Digital Television

Digital television, whether HDTV (high definition television) or SDTV (standard definition television) features snow and ghost free viewing. It has 1080 lines of resolution compared to the standard NTSC resolution of 480 lines. KEYC-DT (digital television) transmits both HDTV and SDTV on UHF channel 38 (or 12.1) for all of our broadcast day. Most prime time, sporting events and network specials originate in HDTV. The rest is televised in SD. HD is only broadcast when available from the CBS network. This link http://www.keyc.tv/schedule features a guide where you can find out when HDTV is broadcast on KEYC.

How to get KEYC-DT

A viewer cannot receive a digital signal without some specialized equipment. Although many area cable systems carry local television’s HDTV signals, some do not and an antenna is required to receive KEYC-DT over the air. UHF rabbit ears (bowtie or loop) have shown to provide reliable reception out to 30 miles from the Lewisville, MN transmitter site. A rooftop antenna pointed at Lewisville, MN is always the best choice for uninterrupted reception. Secondly, your analog set will not receive the digital signal without the aid of a digital over the air STB (set top box) or external digital receiver. Most STBs provide audio and video or component outputs along with a computer (VGA) monitor output. If your TV is not equipped with audio/video (A/V) inputs you may be able to buy a RF converter just as you would for a DVD player.


Although watching a digital signal through a STB on your analog TV is better than ordinary analog, to view the razor sharp images High Definition offers, you need a HDTV television or monitor. A HDTV television has a digital over-the-air tuner built in. A HDTV monitor or HD-ready set does not have a tuner and requires a STB or external receiver. Some satellite receivers have built in digital over the air tuners or optional plug in tuners that work with a HDTV ready set.

Buying a Digital Television

First, it’s important to find a knowledgeable dealer. Digital televisions come in two different screen aspect ratios. One is 4x3 (the same as analog sets) and the other is the new 16x9 wide screen. True HDTV is broadcast in 16x9. Watching a 16x9 picture on a 4x3-aspect screen gives you a letterbox effect with black bars at the top and bottom of the picture. Watching a 4x3 picture on a 16x9-aspect display gives you a pillar effect with black vertical bars to the left and right of the picture. Many 16x9 sets feature stretch circuits so that 4x3 video fills the screen.

There are many digital formats. 480p (progressive scan) qualifies as Hi Def according to some but these sets are typically labeled EDTV (enhanced digital television). 720p and 1080i (interlaced scan) are examples of true HDTV. All digital sets accept every format through conversion. The higher the native resolution, the sharper the picture, the more expensive the set. 1080i gives the sharpest pictures but it is hard to tell the difference between 1080i and 720p.

There are many types of displays including direct view, plasma, LCD (liquid crystal display), DLP (digital light projection), and standard projection. Each display has advantages over the others. Some displays cannot be viewed well from an angle. Some are brighter and some are prone to burn in when the picture doesn’t fill the screen. Some tuners process analog pictures better than others. While a big screen projection set looks good in a showroom, it can easily overwhelm a living room. A rule of thumb for viewing distance is 3-4 times the screen width.

Consumers with analog television sets who subscribe to cable or satellite service may obtain separate converter boxes from their service provider to receive digital broadcasts.  Consumers with analog TVs who receive over-the-air broadcasts will need to purchase separate converter boxes from consumer electronics retailers.  These consumers may be able to obtain two coupons worth $40 each towards the purchase of converter boxes beginning in 2008.  

Click Here to view a list of NTIA Approved DTV Retailers

What About the Sound?

Digital television not only offers better pictures but CD quality sound as well and has the capability of six-channel surround sound.  KEYC-DT currently provides surround sound when available.  A quality sound system greatly enhances the HDTV viewing experience. 

Further information reguarding the HDTV transition can be found at http://www.dtvtransition.org/ or http://www.dtvanswers.com