[mythtv-users] mythtv-setup issue: KWorld USB ATSC TV Stick UB435-Q V3

[Stephen Worthington]

On Wed, 25 Mar 2015 21:44:04 +0000, you wrote:

>You asked if the device could do SD as well as HD.  I'm in the UK, where 
>SD comes via DVB-T and HD comes via DVB-T2, but I don't think there's a 
>similar split with ATSC;  if not, it should work with whatever 
>transmissions are available in your area.  For a given signal, the 
>choice is made by the provider, not by you.

DVB-T can transmit HD just fine.  That is how it is done here in New
Zealand.  DVB-T2 carries a higher bit rate (allowing more HD channels
in the same bandwidth), which is why it is used in the UK for the HD
channels as you have many more of them.  We can only accommodate one
HD channel per multiplex, along with several SD channels.

I believe ATSC normally transmits SD channels as MPEG2 video, and HD
ones as H.264 (with the H.264 bit being an update added later to the
ATSC standard).  H.264 gives much better quality for the same bit rate
as MPEG2, hence allowing for HD (720p or 1080i).  The H.264 "profile"
used can be "High Profile Level 4.2" to allow transmission of 1080p.