Introduction to Video Electronics
Whether you are
putting together a complete video system or just looking to replace components, the center
of the system and the ultimate limit on picture quality is the television or monitor.
Because of this, it's important that you select a television which is appropriate to your
needs (present or future) and has appropriate inputs/outputs for the rest of your system.
When comparing televisions, we suggest that you consider several factors:
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Television
screen size is measured diagonally, from corner to corner. What size screen you need will
depend on viewing distance and the number of viewers. The minimum viewing distance should
be at least twice the television size; sitting too close to a large screen TV makes
imperfections in the screen and source material more visible. While the number of viewers
increases as the screen size increases, there are no set numbers. The table below gives
general guidelines:
| Television Size |
up to 19" |
20" |
27" |
32" |
50" |
| Number of Viewers |
1-2 |
2-3 |
4-5 |
6-7 |
8+ |
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For many
consumers, the most important consideration after size is the feature list for the
television. A short list and explanation of some of the features which are of particular
interest to our consumers is given below:
- Picture-in-Picture: allows viewing of a
second channel in an inset box
- Interactive Program Guides: simplifies
program selection and provides information on available programming
- Built-in
Recorder (VCR) or Player (VCP): adds recording and playback capability
without having to purchase a separate component
- Recording Control: allows you to select
programs to record and turns the VCR on and off through a television menu
- Programmable Timers: allow you to set times
for the television to automatically turn on and/or off
- V-Chip Control: allows control over what
can be viewed
- Closed Captioning Decoder: decodes and
displays the Closed Captioning available on some broadcasts
- Comb Filter: provides improved resolution
and sharpness
- Selectable Inputs: allows you to easily
toggle between video sources
- Front-panel Inputs: allows quick connecting
a camcorder or other device without having to get behind the television
- Surround Sound Outputs: provides individual
outputs for each surround speaker
- SAP Decoder: decodes the Second Audio
Program, such as a different language, available on some broadcasts
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Analog
television is broadcast in NTSC format. All of the color, brightness,
and synchronizing information are sent in one analog signal picked up by standard
television antennas and decoded by standard televisions. Analog televisions have the
advantage of price and (usually) a higher number of broadcasts per reception area. As DTV (digital television) eventually replaces the NTSC standard,
these advantages will become less significant as the prices drop for DTV monitors and
receivers and the number of broadcasts increase.
DTV is the next
step in television viewing, and has three subcategories: HDTV 1080, HDTV 720 and SDTV. The
significant advantage of DTV is the number of pixels. An NTSC broadcast signal lights up about 200,000 pixels arranged in
a 4:3 rectangle.
In comparison, over-the-air digital
television offers a picture that's 640 pixels wide by 480 pixels high -- over 300,000
pixels (about 50% more than today's TV). More pixels mean more visual information, so an
increase in pixels means a sharper picture. From the minimum of 300,000 pixels up to about
a million pixels, DTV is called Standard-definition Digital Television (SDTV).
High-definition Digital Television (HDTV) starts at around a million pixels and can go all
the way up to 2 million -- almost ten times the resolution of today's TV. The lines of
resolution and aspect ratio (screen width vs. screen height) are given below:
HDTV 1080 (1080 lines of resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio)
HDTV 720 (720 lines of resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio)
SDTV (480 lines of resolution, 16:9 or 4:3 aspect ratio)
HDTV is an
improvement over SDTV (Standard-definition Digital Television) in that it has a higher
resolution picture and a wider aspect ratio. Additionally, the digital nature of this
format means that if you can receive the signal, there should not be "snow" or
other interference issues such as are experienced with analog signals. Currently, there
are 256 DTV stations operating, and DTV is available to 76% of American households
(information courtesy of the FCC document Digital Television Transition,
in PowerPoint format, under DTV Initiatives on the main FCC website).
In order to
receive HDTV signals, you would need an HDTV source (such as RCA's 18x24" Elliptical
Satellite Dish (Cat. No. 160-2604) and either an HDTV-ready Television (or Monitor) or
a
standard television and a High-Definition
Receiver (Cat. No. 160-2566) that can convert the signal. We do not sell an HDTV-ready
television or monitor at this time, due to the currently narrow market and high price for
these items. We anticipate that as the market for HDTV matures, we will be carrying these
in the future. We do not have a timetable for this availability, however.
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Video
technology has come a long way since the day of the first black and white televisions;
however, there is still a market for black and white TV's in the field of small portable
televisions. These offer a range of power options (AC, vehicle DC and/or battery) and
often include AM/FM radios and/or other audio players. These smaller televisions are
perfect for use in a kitchen or workshop or for travel, and are significantly less
expensive than color televisions with comparable features. Color televisions are
distinguished primarily by screen size, type of remote, the feature list,
and TV Combos, which include a built-in VCR or DVD
player.
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The primary
location for televisions is in the home; however, there is also a market for small to
mid-size televisions which can run on DC power (to entertain children on long trips or to
run business presentations or demonstrations). The third market is for handheld
televisions. Handheld TV's use LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screens to provide an
accurate, color-rich picture in a package which can be carried in the purse or briefcase;
hand-held televisions generally run off of batteries, with power jacks to provide
connection to either AC or DC power.
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What you intend
to connect to the television is another important consideration. Different sources have
different outputs and require the television to have the appropriate outputs. If the
television is for an existing video system, you should have a list of the connectors
required to connect your existing video components. If you are designing a new system, or
replacing your television and one or more video components, you should decide on your new
video component(s) to be able to determine what connectors are required. A brief comparison of video components is also available in
this document.
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Once you have
determined what features you are looking for, RadioShack offers a number of different
televisions, as well as on-line user's manuals and general support pages. Click on the
link below to go to the television information you need.
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There are three
general sources for video signals: broadcast (on-air, direct-connect, or both),
pre-recorded video (VCR or DVD), or home video (shot on either an analog or digital
camcorder).
Broadcast
television has the advantage of cost, in that there are no monthly fees. Once the antenna
and connected equipment is paid for, the service is free. Satellite and cable, which do
have monthly fees, offer the advantage of a higher-quality picture due to the direct
connection, significantly more channels (even with the basic packages) and the opportunity
to select premium, specialty channels. Because there are shows which are only carried by
one medium, and because not all areas can get their local channels via cable or satellite,
many people choose to use a broadcast (or "on-air") antenna in addition to their
cable or satellite connection.
Recorded video
sources (VCR's and DVD's) have been providing consumers with the ability to view movies
and other media in the comfort of their own homes. VCR's are currently the cheapest means
to make recordings from another video source, and VHS tapes are often less expensive than
the corresponding DVD's. However, because the DVD format is a digital format, DVD's have
significantly better picture and audio quality and usually have a range of extra features
lacking on on the corresponding VHS tape.
Home video
recorders, or camcorders, allow consumers to record personal events such as birthdays,
weddings and parties. Digital camcorders offer the advantage of being easy to connect to a
computer, because of the digital format of the images. Analog camcorders can be connected
to a computer, but require a video card which can translate the analog input. Both types
can usually be connected to a VCR or television for recording onto VHS or viewing.
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What type of
antenna you need depends largely on the signal strength in your area. Generally, you
should select an antenna which most closely matches your requirements without greatly
exceeding them, as using too-strong of an antenna can cause ghosting,
static (or snow) and general poor reception.
To determine
the antenna range you require, we recommend that you consult AntennaWeb, the CEA (Consumer Electronics
Association) website. This website features an on-line TV Antenna Selector program. By
clicking on the "Choose an Antenna" link on the left side of the page and
following the prompts, you can determine which color rating of antenna best suits your
needs. By clicking on a call-sign, you can view the information on what type of antenna is
required for that color.
There are four
basic types of on-air broadcast antennas:
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Non-amplified
indoor antennas (often called "set-top antennas") are basic, short-range
antennas, which are most often encountered with older, portable or handheld televisions. A
VHF set-top antenna is generally a dipole antenna
(consisting of two extendible rods), also called a "rabbit-ears" antenna. A UHF set-top antenna is generally a simple wire UHF loop
antenna. The antenna on many portable handhelds is a single extendible rod, which receives
both UHF and VHF. While these antennas are not as powerful as an amplified internal
antenna or external antenna, they can be effective in areas with good signal strength.
RadioShack carries several set-top antennas:
We also carry a
number of different replacement single-rod antennas for handheld or portable televisions.
You can get information on which antenna you would need by contacting either your local RadioShack store or RadioShack Product Support
with the catalog number or model number of your television.
For sales or
support information on our set-top antennas, click on the appropriate link below to go to
the information you need.
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There
are three primary factors to consider when determining which amplified indoor antenna is
best -- the types of connections on your equipment (75 Ohm, 300-Ohm) , the type of signals you want to pull in (UHF, VHF, FM) and the level of amplification
(measured in dB). The greater the level of amplification, the greater the range of the
antenna will be.
RadioShack
sells a number of different amplified indoor antennas. A list of these antennas with the
connection type, signal reception and amplification is available under "What amplified antenna do you suggest for my location?" in
the Video Equipment FAQ.
For general
sales information or additional support information on our amplified indoor antennas,
click on the appropriate link below to go to the information you need.
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As cities grow
and people move away from downtown areas (and the television transmitters), viewers find
themselves needing stronger antennas to pull in the television signal. We offer outdoor
antennas in a wide range of mounting options -- on an antenna mast, on an outdoor wall, or
even on a satellite dish! Range on our external antennas varies from 50 to 190 miles,
depending on the antenna. Generally, you should select an antenna which most closely
matches your requirements; using too-strong of an antenna can cause as significant a
problem as using an antenna which is not strong enough.
To determine
the antenna range you require, we recommend that you consult AntennaWeb, the CEA (Consumer Electronics
Association) website. This website features an on-line TV Antenna Selector program. By
clicking on the "Choose an Antenna" link on the left side of the page and
following the prompts, the you can determine which color rating of antenna he or she
needs. By clicking on a call-sign, you can view the information on what type of antenna is
required for that color. Once you know what antenna strength you need, you can select an
antenna from our range of external antennas.
For sales or
support information on our outdoor antennas, click on the appropriate link below to go to
the information you need.
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For our
customers with a television in their vehicle, we do offer a Magnetic-mount Mobile TV Antenna
(Cat. No. 15-1614). The user's manual and
specifications are also available.
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The advent of
cable was a milestone in video, in that it introduced a massive increase in the number of
channels and dramatically reduced the interference issues with on-air broadcasts.
Generally, cable services require that you use a descrambler box to view any
"pay" channels; however, for standard cable, you can often use a cable-ready TV
or VCR or a stand-alone cable converter (such as the 181-Channel Cable Converter (Cat.
No. 150-1981). We do not carry a converter for use with the "pay" channels,
nor do we have information on or assist with the construction of such devices. For
additional information on cable service and the converters required, we suggest that you
check your local yellow pages and contact the cable provider in your area.
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The next
significant step in television viewing was the introduction of digital video by way of DBS
(Digital Broadcast Satellite) signals and Digital Cable. Digital signals provide a clearer
picture and allow for new possibilities in viewing, such as interactive television. Many
of the capabilities of digital video are still being implemented. For specific information
on digital cable services, we suggest that you check your local yellow pages and contact a
digital cable provider in your area.
RadioShack
offers both DirecTV and DishNetwork DBS systems. This allows our customers to compare
systems and decide whether they would prefer to purchase their satellite system (DirecTV)
or lease it (DishNetwork).
For sales or
support information on our DishNetwork DBS systems, you would need to contact your local RadioShack store.
For sales or
support information on our DirecTV DBS systems, click on the appropriate link below to go
to the information you need.
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Currently,
there are two predominant options for pre-recorded videos -- Video Cassettes and Digital
Video Discs. Video cassette recorder/players have been on the market for several years;
and after camcorders, they are the most common method for making personal video
recordings. The advantage of DVD players is that videos released on DVD are of higher
video and audio quality and are not as susceptible to damage as videotapes. Additionally,
DVD's often include material which is not found on the videotape release, such as
additional scenes, "making of" materials, different audio encodings and
languages for the soundtrack, and even weblinks for use via an internet connection. While
DVD players are currently more expensive than VCR's, the price gap has been narrowing
since their introduction. However, DVD recorders are are more recent introduction to the
consumer market and can be significantly more expensive; RadioShack does not currently
carry a DVD recorder.
Because
consumers often have a collection of older videos on tape, it is not uncommon that a
household will have both a VCR and a DVD player. For sales or support information on our
VCR's and DVD players, click on the appropriate link below to go to the information you
need.
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You may be
familiar with the copy protection on pre-recorded videotapes which prevents them from
being copied. DVD's and DVD players also incorporate a form of copy-protection, called MacroVision, which prevents the DVD output from
being processed by a VCR. Because of the copy-protection, the DVD player cannot be
connected to the television through the VCR. It needs to connected to either a second
input on the television or a audio/video
switchbox. For additional information on the MacroVision copy-protection process, we
recommend that you visit the MacroVision website.
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Analog and
digital camcorders both have advantages and disadvantages. The advantage of analog
camcorders is initial cost and cost of use -- analog camcorders are less expensive than
digital camcorders and use standard magnetic video tape; however, analog camcorders are
not as easily interfaced with a computer for storing or e-mailing images. Digital
camcorders can store either still images or still and motion images in a digital format
which can be sent to either a video display (such as television or VCR/TV) or to a
computer. This is a significant advantage over analog camcorders, which would require a
video processing board to do this; however, digital camcorders require specific DV
(digital video) tape or memory cards to record the images.
For sales or
support information on our camcorders, click on the appropriate link below to go to the
information you need.
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There are a
number of different connection and video distribution options when setting up an
audio/video system. The differences between the options are given below:
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Your main
system components (TV, VCR, DVD, etc.) are usually in the same area. When connecting them
together, you should use the highest-quality cables your system supports. The higher the
quality of the cables, the higher the quality of video and sound that you will get. The
types of cables available and their relation in terms of signal quality and clarity are
shown below:
For sales or
support information on our cables, click on the appropriate link below to go to the
information you need.
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When running
cables, you should use the shortest length necessary to allow the connections without
strain on the connectors. Different cables have different maximum lengths before signal
degradation occurs due to the cable construction and signal type, as shown in the table
below:
If you go
beyond these lengths or use a non-amplified signal splitter, you may need to use an
amplifier to adjust for signal loss. For sales or support information on our signal
amplifiers, click on the appropriate link below to go to the information you need.
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Once you have
your main system connected, you may want to distribute the audio/video to additional
rooms. When doing this, the first decision to make is whether to run cables or use a
wireless system. The primary factors to consider are convenience and pricing.
Wireless
systems are more expensive but are much simpler to connect and move around as needed. The
significant disadvantage to wireless systems is that they are susceptible to RFI (radio frequency interference), and the only way to determine
if RFI is a factor in your area is to purchase a system and test it in your area. If you
do have a problem with RFI, you can return the system within 30 days with the receipt and
packaging to any RadioShack store; you would need to look at wired options at that point.
Running cables
is cheaper than purchasing a wireless system; however, it often involves either drilling
holes and climbing into the attic to run wires between the walls (both for the initial
installation as well as if you change your arrangement) or having wires run along the edge
of the wall. Using wired connections has the significant advantage of being less
susceptible to interference issues.
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If you decide
to to use a wireless distribution system, you should look at the transmit and receive
frequency of the system. As the frequency increases, the level of interference issues
generally becomes less. For sales or support information on our wireless distribution
systems, click on the appropriate link below to go to the information you need.
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If you decide
to run cables, you will need to consider whether you want to run the wires in-wall or
outside the walls, how long the cable runs will be, and whether you will be splitting the
signal. If the cable lengths exceed the maximum cable lengths or you use
non-amplified signal splitters, you may need to use a signal amplifier to adjust for
signal loss.
In-wall
connections are more aesthetically pleasing; however, it can be a daunting task for the
amateur, as it involves drilling holes in the wall, fishing wire up into the attic and
back down through another wall, and wiring connection plates. Exposed wiring is easier,
but it is exposed wiring; all but the very best color-matched cables will be noticeable.
You can use
signal splitters to send a single output to multiple inputs. A distribution amplifier is
designed to split and amplify the signal; a passive or non-amplified splitter simply
splits the signal.
For general
information on creating your wired distribution system, we recommend the book IS THIS THING ON? by Gordon McComb (Cat. No. 920-0021), which covers connections, wiring and
troubleshooting.
For sales or
support information on the parts needed for wired distribution, click on the appropriate
link below.
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Connection Diagrams for Video Components
Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQ) Pages for:
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| 300-ohm: |
Standard impedance for
twin-lead antenna connections found on
older antennas and televisions. See the entry for twin-lead for an illustration. |
| 75-ohm: |
Standard impedance for
coax audio/video connections (such as is
used between antennas and receivers/television). Common 75-ohm cables are RG-6
and RG-6QS. See the entry for coax for an illustration. |
| 8mm: |
- A videotape format used in older and some current
camcorders.
|
| Amplifier, Distribution: |
A distribution
amplifier splits an incoming signal and amplifies the outgoing signal to compensate for
signal loss due to long cable runs and splitting the signal. |
| Amplifier, Signal: |
A signal amplifier
amplifies a signal to compensate for signal loss due to long cable runs. |
| Analog Audio: |
An audio signal from
an analog source (NTSC broadcast, VCR, Tape Deck,
et al.) which is carried either on a 75-ohm coax cable (along with the video signal), or
on one (mono) or two (stereo) audio/video
patch cables. |
| Analog Video: |
A video signal in the NTSC format, which can be carried on a 75-ohm coax
cable (along with the audio signal), an audio/video
patch cable, an s-video cable, or component video cables. |
| Attenuator: |
- A device which reduces signal strength without significantly
affecting signal quality.
|
| AutoShot: |
- A feature on RCA® camcorders
providing automatic focus, shutter speed, iris and white balance for professional-quality
videos.
|
| Beta: |
- A video tape format introduced by Sony in 1975; RadioShack still carries Beta L-750 Cassettes as
catalog number 44-482.
|
| Bidirectional: |
- Operating in two directions; used to describe antennas which
are designed to receive signals along a line forward and back from the antenna.
|
| Brightness: |
- see Luminance
|
| Chrominance: |
- The color information in a composite
video signal.
|
| Commercial Advance: |
- A feature in some VCR's which marks
commercials after recording and automatically fast-forwards through them during replay of
the recording.
|
| Component Video: |
- Video whose original elements are retained separately rather
than combined into a single signal (composite video). Separating
the color components yields a signal with a higher color bandwidth than that of composite
video. Component video cables have three RCA
connectors on each end.
|
| Composite Video: |
- An signal consisting of combined luminance and chrominance
components. Composite video can be either analog or digital.
|
| Digital Audio |
An audio signal from a
digital source (DTV broadcast, DVD, CD Player,
Satellite Receiver) which is carried by either a digital coax cable
or an optical cable. |
| Digital Coax: |
A coax cable specifically designed to carry a digital audio signal. |
| Digital Video |
A
video signal in a digital format (DTV, SDTV or HDTV), which is
normally carried on component video
cables for the highest video quality, although other outputs (such as for analog
video) may be available. |
| Diplexer: |
- A device used to combine two different signals (such as from
a broadcast antenna and from satellite/cable) onto a single cable so that they can be
split back into the individual signals for connection at the video equipment.
|
| Dipole: |
- A dual-rod antenna, usually found as a back-of-set or on-set
antenna.
|
 |
| Directional: |
- Operating in a single direction; used to describe antennas
which are designed to receive signals along a line forward from the antenna. Also called
Unidirectional. See Bidirectional and Omnidirectional for comparison.
|
| Dolby® Digital: |
- A digital coding method used to convey one or more audio
channels using AC-3 perceptual coding, often used at a bit rate of 384 kbps.
|
| Dolby® Stereo: |
- The original matrix coding method used to convey surround
sound over three speakers.
|
| Dolby® Surround: |
- The new name given to Dolby® Stereo
for the consumer market.
|
| Dolby® Pro Logic: |
- A type of improved decoder used to decode Dolby® Surround content, using four speakers.
|
| DTS® Digital Surround: |
- A digital coding method used to convey one or more audio
channels using Coherent Acoustics perceptual coding; often used at a bit rate of about
1.5Mbps
|
| DTV: |
Acronym for "Digital
TeleVision"; consists of High-definition Digital
Television (HDTV) and Standard-definition Digital Television (SDTV). |
| DV: |
- Acronym for "Digital Video";
used to describe digital camcorders and digital camcorder tapes.
|
| DVD: |
- Acronym for "Digital Video
Disc"; a video format which uses optical discs to store audio and
video information.
|
| Fiber-optic: |
- A technology which converts an audio and/or video signal to
a digital signal and transmits by way of bursts of light.
|
| Firewire: |
- Another name for IEEE-1394 cables.
|
| FM: |
- Acronym for Frequency Modulated; .
|
| Gain: |
- The amount of increase provided to the signal by the device
or amplifier.
|
| Ghosting: |
- An video reception problem (occurring with analog video
signals) characterized by multiple or faint images.
|
| Ground: |
- The connection of an antenna or cable to the earth which
provides a safe path for static discharge or lightning (rather than feeding into connected
equipment).
|
| Guide Plus+: |
- A feature on VCR's which provides an
on-screen channel guide.
|
| HDTV: |
- Acronym for High-definition Digital TeleVision; a digital video format with either 1080 or 720 lines of
resolution, which provides greater detail and clarity. This format is expected to replace
the current format in use in the US (NTSC).
|
| Luminance: |
- The monochrome component of a color video signal. Called the
"Y" components as in R-Y and B-Y.
|
| Metal-particle: |
- A technology used to create magnetic videotapes.
|
| NTSC: |
- Acronym for "National Television
Systems Committee", the standardizing body that
created this system. This is a color television standard or timing format encoding all of
the color, brightness, and synchronizing information in one signal which is used in North
America, most of South America, and most of the Far East. NTSC uses a total of 525
horizontal lines per frame, with two fields per frame at 262.5 lines each. Each field
refreshes at 60 Hz (actually 59.94 Hz). See PAL for comparison.
|
| Omnidirectional: |
- Operating in all directions; used to describe antennas which
are designed to receive signals from 360 degrees around the antenna.
|
| Optical Cable: |
A fiber-optic cable with a Toslink connector at each end; designed to
carry a digital audio signal. |
| PAL: |
- Acronym for "Phase Alternation
Line" or "Phase Alternated by
Line", which is the method that this system uses to correct some of
the color inaccuracies in NTSC. This is a color television standard or timing format
developed in West Germany and used by most other countries in Europe, including the United
Kingdom but excluding France, as well as Australia and parts of the Far East. PAL uses a
total of 625 horizontal lines per frame. Each field refreshes at 50 Hz. PAL encodes color
differently from NTSC. See also NTSC.
|
| PIP: |
- Acronym for "Picture-In-Picture";
a television feature which allows you to view one channel in an inset box while another
channel is displayed on the main screen.
|
| Pixel: |
- Short for "Picture Element".
A pixel is a single color point in a display. The higher the number of pixels in a
display, the higher the picture quality will be.
|
| RFI: |
- Acronym for "Radio Frequency
Interference". RFI is a problem which can affect nearly any
electronic audio/video device.
|
| RF Modulator: |
- In video, a device which converts composite audio/video
(audio left, audio right and video) into a single 75-ohm signal;
primarily used to connect a VCR or DVD
player with composite outputs to a television with only a coax "F"
input.
|
| RG-# cable: |
- The old military designation for coax
cable. "RG" stands for "Radio Guide".
|
| RG-6: |
- A 75-ohm coax cable used for video connections.
|
| RG-6QS: |
- A 75-ohm coax cable with Quad-Shielding used for video
connections (providing higher protection against radio interference and loss)
|
| RGB: |
- Acronym for "Red, Green,
Blue" (the standard components of a color signal)
|
| RBY: |
- Acronym for "Red, Blue,
Yellow" (the standard components of a component
video signal)
|
| Rotator: |
- A device used with a mast-mounted directional or bidirectional
antenna which allows you to change the direction of the antenna.
|
| SDTV: |
Acronym for "Standard-definition
Digital TeleVision"; a digital video format with 480 lines of resolution. |
| Snow: |
A video reception
problem (occurring with analog video signals) caused by poor reception or interference
from another source. |
| Splitter: |
- A splitter divides a signal into two or more identical
signals.
|
| Splitter, Passive: |
- A passive splitter divides a signal into two or more
identical signals without any amplification of the signal to counteract the signal loss
due to splitting the signal. If the signal loss affects reception, it can be corrected by
adding a signal amplifier. A splitter which does amplify the signal
is called a distribution amplifier.
|
| Steady Pix: |
- A feature on RCA® camcorders
which digitally stabilizes the images before recording them on tape, minimizing video
"jitters" caused by camera motion.
|
| S-Video: |
- A video format which provides a higher-quality video signal
over composite video; requires specialized S-video cables.
|
| Terminating Resistor: |
- A device used to fill unused 75-ohm
outputs on signal or distribution amps or splitters; unused outputs which are not
terminated can cause "ghosting" and signal loss.
|
| UHF: |
Acronym for "Ultra
High Frequencies"; channels 14 through 69
(inclusive) are UHF channels. |
| UHF Loop: |
On-set
antenna specifically for picking up UHF channels. |
 |
| VCP: |
Acronym for "Video
Cassette Player" |
| VCR: |
Acronym for "Video
Cassette Recorder" |
| VHF: |
Acronym for "Very
High Frequencies"; channels 2 through 13
(inclusive) are VHF channels. |
| VHS: |
- A videotape format for recording composite video; this is the most common format in the
United States.
|
| VHS-C: |
A videotape format for
recording composite video on a smaller tape; this format is used
in many camcorders. |
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