HDTV and SDTV Differences

What Are the

Differences

Between

Widescreen HDTVs

and Standard TVs?

What Are Screen Resolutions?

The widescreen HDTV is 1/3 wider than a standard TV. The widescreen HDTV aspect ratio is 16:9 (compared to 4:3 for SDTV).

An HDTV uses a much finer screen resolution to create the TV picture— 1125 lines for HDTV as compared to 525 lines used in SDTV. This means that the screen resolution for HDTV can be up to 1920x1080 pixels,

as compared to 720x480 pixels for SDTV.

In the United States, HDTV is always broadcast with digital signals. SDTV is currently broadcast in both digital and analog. However, HDTV and digital SDTV do not use the same digital signal.

Generally, all HDTV-ready monitors or integrated HDTV sets are capable of supporting an SDTV 480i or 480p signal. Not all HDTV monitors support both 720p and 1080i HDTV signals. For instance, some plasma screens only support 720p.

You want to set up the 3250HD to provide your TV with the best picture size and format that your TV supports.

Your cable service provider broadcasts programming in SDTV or HDTV format. The screen resolution that your TV supports determines how the program will look on your TV screen.

For this reason, the 3250HD needs to know the screen resolution that is best for your TV. If the 3250HD is not set up to provide video in the proper screen resolution, you will see a black screen or a distorted picture when you turn on your TV.

The 3250HD provides video in the following screen resolutions.

SDTV Screen

•

480

lines, interlaced (480i)

Resolutions

•

480

lines, progressive (480p)

 

 

HDTV Screen

• 1080 lines, interlaced (1080i)

Resolutions

 

(This is the default setting for the 3250HD.)

 

•

720

lines, progressive (720p)

 

 

 

 

8