Plasma Tv Installer ~ Plasma Tv Glossary

Analog TV:
Analog technology has been in use for the past 50 years to transmit conventional TV signals to consumers. Most current television transmissions are received through analog television sets. Analog signals vary continuously, creating fluctuations in color and brightness

Aspect Ratio:A numerical expression of the relationship of width to height of a TV screen. 4:3: This numerical sequence refers to the aspect ratio of the National Television Systems Committee (NTSC) TV screen, with "4" unit width corresponding to "3" unit height, proportionally, regardless of the actual size of the screen. 16:9: This numerical sequence refers to the aspect ratio of wide screen DTV formats for all HDTV and some SDTV (Standard Definition) video. A "16" unit width corresponds to "9" unit height proportionally, regardless of the actual size of the screen. The wide screen 16:9 numerical sequence provides a viewing experience very similar to that of 35 mm movies.

ATSC:
An acronym for Advanced Television Systems Committee, and the name of the DTV system used by broadcasters in the U.S.

audio input
Jack(s) on the back of a component, such as a receiver, an amp, a preamp or a recorder, that connects via cables to the audio output of a source device (CD player, VCR, tape deck, etc).

audio output
Jack(s) on the back of a source device, CD player, VCR, tape deck, etc) that connects via cables to the audio input of another device (such as a receiver, an amp, a preamp or a recorder).

Authorized Dealer
Retailer approved by a manufacturer to sell specific brands of products

Authorized Service Center
Service and repair center staffed with manufacturer-trained (or approved) technicians

Barn Doors:
A term used in television production to describe the effect that occurs when a 4:3 image is viewed on a 16:9 screen. When this happens, viewers see black bars on the sides of the screen or "barn doors."

Burn In
In television or older computer monitors, an image or pattern appearing so regularly on the screen that it ages the phosphors and remains as a ghost image. In audio, to warm up and break in equipment for several hours after initial purchase to improve sound reproduction.

Candela
A measurement used to measure brightness

Closed Captioning (CC)
Display of a TV program's audio as text on a TV; part of the CaptionVision standard. (See CaptionVision, VBI)

Codec:
This term is short for "Coder-decoder." A codec is a device that converts analog video and audio signals into a digital format for transmission. It also converts received digital signals back into an analog format.

Color
Refers to the amount of colors your unit will display

Contrast Ratio
This concept refers to the difference in the lights intensity, meaning the ratio between the brightest white and blackish black.

Computer Input:
Some HDTV sets have an input like SVGA or VGA that allows the TV sets to be connected to computers.

Datacasting:
Also known as "enhanced TV." Datacasting is the act of providing enhanced options offered with some digital programming to provide additional program material or non-program related resources. This allows viewers the ability to download data (video, audio, text, graphics, maps, services, etc.) to specially equipped computers, cache boxes, set-top boxes, or DTV receivers.

Decoder:
See "codec." A device or program that translates encoded data into its original format (i.e., it decodes the data.)

Decibel
a unit for expressing the relative intensity of sounds on a scale from zero for the average least perceptible sound to about 130 for the average pain level. It is commonly abbreviated as: Db

Digital:
Digital refers to the circuitry in which data-carrying signals are restricted to one of two voltage levels, corresponding to logic 1 or 0.

Digital Cable:
A service provided by many cable providers, digital cable offers viewers more channels. Contrary to many consumers' beliefs, digital cable is not the same as High- Definition Television or digital television; rather digital cable simply offers cable subscribers the options of paying for more services. Digital Monitor: DTV monitors are televisions that can display a digital signal but lack an integrated tuner (unlike an integrated digital set), and thus cannot receive a digital broadcast signal without an additional set-top box.

Digital Monitor:
DTV monitors are televisions that can display a digital signal but lack an integrated tuner (unlike an integrated digital set), and thus cannot receive a digital broadcast signal without an additional set-top box.

Digital Noise Reducer
Also known as DNR, most televisions, vcrs and some dvd players already have this feature built in. This feature is designed to help reduce "noise" or grain from a video tape or television transmission.

Digital Tuner:
A digital tuner serves as the decoder required to receive and display digital broadcasts. It can be included inside TV sets or via a set-top box.

Dolby Surround
One of the original versions of Dolby Surround Sound, has since been replaced by later versions known as Dolby Pro Logic & Dolby Pro Logic II. This format was taken from the Dolby Stereo film sound.

Dolby Pro Logic:
This form of sound has overshadowed the Dolby Surround. This sound system is a four channel surround system that is available on most any format, television broadcasts, vhs, and dvds. It sends the sound out of four channels to create a feeling that you are surrounded by the sound. It uses Front left, Front Right, Front center and 2 rear mono channel speakers.

Dolby Digital:
This is a digital surround sound technology used in movie theaters and upscale home theater systems that enhances audio. Home theater components with this technology work in conjunction with a "5.1-speaker" system (five speakers plus a low-frequency subwoofer) to produce true-to-life audio that draws the listener into the onscreen action. This also used to be known as "AC-3"

EDTV:
Enhanced Definition Television, means that is the program is broadcast and projected at 480 lines at 60 progressive frames per second.

EPG
(Electronic Program Guide) On-screen TV guide that incorporates channel, time and program information; usually transmitted by a satellite or cable company and displayed as a grid using a TV's vertical blanking interval.

Flat-Panel TV
Video display, usually a DTV monitor (with no tuner or channel selector), typically using gas plasma or LCD technology to produce a picture with dotted vertical and horizontal pixels, or picture elements.

HDTV
High Definition Television means that the program is broadcast at a higher resolution then previous standards allowed.

Interlaced Scanning:
This process divides and presents each video frame as two fields. Imagine a video frame being divided by the odd and even horizontal lines that make up the picture. The first field presents the odd lines; the second field represents the even lines. The fields are aligned and timed so that, with a still image, the human eye blends the two fields together and sees them as one. Motion in the image makes the fields noticeable. Interlace scanning allows only half the lines to be transmitted and presented at any given moment.

Letterbox:
Letterbox refers to the image of a wide-screen picture on a standard 4:3 aspect ratio television screen, typically with black bars above and below. It is used to maintain the original aspect ratio of the original source (usually a theatrical motion picture of 16:9 aspect ratio or wider).

Multicasting:
The option to multicast was made possible by digital technology to allow each digital broadcast station to split its bit stream into 2, 3, 4 or more individual channels of programming and/or data services. (For example, on channel 7, you could watch 7-1, 7-2, 7-3 or 7-4.)

Must-carry:
This refers to the legal obligation of cable companies to carry analog or digital signals of over-the-air local broadcasters

NTSC
NTSC is the acronym that stands for National Television Systems Committee" and the name of the current analog transmission standard used in the U.S., which the committee created in 1953.

PAL:
This is the standard broadcast format for the UK, it broadcasts at 625 picture lines per 25mhz frames, It stands for Phasing Alternate Line.

Plasma
An electrically neutral, highly ionized gas composed of ions, electrons, and neutral particles. It is a phase of matter distinct from solids, liquids, and normal gases.

PIP:
Common Abbreviation for Picture in Picture. This means your unit has the ability to have a smaller screen box pop up in the corner of the screen and you have the ability to watch two channels at the same time.

Pixel:
Pixel is actually two words jammed together: Picture and Element. A pixel is a tiny sample of video information, the "little squares" that make up an overall picture.

Resolution
The number of pixels that make up a screen or display and with a computer fed Image or when presenting Images from say a digital camera, usually means the higher the resolution the sharper the Image. Higher resolution ie more than 852 x 480 on a plasma screen is of less Importance when connecting a video source.

RGB
Is a video transmission system that differentiates and processes all color information as separate red, green and blue channels. The best pictures from DVD are obtained using an RGB Scart connection or Component Video. A connection used for signaling devices

Standard Definition TV Format (SDTV):
There are two main digital formats - HDTV and SDTV. SDTV typically does produce better quality images than that of traditional analog TV and pictures somewhat akin to digital cable. However, its images are not nearly as sharp as the images from the ultimate form of digital television: High-definition TV (HDTV).

Set-top Converter Box:
This unit sits on top of the viewer's analog TV, receives the Digital TV signal, converts it to an analog signal, and then sends that signal on to the analog TV.

S-video
Is a video transmission associated with high-band (eg Hi8 and S-VHS) video formats. The chrominance (C) and luminance (Y) components are transmitted separately.

Super Video Graphics Array (SVGA):
This acronym is short for the "Super Video Graphics Array" display mode. SVGA resolution is 800 x 600 pixels.

Subwoofer
A loudspeaker that reproduces the powerful low (sub base) frequencies

THX
Cinema systems bearing the 'THX' logo comply with stringent performance parameters set by LucasFilm. Software can also be THX-approved. Two domestic variants also apply, THX Ultra, which applies to high-end home cinema equipment and THX Select, for midrange gear.

Terrestrial Broadcasting:
This is a broadcast signal transmitted "over-the-air" to an antenna.

Upconverting:
Process by which a standard definition picture is changed to a simulated high-definition picture.

Video Graphics Array (VGA):
This acronym is short for the "Video Graphics Array" display mode. VGA resolution is 640 x 480 pixels.

Wide screen:
A term given to picture displays with a wider aspect ratio than NTSC 4:3. Digital HDTV or SDTV is referred to as "16:9 wide screen." Most motion pictures also have a 16:9 wide screen aspect ratio. Most Digital TVs have a screen that is wider than it is tall (if a Digital TV screen is nine inches high, it's 16 inches wide.) When watching a show recorded in the wide screen format on a Digital TV, viewers see more of the movie, while when viewing wide screen format on an analog TV, cropped edges are evident

XGA
Stands for eXtended Graphics Array and has a display resolution of 1,024 x 768 pixels.