T V Guide

There are many technical terms and abbreviations used when discussing modern electrical equipment. Every week some new function becomes available on the latest model of this television or that video recorder. Each new feature seems to have yet another confusing name or abbreviation!
We have listed some of the more commonly used terms that you may encounter, together with a brief explanation of what they may mean to you when using the equipment. We hope it helps!!!

Terms & Abbreviations
3D	Three Dimension. Several major manufacturers have recently introduced 3D televisions into their range. All of these models require the viewer to wear glasses to obtain the 3D effect. Unfortunately each manufacturer has a different way of achieving this and therefore the glasses are specific to each brand. Work is underway to develop a system that doesn't require glasses. A small percentage of people suffer from a condition that stops them being able to view the broadcast in 3D, so check before you buy! Currently 3D content is available from a small range of satellite channels and 3D Blu Ray videos are available to play the latest 3D movies.

Analogue	The original system of broadcasting the four TV channels was called analogue. It provided a signal that was easy to receive but used a lot of the available radio space (bandwidth). This is now being replaced by the more efficient Digital transmission. All new TVs and videos need to have a digital tuner to receive or record digital/freeview channels

AV	The AV channels on your television correspond to input sockets on the set to which you connect equipment such as DVD recorders. The connection usually uses SCART or HDMI cables. The television then receives it's information from the equipment rather than the broadcast signal from the aerial.

Blu Ray	The best quality High Definition (1080P) DVD system invented by Sony. The Blu Ray disc is identical in appearance to a DVD but carries five times as much information allowing fantastic quality pictures to be played on televisions equipped for high definition.

CD	Compact Disc. A 12cm disc similar in appearance to a DVD which is used to store digital information. This is commonly music and may be played on any CD or DVD player.

Digibox	A digital tuner mounted in a box to be connected to analogue equipment to allow the reception of Freeview, digital broadcasts.

Digital	Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) or Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) are the new methods of broadcasting radio and television signals. They are far more efficient than the old analogue system allowing many more Freeview channels to be broadcast using far less of the available radio space (bandwidth). Better quality pictures and sound are also enjoyed with this system and High Definition pictures will soon follow. Only equipment fitted with digital tuners can receive these broadcasts.

DVD	Digital Versatile Disc. A 12cm disc used to store digital information. This is commonly used for films and tv programmes as the disc is capable of storing more information than a CD. DVD recorders and players are often connected to televisions and have largely replaced the old Video Cassette Recorders.

EXT	EXT is another version of AV used by different manufacturers.

Format	Televisions were made in a 4:3 ratio known as the format. This meant that a screen that was 12 inches wide would be 9 inches high. Widescreen televisions were introduced to provide more of a cinema type panoramic view and programmes are now filmed in a 16:9 widesreen format. So our 9 inch high screen is now 16 inches wide. This ratio is maintained no matter how large the screen. Some older programmes appear with black bands down the sides of the screen as they were filmed in a 4:3 format. This can be easily corrected on modern televisions. You may also find black bands across the top and bottom of the screen when watching a film. This is because cinema screens are wider still at 21:9 and so the picture does not properly fit the screen. Again it is a simple matter to compensate for this on a modern television. New models of television are starting to appear with the 21:9 ratio screen to provide the full cinema experience.

Freesat	A system that allows the viewer to receive a satellite broadcast of many channels without paying a regular subscription to Sky. This usually requires a one off payment for the necessary equipment and installation. The BBC/ITV companies have recently launched a rival satellite system allowing you to buy either a standard or high definition box to receive their free broadcasts through your satellite dish.

Freeview	The terrestrial based broadcast that sends digital signals to your existing aerial. This allows you to receive many television and radio channels through your digital tv or via a Freeview Box on your analogue tv.

HD/HD Ready	High Definition. This refers to the quality of the picture on the television. It is dependent upon the specification of the screen itself and the signal supplied to the set. There are several levels of HD up to the highest available 1080P. The figure of 1080 refers to the number of horizontal lines of pixels that make up the image. The more lines the better the quality of the picture. Currently, Sky and the new BBC/ITV satellite companies offer a High Definition service which is broadcast at 720 lines. This is an improvement on the standard figure of 480 lines but doesn't approach the quality of a Blu-Ray disc playing at the proper 1080. Playing a standard broadcast 480 signal through an HD television will give little or no improvement over a standard definition television.

HDD	Hard Drive Recorder. This is a system of recording television onto a memory (hard drive) in your recorder without the use of either DVDs or video tapes. Most recorders of this type include a DVD recorder so that you can transfer recordings from the hard drive to a DVD should you wish to provide or keep a copy.

HDMI	High Definition Multimedia Interface. This is the latest method of connecting high definition equipment eg Blu-Ray players etc to your televsion. New TVs that are HD ready will have one or more HDMI sockets to accept HDMI cables from high definition equipment. These cables are now starting to replace the earlier SCART cables.The cables are smaller and neater but generally do not automatically switch the television to the appropriate AV channel.

Hertz	This is a term from your old Physics lessons meaning cycles per second. It relates to how often the picture on the screen changes or is "refreshed." The more frequently it is refreshed the less difference there is between each picture and so the smoother the movement of the image. Standard broadcast quality has a refresh rate of 50 hertz but most manufacturers now offer 100 hertz sets and Sony have recently introduced a 200 hertz "Motion Flow" set.

Internet Ready	Modern televisions now incorporate wireless technology allowing the owner to connect the set to their wireless broadband home network. As the television also includes an internet browser it is able to connect to the world wide web and browse the millions of websites available. This also permits the user to download tv programs from "BBC I Player" and many other "On Demand" channels. Websites such as "Love Film" also allow you to pay a fee to view films, without leaving your armchair! The technology also permits the use of the Skype communications network for free video phone calls.

LCD	Liquid Crystal Display. This is the technology that has made flat screen televisions widely available. Sets are now available from palm sized units to 50 plus inches. They are typically much lighter than the rival Plasma sets and cover a much larger range of sizes. They are easily and often wall mounted. The screens are a soft plastic and are very vulnerable to impact damage!

LED	Light Emiting Diode. Yet another advancement in technology has recently seen the introduction of LEDs being used on LCD televisions as a backlight to replace the older tube type light. This has allowed the screens to become even slimmer as the LEDs are now mounted in the corners rather than behind the screen panel.

Line	Line 1, Line 2, Line 3 etc. This is similar to the AV and EXT inputs used on televisions but refers to the input sockets on video recorders. You may connect a Freeview or Sky box to your video recorder to allow you to record programmes by plugging a SCART lead into the Line 1, 2, or 3 socket of the video recorder. You then use the recorder's Input Select button to select Line 1, 2 or 3 to receive the signal.

Pixellation	This is the breakup of the digital picture and/or soundtrack caused by a weak or erratic signal being received by the television. This may require a new High Gain Digital aerial, an appropriate signal amplifier or moving to another location to remedy! As the 2012 digital changeover approaches most of these problems should be resolved as stronger signals are more widely broadcast.

Plasma	This was the technology that started the large, flat screen televisions. It has a large, flat, glass screen filled with gas which tends to make it heavier but tougher than the equivalent LCD set. Fans of this type of TV claim that it provides a true black whereas the LCD's backlight technology prevents this. Critics argue that theoretically the gas will leak over a period of several years rendering the set useless. Plasmas are generally only available in sizes above 40 inches but represent good value.

SCART	Syndicat des Constructeurs d'Appareils Radiorécepteurs et Téléviseurs. The French originated, 21 pin cable and socket system commonly used to connect most televisions, video recorders, Skyboxes, Freeview boxes, etc. It is now starting to be replaced by the HDMI system as we move toward high definition television.

Skype	An internet based communications system allowing sound and vision to be sent and received free of charge through the internet. Now incorporated into televisions so that the user may have a "video phone call" with friends and family anywhere in the world

Smart	A television or similar piece of equipment that is able to connect to a network to provide internet access. This allows TV programs and films etc to be downloaded and viewed directly through the television. The network connection is usually wireless but may require a "dongle" to be installed on some models of television.

Source	A button commonly found on TV remotes that is used to change between the different inputs to the television. It allows you to switch between the digital and analogue tuners in addition to the various AV or EXT inputs.

Surround Sound	The Home Cinema system providing playback of a film soundtrack through six separate speakers. Left, centre and right front speakers, left and right rear speakers and a sub-woofer for enhanced bass sounds. Most films are now recorded in a 5:1 Surround Sound system that provides different sounds from all of the individual speakers. This creates the illusion that you are in the thick of the battle in war films etc!

Upscale	This is a new feature incorporated into many DVD recorders and players. They simulate the quality of a 1080 High Definition picture when playing a conventional DVD by electronically producing the extra information included on a Blu-Ray disc.

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