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1080p - This is the highest of the high, so to speak, being the best quality High Definition standard. Also known as ‘True HD’ or ‘Full HD’. Blu-ray and HD DVD discs offer such pretty pictures, although not all screens can accept them. The number ‘1080’ represents the 1,080 lines of vertical resolution, progressively scanned (see entry). The term usually assumes a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, implying a horizontal resolution of 1920 pixels. This creates a frame resolution of 1920×1080, or 2,073,600 pixels in total.
Amplifier - signal booster
Antenna - European/U.S. term for an aerial
Aspect ratio - The displayed width of an image divided by its height. A bit too much like maths? Okay does your picture look square or more like a letterbox? These are the two main aspect ratios around - the traditional 4:3 and its modern 16:9 (1.78:1) successor, used in HD television or the cinema. Conversion between formats can be accomplished by either cropping the image to fit the receiving format's ratio or adding black bars (the letterbox we spoke of earlier) to retain the original format's ratio.
Attenuator - Used to reduce signal strength
Blu-ray disc (BD) - Blu-ray is a high-density optical disc format for the storage of digital information. Or in other words, something a bit like a DVD, but a whole lot better. DVD, turbo-charged. When properly implemented it offers superior image and sound quality over DVD. The format was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data. The format offers more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs – up to 50GB on a dual-layer disc. Named after the blue-violet laser used to read the new discs, it is backed by Sony, Pioneer, Samsung and Apple amongst others.
Booster - see amplifier
CAI - Confederation of aerial industries, organisation representing manufacturers, installers and misc interested parties.
CATV - Community aerial TV, TV distribution network covering a neighbourhood, town or city
Chimney lashing kit - The method of securing an aerial to a chimney
Coax coupler - Enables 2 coax plugs to be joined
Coax plug - Terminates coaxial cable for insertion to TV etc
Coaxial cable - aerial lead
COB - Coaxial outlet box, surface mounted to window sill or skirting board
Combiner - see diplexer
DAB - Stereo digital radio reception, alternative to FM. Greater offering of channels
DAB Aerial - enhances DAB reception
DAB - Digital Audio Broadcasting. A digital radio transmission that gives a clearer signal, greater selection of radio stations, and wonderful ease of access. What’s more, as well as sound, this technology allows the broadcast of station information and EPG. Look out for DAB+ technology, which offers superior sound. Sadly there won’t be any commercial broadcasts for at least five years!
dB - The decibel is a term used in signal measurement
Digital - Any system that represents analogue signals as streams of numerically encoded data. Think of all those green bits in the Matrix. Digital systems use individual values (often electrical voltages) representing numbers for input, processing, transmission, storage, or display, rather than a continuous spectrum of values, as in an analogue system.
Diplexer - combines 2 or more aerials into a single coaxial lead
Dipole - The element is connected to the downlead and receives signal from the director and reflector elements
Director Element - A series of tuned elements that are forward of the dipole
Dish pack - The external part of a Sky installation
Distribution amplifier - signal booster for 2 or more TV's or radios
Dolby® Digital - This is the technology that puts the cinema into 'home cinema'. When a bullet whizzes across your front room, thank Dolby. Essentially it is a digital audio format that delivers surround sound replay, via a 5.1 speaker system. It is the designated audio standard for DVD worldwide. Dolby Digital is also the preferred multichannel audio standard for direct broadcast and digital cable
Downlead - cable connecting aerial or dish to TV, Radio or set top box
DTT - Digital terrestrial TV
EPG (Electronic Programme Guides) - These are found on Freeview units and simply list programmes on all the TV channels – usually for seven days. It makes programming a doddle.
F connector - Terminates coaxial cable for insertion to Sky box etc
F coupler - Enables 2 f connectors to be joined
Fascia mount - The method of securing an aerial to a soffit
FM - Stereo analog radio reception, alternative to DAB
FM aerial - enhances FM reception
Freesat - Sky Broadcasting subscription free package
Freeview - Digital terrestrial TV offering from UK's mainstream broadcasters
Frequency - Is it a high note or a low note? The former would live near the bottom of the frequency range, while the latter lives up top. A bass guitar produces mostly low frequencies while a flute or whistle produces high frequencies. Frequency is actually the pitch of a signal and is measured in Hertz (Hz).
Ghosting - Repeat image(s) on analog TV caused by reflected signal
Grid aerial - A TV aerial with 2 or more connected dipoles and a grid reflector
Grouped aerial - A TV aerial that will receive a segment of UHF channels
Hard Disk Drive (HDD) - An internal disc, such as those found in a computer, that stores large amounts of data. Typically such designs are capable of storing many gigabytes (GB) of data. Now a regular feature of MP3 players, DVD recorders and DVRs.
HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) - A wonderful 'pure' digital, high quality connection between a source and screen. It can carry both sound and vision between home cinema components. In its 1.3 guise it is able to carry high-def audio and greater colour spectrum. It is an important part of a High Definition system and has copy-protection capabilities.
HD Ready - A badge to denote screens that can accept and display High Definition pictures. To be HD ready, a TV must have a high-resolution screen - with a minimum of 720p pixel resolution - HDCP and either a DVI-I/D or HDMI socket. If a TV bears the HD Ready sticker, it is considered ready to accept and display a high-definition signal, whether from a HD DVD or Blu-ray player or from a digital broadcast.
High Definition (HD) - At its most basic level, HD means better pictures. It is both a broadcast and a screen technology, and there are three types: 720p, 1080i and 1080p. Any screen implementing these standards is called ‘HD ready’. However, to aficionados, 1080p, which is sometimes called Full HD, is considered the only ‘true’ HD standard.
High-gain aerial - Multi-element aerial having 32 elements or more
IRS - Integrated reception system a system providing UHF, Sky and radio and enables connection of individuals Sky boxes
LCD - Liquid crystal display, flat panel TV providing an alternative to plasma
LCD screens - Flat screen displays that use Liquid Crystal Displays to create the pictures. Commonly available in sizes from 14" - 42". Also known as TFTs (Thin Film Technology). LCD screens come in a wider range of sizes than say, plasma screens, and there is also a greater variety to choose from. They generally have a much brighter screen, pictures tend to look better under standard lighting conditions and they can often also double as a PC screen.
LNB Quad - device that converts & sends reception to 2 - 4 Sky boxes via coax cable
LNB Quattro - Dish mounted device that converts & sends reception to multi-switch
LNB solo - Dish mounted device that converts & sends reception to 1 Sky box via coax cable
Loft mount - The method of securing an aerial internally
Magic Eye - Enables Sky box to be controlled from other room(s)
MATV - Master aerial TV, a UHF reception distribution system
Multiplexer (mux) - Groups of Freeview channels are broadcast on single UHF channels known as a multiplexers
Multi-switch - apartments etc to facilitate operation of Sky set top boxes from one dish
Outlet plate - Flush outlet plate mounted to back box or patrass
PAL - PAL is the analogue broadcast system used in the UK, mainland Europe and 120 countries around the world.
Pixel Resolution - Pixel resolution – horizontal times vertical. Generally, the greater the number of pixels, the more detailed the image.
Pixel Resolution -
Pixellating - Mosaic/frozen effect on digital TV caused by defective signal
Plasma - Flat screen displays that use heated phosphors to create the pictures. Screens most commonly come in sizes between 32" - 100" (smaller sizes are available, but most often than not they are prohibitively expensive to manufacture). Compared to LCD screens, plasmas offer better contrast, a wider viewing angle, cope well with fast-moving action and can display a wider range of the visible colour spectrum.
Polarity - UHF signal is transmitted on either horizontal or vertical polarities
Pre-amplifier - signal booster installed on aerial (a PSU is also required)
PSU (power supply unit) - Converts mains voltage to 12v, used to energise pre-amplifier via downlead
PVR (personal video recorder)/DVR (digital video recorder) - Like the Sky+ box or Freeview equivalent, this piece of kit records video in a digital format to a hard disk. As well as set-top boxes, PVR technology is found in software, e.g. for personal computers, that enables video capture and playback to and from disk. Some manufacturers have started to offer televisions with DVR hardware and software built in to the television itself. Most PVRs offer a choice of recording modes, but the more capacity you want, the poorer the picture quality (as with the LP and EP modes on VHS tapes). All hard-disk recorders mean you can watch the start of a recording while the programme is still being recorded (also called ‘Chasing playback’). In essence, PVRs/DVRs are like HDD recorders, but with fewer features.
Reflector element - The element situated rearmost on an aerial
SCART - SCART used to be the most common standard for connecting audio-visual equipment together. With its 21-pin adaptor, SCART was a nice simple solution for carrying audio and visual signals. Previously, each of these would have had their own socket, requiring numerous separate connections and a spaghetti-type mass of leads. Somewhat usurped by HDMI now.
Set back amplifier - signal booster located adjacent to TV
Set top box - Sky box, Freeview box, DVD player or VCR
SMATV - Satellite master aerial TV, Sky/UHF reception distribution system
Splitter - passive device that supplies signal to 2 or more TV's
TETTRA - terrestrial trunked radio. Used by police etc
Tetra filter - Blocks interference caused by tetra transmissions
Top-up TV - Pay as you view digital terrestrial TV
UHF - Terrestrial TV reception
Upscaling - All those extra new pixels on the latest HD screens are going to waste when replaying a conventional DVD. So the latest DVD players can upscale the original DVD signal produced, by filling in the gaps with new information, to produce better pictures. Upscaling isn’t quite HD DVD or Blu-ray – they cannot add detail that wasn’t in the original recording – but it does boost performance, thanks to the very complex algorithms used to create the new data.
VHF - Previously redundant frequency bands 1,2 & 3. Part of band 3 is now used for DAB
Wall Bracket - The method of securing an aerial to a wall or facing
Wideband aerial - A TV aerial that will receive UHF channels 21-68
Yagi - Any aerial that has a dipole, director and reflector elements
