Glossary of Terms

A list of definitions for some of the words found in this guide.

75 OHM RF CABLE

The wire that comes from an off-air antenna or cable service provider. The end looks like a hex-shaped nut with a wire through the middle. It screws onto the Antenna/Cable threaded jack on the back of the TV.

300 TO 75 OHM ADAPTER

A small device that connects a 2-wire 300 ohm antenna to a 75 ohm RF jack. It is usually about an inch long with two screws on one end and a round opening with a wire extending out the other end.

A/V CABLES

Audio/Video cables. Three cables bunched together—right audio (red), left audio (white), and video (yellow). A/V cables are used for stereo playback of videocassettes and for higher quality pic- ture and sound from other A/V devices.

A/V DEVICE

Any device that produces video or sound (VCR, DVD, cable box, or television).

AMPLIFIER

An electronic device that amplifies sound from a television, CD player, VCR, DVD player, or other Audio/Video device.

ANTENNA

The physical receiver of television sig- nals sent over the air. A large metal piece of equipment does not always have to be visible to be using an antenna.

CABLE

Cable service box. Refers to the de- scrambler box cable subscribers use to receive cable programming signals.

CATV

Programming provided by a cable service.

COMPONENT VIDEO

Uses three wires for transporting three- color video signals. The end result is usually better video quality.

COMPOSITE VIDEO

Typical video jack, uses one wire for transporting three-color video signals.

DELETE

Lets you remove channels from the list that the end user can scroll through using Channel Up/Down.

DIGITAL TELEVISION High-resolution,cinema-quality television signals transmitted digitally.

DVI

Digital Video Interface. Accommodates analog and digital interfaces with a single connector.

HDMI

High-definition multi-media interface.

HDSTB

High-definition set top box. Refers to a tuner device that receives high-definition television signals which have higher res- olution than ordinary analog TV signals.

HDTV

High-definition television. Refers to tele- vision signals that have higher resolu- tion than ordinary analog TV signals.

INPUT

Refers to the input jack that receives a signal from a TV, VCR, DVD Player, or other Audio/Video device.

JACK

An input or output connector on the back of a TV, VCR, DVD Player, or other Audio/Video device.

MONO SOUND

Mono (monaural) sound is one channel of sound. On more than one speaker, all the speakers play the same audio.

OUTPUT

Refers to the output jack that sends a signal out of a VCR, DVD, or other A/V device.

PHYSICAL CHANNEL NUMBER The actual channel number. Analog channels use the Physical Channel number and digital channels can use a Virtual Channel number.

RGB (RED, GREEN, BLUE) Connection input or output port avail- able for producing a video image using three separate colors: Red, Green, and Blue.

RS-232

Serial communication port through which firmware is downloaded.

2ND AUDIO PROGRAMMING/SAP Second Audio Programming (SAP) is another, separate audio channel avail- able with some programming. Choosing SAP often refers to listening to audio in another language, such as Spanish or French.

SIGNAL

Picture and sound traveling through a cable, or over the air, to the TV.

STEREO SOUND

Stereo (Stereophonic) sound refers to audio that’s divided into right and left sides.

TUNER

Device that picks up the broadcast sig- nal and turns it into picture and sound.

VIRTUAL CHANNEL NUMBER

A re-mapped channel number. Analog channels use the Physical Channel number; however digital channels use a Virtual (or false) Channel number.

XDS

Extended Data Service. Additional program information included on the signal provided at the discretion of the broadcaster.

Note: Refer to www.atsc.org for further information.

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