In today’s world, it looks like everything is going digital. Moreover, even TVs are switching to the digital way. Digital TV is the transmission of TV audiovisual signals using digital coding. In the early 1990s, digital TV became feasible because of the development of DCT video compression. Furthermore, one of the ways you can receive digital TV is by using an antenna to get terrestrial transmitters.
Most people know about digital TV, but they do not understand its frequencies. Moreover, they also do not understand the frequency of digital TV broadcasts. The following article will tell you more about digital TVs and their frequencies.
What Frequency Is Digital TV Broadcast On
Digital TV still gets broadcasted on the same frequencies as before. The broadcast frequencies of digital TV are the VHF band (channel 2-13) and UHF band (channell14-51). After the reassignment of UHF channel 37-51 to 5G cellphone service, the UHF channel for DTV will soon be from 14-36. The DTV signal gets transmitted through real channels, mainly in the UHF band. Moreover, DTV’s specific frequency ranges from 54MHz for channel 2 to 695MHz for channel 51.
An Overview Of The Frequency Of Digital TV
Digital frequency is the frequency at which digital TV channels get transmitted. Digital signals get compressed into “multiplexes,” unlike analogue signals. In addition, each of these “multiplexes” contains at least eight television channels broadcasted on the same frequency. As a result, you will need a digital decoder to recreate the original signal’s visuals and sounds on television.
TVs get transmitted through radio waves. The antenna collects these waves and then sends them to a TV set. As a result, it reproduces the signal received as an audio and visual display. What makes up the radio waves are Electromagnetic field fluctuations. Each fluctuation has a unique set of properties that encode different information.
Compression of “multiplexes” is the main difference between analogue TV and digital TV frequencies. In digital frequencies, digital channels get compressed into “multiplexes,” while in analogue frequencies, they are not. However, digital TV and analogue TV antennas both pick up signals from the radio spectrum the same.
These new “multiplexes” include the transmission information for several television channels in a single, more efficient signal. Therefore, if a digital TV user can’t get one program, they’ll probably have difficulties getting a variety of channels as well.
Because of the “multiplexes,” old televisions and antennas cannot understand the new digital TV frequency signals. They will try to understand the signal, but the language of the information will be different. However, digital TV boxes and TVs come with an inbuilt digital receiver. Therefore, digital TV will comprehend the language and translate it into TV channels.
Modern digital satellite TV frequency is similar to digital TV frequency. However, the information gets transmitted by a satellite in digital satellite TV. In contrast, the earth-bound transmitter will send the data in digital TV frequency.
Advantages Of Digital TV Over Analogue TV
Digital TVs are better than analogue TVs in many aspects. The following are some advantages that digital TVs have over analogue TVs.
Error Checking And Compression
Since analogue TVs do not do error checking, they are likely to get compromised by storms and other atmospheric conditions. In contrast, digital TVs do regular error checking. Therefore, unlike analogue TVs, atmospheric conditions cannot compromise digital TVs. Moreover, you will not see any disruptions with static or fuzzy pictures indicating that the signal is weak.
In addition, digital TVs have a unique error compression technology that makes their signal require less bandwidth. It is even possible to squeeze up to seven subchannels into a single channel bandwidth. Therefore, unlike analogue TV, you will receive more channels with digital TVs.
Aspect Ratio
The aspect ratio of digital TV is better than that of analogue TVs. The analogue TV’s aspect ratio is 4.3. It means that the picture is 3 inches in height for every four inches of width. In contrast, the digital TV’s aspect ratio is 16.9. People best view most movies in this ratio. Furthermore, the aspect ratio has made many people switch from analogue TV to digital TV.
The HDTV Frequency Band
Consumers got introduced to new technology due to the analogue to digital television transition. The most popular technology was broadcasting and receiving different video formats. However, most people don’t know what frequencies these broadcast formats use. The following are the digital TV frequency bands.
VHF
The TV stations on Channels 2–13 broadcast in the VHF band. The VHF band ranges from 54 to 216 megahertz (MHz). The FCC ensures that each station gets a specific frequency range for its primary carrier signal. Doing so helps to prevent stations from overlapping. Moreover, each VHF station’s HDTV broadcast gets transmitted within the station’s allotted frequency band.
UHF
TV stations on Channels 14 and up use the UHF band. The UHF band stretches from 470 MHz to 806 MHz to broadcast. As with VHF stations, UHF stations also broadcasts their main carrier signals on a specified frequency band. Moreover, it carries all that station’s broadcasts, including HDTV, just like VHF.
Common Television Interference Frequencies
It’s essential to be aware of some frequencies and technologies. These frequencies may cause your TV or satellite dish to malfunction. Moreover, if they exceed a specific level of strength, they overload television tuners and amplifiers. The following are some of those frequencies.
Tetra Frequencies (395 Mhz)
In the emergency services, such as the police, ambulance, and fire department, Tetra is a telecommunications system that people use. Moreover, Tetra uses the spectrum part that is illegal to tune into. In addition, its frequencies are below the frequencies that the terrestrial digital TV use.
Therefore, a TV aerial can still pick up these Tetra frequencies even though they are illegal. It mostly happens if you are near a Tetra transmitter. Television sets get designed to filter out the Tetra’s 395Mhz frequency automatically.
4G Frequencies (800 Mhz)
Depending on the service provider, 4G mobile broadband uses a variety of frequencies. The frequencies include 800 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2600 MHz. However, TV aerial installers mainly show concern on 4G in the 800Mhz range. It is because 4G in this range is the most likely cause of disruptions to your TV service.
This frequency band’s problem is being too close to Freeview signals. Since most old aerials get designed to pick up this frequency, the 4G can interfere with TV signals. Moreover, since old amplifiers amplify this frequency, the signal can become too strong hence overloading TV tuners.
In recent years, the 4G infrastructure has seen a massive improvement. Therefore, it means that 4G interferences are a common occurrence. People have now incorporated 4G filters into newer antennas, amplifiers, and distribution equipment. Moreover, you can also purchase them.
If you are vigilant, you may notice that your Sat IF band signals can also get affected by 4G in 1800MHz. However, even though it is possible, it is still unlikely to happen due to the alignment of the satellite dishes. In addition, the way the satellite dishes receive signals also reduces the possibility. Moreover, the satellite signal only works with double screened coaxial cables and not the inferior single screened ones. Therefore, it is unlikely that the interferences will reach the wire.
WiFi Frequencies
The WIFI frequencies do not usually cause problems with TV reception. However, it can cause problems if you install your broadband router too close to your TV equipment. Currently, 2.4GHz and 5GHz are the only two frequencies used for WiFi. Most of the new broadband routers transmit both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies.
5Ghz can send more data than the 2.4GHz frequency. However, it gets more affected by walls. Therefore, it cannot travel a far distance like that of 2.4GHz. If you come from a built-up area, the 2,4GHz range will fill up with many devices operating in the range. Therefore, using a 5GHz frequency in these areas would be best.
What Is The Specific Digital TV Frequency?
Digital TV services require an aerial frequency range of 470-850 MHz. Previously, this entire frequency range got occupied by TV signals. However, since the changeover to digital, a higher number of services may get delivered using far less bandwidth. Thus, the 800Mhz spectrum might get sold off by governments for use in 4G mobile broadband services.
Therefore, a 700 MHz clearance will get utilized for 5G and 5G devices in the future. Hence instead of the frequency range being 470-850MHz, it will be 470-850MHz. If you want to watch your favourite shows, you’ll need an antenna capable of receiving signals in this frequency range.
Conclusion
The frequency of digital TV ranges from 54 to 695MHz. In addition, its frequency band include VHF and UHF bands. The VHF band has channels ranging from 2 to 13. On the other hand, the UHF band include channel 14 to 51.
The digital signals get transmitted mainly in the UHF band. Therefore, digital TV services require a frequency range of 470-700MHz. You should stay keen and be aware of some frequencies that may cause TV disruptions. These frequencies include WIFI frequencies, Tetra frequencies, 4G frequencies, etc.
