| TV FAQ What types of TV’s are available? CRT: Available in direct-view, rear projection, and front projection models, Inexpensive, except for front projectors, When calibrated, delivers the high quality picture, Direct view and rear projection models are bulky and heavy, Direct view screens max out at 38 inches DLP: Used in both rear-projection cabinets with slim cabinets and front projection, Produces better blacks than LCD or Plasma, Bright picture with wide viewing angle, Unlike CRT or Plasma models, no danger of screen burn-in LCD: Available in flat-panel, rear projection and front projection models, Image brighter than DLP, Can’t produce true blacks, Wide viewing angle on flat-panel sets, No danger of screen burn-in, Flat panel displays can be wall mounted, LCD screens currently max out at 46 inches Plasma: Large screens – up to 65 inches, Flat panel displays can be wall mounted, Bright picture viewable from almost any angle, Most can’t produce true blacks What is a plasma television verses a plasma monitor? Most plasma televisions are technically not a television, they’re considered a monitor because they do not have a built in tuner. A tuner is a device that allows the user to select different television channels and turns the monitor into a plasma television. There are a number of different devices that can be connected to a plasma monitor that can be used as a turner, such as a VCR, cable box, or satellite decoder box. A plasma television has a number of advantages over other TV sets. A plasma television is extremely thin (about 3.5 inches) and will fit into spaces that other TVs would be to deep. A plasma television is also lighter. Combining the size and weight a plasma television can be located in almost any location. The future of TV/video is in the wide screen digital format. This is the proper aspect ratio for HDTV and DVD-Video movies. You can watch movies the way they were to be viewed, in wide screen, as they are in the theater. Just as there are a number of different devices that can be used as a turner a plasma television will accept a number of different signals such as HDTV, DTV, DVD-Video, digital satellite and most computer resolutions. By purchasing a new plasma television monitor you are ready for the future. What is the estimated life span of a DLP Television? A DLP-based HDTV set should last indefinitely because the digital micromirror device behind it is very reliable. There is no maintenance or alignment required for DLP based sets as they age. The only consumer replaceable component is the DLP light source (lamp) that will last for 8,000 hours and costs around $250 to replace. The micro-mirrors used in DLP are not subject to degradation due to heat, humidity, vibration or "burn-in". What is estimated life span of a Plasma TV? The critical factor in determining the useful life of a plasma TV is determining the life span of the plasma screen. Flat panel display manufacturers claim a plasma TV life expectancy of anything between 20,000 and 50,000 hours for their sets. The 20,000 hours plasma tv life is generally for models using older technologies and manufacturing techniques where as the 50,000 hours plasma tv life expectancy will be for the latest models from the manufacturers at the forefront of plasma development. The hours quoted by the manufacturers for plasma tv life expectancy don't actually mean that your plasma display will be totally dead at that stage, rather that the brightness of the screen will have dropped to 50% of its original level. Taking even the lowest figure of 20,000 hours for plasma TV life expectancy and working with an average of 6 hours use a day gives a plasma screen life of over 9 years. For the 50,000-hour models, it would be a whopping 22 years. Easily comparable with the life span of current CRT televisions. What is estimated life span of a LCD TV? Life span, the number of viewing hours a television provides before dimming to half brightness, is one of the biggest advantages LCD has over plasma. Though the numbers vary among the different brands, plasma TVs offer 30,000 to 60,000 hours to half-life, while LCD TVs last for up to 60,000 and possibly longer if bulb replacement is an option. What is the difference between Plasma and LCD TVs? LCDs are liquid crystals. Plasma TVs are gas. Plasma TV's have a larger viewing angle. The sizes of LCDs are limited. What input provides the best picture? Component (RCA), S-Video, composite and then DVi, in that order. Is a Plasma, LCD or DLP TV HDTV? Any TV with a resolution of at least 1024x720 is considered HD. Do I need a tuner with a Plasma TV? You may need a tuner if you are going to be watching television with your Plasma TV. Not all Plasma TVs include a tuner. VCRs or cable/satellite boxes work well as tuners. Do I need an HD tuner? To display HD on any TV you will need a HD tuner/receiver. There are several types to choose from, off-air, cable and DSS. Does the Plasma TV have speakers? Some of the Plasma TV's come with speakers, while other do not. Please check the individual Plasma TV specs to see if the Plasma TV you are interested in has speakers or not. What is the best TV? There is not a best TV. Which TV will be best for you depends on your situation and application. Is my house “cable” ready? Yes, when the cable company hooks up cable at the side of your house, it will be distributed to every room that is connected in the closet. The number of rooms that are connected in the closet depends on the wiring package chosen. What is the white coax at the side of the house used for? C&R Systems runs a second coax from the side of the house to the closet as a spare. This coax could be used as a cable modem feed. Computers and video games? Most plasma, DLP and LCD TVs can double as computer monitors; many even offer a DVI port for optimal video quality. They'll also hook up to a game console without any problems. So which technology is better for these purposes? From a performance standpoint, it's hard to pick a winner. How to Troubleshoot a TV Thanks to solid-state circuitry, very little goes wrong with modern televisions. However, here is a troubleshooting guide that offers steps to determine where problems are coming from. Steps: 2. See if the television manufacturer has a Web site with troubleshooting tips or FAQs. 3. Check all the connections - AC plug into the wall, cable television connection, input and output cables to other machines such as VCRs. Unplug or disconnect them, then plug them in again. 4. Plug a lamp into the electrical outlet the TV is normally plugged in to. If it doesn’t work, check the house circuit breaker. 5. Check the remote control and replace its batteries if necessary. 6. Adjust the television controls, following advice in the manual. Incorrectly set controls can cause problems like sound but no picture and picture but no sound. 7. Test the setup of the cable television or VCR hookups by referring to their manuals. If you can identify which item is causing the problem, you can call the company's customer service number and talk with a technician. 8. Clean the parts of the television that are visible, but don't dig into openings. Make sure the television is unplugged from the outlet when you clean it. 9. Double-check the antenna if you have one. Replacing it or pointing it in a different direction may help solve the problem. 10. Take the television for professional service, if necessary. It's better than nullifying the warrantee or ruining the machine by attempting repairs yourself. Tips: |
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