Beginner's guide to digital

Do I need digital?

In the next few years (between 2008 and 2012), all television in the UK is being switched over to digital, so you will need digital equipment to watch it. You can wait until nearer the time to go digital, or you can make the switch now.

Radio will continue to be broadcast in both analogue and digital for the foreseeable future.

What does 'digital' mean?

For TV and radio, digital means that the pictures and sounds are converted into computerised 'bits' of information and compressed, and then sent from a transmitter to your TV or radio set. The signal arrives at your set via an aerial (eg the big TV aerial on your roof or the tiny one inside your radio), or via a satellite dish, a cable or broadband.

The signal is then converted back into pictures and sounds – TV and radio programmes – with the aid of a decoder which is either built in to the TV, radio set or PC, or in a set-top box connected to it.

What's the difference between digital and the old system?

Because the digital signal is compressed, it takes up much less space in the airwaves (bandwidth) than the old system (known as 'analogue'). This makes it possible to fit more TV channels, radio networks and other services into the same amount of space.