What does Digital and Analogue mean?
Analogue is the term used to describe the old-fashioned method of transmitting television pictures. Until the mid 1990’s, Analogue was the only means available for watching television. The new format to replace Analogue is called Digital. To create a Digital signal, the programme providers take the picture and convert it into computerised ‘bits’. These bits are sent through the air in just the same way that the Analogue signals are. Your roof aerial or satellite dish receives these ‘bits’ and then a digital set-top box is used to convert the ‘bits’ back into a picture which can be displayed on your television. Because the set-top box does the conversion it means that you can still use your old television to watch the new digital programmes. Digital TV takes up much less space in the airwaves (bandwidth) than Analogue. This makes it possible to fit more TV channels, radio channels and other services into the same amount of space. Furthermore, because Digital TV is a more robust signal,
