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Glossary of Terms
A list of definitions for some of the words found in this guide
75 OHM RF CABLE
The wire that comes from an off-air antenna or
cable service provider. The end looks like a
hex-shaped nut with a wire sticking through
the middle. It screws onto the Antenna/Cable
threaded jack on the back of the TV/STB.
300 TO 75 OHM ADAPTER
A small device that connects a two-wire 300
ohm antenna to a 75 ohm RF jack.
They are usually about an inch long with two
screws on one end and a round opening with a
wire sticking out on the other end.
ANALOG TELEVISION
Standard television broadcasting format in 4:3
picture aspect ratio.
A/V CABLES
Audio/Video cables. Three cables bunched
together—right audio (red), left audio (white),
and video (yellow). A/V cables are used for
stereo playback of videocassettes and for
higher quality picture and sound from other
A/V devices.
A/V DEVICE
Any device that produces video or sound (VCR,
DVD, cable box, or television).
AMPLIFIER
An electronic device that amplifies sound from
a television, CD player, VCR, DVD, or other
Audio/Video device.
ANTENNA
The physical receiver of television signals sent
over the air. A large metal piece of equipment
does not always have to be visible to be using
an antenna.
CABLE
Cable service box. Refers to the descrambler
box cable subscribers use to receive cable
programming signals.
CATV
Programming provided by a cable service.
DIGITAL TELEVISION
High-resolution, cinema-quality television
signals transmitted digitally.
DVI
Digital Video Interface
Accommodates analog and digital interfaces
with a single connector.
COMPOSITE VIDEO
Typical video jack, uses one wire for
transporting three-color video signals.
COMPONENT VIDEO
Uses three wires for transporting three-color
video signals. The end result is usually better
video quality.
DELETED
Lets you remove channels from the list that the
end user can scroll through using CH (Channel)
Up/Down.
HDMI
High-definition multimedia interface.
HDTV
High-definition television. Refers to television
signals that have higher resolution than
ordinary analog TV signals.
HDSTB
High-definition set top box. Refers to a tuner
device that receives high-definition television
signals which have higher resolution than
ordinary analog TV signals.
INPUT
Refers to the input jack that receives a signal
from a TV, VCR, DVD Player or other
Audio/Video device.
JACK
An input or output connector on the back of a
TV, VCR, DVD Player or other Audio/Video
device.
MONO SOUND
Mono (monaural) sound is one channel of
sound. On more than one speaker, all the
speakers play the same audio.
OUTPUT
Refers to the output jack that sends a signal
out of a VCR, DVD, or other A/V device.
PHYSICAL CHANNEL NUMBER
Actual digital major, dashed minor channel
number that a station is broadcasting on.
RGB (Red, Green, Blue)
Connection input or output port available for
producing a video image using three separate
colors: Red, Green, and Blue.
2ND AUDIO PROGRAMMING/SAP
Second Audio Programming (SAP) is another,
separate audio channel available with some
programming. Choosing SAP often refers to
listening to audio in another language, such as
Spanish or French.
SIGNAL
Picture and sound traveling through a cable, or
over the air, to the TV.
STEREO SOUND
Stereo (Stereophonic) sound refers to audio
that’s divided into right and left sides.
TUNER
Device that picks up the broadcast signal and
turns it into picture and sound.
VIRTUAL CHANNEL NUMBER
The arbitrarily assigned digital dashed minor
channel number that a station is broadcasting
on.
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