Chapter List

2.1 Introduction

One of the most successful technologies of our time is based upon the standard created by the National Television Systems Committee (NTSC). Like the U.S. Constitution, it seems to have anticipated much of its future and adaptively followed the evolution of its world. Starting with vacuum tubes and progressing to integrated circuits, analog television has survived and prospered. Though much of the current excitement centers on digital television, it is reasonable to assume that analog television will be with us for many more years. Analog television receivers will be found in the homes of the less well to do for many years while they wait for the prices of digital receivers to come down to affordable levels. Even for the well off, the digital receiver will serve the principal viewing room while analog receivers will be found throughout the rest of the residence. A major advantage of cable technology is sufficient bandwidth to serve both technologies well. Without cable s bandwidth, the transition from analog to digital would be either harsh and burdensome or simply impossible.

2.2 Baseband Monochrome Video and Monaural Audio

The technology of analog television is the foundation of the cable industry. An understanding of analog television is key to fully appreciating the rest of the subject matter of this book. Understanding the television signal is a basic requirement for designing systems to deliver it to subscribers.