answersLogoWhite

0

TV signals, like any other electrical signal, travel at the speed of light. Across the US, a signal will appear in California a small fraction of a second after it left New York. In other words, there is virtually no delay at all. However, digital technology has resulted in greater delays than seen during analog days.

Analog signals would generally be transmitted and received without being stored along the way. Digital signals are processed differently. From a studio in New York, a signal will be compressed to reduce the bandwidth required to transmit it. The compression involves processing several frames at a time before passing a data stream to a transmission line. The data is then formed into packets of data which are passed from the source to the destination. The receiver will capture the packets of data, place them into the right order and then uncompress them. This process adds more frames of delay. This process is repeated whenever the signal is taken from one location to another, from an outside broadcast truck to a fixed studio for example.


Broadcasting to homes will require the signal to be compressed once more and at the home receiver, to be uncompressed once more. Again, the compression and decompression will add several frames of delay. The whole process can add several seconds of delay to the signal by the time it is viewed on a television.


The delays will allow transmission errors to be corrected: If a packet of data is corrupted, it can be sent again to ensure that the full signal is delivered without glitches. An analog signal that is corrupted would show as noise in the picture because there is no possibility to resend that part of the signal.


Although the delays result in more effective quality control and assist in offering uninterrupted signals, a viewer will never be watching a true live broadcast any more. A touchdown during the Superbowl will actually happen a number of seconds before it is seen by the millions of fans that are watching the 'live' broadcast of it.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

What kind of wavelength do televisions signals have?

Long


What kind do wavelength do television signals have?

Long


How did satellite television originate?

The idea was originally popularized by a Science Fiction author Arthur C. Clarke in a story published in 1945. It didn't take the world that long to catch up. The first satellites used for television signals were launched in 1962. The Telstar and Relay 1 satellites broadcast signals from Europe to North America and from the US to Japan.


Will my tv work in the Philippines?

Yes, as long as you have an HD signal. Digital signals don't change depending on where you go like some analog signals do because digital signals are only composed of 5 volts and 0 volts, 1's and 0's.


Why is it possible to transmit TV signals by ground wave propagation?

Ground wave propagation for TV signals is possible because the signals use low frequencies that can travel along the Earth's surface, following its curvature. This allows the signals to reach receivers beyond the line of sight. Additionally, ground waves experience less attenuation compared to higher frequencies, making them suitable for long-distance transmission.


Television signals are converted into light signals by?

Laser Diode. photo diode


What TV providers used satellite signals in the UK?

Sky Television was the first company to take advantage of satellite signals in the UK. Shortly after they were followed by the BSB company. The two fought for control of the market for decades before the BBC released their Freesat service. A free satellite TV provider.


How does High Definition television work as opposed to the old technology?

High Definition television uses digital signals which are more compact. The old technology (standard definition) uses analog signals which take up more space. So because the HDTV signals are more compact, they are allowed to carry a lot more information and therefore provide a clearer picture.


Did eygptians watch TV?

Egyptians, like the rest of the world, (Mexicans, Italians, Japanese, etc) receive over the air TV signals, satellite TV signals, and cable TV signals. So the answer to this astoundingly stupid question is YES!


How are signals relayed?

Cable Television


What is a piece of equipment made of wire or long straight pieces of metal for receiving or sending radio and television signals?

This might be a description of a radio antenna.


Do wind turbines affect radio and television signals?

If placed in the wrong location, wind turbines can affect radio and television signals.