A peripheral to extend the capabilities of a TV set so that interactive and digital services can be accessed

A box, similar to the familiar cable box, that is capable of receiving, decoding and sending to the associated television the picture and sound of the selected DTV broadcast. The use of an STB would allow the use of conventional televisions to receive DTB programs, but at reduced levels of resolution and with imperfections due to aspect ratio differences, leading to letterboxing or cropping of the sides of the picture.

A device that receives and decodes digital television signals. A set-top box can also include a satellite receiver and/or a hard-disk-based digital video recorder ( DVR).

Set-top boxes or decoders have been around for years, acting as gateways to satellite and cable TV services. A new generation of them is upon us providing gateways to digital television, and Internet services provided through TV sets. It is expected that in due course they will be incorporated within TV sets, or with plug-in alternatives for different services/service providers but working to common standards.

Also called converter boxes, these receivers convert broadcasts (either analog cable, digital cable, or HDTV) for display on a television. HDTV-ready TVs (those without a built-in HDTV tuner) must be connected to a compatible HDTV tuner set-top box in order to receive digital television programs.

An Internet appliance for the home. It is a kind of thin client that contains a Web browser and the TCP/IP protocol, and it connects to the Internet through a phone line ("WebTV") or cable TV. Several kinds of new set-top boxes are being developed for Internet TV and other interactive services.

A hardware device containing a CPU that is used in conjunction with television sets. It enables computational processing, e.g., Internet access, using a TV as a monitor.

A device used to convert HDTV signals into video signals usable by the display. Often standalone, but sometimes built into sets.

a "box" that sits on top of your television

a consumer device that is used to decode and display digital video and audio signals from a digital cable or satellite service provider

a device that converts and displays data from analogue cable,

a device that enables viewers of ordinary cathode-ray tube TVs access to digital content

a device that provides services such as High Definition Television (HDTV), content decryption, personal video recorder, electronic programming guide, VoIP, Web browsing and interactive television features

a device which enables a viewer to become interactive with the television set

an Internet access device you can use with a television set rather than with a computer

A receiver often provided by a cable or satellite company to receive their signal. Often associated with digital, HDTV, or DVR boxes. You can purchase them independently through retail and online outlets.

Can describe a multitude of functions. Set-top boxes can be used as decoders for cable television, they can process digital TV into a normal TV, they can allow TVs to connect to the internet, and much, much more.

Now the cable adapter. In the future a combination cable modem and TV adapter that will allow interactive television services.

Device that converts and displays data from analog cable, digital cable, or digital broadcast television to a standard frequency (channel number) for display on a standard analog television set, or a box that receives off-air DTV signal for display on a DTV monitor.

A device, including a tuner, for receiving terrestrial, cable or satellite signals and feeding them to the television display. Set-top boxes may include other features, like games, storage, web access, etc. See: Tuner, Terrestrial.

A unit similar to today's cable boxes, which is capable of receiving and decoding DTV broadcasts. A DTV 'Certified' STB can receive all 18 ATSC DTV formats and provide a displayable picture.

A device that receives and converts signals for display on a television screen or monitor (can be digital or analog). Many digital STBs have cable and off-air tuners.

A set-top box is a device that enables a television set to become a user interface to the Internet and also enables a television set to receive and decode digital television (digital television) broadcasts.

VCR-sized electric converter box that plugs in to a TV set to convert analog and digital signals for viewing.

or set-top converter box—This unit accompanies the viewer’s TV, receives the digital TV signal, and then sends that signal to the television. For analog TVs, the signal will first be downconverted; for digital-ready TVs, the digital signal will be passed directly to the television.

A box that hooks into a user's television which primarily decodes cable or satellite transmissions into viewable programs. Some set-top boxes enable access to special services, such as pay per view, Web access and DirecPC.

This is a box which controls the programmes the customer can watch. It unscrambles the incoming signals transmitted via the local loop. It is the customer's access point to the television channels and other services provided with the television service eg TV On Demand, walled garden and TV email.

The STB is used to receive and decode the DTV signal and deliver it to a monitor. The STB may also be capable of capturing and decoding enhanced television transmissions. Other types of STBs are used to convert and decode data for analog cable, digital cable and small dish satellite. Some, but not all of these STBs are also capable of decoding DTV.

An electronic device which sits on top of a television to allow cable and/or internet access and can be supported either by phone lines or direct satellite access.

A part of the Network Access which performs application-specific functions such as decoding digital TV.

See Receiver.

Applies to several types of devices used to provide the subscriber with the capability to receive any of the channels carried by the cable system. All will convert an input channel's frequency to a selectable output frequency, usually channel 3 or 4, that any new or old television set can receive. The availability of two output channels is to provide one that is not available off-the-air thus avoiding possible "co-channel" interference. Some set-top boxes also provide a baseband (video and audio) output for direct connection to like inputs on a TV or VCR. The set-top may be addressable, allowing remote upgrade or downgrade of service and be may be capable of receiving digital channels which it converts to analog to allow viewing on a TV. See also Box, Converter, and Descrambler.

VCR-sized electrical converter box that will sit atop television sets and convert analog and digital signals to be seen on analog and digital televisions. Very similar to set-top boxes currently used by customers of Comcast, DirecTV and other satellite and cable providers. Other set top boxes also received broadcast signals directly off-air without a subscription fee using an outdoor TV antenna. May contain a hard disk to increase functionality.

Set-top box is responsible for receiving, converting and sending the picture and sound of the broadcast to the associated television. If your HDTV-ready TV has no built-in HDTV tuner you must connect it to a compatible HDTV STB first. Until then it will not receive and display digital television programs.

STB for short, these are the receivers that convert broadcasts from your satellite dish or aerial to be displayed on a television.

A box which decodes or otherwise translates the signals coming to it so they can be used by the customer's TV set. The set top box may provide functionality of translating HD signals to analog, may allow interactivity, may allow tuning of other channels, may allow reception of VOD, reception of pay-per-view channels, may contain a hard-disc to provide storage of data or time-shifting of programs (e.g. PVRs). The STB may contain a modem for connection via telephone line for ordering services or other upstream communication.

The device that sits on top of a TV set and links viewers to cable systems (and, in the future, to the new communications network).

These receivers (named because they typically sit on top of a television set) convert and display broadcasts from one frequency or type--analog cable, digital cable, or digital television) to a standard frequency (typically channel 3 or 4) for display on a standard analog television set.

A locally powered piece of cable equipment that resides in the subscriber's home and provides tuning, descrambling, and pay-per-view capabilities.

Any of several different electronic devices that may be used in a customer's home to enable services to be on that customer's TV. If the "set top" device is used only for extending the channels available, it is called a converter. If it restores scrambled or otherwise protected signals, it is a descrambler.

See STB.

The term set-top box (STB) describes a device that connects to a television and some external source of signal, and turns the signal into content then displayed on the screen. The signal source might be an ethernet cable (see triple play), a satellite dish, a coaxial cable (see cable television), a telephone line (including DSL connections), Broadband over Power Line, or even an ordinary VHF or UHF antenna. Content, in this context, could mean any or all of video, audio, Internet webpages, interactive games, or other possibilities.