Analog vs Digital TV – Difference and Comparison

What is Analog TV?

The Television sets introduced after 1949 are known as Analog types of TV. The name itself reveals that these sets use continuous analog signals. These signals are also characterized by their disturbance and disruption issues.

Analog TVs were also called Cathode Ray Tube or CRT in short. A Cathode ray was used in these sets which assist indirectly firing the electrons on the Analog device. The electrons in turn travel to the phosphor part of the set, which eventually helped in playing the media on the set.

These types of TV also used a unique technology of compressing Bandwith. This means that the size of the required bandwidth is significantly reduced. This was mostly done to make analog compatible with the technology and stream movies through minimum data loss.

The earlier versions of these devices implemented only two colors. Which were black and white. However, with time these TVs were available in multiple colors like Red, Blue, and Green. However, each of these colors required a memory allocation of a total of eight bits.

What is Digitial TV?

When the need for a better resolution and zero disturbance Television sets arose, Digital Television came into the spectrum. These TVs completely changed the way how these devices operated. Instead of analog, a Binary form of transmission was used.

Digital TV was characterized by different resolution standards. The earlier versions were available in formats of sixteen is to nine. Which included a larger size screen and the visual representation on it. Furthermore, these TVs used a binary form of technology which made the disturbance negligible.

Modern streaming compatibility is one of the crucial factors with these TVs. This means that Over Top Platforms can be easily played on these sets with full compatibility. These include Netflix and Amazon prime and various other streaming giants. Which paves the way for digital content as well.

Digital TV is available in various forms like Liquid Crystal Display and Light Emitting Diode. This means that the panels of these sets are thinner and flat in shape. This significantly reduces their overall size in comparison to the Cathode Ray Tube Television.

Difference Between Analog and Digital TV

  1. Analog TV has a thicker panel due to the presence of Cathode Ray Tube whereas Digital TVs have a thinner panel size.
  2. Analog TVs use an analogous form of technology whereas Digital TVs use a Digital form of technology.
  3. Analog TVs are of single type whereas Digital TVs are of two types which are Liquid Crystal Display and Light Emitting Diode.
  4. Analog TV uses continuous signals for transmission whereas Digital TVs use binary for transmission.
  5. Analog TV has a lower resolution whereas Digital TVs have a higher resolution.

Comparison Between Analog and Digital TV

Parameters of comparisonAnalog TVDigital TV
TechnologyThese television sets implemented analogous forms of technologyThese television sets implemented a digital form of technology
Panel typeAnalog TV has a characteristic thicker panelDigital TV has a characteristic Thinner panel
Signals strengthThe frequent disturbance is common with Analog TVThe seamless display is the mark of Digital TV
Transmission mediumAnalog TV used continuous signals for transmissionDigital TV used binary form of transmission
Resolution4:3 was the standard resolution of these TVs16:9 is the standard resolution of these TVs

References

  1. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/4242339/
  2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166497202000044