Picture quality on a 19" CRT TV; analog vs. digital

[TV Engineer]

Originally Posted by Jeffhs

I have a 19" RCA XL100 CRT TV (1999 model). Will I notice much of a difference, if any, in my set's picture after the digital transition? I read somewhere (don't remember where offhand) that most viewers with CRT-based sets with screens under about 25 inches won't notice any difference once everything is broadcast digitally. I also did not notice any changes whatsoever in my TV picture when one of the local stations (WKYC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Cleveland) ran a DTV "soft test" recently. I honestly could not tell when the analog signal had been shut off for the test, leaving only the digital broadcast; my TV picture was as good the entire time of the test as it always has been. I have Time-Warner expanded basic cable service on both my TVs; my living-room set (the RCA) and my Zenith Sentry 2 in my bedroom.

Since you have cable, you won't see any difference at all. The transition will be completely seamless for you. This is also why you didn't see the DTV test that the local station ran. Most likely, your cable company is getting their program stream via fiber optic telephone line directly from the local station. If your cable company is picking the local station up off the air, they are already using the digital transmission of that station.

This DTV transition will only affect those viewers that receive free, over-the-air broadcasts via rabbit ears or outdoor antenna.

To answer your question...

Yes, those folks with a convertor box hooked up to their older TV will see a much better picture on that set than they ever have for OTA TV. The reason is that the analog signal coming out of the convertor box will be completely noise and ghost free. Even the best outdoor antenna installations are subject to some degradation from these two phenomena.

I'm not flaming or chiding anyone here, but the above question demonstrates clearly the confusion surrounding this transition. Jeffhs was apparently unaware that he will be unaffected, because he has cable.

Our goobermint really dropped the ball on this one (the DTV transition)!