Digital vs. Analog

[gyoung]

When we say we are watching a digital TV station (say either a DirectTV broadcast or TWC channel's 100 or higher), we are receiving a digital image, but the satellite box (or cable box) is actually converting the signal to analog for the TV correct?

Thanks!

[Gregg Lengling]

That is correct basically.  The transmitted form of OTA digital, TWC digital channels and all of Satellite are digital signals.  Your box then processes them for the type of output you want.  Could be analog Composite Video, Component video, S-video or Digital Interface Video for those using the DVI.

[gyoung]

I'm doing some research for a presentation in a technology class that I'm taking.  Thanks for the reply.  So either way you get the digital signal (OTA, cable box, satellite box) the box is converting to analog before sending it to the TV?  Or when using DVI is it actually transmitting the digital signal to the TV?

I guess what I'm getting at is digital TVs don't receive a digital signal, just the converter box right?  Or is this wrong?

[John L]

Could be analog Composite Video, Component video, S-video or Digital Interface Video for those using the DVI.

Which means of course a Digital TV Tuner or Digital TV set doesn't offer any of these inputs since there is no digital to analog or any kind of analog except for the audio so that the human ear can decipher the message.

-John L.