Jargon Buster

While we'll try to list all the common acronyms abbreviations and technical terms we use below, in the event that you don't understand something on our website, then please feel free to call us on 0800 121 8252 where there will always be someone on hand to answer your questions and ensure that you know what we're talking about.

Designed to receive electromagnetic waves (radio waves), this is the pointed piece of metal that sits on top of your TV, on the roof or in your loft.

If you are struggling to receive a TV signal, often it can be down to a poor aerial. In some rural areas, sometimes an amplifier is recommended – it does exactly what you think by amplifying the whole signal. However, while many think it's the easiest way to fix the problem in many cases an amplifier or a signal booster won't work.

Analogue has been the norm for TV and Radio broadcasting since it first originated. Using a continuous signal of varying intensities, your TV or Radio converts that carrier signal into image or sound.

Aspect Ratio is essentially the proportions of your TV screen. Traditionally TV screens were rather square, using what's known as a 4:3 aspect ratio, however nowadays widescreen TV has started to use the much more natural 16:9 aspect ratio which is essentially more of an envelope shape, which is more natural for the eyes and more realistic.

Certified Aerial Installers – AerialTec are CAIPlus members which means we're certified, qualified and experienced when it comes to installing any type of aerial. Our team are CRB checked and all carry public liability insurance giving you the peace of mind you need to let us perform fantastic work on your behalf.

Category 5 is the standard type of cabling used for Ethernet networking. It's also used in patch panels and office cabling as it can carry both voice and data with ease.

Coaxial Cable is the cable that normally runs between your aerial and TV. This cable should be relatively thick and inside there are multiple layers. Coax has been used since the early 1900s and RG-6 is the most common type used for TV. On older setups, unexpected signal loss can be attributed to coaxial cable which has been exposed to the elements for too long.

Composite video is essentially the part of the video signal without 'audio'. It's combined of three main signals known as YUV which represent different colour spaces namely RGB (Red Green and Blue). Most Televisions have composite video ports for backwards compatibility, but the technology has largely been replaced by SCART.

Digital Audio Broadcasting is the next evolution of FM radio and instead of using an analogue signal to broadcast radio, it digitises the signal reducing white noise and creating a cleaner, crisper experience. DAB can also be broadcasted with radio text telling you information about songs and radio stations.

If you buy a new LCD TV and there's a dot, or a group of small dots that are always the same color, normally red, green, blue or white, and it won't change color no matter what you do, chances are it's a dead pixel. While for the most part it's only a cosmetic glitch, if your TV has many of them it's usually grounds to request a replacement under warranty.

Digital Terrestrial TV is the evolution of Analogue TV. Still using the radio airwaves to broadcast the signal, Digital Terrestrial TV digitises it allowing hundreds of channels instead of just a handful.

Dolby pro logic, Dolby AC-3 and Dolby Digital are examples of high quality sound encodings that allow you to enjoy fully features surround sound at home. Dolby True HD is their latest incarnation and it can support up to seven 96 kHz sound channels ensuring an unforgettable audio experience.

Digital Signal Processing.

Digital Theatre System is a sound system that many home cinemas support and DTS is essentially a rival to the popular Dolby sound systems.

A Digital Video Recorder is essentially the evolution of your VCR. Instead of recording to video tapes, a DVR can record direct to an internal hard disk which can often store hundreds of hours of programmes. Many DVR recorders also have DVD drivers allowing you to record direct to CD and or DVD.

Electronic Programme Guide – Freeview boxes, Freesat and Sky all have electronic programme guides to help you see what's on. Usually they have around a week's worth of data.

Frequency Modulation. FM Radio is the most popular example.

Freesat was an alliance between the BBC and ITV forged to ensure that the whole of the country will be able to receive Digital TV. Currently, Freesat offers more channels than Freeview and while you need a satellite and a set top box to receive it, Freesat does not require a monthly subscription.

Freeview was the name given to Digital TV in the early ages. Today most people have a digital Freeview box and in some areas it's essential in order to watch channels such as the BBC and ITV. Another alternative is Freesat. In some areas coverage can be scarce.

HD Ready is a badge that appears on the front of many TV'S and essentially it means that the TV can display high definition or Hi-Def content.

An HDMI cable is necessary if you want to connect HD equipment to your HD television. This HDMI cable looks quite similar to a USB cable, except it's a dedicated interface for transmitting audio / visual signals. Often if you're experiencing poor HD performance, a cheap HDMI cable can be the cause.

Liquid Crystal Display. Today, LCD televisions are becoming the norm as they're affordable, economical and with High definition content, they really do look fantastic. The great thing about a LCD television is that because they're essentially just a flat panel, they can be wall mounted and also a great deal larger than traditional CRT televisions.

The LNB is the component that sits on the arm of your satellite dish.

A mini dish is a smaller satellite dish made popular by Sky.

Often described as white snow, this can be either a sound or a visual display of black and white pixels on the TV. With digital TV white snow is a thing of the past.

Satellite is a popular choice for many because Sky offers the best selection of channels to watch in the UK and for those who live in rural area, it can often be the only choice. With numerous packages available as well as Freesat, Satellite is becoming more and more popular.

A SCART lead is a 21-pin oblong connector that's became common place in the industry. It's been widely regarded as the precursor to HDMI, and today, most televisions have at least one, if not two SCART ports. You can use SCART to connect set top boxes, DVD players, Hi-Fi systems and even more.

Sky+ was the first mainstream PVR service launched in the UK and it allowed Sky subscribers to upgrade their set top box to a box with a built-in hard disk drive. The revolutionary thing about Sky was that it allowed people to pause TV shows and come back later. Today subscribers can schedule recordings remotely, and Sky+ has been a massive hit in the UK.

Sky+ HD was the first major HD service launched in the United Kingdom and it offers the widest range of HD channels currently available. With Freesat and Freeview both lagging behind considerably, a Sky+HD subscription is practically essential if you're an HD aficionado.

This is often used to describe interference. Static can be either the visual noise you see on your screen or the audio noise you hear.

As the Internet gets more and more popular, streaming live from the Net is now a reality. With many streaming boxes now available, it's possible to watch YouTube and other content right on your TV.

A Wide Band aerial is designed to pick up more frequencies than a traditional UHF aerial and it can increase reception for those in poor signal areas. It's one of the best ways to boost signal strength.