| The digital switchover is almost upon us, in fact in the Scottish Borders, it has already happened. On 6th November 2008, the analogue signal for BBC 2 was permanently discontinued and the other major channels followed suit on the 20th November. From this, all areas of Great Britain began the transition to become fully digital.
When your area switches to a digital signal, the only way you will be able to view television is via a digital source, such as Freeview, Sky, or cable television. For the majority of people this will take the form of either a set top box or perhaps a television with an in-built receiver. Of course, no matter what form it takes, you will need to hook it up to your remaining audio/visual equipment, such as DVD player, surround sound, etc.
The majority of modern televisions either fall into the LCD or plasma camp and as such, come readily equipped to handle high definition audio/video. Digital providers are also beginning to offer high def programs including Sky HD, Freesat, and even the main players such as BBC, ITV, and Channel 4 are now supplying a high definition service.
To keep everything running smoothly and in a standardised fashion, perhaps it is best to stick to one format. The format adopted by the majority of the major players is of course High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI). The HDMI format offers a superb quality data transfer through a single cable. In fact, many have touted HDMI as the best way to future proof your home entertainment equipment.
In order to connect all these assorted HDMI ports we need to enlist the help of a HDMI cable. A HDMI cable ensures that a fully digital audio/video signal is transmitted from appliance to appliance and that whatever television channels you wish to watch, you can do so in high definition. This means that all your favourite television programs can be seen in much better clarity than they would through a standard analogue/coaxial combination.
Therefore, to obtain the ultimate experience when the digital switchover hits your area, make sure that you have premium quality HDMI cables to hook up your new digital source to your television. Doing so will enable you to enjoy television as its meant to be displayed without the worry of being left out in the cold when the analogue signals are switched off. |
