EZ Digital TV Blog

The EZ Digital TV Blog will keep you updated with the ever changing news and information concerning the Analog to Digital Transition.

We are expanding our site to include other areas of Digital TV, so stay tuned!

Digital TV is the wave of the future! It may sound overwhelming, but we are here to assist you with free advice and information.

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Satellite TV Information

Information About Satellite TV and th Digital Transition. Order Dish Network from our site at EZDigitalTV.com

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FCC CHAIRMAN GENACHOWSKI ANNOUNCES APPROVAL OF FIRST TELEVISION WHITE SPACES DATABASE AND DEVICE

FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology Issues Public Notice to Start Operation ofSpectrum Bridge's TV White Spaces Database System and Authorization of a TV White Spaces Device

Washington, D.C. - December 22, 2011

The Federal Communications Commission issued a Public Notice announcing that the Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) has approved Spectrum Bridge Inc.'s television white spaces database system, which may provide service to devices beginning January 26, 2012. OET has also approved a device by Koos Technical Services, Inc. (KTS) as the first product allowed to operate on an unlicensed basis on unused frequencies in the TV bands. The KTS device will operate in conjunction with the Spectrum Bridge TV band database.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said, "With today's approval of the first TV white spaces database and device, we are taking an important step towards enabling a new wave of wireless innovation. Unleashing white spaces spectrum has the potential to exceed even the many billions of dollars in economic benefit from Wi-Fi, the last significant release of unlicensed spectrum, and drive private investment and job creation."

Unused spectrum between TV stations - known as "white spaces" - represents a valuable opportunity for provision of broadband data services in our changing wireless landscape. This unused TV spectrum provides a major new platform for innovation and delivery of service, with potential for both research and commercial applications. Development of unlicensed radio transmitting devices has already led to a wave of new consumer technologies, including Wi-Fi and other innovations like digital cordless phones and in-home video distribution systems that have generated billions of dollars of economic growth. This new technology will build on that track record and provide even more benefits to the U.S. economy.

Commission rules require that unlicensed TV band devices contact an authorized database system to obtain a list of channels that are available for their operation (i.e., channels not occupied by authorized radio services) at their individual locations and must operate only on those channels.

The approval granted by OET allows Spectrum Bridge to commence operational service to new devices that can take advantage of the TV spectrum to provide service over greater ranges than those of Wi-Fi devices operating on higher frequencies.

Initial operation under this approval will be limited to Wilmington, NC and the surrounding area and will expand nationwide pending completion and activation of the Commission's facilities for processing requests for protection of unlicensed wireless microphone at event venues. Parties in the Wilmington area that wish to register wireless microphones for event venues during this period of limited operation must send a request to OET by e-mail in accordance with the instructions provided in the Public Notice.

The new KTS TV bands device is designed and approved for fixed operations that serve any broadband data applications. The device will contact the Spectrum Bridge database to identify channels that are available for operation at its location and can provide high-speed Internet connectivity.

Digital TV (DTV) Transition Made Easy!

The latest in Digital TV. We have advice and free information about converter boxes and the latest in Digital TV such as Mobile Digital TV, 3D TV and Google TV. Get Converter Box Manuals here.

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Interlace VS Progressive Scan

Learn about the difference between Interlace VS Progressive Scan at EZ Digital TV.com

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Interlace VS Progressive Scan

HD video images can be transmitted and displayed through two common formats, progressive and interlaced. Both formats display images left to right and top to bottom, but progressive and interlaced formats present the series of images that make up video very differently.

An interlaced signal splits the picture into two parts and sends them separately one after the other. The first image displayed contains all the even horizontal scan-lines while the second image displays the odd lines. Each of these images stays on the screen for one sixtieth of a second before the next image is displayed. When the odd and even parts of the signal are combined, it works out to an entire frame being displayed every thirtieth of a second. One drawback to this method of display is that some jaggedness is noticed in videos with motion, like sports or action movies. This is because only half of the lines are keeping up with the moving object in the image, while the other half is waiting to be displayed.

With a progressive signal, all of the lines are displayed when the screen is refreshed instead of alternating odd/even lines. Progressive video displays each frame for 1/60th of a second, this allows for a smoother picture because there are no split, alternating images as there is with interlaced video. One drawback to 720p video is that it can only display 720 lines of resolution compared to 1080i.

Both formats use the same amount of bandwidth, so broadcasters will only use one format or the other. Fox and ABC stations use 720p while CBS and NBC stations use 1080i. Viewers also had to choose between TVs that natively display 720p or 1080i video. Even though 1080i video could be de-interlaced and rescaled for display on 720p displays and visa-versa, the result is degradation in video quality one way or another.

A new signal format is becoming a new standard for HDTV, and that is 1080p. 1080p is progressive, meaning that it displays an entire image every 1/60 of a second, and each image is 1080 lines of resolution in height. 1080p delivers a smooth image that also has the maximum detail. Though currently no broadcasters have switched to 1080p yet, http://www.directstartv.com reports that DirecTV video on demand services are using 1080p, so they can deliver Blu-ray quality video to viewers with 1080p televisions.

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Digital Recorders with a Digital Tuner

Information about Digital Recorders with a Digital Tuner . (ATSC) tuners in DVD players and DVRs that can replace a converter box. Get information and buy from our site at EZDigitalTV.com

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SPICA AT 2018 DTV Converter Box

Features of the SPICA AT 2018 DTV Converter Box with Analog Pass Through. NTIA Approved CECB. Get info at EZDigitalTV.com

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Smart Antenna

Features of a Digital Smart Antenna. What is a smart antenna? RCA ANT2000M, DTA-5000. Buy Smart Antennas Online from our site at EZDigitalTV.com

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Google TV

Information and features of Google TV. Google TV combines TV, the internet and aps all on your TV set! Get information and where to buy at EZ Digital TV.com

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Mobile Digital TV

Information about Mobile Digital TV. You can receive FREE over-the-air TV in a car, bus or train. Can I watch TV in my car? New devices like Tivet, LG DP570MH. Get information at EZDigitalTV.com

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Cable Television and the Analog to Digital Transition

Is Cable Television Affected by the Analog to Digital Transition? If you have Cable, you may be affected now or in the future. Can I use a converter box if I have Cable? Get info at EZDigitalTV.com

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What is a Converter Box? DTV Converter Box.

Information about Digital TV and the converter box. Get the answers here at EZDigitalTV.com

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Converter Box Retailers

Converter Box Retailers. Online Retailers. Where can I buy a converter box? Converter Box Sellers. Free Converter Boxes. Order boxes from our site EZDigitalTV.com

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Buy Remote Controls

Where can I buy remote controls for my converter box, VCR, TV, DVD? Replacement Converter Box Remote Controls.

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Roku

What is Roku? Roku is a little box that allows you to instantly stream tons of entertainment on your TV. Get info and order from our site at EZ Digital TV.coom

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RCA STB7766G1 DTV Converter Box

RCA STB7766G1 DTV Converter box with Analog Pass Through and User Manual. Order replacement remote control from our site at EZDigitalTV.com

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Additional Features Matrix for the NTIA Coupon-Eligible Converter Boxes

Additional Features Matrix for CECBS. Converter Box Comparison Chart. CECB Comparison Chart. ATSC Converter Box Comparisons Here at EZDigitaltv.com

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The Canadian Digital Transition

The Canadian Digital Transition. Where can I buy a converter box in Canada? Information about Canada's Digital Transition at EZ Digital TV.com

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Canadian local over-the-air television stations moving to digital: August 31, 2011

By August 31, 2011, Canadian local television stations in certain areas will stop broadcasting in analog and will start broadcasting in digital.

The majority of Canadians will not be affected. If you receive your TV signals by cable, satellite or another TV service, the switch to digital will not affect you. You will continue to receive your existing television services with the equipment that you currently use. You will not be required to buy a new TV or other equipment, or subscribe to additional services.

The switch to digital may affect television viewers who receive local over-the-air TV stations using an outdoor antenna or "rabbit ears". Once the switch occurs, these viewers may need to have either a digital converter box or a television with a digital tuner, or may want to consider receiving their TV services from a cable, satellite or other service provider. If you decide to purchase a digital converter box, consider purchasing one with the analog pass-through feature. This feature enables the viewing of both digital and analog signals which may be important for viewers that will receive both types of signals.

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Portable Digital TVs

Where can I buy a Portable Digital TVs? Can I use my old battery-powered portable TV after the transition? Will I need a new portable digital tv set after the transition? EZDigitalTV.com

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Digital TV Sets

Types of Digital TV sets. How to select the right TV set for you. LCD, Plasma, Rear or Front Projection. Buy Digital TVs from our site at EZ Digital T V

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Digital TV Information

Answers to Your Digital TV Questions including DTV formats, SDTV, HDTV, EDTV, pixels, ATSC Tuner and more at EZ Digital TV.com

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Mobile DTV Devices

Information on the new Mobile DTV Devices you will need to receive the new Mobile Digital TV Signals. Some decives are the LG DP570MH and Tivizen. More info at EZDigitalTV.com

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Cydle i30A Mobile Digital TV Receiver for Smartphones, iPhone and iTouch

Features of the Cydle i30A Mobile Digital TV Receiver for SmartPhones, iPhone and iTouch. Get information at EZDigitalTV.com

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LG DP570MH Mobile Digital TV

Features of the new LG DP570MH Mobile Digital TV. The industry’s first truly portable, battery-operated Mobile Digital TV in the United States. Plays DVDs and audio CDs. Get info at EZDigitalTV.com

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