DTV and ATV are different broadcast standards that give users access to free-to-air TV channels. The difference between DTV and ATV is very significant: a fundamentally different method of signal transmission, different equipment requirements, different signal quality at reception.
ATV is considered to be an outdated standard, as analog broadcasting finally lost its relevance back in 2000, but there are regions in Russia where residents still use analog TV broadcasting. DTV is a whole family of digital broadcasting that combines several standards. Thanks to the use of numbers, users can not only watch terrestrial channels for free but also achieve high-quality sound and pictures.

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What is ATV: principle of operation, advantages and disadvantages
What is ATV?
Analog broadcasting is broadcast through radio waves from a single source, while the maximum resolution of such a signal never exceeds 720×480.
ATV advantage
The main advantage of this standard is its range an analog signal can be broadcast over thousands of kilometers, though not without loss of quality. Many television companies began to equip powerful towers to receive the signal, and then distribute it among consumers using a cable, and this is how the concept of “cable analogue television” appeared.
ATV disadvantages
Despite the advantage in the range of signal transmission and the availability of its reception in remote regions, many countries have already abandoned analog broadcasting and switched to digital television broadcasting.
ATV has many disadvantages that affect the quality of signal transmission and cannot meet the needs of the modern user:
- Analog TV does not support HD and Full HD.
- Multi-channel audio transmission is not possible.
- It is not possible to transfer 3D images.
- Dependence on weather conditions.
At one time, analog television did an excellent job. After all, if you remember TVs that were popular 20 years ago, then everything falls into place. These were massive boxes with a small screen size, so 720×480 expansion was quite enough, and then no one thought about a home 3D cinema. But progress does not stand still, and today almost every one of us at home has a modern flat-panel TV with a good diagonal, on which a 720×480 video will look at least strange. Also, many of us like to play music loudly on TV or watch TV in HD quality, which an analog signal cannot provide. Therefore, with the development of progress, new broadcasting standards began to appear, which were later combined into one family – DTV.ATV channels have always been free and can be set up in a few minutes. Today analog broadcasting remains popular in many regions of Russia, despite all its shortcomings. All modern TVs are still equipped with a connector for an ATV successor.
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what is DTV? principle of operation, advantages and disadvantages
What is DTV?
DTV TV is an abbreviation for digital television, which has replaced analog broadcasting. For the first time, “digital” became popular in the early 90s, but it was widely used only in the early 2000s.
Advantages of DTV
Signal transmission is carried out in digital form, thanks to which much more data can be transmitted, and the distance does not affect the quality of the resulting picture in any way. Also, DTV standards have other advantages:
- The ability to transmit video in high definition.
- Resistant to external weather factors.
- The ability to transfer multichannel stereo files.
- Expanded volume of information transfer.
- Possibility of transferring a three-dimensional image.
Disadvantages of DTV
But digital broadcasting is not without its drawbacks. Unlike ATV, where an antenna was enough to receive a signal, the “digit” needs to be decoded, so a decoder is required, which in turn costs money. Modern TVs are often already equipped with a built-in decoder, but their cost is significantly higher than that of conventional devices designed for analog TV.
Difference between Dtv Vs Atv
DTV is often referred to as DVB TV, and in general, it is almost the same thing. DTV is the generally accepted term for digital broadcasting, while DVB is the broadcasting model adopted in Europe, Australia, and Russia. By the method of signal transmission, several different digital broadcasting standards can be distinguished:
Satellite digital broadcasting DVB-S (DVB-S2)
In this case, reception is carried out directly from the satellite through the dish antenna. To decode the signal, you will need a special receiver – decoder. In modern devices, it is already built into the TV, and the user only needs to activate it using the CAM module. The CAM module is a device for decoding digital channels, which is commercially provided by many broadcast operators. This method is great for the most remote regions. Most often in Russia, DVB-S2 is used in the Taiga and in the Primorsky Territory. The advantage of a satellite is also that it often provides the ability to access the Internet and provides access to online functionality.
Digital cable broadcasting DVB-C (DVB-C2)
The company, which provides broadcasting services in the region, leases and places a successor tower through which it receives the digital signal. Further, the signal is transmitted through a fiber-optic cable to the consumer, where it is decrypted either through a decoder built into the TV, or through a separate remote receiver. Federal channels are provided free of charge, for the rest you will have to pay.
Terrestrial TV broadcasting DVB-T (DVB-T2)
One of the most popular and at the same time simple standards for signal reception. The signal itself is transmitted through repeater towers, the user only needs to receive it and decode it. It is noteworthy that even antennas that were previously used to receive an analog signal can cope with the reception of such a signal. Modern TVs are equipped with DVB-T2 encoders; for viewing on older models, you will have to purchase additional equipment – a portable receiver. Its cost starts from 600 rubles, so this method remains one of the most affordable.
DVB-T2 is also the most popular standard as it broadcasts federal channels. The state actively supports the development of television broadcasting, therefore, more than 50% of the country’s territory is equipped with signal transmission towers.
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Dtv Vs Atv Development of technology for new standards
TV manufacturers are also trying to keep up with the times. Modern devices already have built-in decoders, receivers for CAM outputs to digital antennas. In this case, in most cases, it is possible to receive an analog signal. The difficulty for the consumer also lies in the fact that different digital standards are used in different regions. For example, American technology is not geared towards receiving a signal in the DTV format, which can significantly complicate the setup or even make it impossible.
ATV standards in the modern world
Despite the rapid development of digital television broadcasting, analog standards remain equally popular. This is largely due to the complexity of the access to digital in remote regions, as well as the high cost of equipment and the complexity of all settings. But sooner or later, analog broadcasting will completely lose its relevance, giving way to improved digital standards.