Is Digital Transmission really better than Cable Transmission?

I'm not really sure what you will get, or even what Digital Transmission is in practice. If we are talking about satellite TV, then it shouldn't be effected much by rain or cloud - if the satellite is in the correct position! Unfortunately, many are low down on the horizon and the signals are weak. Otherwise it could be land based as it is here in Greece. Line of sight stuff, lots of mountains, so many problems! We have (well, not me!) the MPEG4 version, which requires a new TV or a set top box. Obviously just a ploy to make you spend more money! And you have to pay for it - to receive free stations! I would rather watch TV over the Internet since I watch very little TV anyway.

In the US the change to digital TV affected broadcast channels (available with antennas) and not cable TV. Digital broadcasts required the broadcast stations to use new transmitters. Also older TVs would need conversion boxes to allow the TVs to receive the signals with an antenna. Older TVs hooked up to cable or satellite boxes saw no difference. One of the big advantages of digital broadcasts, is that it can allow broadcast (over the air) stations to send as many as 10 different TV signals. In some areas of the US where there are not many TV stations, the broadcasters can now transmit shows from more than one TV network. Another advantage of digital broadcasts is that there is much less chance of TV signals cross over between adjacent numbered channels. That means there are now fewer TV broadcast frequencies in use. Broadcast channels 2-6 and 70 to 81 have been 'retired' from TV use and can now be used for other purposes. To avoid confusion, the TV stations have retained their old channel numbers as 'virtual channels' although they may actually be broadcasting on a different digital frequency. The problem you speak of with weather affecting TV reception would only affect satellite TV.

We have recently had all of our cable turned into digital signals and we have had nothing but problem with it. Sometimes they will be sound but the picture will quit moving. Sometimes there is such horrible digital breakdown (the screen turns into nothing but little squares) that you can not even tell what is going on on the screen. Sometimes the sound goes out over and over and over, and we have to just stop trying to watch wahtever we were trying to watch at the time. Digital cable is HORRIBLE.

Hi Ram, I have watched the announcement on the television channels.It says that digital cable will be amended in all the metro cities from July onwards.I am not sure whether it is available to other cities.One thing,I don't understand.How does television transmission stops when there is rain.I think there will be no problem in cable transmission if there is cloud cover or light rain.Even,yesterday there was heavy rains but I was watching Nanban movie on Vijay TV.I am very sad that if digital transmission is implemented by the Indian government then it will be a failure.I consider cable transmission is better than digital.

I have a friend in Japan who keeps in touch with me. Japan had all of their broadcasts converted to digital. I don't know if its their plasma TVs, but my friend's saying that the image is crystal clear and sharp. Mind you, I think digital is going to be better than cable television, because I heard that digital can be received better than cable/analog.

The satellites that transmit TV cannels are too far away to give the signal.

The picture and sound is terrible in other countries, other countries heve quality TV.