Will a high-definition terminal work with EDTV, or do I need HDTV? I've seen conflicting opinions.?
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Answer:
Technically it's not HDTV but DTV, however it is conisidered part of the HDTV format in AMERICA ONLY. It will not scan all the lines of an HDTV show, but it will show a good image.
Technically it should be superior to standard DVDs which are 480 lines (broadcast TV is 330 lines, DTV is 700+ lines, VHS is 240 lines, HDTV is 1,000+ lines).
EDTV should deliver an effective resolution of 600-700 lines, but it does this with a progressive scan of 576 lines of picture image, which HDTV is 720 lines or 1040 lines. So it's half the size.
In order to view HDTV you'd have to reduce the picture size and that would reduce the scan lines. So two HDTV scan lines would generate one scan line on EDTV.
1040 HDTV is interlaced, while EDTV is progressive. 720 HDTV (ABC TV in America) is progressive.
Your picture detail will become compressed and could have some flaws here and there, but the clarity should be quite good.
As long as the specs of your EDTV states that it supports 720p and/or 1080i, then you can use a HD set-top-box with your TV. I would agree that upgrading to HD service give you better quality than standard analog cable.
It should look slightly better than DVD. In the end, your EDTV will only display in 480p. It will downscale everything to 480p.
When you say high-definition terminal, I'm thinking you mean a HD cable or satellite box. A EDTV cannot support the resolutions that compromise HDTV (720p or 1080i). A EDTV can only support resolutions of 480p, which is what your DVD player can output, whereas standard televsion is 480i. With all this being said the simple answer to your question is no, but satellite systems sometimes parallel the picturce sharpness of a DVD player. Hope this helps.
I'm with Earl D on this one I'm glad I did not have to type all that .
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