A TV set-top box (Set Top Box) for receiving digital TV sometimes provides a choice of image format - 1080i or 1080p. The article answers the question “which option to choose - 1080i, 1080p, 720i or 720p, or 576i”.

To ensure that the image does not lose quality when displayed on a TV screen, the “input” resolution and scanning format (interlaced “i” or progressive “p”) and the proportions of the picture must match the “output” resolution and proportions of the TV matrix.

To determine the resolution and scan type, you can use the "Info" button on the TV set-top box; You need to press the "Info" button twice to see extended information about the TV stream.

But you do not need to define parameters for each channel. There is a simple rule:

1. video is transmitted via cable or over the air in interlaced scanning (i). Resolution for DVB-T2 is usually SD (576i). Full HD channels - 1080i.
2. via the Internet or from a PC - video in progressive (p) scan. Video resolution can be any from SD (p) to 8k (p).

Thus, for terrestrial or cable TV (not IP TV), you need to select interlace (i) scanning.

ЧтоRegarding resolution, if a TV broadcast is broadcast in standard definition format 768 x576i (PAL), it is better to use TV not with Full HD resolution 1920x1080, but with regular HD 768x576. Then the image will be output pixel by pixel. On screens with a higher resolution than the source (Full HD, 4K, 8K), the SD image will appear blurry and unclear, despite interpolation.

Naturally, the proportions of the channel and the TV screen must match. Most Russian TV channels have switched from the outdated 4:3 to the 16:9 image format.

About turning old monitor models into TVs

Old monitors are very cheap (from 300 rubles), but have a 4:3 matrix format, which is not suitable for displaying a modern 16:9 TV image from a set-top box. An HDMI to VGA or HDMI to DVI converter is quite expensive - from 1800 to 3000 rubles. You will need active (with built-in amplifier) ​​computer speakers and HDMI-HDMI wires (about 1500 rubles) and VGA-VGA (500 rubles), a monitor power cable (150 rubles). In my opinion, turning an old computer monitor into a TV makes little sense. Moreover, the color rendition of cheap TFT monitors is much worse than that of IPS and PVA TV matrices. An HD TV, in addition, has a diagonal of 32-50 ", while desktop monitors have a diagonal of 17-19". If you lack funds, it is better to look towards HD TV (they cost about 10,000 rubles) on Android.