

(Intel i7 processes > 100,000 mips)

This has directly led to the digitisation of many analogue technologies including the broadcasting of television and radio signals.

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Analogue: Something that bears an analogy to something else.

Digital: Only two states. ON / OFF, 1 or 0, Switch.Morse Code. Binary

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Digital terrestrial TV broadcasts started in Australian capital cities in 2002.

Benefits include high definition pictures, multiplexing, high-fi audio.

Analogue TV broadcasting will end in 2013.

.Source: SMH June 21 2012

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TV and radio signals are decoded using a tuner.

To receive digital TV you need a digital tuner.

Digital tuners are in: Set Top Boxes, (STB). - Decode signal from antenna and sends to TV.

Personal Video Recorders, (PVR). Same as for STB but will also time shift and record onto hard disk for later playback.

Most contain 2 tuners so you can record 2 channels.

New Televisions all have digital tuners.

Many TVs can record to USB devices.

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Set Top Box – Contains a digital tuner which

Decodes the signal from antenna and sends to TV.

You need a digital tuner if your TV tuner is analogue

Older set top boxes were Standard Definition so

could not receive High Definition channels.

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Personal Video Recorders, (PVR).

As for Set Top Box – Contains a digital tuner which

Decodes the signal from antenna and sends to TV but also

contain a hard disk drive so can record onto hard disk for later playback or for time shifting. i.e.(Rewind and watch live TV.)

Most contain 2 tuners so you can record 2 channels.

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Your TV has a tuner to receive TV signals.

Pre 2007 may TVs (including flat screens) still had

analogue tuners so you need to connect a digital STB or

PVR digital tuner to get digital signal on such a TV.

All TVs now have digital tuners so don’t need a STB.

If you want to record

TV, some models can

record to USB.

Or you can connect a

PVR to your digital TV.

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UNLESS YOU ONLY WATCH SILENT FILMS...

Don’t spend all the money on the TV.Film and TV producers invest greatly in the audio which accompanies the pictures. Most TVs have average to

poor quality sound.

Almost any kind of home theatre audio setup is likely to be a vast improvement on the tiny speakers built into your TV.

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Don’t spend all the money on the TV.How much to spend on a Home Theatre surround sound system?

Most people want one sound system to do the job for TV, DVD movies and for playing music from CDs or mp3 files.

Sound buffs can easily spend more on the sound system than a TV, but basic systems are not expensive.

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What else can you connect to your TV?

DVD player. - Blu-ray for best pictures.

Media Players – play your video and audio.

Connect to internet and can play files via USB or HDD.

Laptop and tablet computers. (Good for most uses but a TV is no substitute for a good computer monitor).

Home theatre systems may incorporate a DVD player, media player and internet connectivity to smart TV apps.

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What can you use your TV for?

Digital photographs and home videos:

Use your big TV for slide shows.

DVDs. Newer players are incorporating more features much like smart TVs.

Blu-ray for best pictures. Some movies are 3D.

Internet video: - websites: Catchup TV, iView Youtube, Vimeo. Will all work better when the NBN arrives.

Internet Radio via apps like vTuner

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What can you use your TV for?

Game consoles:

Microsoft X-Box,

Sony Playstation,

Nintendo Wii etc.

All connect to the internet.

Some game consoles work as blu ray DVD players.

Some can make use of a TVs 3D capability.

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Making connections.

Composite – Audio and video. Component – Good video. No audio.

Co-axial digital audio. Optical. Digital audio

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Making the best connections. HDMI Type A

High Definition Multimedia Interface.

Carries digital audio and video. Don’t get ripped off price wise.

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Defining Definition.

Standard Definition: Now obsolete.

High Definition1366 by 768.

Now rare - OK for smaller screens.

Full High Definition: 1920 by 1080 i.e1080p

Now the standard.

4K – The Future of HDTV?

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4K – The Future of HDTV?

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Refresh Rate

50 HZ - 100 HZ - 200 HZ ?

More expensive models have the faster rate (and probably other features to justify the price)

Faster is better for fast moving sport but seen as a bit unnatural when watching films.

You should be able to switch it off and on as required.

Relevant for LCD but not Plasma.

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Smart TV.

Your TV / DVD / Media Player / Home Theatre Box

is connected to the internet by wireless or cable. Means your TV etc needs extra computing capability. Services offered vary in amount and usefulness

depending on brand. Will be more useful when the NBN arrives. You can do the same and a lot more by connecting your

computer or iPad to the TV.

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Smart TV.

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Now a feature in many large screen TVs

3D comes in 2 flavours: passive and active.

Passive uses free (If you visit the cinema!) glasses.

Active uses expensive battery powered glasses.

3D works but free broadcast content is zero.

Most realistic is active 3D viewed on a plasma TV.

Some DVD movies and games are available in 3D.

You probably don’t need it but will end up with it anyway.

3D or not 3D.

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LED / LCD Light Emitting Diode. Liquid Crystal Display

LED TVs are LCD TVs which are backlit by LEDs as opposed to fluorescent lamps.

Can be Full Array LED (best) or Edge Lit (thin) Brighter than plasma so better for rooms with lots of

windows and light falling on the screen.

Screen is not glass so not so reflective.

Available in smaller sizes. (Plasma starts at 42 inch).

LED TVs are the most energy efficient type of TV.

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Plasma “Rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated”

Uses electrically charged gas. Heavy glass screen. Best watched in subdued light. Blacks are blacker than on LCD.

Overall greater contrast, richer colours than LCDWider viewing angle than LCD / LEDUses more electricity than LCD / LED

$ for $ Plasma offers more TV for your money.

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More information and opinion:www.smh.com.au/digital-life/hometech

Then choose TVs from the menu on the left.

http://www.cnet.com.au/tvs/ reviews of TVs, etc.

www.dtvforum.info A discussion forum for gear heads.

www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/tv-calibration-101-how-to-tune-up-your-new-lcd-or-plasma-hdtv/

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DAB+ Digital Audio Broadcasting

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Digital Radio. DAB +. Launched 2009 in capital cities.

Similar technology to Digital TV.

Reception is good or non existent.

Approx 40 Sydney Stations.

No coverage in country areas.

No plans to shut down AM or FM broadcasting.

Special purpose pop-up stations also broadcast.

Text is also broadcast.

Sound quality is good but can be a lot better and may improve following shutdown of analogue TV service.

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Digital Radio. DAB +.

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Digital Radio options...

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Worldwide, almost every mainstream radio station is now available via the internet.

Thousands of ‘internet only’ stations too. You can listen via a computer, a tablet, a

smartphone, a smart TV, media player, etc.

Internet Radio. (The world just got smaller)

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DAB+ Internet Radio and more.

Digital Radio, Internet radio, iPod player / charger, FM radio, Aux in, Alarm clock, etc.

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Taming Technology.

Digital TV and Radio.

Question Time.

Documents

12/06/2014 1. A Taming Technology Presentation by Sutherland Shire Libraries