Why 2 tuners on TV?

Digital television is replacing analogue broadcasts everywhere. The consumer needs to make a choice about how to switch to a new format more easily and at the lowest cost. Let's try to understand this issue.

What is a digital tuner on a TV?

A tuner is also called a receiver or decoder - it is a device designed to receive and process a digital signal. The decoder can be built-in or external (in the form of a set-top box for a TV).

Digital devices differ in the type of broadcast they receive; each has a corresponding designation:

• satellite TV, DVB-S (S2);
• cable DVB-C (C2);
• terrestrial DVB-T (T2).

In the latest television models, tuners can handle multiple digital TV formats.

Designation 2 indicates an improved version of the standard. New modifications have completely replaced their predecessors.

Watching cable television, in addition to having a receiver, will require an additional module (CAM) and an access card. To watch satellite broadcasts, you need a satellite dish.

REFERENCE! The DVB-T2 system, starting in the summer of 2019, will replace analog TV throughout the country. Digital transmitters are installed in most populated areas. They are able to broadcast a package of channels (20 titles, free viewing), with plans to add 10 more programs in the future.

To find out what signal your television model receives, look at the technical specifications or, if the instructions are lost, pay attention to the inscription next to the decoder. The abbreviation “digital input” means digital broadcast reception.

To check, use the TV channel settings, this is done in two ways:

• automatic search, it can be activated in the TV menu;
• manual search, using frequencies 546 and 498 (each contains 10 programs).

If the user's TV only shows analogue channels, this will not be a problem. All you need to do is purchase an external set-top box; any electronics store offers a wide selection of them. The price of such a device is much lower than the cost of a new television panel, and at the same time it has various additional capabilities (recording programs, scheduling, support for subtitles, etc.).

REFERENCE! Replacing an external antenna to view digital numbers is usually not necessary; it is subject to the only condition: the ability to receive the decimeter range (UHF).

Why do TVs have two tuners?

Modern television devices have rich functionality, and one of the interesting viewing tools is “picture in picture” (denoted PiP). This option is supported by expensive TVs that have two digital tuners. It becomes possible to watch two TV channels at the same time, while the sound comes from only one program, which is selected as the main one.

REFERENCE! This function can work if there is only one receiver, but in this case the second picture displays the signal from an external device connected to the TV (for example, a DVD player).

There are types of transfer of two or more images:

• the main picture is broadcast in a 4:3 ratio, and the free space is occupied by additional broadcasting (PoP);
• the screen is divided into two equal zones, each broadcasting a channel (PaP);
• on widescreen TVs the function has been expanded to 16 windows or more (Multi PiP).

This technology could be useful for football fans, for example, by allowing them to watch two different matches simultaneously.

We hope that our article answered your questions about the digital tuner and its features.