| DTV |
A television that is capable of accepting digital signal. Also referred to as an actual TV broadcast. |
| HDTV |
High Definition Television. A television that is capable of accepting and displaying a higher resolution signal, thus resulting in a sharper and more vibrant picture. |
| EDTV |
Enhanced Definition Television. A television that is capable of accepting any HDTV signal, but is capable of displaying resolutions up to 480P (640X480 if it’s 4:3 and 852X480 if it’s 16X9) thus resulting in not as sharp nor as vibrant picture as HDTV, but still much sharper than SDTV and compatible with digital signal. |
| SDTV |
Standard Definition Television. A regular type of TV that has been on the market for over 40 years. The best connection that can be attained is S-Video and this TV does not accept digital signal |
| Resolution |
Amount of pixels on the screen. If states “DPI” for example: 96dpi, which means 96 dots (pixels) per inch. |
| 1080p |
also known as 1920X1080. Defines specific computer resolution. |
| 1080i |
also known as 1920X1080i or 1920X540p. Defines specific television resolution. |
| 720p |
also known as 1280X720p. Defines specific television resolution. |
| 480p |
also known as 852X480p. Defines specific television resolution. |
| 480i |
also known as or 640X480i or 640X240p. Defines SDTV resolution. |
| 4X3 |
an aspect ratio of the picture, also know as square picture. |
| 16X9 |
an aspect ratio of the picture, also known as wide picture or widescreen if referred to a TV |
| NTSC |
a signal type used in US |
| PAL |
a signal type used in Europe |
| SECAM |
a signal type used in Asia |
| ATSC |
“Advanced Television Systems Committee." Formed to establish technical standards for US advanced television systems. Also referred to as Off Air DTV broadcast. |
| QAM |
“Quadrature amplitude modulation”. Standard initially adopted by Comcast Cable, referred to as a DTV cable broadcasts. |
| COFDM |
The DTV standard used by many European, South American and Asian broadcasters that is competing with ATCS (8VSB). |
| RF |
Radio Frequency, is the type of signal that comes through the air by antenna or through a cable TV connection . |
| COMPOSITE VIDEO |
Composite Video is a single signal which carries both the chrominance (color) and luminance (brightness) components of a video signal, along with sync information, on a single wire. Can transfer resolutions up to 480i. |
| COMPOSITE AUDIO |
A standard analog audio which utilizes RCA jacks for interconnection of components. |
| S-VIDEO |
a format which splits the chrominance and luminance out onto two separate lines.
Can transfer resolutions up to 480i. |
| COMPONENT VIDEO |
a connection known as Y/Pb/Pr or Y/Cb/Cr. Has sync on Green Chrominance line, which is Y. Blue Chrominance + Luminance on Pb (Cb) and Red Chrominance + Luminance on Pr (Cr). Can transfer resolutions up to 1080i |
| DIGITAL COAX (S/Pdif) |
a digital audio connection mainly used in computers and older home theater systems. |
| FIBER OPTIC (OPTICAL AUDIO) |
a digital audio connection mainly used in computers, newer home theater systems, some Plasma and LCD/TFT displays. |
| RGB (RGsB, RGBS, RGBHV) |
The original "component video" was RGB, which appears in three principal varieties, each requiring a different number of connections. The most common type is RGBHV, with five lines: one for red, one for green, one for blue, one for the horizontal sync and one for the vertical sync. RGBHV is the standard used in VGA and other analog PC computer monitors. RGBS, having four connections, differs from RGBHV in having the vertical and horizontal sync combined on a single channel, while RGsB places the sync information on the green channel. |
| DVI (DVI-D, DVI-A, DVI-I) |
Digital Video Interface is a bit confusing because the term is identified with more than one signal type and more than one connector type.
- DVI-A is nothing but RGBHV in a funny connector, transferring analog video
- DVI-I is not really a signal type, but refers to a connector type which combines DVI-A and DVI-D.
- DVI-D is a parallel digital standard, primarily used in computer monitors and Other Home Entertainment type video displays.
|
| HDMI |
High Definition Multimedia Interface is DVI-D + multi-channel audio, used mainly in Home Entertainment equipment. |
| SDI |
Serial Digital Interface, used primarily in professional production environments. You're unlikely to see it in a conventional home theater application yet. Slowly, but steadily this type of connection makes its way into Home Entertainment. |
Explanation for some common terms
