Digital TV Resources

KQED's Transmitter/Tower Location

Mt. Sutro Tower specs:
Latitude: 37.45.20 N (Decimal: 37.75556)
Longitude: 122.27.05 W (Decimal: -122.45139)
Site elevation at base: 834 feet AMSL
Height of DT-9 antenna on tower: apx 760 feet
DT-9 Effective Radiated Power (ERP): 777 Kw

Online Resources

Digital TV: A Cringely Crash Course
Good starting site for beginners. Robert X. Cringely offers a brief history of TV; basic illustrations of concepts like 4:3 vs. 16:9 aspect ratios, old vs. new pixels, and digital vs. analog TV; compressed bandwidth, Dolby Digital/AC-3 sound, multicasting vs. high-definition, and more. He wraps up with a look at the many faces of HDTV in the future.

AV Science Forum
Highly recommended by many of KQED's HDTV viewers as a friendly and informative place to both learn about and discuss "features, tricks, and problems with the high-tech toy of our interest in a relaxed, safe environment," including HDTV.

Yahoo's HDTV in SFBAY Group
A place to ask questions about the latest 8VSB HDTV equipment and stations.

Other Frequently Asked Questions
Cover many of the questions asked of KQED about our conversion process.

PBS Digital Television
Discover how PBS is incorporating digital television technologies into everything from your computer to your child's favorite doll.

HDTV Magazine
Their online site.

HDTV Headline News
Daily news source.

Additional Online Resources

Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC)
An international organization that is establishing voluntary technical standards for advanced television systems, including digital HDTV, SDTV, data broadcasting, multichannel surround-sound audio, and Satellite direct-to-home broadcasting. Visitors can explore the history of the ATSC Digital Television Standards adopted by the FCC in December of 1996 for the nation's next generation of broadcast television.

CNET's HDTV Explained
Good general information source.

Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)
A trade association of US consumer electronics manufacturers. CEA shapes legislation, develops engineering standards for new technologies and sponsors trade shows for manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and the press.

C-SPAN's DTV/Cable Must Carry section
A discussion on C-SPAN about Digital Television and "must carry" rules.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Independent US government agency, directly responsible to Congress, and charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. The FCC's jurisdiction covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Possessions.

FCC's Fact Sheet and FAQs about DTV
Questions and answers compiled by FCC staff to help inform consumers, broadcasters, and local communities and officials, about digital television and DTV implementation.

National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)
The NAB represents the radio and television industries before Congress, the FCC, federal agencies, the courts, and internationally. At the NAB site, learn about numerous issues facing the broadcast industry - including the implementation of digital TV.

If you would like to receive twice-monthly email updates about upcoming programs, along with occasional alerts regarding KQED's continuing conversion, visit our Newsletters Subscriptions page, and sign up for HDTV Alerts.

Also on KQED.org this week ...