Analogue                  Historical mode of transmission, uses standard wave to transmit television services

Aerial                       Also known as Antenna, used for reception of radio and television broadcasting signals.

Communal System   Where a signal is distributed through a building (e.g. a block of flats) using a wiring system, sharing the same signal source.

DAB                          Digital Audio Broadcasting system offering several benefits over analogue FM radio, such as more stations and increased resistance to noise and fading.

Decoder                   The tuner in a digital set.

D-CAB                       Digital Cable.

D-SAT                       Digital Satellite.

DSL                           Digital Subscriber Line: a method of delivering TV or broadband, or Video on Demand through telephone wires.

DVD                          Digital Versatile Disk - digital storage device commonly used for film/video.

Encryption               Method of encoding data/broadcasts so that they can only be viewed with the correct Conditional Access codes.

EPG                          Electronic Programme Guide - 'Now and next' information that can be called up on digital television.

FM                            Frequency range used for radio stereo broadcast.

Freeview                  Free digital terrestrial television service broadcasting television channels, radio stations and interactive services from BBC, Channel 4, Sky and other broadcasters with no subscription channels.

Freesat                     Digital satellite television service created by the BBC and ITV offering a selection of channels with two high-definition channels, available without subscription.

HDTV                        High Definition Television is a new technology that will enable viewers to get higher definition television pictures. HDTV has four times as many pixels (dots on the screen) as standard TV broadcasts, meaning a clearer picture and stunning detail on large-screen TVs. An HD-ready TV is not necessarily a digital TV.

IRS                            Integrated Receiver System - a shared reception system, common to flats and hotels, that enables delivery of television and radio services around the same distribution system, from a single wall plug.

LCD                          Liquid Crystal Display, a flat screen display commonly used in modern High Definition TV sets.

Plasma                     Flat screen TV set, offering improved colours and tonal range over LCD.

PVR                          Personal Video Recorder - a video recorder that records programmes on to hard drive. Allows much greater flexibility in recording and playback.

RF Loop                   Connection which allows the aerial signal to connect to one device, and then be connected further by another connector - similar to an 'aerial out' socket.

RF Modulator           The 'aerial out' connector on your TV is an RF modulator. This puts an output from a TV tuner on to the connection, as opposed to an RF loop which simply allows the signal from the aerial to carry through.

Satellite dish           Comes in varying sizes and designs, used to receive satellite television.

SCART                      A type of connection and cabling used to carry video signals, usually found on the back of TVs and videos.

STB                          Set Top Box, occasionally referred to as an adaptor.

Top-Up TV               Pay as you view digital TV channels.

VOD                         Video on Demand.