Comparison:

1. Pearson Education
Current television broadcasts use analog technology, which is prone to fading, snow, and ghosts.
Digital TV reproduces crystal-clear picture and sound without fading or interference.
Digital technology also enables TV stations to broadcast multiple channels with different programming.
Unfortunately, older analog TVs cant receive digital transmissions.
The DTV transition is happening because digital is better televisionbetter looking, better sounding, and with more channels of programming. If youve not yet
experienced DTV, youre in for a big surprise!

2. Diffen
Analog and digital signals are used to transmit information, usually through electric signals. In both these technologies, the information, such as any audio or
video, is transformed into electric signals. The difference between analog and digital technologies is that in analog technology, information is translated into
electric pulses of varying amplitude. In digital technology, translation of information is into binary format (zero or one) where each bit is representative of two
distinct amplitudes.
Comparison chart

Analog Digital
Signal
Analog signal is a continuous signal which represents
physical measurements.
Digital signals are discrete time signals generated by digital
modulation.
Waves Denoted by sine waves Denoted by square waves
Representation Uses continuous range of values to represent information Uses discrete or discontinuous values to represent information
Example Human voice in air, analog electronic devices. Computers, CDs, DVDs, and other digital electronic devices.
Technology
Analog technology records waveforms as they are. Samples analog waveforms into a limited set of numbers and records
them.
Data transmissions
Subjected to deterioration by noise during transmission
and write/read cycle.
Can be noise-immune without deterioration during transmission and
write/read cycle.
Response to Noise More likely to get affected reducing accuracy Less affected since noise response are analog in nature
Flexibility Analog hardware is not flexible. Digital hardware is flexible in implementation.
Uses
Can be used in analog devices only. Best suited for audio
and video transmission.
Best suited for Computing and digital electronics.
Applications Thermometer PCs, PDAs
Bandwidth
Analog signal processing can be done in real time and
consumes less bandwidth.
There is no guarantee that digital signal processing can be done in
real time and consumes more bandwidth to carry out the same
information.
Memory Stored in the form of wave signal Stored in the form of binary bit
Power Analog instrument draws large power Digital instrument drawS only negligible power
Cost Low cost and portable Cost is high and not easily portable
Impedance Low High order of 100 megaohm
Errors
Analog instruments usually have a scale which is
cramped at lower end and give considerable
observational errors.
Digital instruments are free from observational errors like parallax
and approximation errors.
Definitions of Analog vs Digital signals
An Analog signal is any continuous signal for which the time varying feature (variable) of the signal is a representation of some other time varying quantity, i.e.,
analogous to another time varying signal. It differs from a digital signal in terms of small fluctuations in the signal which are meaningful.
A digital signal uses discrete (discontinuous) values. By contrast, non-digital (or analog) systems use a continuous range of values to represent information.
Although digital representations are discrete, the information represented can be either discrete, such as numbers or letters, or continuous, such as sounds,
images, and other measurements of continuous systems.
Properties of Digital vs Analog signals
Digital information has certain properties that distinguish it from analog communication methods. These include
Synchronization digital communication uses specific synchronization sequences for determining synchronization.
Language digital communications requires a language which should be possessed by both sender and receiver and should specify meaning of symbol
sequences.
Errors disturbances in analog communication causes errors in actual intended communication but disturbances in digital communication does not cause errors
enabling error free communication. Errors should be able to substitute, insert or delete symbols to be expressed.
Copying analog communication copies are quality wise not as good as their originals while due to error free digital communication, copies can be made
indefinitely.
Granularity for a continuously variable analog value to be represented in digital form there occur quantization error which is difference in actual analog value
and digital representation and this property of digital communication is known as granularity.
Differences in Usage in Equipment
Many devices come with built in translation facilities from analog to digital. Microphones and speaker are perfect examples of analog devices. Analog
technology is cheaper but there is a limitation of size of data that can be transmitted at a given time.
Digital technology has revolutionized the way most of the equipments work. Data is converted into binary code and then reassembled back into original form at
reception point. Since these can be easily manipulated, it offers a wider range of options. Digital equipment is more expensive than analog equipment.
Comparison of Analog vs Digital Quality
Digital devices translate and reassemble data and in the process are more prone to loss of quality as compared to analog devices. Computer advancement has
enabled use of error detection and error correction techniques to remove disturbances artificially from digital signals and improve quality.
Differences in Applications
Digital technology has been most efficient in cellular phone industry. Analog phones have become redundant even though sound clarity and quality was good.
Analog technology comprises of natural signals like human speech. With digital technology this human speech can be saved and stored in a computer. Thus
digital technology opens up the horizon for endless possible uses.

3. About.com
Although television transmission transitioned from analog to digital in the U.S. on June 12, 2009, there are still consumers that may be watching the few remaining low-
power analog TV stations, subscribe to analog cable TV services, and/or continue to watch analog video sources, such as VHS, on either analog, digital, or HDTVs. As
a result, the characteristics of analog TV are still an important factor to be aware of.
The difference between Analog TV and Digital TV has its roots in the way the TV signal is transmitted or transferred from the source to the TV, which, in turn, dictates
the type of TV the consumer needs to use to receive the signal. This also applies to the way a DTV converter box has to transfer a signal to an analog TV, which is
important for those consumers that use DTV converters to receive television programming on an analog TV set.
Before the DTV Transition was in place, standard analog TV signals were transmitted in a manner similar to radio.
In fact, the video signal of analog television was transmitted in AM, while the audio was transmitted in FM. Analog TV was subject to interference, such as ghosting
and snow, depending on the distance and geographical location of the TV receiving the signal.
In addition, the amount of bandwidth assigned to an analog TV channel restricted the resolution and overall quality of the image. The analog TV transmission standard
(in the U.S.) was referred to as NTSC.
NTSC is the U.S. standard that was adopted and came into popular use after World War II. NTSC is based on a 525-line, 60 fields/30 frames-per-second at 60Hz system
for transmission and display of video images. This is an interlaced system in which each frame is scanned in two fields of 262 lines, which is then combined to display a
frame of video with 525 scan lines.
This system works, but one drawback is that color TV broadcasting was not part of the equation when the system was approved. The implementation of color into the
NTSC format has been a weakness of the system, thus the term for NTSC became known by many professionals as "Never Twice The Same Color". Ever notice that
color quality and consistency varies quite a bit between stations?
Digital TV, or DTV, on the other hand, is transmitted as data bits of information, just as computer data is written or the way music is written on a CD. In this way, the
signal is basically "on" or "off". In other words, the intent of DTV technology is that the viewer either sees an image or nothing at all. There is no gradual signal loss as
distance from the transmitter increases. If the viewer is too far from the transmitter or is in an undesirable location, there is nothing to see.
On the other hand, unlike analog TV, digital TV has been designed from the ground up to take all the main factors of the television signal into consideration: B/W,
color, and audio and can be transmitted as an interlaced (lines scanned in alternate fields) or progressive (lines scanned in linear sequence) signal. As a result, there is
greater integrity and flexibility of signal content.
In addition, since the DTV signal is made up of "bits", the same bandwidth size that takes up a current analog TV signal, can accommodate not only a higher quality
image in digital form, but the extra space not used for the TV signal can be used for additional video, audio, and text signals.
In other words, broadcasters can supply more features, such as surround sound, multiple language audio, text services, and more in the same space now occupied by a
standard analog TV signal. However, there is one more advantage to the ability of a Digital TV channel's space; the ability to transmit a High Definition(HDTV) signal.
Lastly, another difference between Digital TV and Analog TV is the ability to broadcast programming in a true widescreen (16x9) format. The shape of the picture
more closely resembles the shape of a movie screen, which enables the viewer to see the movie as the filmmaker intended. In Sports, you can get more of the action in
one camera shot, such as viewing the entire length of a football field without making look like it is a long distance away from the camera.
A 16x9 TV can display widescreen images without a large amount of picture space taken up by black bars on the top and bottom of a widescreen image, which is what
you see if such images are shown on a standard TV. Even non-HDTV sources, such as DVD can also take advantage of a 16x9 TV.

7. Dummies.com
Digital TV Basics
DTV stands for digital television, and by June 12, 2009, it will be the only television signal on the airwaves. Although the switch to all-digital TV marks an important
shift in the way television is created and transmitted, it doesn't have to be a great change from the way you currently watch TV. Here's what you need to know about the
switch from analog to digital television.
Analog vs. digital signals
The difference between an analog and a digital television signal is the way in which the information is encoded:
Analog signal: Since the first television broadcasts hit the airwaves in the late 1920s, television shows have been sent through the air using an analog signal. An
analog signal theoretically has an infinite number of variations, which means that it can (theoretically) transmit an infinit e number of subtle variations. If you
think of a slide whistle (an analog instrument), as you pull in the slide, the pitch goes up. If you pull the slide in very slowly, the pitch rises smoothly, and you
don't hear definite changes from one pitch to the next. Those infinitely smooth gradations of pitch mirror the smooth gradations in an analog television signal.
Digital signal: A digital signal stores information in the form of a gazillion 1s and 0s. Because each variation in the signal must be represented by 1s and 0s, the
number of variations is finite, so a digital signal doesn't have the infinite variability that an analog signal has. To return to the slide whistle example, if you slowly
pull in the slide and record it with a digital recorder, the pitch will not rise as smoothly. The pitch will "jump" from one tone to the next, leaving microscopic
gaps between any two tones. If the recording is of any decent quality, though, the human ear won't be sensitive enough to hear those tiny jumps, and the
recording will sound like a smooth rise in pitch.
Although it may sound like an analog signal is better than a digital signal (and in theory, this is true), analog signals suffer from degradation in a way that digital signals
do not. In TV-land, that analog signal degradation comes through as television "snow." You won't get snow from a DTV signal.
Is DTV the same as HDTV?
No DTV isn't the same as HDTV. DTV stands for "digital television." HDTV (high-definition television) is a specific DTV quality standard, but definitely not the
only one. Here are the three most popular DTV quality standards, in order of quality:
SDTV Standard Definition Television: SDTV is the most basic quality level for televisiondisplay and resolution for both analog and digital signals. TV
stations already transmit their shows as SDTV-quality analog signals. In fact, many channels have already started transmitting digital SDTV signals alongside
their standard analog signals. But many of these analog signals have already gone away, and the great majority of them will be off the air by June 12, 2009.
EDTV Enhanced Definition Television: EDTV was a short-lived enhanced format that has a higher resolution than SDTV, but isn't as clear as HDTV. Early
adopters of enhanced television quality may have EDTV-quality sets, but you don't see them sold much anymore.
HDTV High-Definition Television: This is the highest quality digital signal out there at least for now. An HDTV signal not only carries enhanced video,
but also digitally enhanced sound, so you can get theater-like surround sound from over-the-air HDTV signals. Although HDTV broadcasts are becoming more
common (especially for sporting events), most DTV broadcasts will not be high definition, at least for the foreseeable future.
You won't need to get rid of your older analog TV when the time comes to switch to a digital signal; you'll just need to get a set-top box that converts (SDTV and
HDTV) digital signals to (SDTV) analog signals that your TV set can understand. If you have a cable or satellite connection, your signal provider should take care of all
of that for you, and you won't need a converter box

8. eHow.com
Analog TV signals are transmitted over the air as frequency and amplitude modulation, the same as with radio. Digital TV is also transmitted over the air, but as bits
and pieces of data, very much like computer files and streaming or a wireless Internet signal. Have a question? Get an answer from online tech support now!

Function: Analog
o Analog TV uses both types of radio frequencies, sending video over AM and audio over FM. The U.S. signal standard for analog TV is NTSC.
Effects
o The quality of analog TV is greatly affected by airwave interference, along with the exact distance and location of any television picking up the signal.
Other Issues
o The addition of color greatly affects analog TV signals, as it wasn't a factor when NTSC was adopted following Word War II. Many stations have different color shades
because of this.
Benefits: Digital
o The digital TV signal was designed to accommodate black-and-white and color video along with audio as either a progressive or interlaced signal. This allows signal
flexibility.
Potential
o Digital television also transmits the same analog signal in less bandwidth space, allowing more space for extra channels with features like extra languages and surround
sound.

9. About.com
Here is where things may start to get confusing for the consumer. All HDTV is digital, but not all Digital TV is HDTV. As stated previously, in the answer to question
#1, the same bandwidth for digital TV broadcasting can either used to supply a video signal (or several) and other services, or can be used to transmit a single HDTV
signal.
Although there are technically 18 different standards for digital TV broadcasting (all Digital TV tuners are required to decode all 18 standards), the practical application
of DTV has come down to 3 standards. These standards are: 480p, 720p, and 1080i.
480p
If you have a progressive scan DVD player and TV, you are familiar with 480p (480 lines of resolution, scanned progressively). 480p is similar to the same resolution
of standard broadcast TV (and is referred to as SDTV or Standard Definition Television), but the image is scanned progressively, rather than in alternate fields. 480p
does provide an excellent picture (especially on smaller 20-27" screens). It is much more film-like than standard cable or even standard DVD output, but it only
provides half the potential video quality of an HDTV picture, therefore its effectiveness is lost on larger screen sets.
Although 480p is part of the approved DTV broadcasting scheme, it is not HDTV. This standard was included as one of the DTV broadcasting standards to provide
broadcasters the option of providing multiple channels of programming in the same bandwidth as a single HDTV signal. In other words, 480p is just more of what we
already have with only a slight increase in image quality.
720p
720p (720 lines of resolution scanned progressively) is also a digital TV format, but it is also considered as one of the HDTV standards. As such, ABC and FOX use
720p as their HDTV broadcasting standard. Not only does 720p provide a very smooth, film-like image due to its progressive scan formula, but image detail is at least
30% sharper than 480p. As a result, 720p provides an acceptable image upgrade that is visible on both medium (32"- 37") size screens as well as larger screen sets.
Also, even though 720p is considered high-definition, it takes up less bandwidth than 1080i, which is covered next.
1080i
1080i (1,080 lines of resolution scanned in alternate fields consisting of 540 lines each) is the most commonly used HDTV format, and has been adopted by PBS, NBC,
CBS, and CW (as well as satellite programmers HDNet, TNT, Showtime, HBO, and other pay services) as their HDTV broadcast standard. Although there is still a
debate as to whether it is that much better than 720p in the actual perception of the viewer, technically, 1080i provides the most detailed image of all the 18 approved
DTV broadcast standards. On the one hand the visual impact of 1080i is lost on smaller screen sets (below 32").
However, the two drawbacks to 1080i are:
1. It takes up the most bandwidth of all the DTV broadcast formats.
2. It is an interlaced signal, which means that the displayed image is made up of lines that are scanned alternately instead of progressively as in 480p and 720p.
3. 1080i cannot be displayed in its native form on an LCD, Plasma, or DLP television, so those types of sets need to convert the 1080i signal to either 720p or 1080p in
order to display the image on the TV screen.
In other words if you have a 1080p HDTV, a Flat Panel or DLP TV will deinterlace the 1080i signal and display it as a 1080p i mage. This essentially removes any
visible scan lines present in the interlaced 1080i image, resulting in very smooth edges. By the same token, if you have a 720p HDTV, your TV will deinterlace and
downscale the 1080i image to 720p for screen display.