TV Signals Roundup

Without a device that provides a TV signal, you're guaranteed to miss all of your favorite programming, and chances are good that you'll just get white noise. There are many types of TV signals to choose from, but we're here to help you figure out which one is best for you and your equipment.

First, find out what's happening inside the most important component of your home theater set up: your television.

How Television Works

Television has been around long enough to seem entirely ordinary, but the box that brings TV shows into your home is an amazing device. What kinds of signals are being transmitted? How is the picture formed? Where does the color come from? Find out what's going on inside a TV set.

Learn about How Television Works.

How Remote Controls Work

In WWII, remote controls detonated bombs for the first time. Now some of us spend an hour looking for the remote before we remember there are buttons on the TV. Find out the difference between a "universal" and a "learning" remote and check out some of the other high-tech features you can find on remotes today.

Learn How Remote Controls Work.

How Cable TV Works

Millions of people receive their television signal through a cable TV connection. Most of them don't actually know what "cable TV" is, what it does or how it got its name. Find out all about this common television signal.

Learn about How Cable TV Works.

How Digital TV Works

If the analog television signal is getting old, DTV is the answer. Digital television boasts up to 10 times the detail of regular analog TV, and DTV stations are on the air in full force. Find out all about this top-of-the-line format and the future of television.

Learn about How Digital TV Works.

How Satellite TV Works

Satellite TV once required a huge eyesore of a dish positioned on the lawn. These days, you can receive the digital satellite signal with a tiny bowl attached to your roof, and the cost can be even less than for digital cable. Find out how the TV signal gets from the station to the satellite to your home.

Learn about How Satellite TV Works.

How Slingbox Works

Most of us don't even consider the possibility of viewing our cable TV, TiVo or DVD player when we're away from home, but Sling Media's “placeshifting” technology allows you to do just that. Learn about the technology behind Slingbox, how to set it up and what the future holds for this remote viewing device.

Learn about How Slingbox Works.

For more information about home theater components, check out these links: