Great information for those who want to learn more about Plasma TV's and how they work.

My good friend Robert Alexander, of "Rob's TV Repair" in Nampa ID (and beyond), was kind enough to share this information with me. He's such a helpful and knowledgeable guy!

So in an effort to be like him, I thought I'd pass this info along to you. 

If you want to learn more about how plasma tv's operate... 

If you need help repairing: 

Your own plasma tv...

Your friend's plasma tv...

A family member's plasma tv...

Or your customer's plasma tv...

PLEASE READ THIS VERY INTUITIVE GUIDE

ALL ABOUT THE PLASMA TV.

http://www.eletronicosforum.com/cursos/tv/plasma/LG_Fallas_TV_PLASMA_training.pdf

Best 40 inch LCD TV

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Reviews of the Best 40 inch LCD TV Sets

If you love your television and your looking for the a top of the range high definition television with a beautiful wide 40 inch screen to give you the very best possible viewing experience for your favorite tv shows, movies and games (and maybe also something that you can show off and impress your friends with!) then take a look at these reviews of what I think are the best 40 inch LCD TV sets available to buy today. As I wanted to focus on the best products for this page most of them are high-end top of the range sets, but in making the selection of which ones to include I did also take into account the price and how good a value it represented, and I have included one cheaper set which I think is the best value product around.

If you want to know how much you should expect to pay for each set if you go into a high street store to buy it take a look at the amazon link which includes the 'list price' (recommended retail price that most high street stores sell at or around) as well as their own price.

Samsung UN40B7000 40-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LED HDTV Price: Too low to display List Price: $2,199.00

Samsung 7000 Series 40 inch LCD High Definition TV

It's almost easier to list the features that Samsung's 7000 series of 40 inch LCD TV sets don't have rather than the ones that they do, as these babies really do have it all, but here are some of the key features that you will probably want to know about:

• Maximum possible 1080p resolution high definition picture picture quality.
• Built in Blue Ray Player
• As an LED television it has great energy efficiency, useing 40% less electricity than the average set.
• Extensive internet TV features with built in services available from sites like Yahoo!, Flickr and YouTube through a braodband connection.
• At 1.2 inch depth this is pretty much as slim as they come.
• 120HZ processor to make sure there is no lag or blur on fast sequences in HD, or when playing demanding video games, speaking of which...
• A dedicated game mode optimizes the settings especialy for gaming, so you get the best picture and sound quality possible on all games.
• Side Mounted USB port for easy access so theres minimum fuss connecting to other devices

You do also get great quality surround sound with this TV, making it in my opinion the best 'allrounder' that you can buy offering top of the range quality for TV, movies, games, music and internet connectivity.

Haier HL40BG 40-Inch LCD HDTV Price: $700.00 List Price: $1,119.99

Haiber 40 inch LCD TV

If your looking for top of the range quality without the hefty price tag usually associated with it then I don't think you can beat amazons prices for the Haiber HL40BG. It is high definition, although not the best at a resolution of 1366x762, and includes the TFT active matrix display technology, and you get a decent set of speakers with it.

Sony BRAVIA Z Series KDL-40Z5100 40-Inch 1080p 240Hz LCD HDTV Price: $1,381.29 List Price: $1,799.99

Sony Bravia Z Series 40 inch LCD TV

Although the Samsung set stands out as the best allrounder, the Sony Bravia Z Series have some amazing features which really set it apart from any other competition in a few areas. The Bravia is a top multimedia television and offers a unique ability to customize the functions of your set. Here are some of the most prominent features.

• Obviously this set does have the full 1080p resolution for the best possible high definition viewing.
• The Motionflow 240Hz processor is, as far as I am aware, the fastest and most capable processor you will get in a television, making it great for fast paced and demanding games.
• Bravia Link modules mean that you can buy plug in add-ons to expand the capabilities of your TV even further.
• A huge range of internet TV capabilities and options from access to a library of free on-demand television shows and internet video to RSS feed of the latest news, sports results etc. to the interactive program guide.
• Bravia widgets let you set your own icons for easy navigation through different media and any devices and gadget you plug in.

Other Best LCD TV Sets

• Best 32 inch LCD TV
  A 32 inch LCD TV offers a great combination of overall quality, affordability, conveniant size to fit nicely into the space you have for it, and reliability. If you are looking to buy a 32 inch LCD TV then...
• Best 37 inch LCD TV
  Reviews of the best 40 inch LCD TV sets, with links for you to buy them at a bargain price. Make sure your getting the best possible 40 inch LCD TV for your money by reading this page before you buy!
• The Best LCD Gaming TV
  List of the best LCD Gaming TVs with short review of each on and links to full specs. Of course you can use any TV set to hook up to your games console for your gaming, and many people don't even realize that you can buy sets which are specifically d

Plasma Screen Burn-In Explained

Screen burn-in is a common problem with phosphor based displays such as Plasma TVs and CRT direct and rear view projections. Screen burn-in, also known as ghosting or image burn in, occurs when an image has been placed on a screen for too long, resulting in the image to be “burned” into the pixels permanently. Pixels that are “burned” in retain the color of the burned image and cannot revert to their normal state.

Burn-In Screen burn-in was a problem first time Plasma TV owners lamented when the new TV technology first hit the market. One of the most common problems was the burn in of logos found with news stations that resulted in a permanent discoloring of the pixels used to display the logo. With new developments in motion adaptive anti burn technologies, the problem has been reduced significantly for Plasma TVs.

Anti Burn-In Technology
Anti burn in technology minimizes the screen burn in problem by continuously moving the image on the screen forcing the pixels on the screen to continually change color. The movements are so small that it’s virtually undetectable to the viewer.

Some Anti-Burn Tips:

1. No Idling - if you’re not watching your TV, turn it off. Pausing a DVD for half an hour could cause burn-in for older Plasma TVs. Better to be safe than sorry.
2. Do your research – Most Plasma TVs out today have some degree of anti-burn built in, but like most things, effectiveness may vary. Do your research to see which brands and models have better history with anti burn technology and factor that into your purchase.
3. Use anti burn features – Depending on the brand and model, anti-burn settings are built into the TV and may run automatically, while with other TVs, running a program is necessary. Make sure that you know how your Plasma TV deals with burn in, because even with current technologies, screen burn ins can still occur.
4. Reduce contrast setting – Lowering the contrast setting on your new Plasma TV will reduce the chance of screen burn in. High contrast settings force phosphors in the display to work harder making burn ins more likely.
5. White screen for safety – For certain Plasma TV models, like HP or Samsung Plasma TVs, there’s a white screen option that will display a white screen or a moving white/grey scroll bar for approximately 30 minutes. Running this program after watching a movie or a long program will further protect your TV against burn in.

Although screen burn in for Plasma TVs has been significantly reduced with current technology, the problem still exists. If you’re thinking about purchasing anew Plasma TV, don’t let screen burn in problems affect your purchase. Just make sure that whatever model you decide on has anti burn features. Other than that, your best bet is to keep the TV off when you’re not watching and to avoid falling asleep with the TV on.

An Overview of TV Types

With the amount of TV technologies competing for space in everyone’s living room, it pays to know what’s out there before finding yourself lost in a labyrinth of makes and models. Here are a few of the popular models you’ll find in any TV showroom.

Direct-View TVs – or CRT Tube TVs are the traditional “big box” television. They are generally available in sizes between nine to forty inches.

Advantages of Direct-View TVs include: excellent image quality, affordable prices and perfect viewing angle. Since Direct-View TVs have been around much longer than its flat panel brethren, they have the advantage of decades of research and development resulting in higher image quality relative to cost.

Disadvantages include: limited sizes, heavy weight, and significant depth. The push for flat screen TVs was a response to the large and often unwieldy Direct View TVs. With advances in LCD TV and projection TV technologies, manufacturers were able to produce TV sets that were lighter, slimmer and capable of scaling to much larger viewing sizes.

Rear-Projection TVs – Rear projection refers to a type of TV whose image is produced by projection an image from behind the screen.

CRT Rear-Projection is the oldest of the rear projection technologies and comes in sizes between 42-73 inches. Its advantages include: excellent image quality, rich black levels (how “black” an image appears on the screen).

Disadvantages include: large size, weight and poor viewing angle. CRT Rear-Projection TV sets are notoriously heavy and deep, some ranging over two feet in depth. They also have a smaller viewing angle (120-140 degrees) when compared to Direct-View TVs.

LCD Rear-Projection TVs come in sizes between 42-70 inches. Its advantages include: ultra sharp image and no rainbow effect as is the case with DLP projection TVs. LCDs generally have inferior black levels when compared to CRT projection TVs. Large pixel gap makes up close viewing feel blocky.

DLP Rear-Projection TVs come in sizes between 42-67 inches. They have better black levels and smoother pictures with a smaller pixel gap than LCDs. Though their picture quality is generally better than LCD Rear-Projection TVs, DLPs are not perfect since they do suffer from video noise which appears as sparkles in darker areas of the screen.

Flat Panel TVs – are TVs with a slim “panel” build. Flat Panel TVs come in two varieties: LCD and Plasma.

Plasma Flat Panels come in sizes ranging from 32-76 inches with some manufacturers producing Plasma TVs as large as 100". Plasmas generally have better black levels than LCD displays. They also come in larger sizes yielding a better value per inch in the 45"+ range.

Although it has been greatly reduced in newer models, Plasma TVs still suffer from burn in, images getting burnt into the screen permanently after staying on one image for too long.

LCD Flat Panels generally range between 10-45inches in diagonal screen length. LCDs, unlike Plasmas, don’t suffer from burn in and they’re display, especially with high quality LCD TV manufacturers such as Sharp, are top notch. However, since large sized LCD TVs are expensive to produce, 45"+ sizes are more expensive than Plasmas TVs of the same size. LCD TVs also have a smaller viewing angle than Plasma TVs.

Top TV Brands

If you’ve ever stepped foot in the showroom of an electronics store, you were probably exposed to more models and brands of televisions than you can remember. Knowing which brands produce top quality televisions is important information for the savvy TV shopper. The top six TV brands according to market share are: Samsung, Sony, LG, Panasonic, Sharp and Vizio. The top five are probably familiar names as they have been manufacturing a variety of consumer electronics for decades. Vizio is a relatively new company that specializes in more affordable consumer electronics, including TV sets.

Samsung
Samsung, which means three stars in Korean, was started in 1938. Its electronics division, Samsung Electronics began in 1969, during which time they began manufacturing electronic appliances such as TVs, calculators, refrigerators, air conditioners and washers. In 2005, Samsung overtook Sony’s leading position as the world’s top consumer electronics manufacturer with annual revenue over $100 billion USD.

Samsung is not only known for their top notch DLP, LCD and Plasma TVs, but also for high quality electronics in almost every market from cell phones to memory chips. In 2007, Samsung became the top brand for LCD TVs and monitors. You can’t go wrong with a Samsung.

Sony
Once the king of consumer electronics, Sony, a Japanese company founded in 1946, remains a leading manufacturer of consumer electronics in the world; in addition, Sony also ranks as one of the top media conglomerates. Sony has a long history of producing high quality television sets. Their Trinitron line became an industry standard for high quality picture.

Like Samsung, Sony produces Plasma and LCD TVs, both of which are on the higher end of the price range among competitors. Sony was among the first TV manufacturers to release a 70" 1080p display. According to Consumer Reports, Sony TVs are among the least repaired of TV brands. Sony TVs typically include slots for Sony memory sticks which encourages sharing of files and media between other Sony products such as digital cameras and computers. Quality and price are comparable to Samsung TVs. You also can’t go wrong with a Sony.

LG
LG, another Korean company founded in 1958, was originally called Goldstar. Prior to 1995, LG was known for manufacturing low quality, budget electronics. After 1995, Goldstar revamped its brand and name, turning into LG Electronics and acquired Zenith. Since then LG has poured significant capital into research and development producing some of the most advanced technology for LCD and Plasma TVs.

LG was the first to mass produce 71" Plasma panel TV as well as the first to introduce a 76" LCD panel. They manufacture LCD, Plasma, CRT rear projectors and DLP front and rear projectors. Good quality at a lower price than most Samsung and Sony models.

Panasonic
Panasonic, a Japanese consumer electronics company, was founded in 1918. A leader in the development of DTV and HDTV, Panasonic was among the first corporations to release a consumer HDTV set. According to CNET reviews, Panasonic HDTV’s consistently rank among the top five HDTVs for both quality and price.

Panasonic manufactures DLP, LCD front and rear projection, Plasma and CRT. They are known for their high end Plasma TVs, which combine high quality pictures at a fraction of the price of Sony and close rival, Pioneer.

Sharp
Another Japanese consumer electronics company, Sharp was founded in 1912. They are known for their LCD technologies and the Aquos line of LCD TVs. Unlike Panasonic, Samsung and Sony, Sharp focuses primarily on their LCD displays. Though their market share isn’t as large as either Samsung or Sony, Sharp’s reputation in the LCD TV market is unrivaled.

Vizio
The youngest contender in the flat-panel TV market, Vizio was founded in California in 2002. Focusing primarily in the LCD and Plasma TV markets, Vizio became the leading seller of LCD TVs in North America. With a combination of aggressive pricing and marketing, Vizio TVs have taken market share from more reputable brands such as Sony and Samsung.

Catering to cost conscious consumers, Vizio has enjoyed a massive surge in market share since 2006. They originally sold exclusively through Costco and Sam’s Clubs and has since then branched out to Wal-Mart and other discount retail chains. Despite being known for producing lesser quality televisions, Vizio retains a healthy following among consumers.

When it comes to brand name TVs, there’s many to choose from. It’s hard to go wrong with a Sony or Samsung, but for the cost conscious consumer the alternatives offered by LG, Panasonic, and Vizio may be enticing as well.

Top Ten Mistakes First Time TV Buyers Make

1. Not Measuring Available Space
When purchasing a new TV set, especially LCD or Plasma screens, it’s a common mistake to forget to measure the amount of space available for the system. If you’re upgrading from a CRT TV set (big box), chances are you’ll be choosing between an LCD, Plasma or DLP, all of which are much smaller than CRT monitors. It’s important to measure the amount of space available to ensure that your new TV will fit. If you buy a 42" LCD or Plasma TV, the 42" refers to the length of the line running diagonal from the top left to the bottom right of the screen. The actual width, height and depth should be indicated on the label or in the product description online.

2. Not Considering Size of Room/Viewing Area
This is another common problem that first time TV buyers forget to take into consideration. For example, buying a 60" Plasma for a 10’x10’ room is probably overkill; it’s similar to going to a movie theater and sitting in the first or second room. Prolonged exposure to a TV set at such a close distance can cause pain to your eyes and potentially inflict long term damage. Finding the optimal viewing distance for your TV set is an important consideration to make when purchasing a TV. If you’re interested in finding the optimal viewing distance for a given size, check out this site.

3. Not Enough Research
Buying a TV was a lot simpler twenty years ago; there were less options, makes and models. Nowadays it seems as if new brands and technologies are popping up every month that it’s hard to keep track of them all. That’s why for today’s TV buyer, research is a must. Especially for price conscious buyers, going online and doing your research can save a great deal of money. Buying online is almost always cheaper than buying from a store.

4. Forgetting to Compare Brands
What do Sony, Samsung, LG, Panasonic, Sharp, and Vizio all have in common? They’re all famous electronics brands which include TVs. While Samsung and LG may make great cell phones, that doesn’t guarantee they also make great TVs as well. A Sony 42" HDTV may be better than a Samsung HDTV of the same size, but for another size class the opposite may be true. Comparing specific models for specific brands is vital to making a well informed TV purchase. The last thing you want to do is spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a new TV and find out that it doesn’t have the features you want or the durability you were hoping for.

5. Not Considering Lighting Conditions
The way a room is lit can make a big difference to the TV viewing experience. The ideal TV viewing experience mimics the movie theatre environment. Movie theaters tend to be dimly lit with multiple layers of light from overhead, side and ground lamps. For the first time buyer, what’s important to realize is that the lighting conditions in the showroom is probably quite different than the lighting conditions of your home. If possible, compare the lighting of the room you plan on using with your friends’ TV rooms to give you a better sense of your preferences for brightness and contrast levels for the TV set.

6. Weighing Price Over Quality
For the price conscious buyer, cheaper is better. However, when it comes to electronics, there’s only so much that can be shaved off the price before the quality starts to be affected. TVs are delicate electronic devices, especially technologies such as LCD and Plasma screen TVs and while there are a number of models and brands available at a variety of prices, not all TVs share the same build quality. If you’re going to buy an expensive Plasma TV with the hopes that it will last beyond its warranty, it’s a good idea to purchase a quality TV over a cheap one. The savings found with discount TV brands is reflected in the quality of the TV sets. The old adage “you get what you pay for,” holds true for TV sets.

7. Forgoing Extended Warranties
Warranties for TVs are typically around one year with extended warranties available for additional cost. For some first time buyers, spending 200 hundred dollars on a four year extended warranty doesn’t seem like a necessary option, but the added protection can come in handy when something goes wrong. If you plan on purchasing a $5000 Plasma or LCD TV, paying a few hundred dollars more for an extended warranty is not a bad idea.

8. Not Checking For Necessary Inputs and Jacks
When purchasing a TV, make sure you know what input jacks you need to hook up your various peripherals and accessories such as DVD player and audio system. TVs may come with a combination of inputs such as RCA jacks, S-Video, Component Video (DVD), RGB (Computer Monitors), Firewire and DVI. Some hybrid TV and computer monitors may not include RCA jacks that older VCRs or video equipment require. Make sure you check off what you need before you make your purchase.

9. Not Equalizing TV Settings in Showroom
When purchasing a TV from the showroom floor, it’s important to make sure to equalize all settings. That means brightness, contrast, volume and any other important setting that might affect your visual and audio experience. It’s not uncommon to purchase a TV from a showroom or retailer only to bring it home and realize that the look of the picture is not what you expected.

10. Not Understanding Features
So after doing hours of research you’ve finally decided on your dream TV. One last thing to consider before you make your purchase is whether or not you understand the features available. TVs nowadays come in HDTV offer resolutions of 1080p or 720 and video processing features. Chances are the more features the model has the more expensive it will be. But more isn’t necessarily better; it all depends on what you’re looking for. For example, the 120Hz video processing of higher end LCD TVs is a feature that manufactures developed in order to address concerns over the motion-blur problem that occurs in scenes with fast motion. If you watch a lot of sports or action movies, this may be something worth investing in, but the motion insensitive can save a few hundred bucks.

Taking Care of Your TV

For the average TV buyer, a new TV set comes along once every five or six years. Plasmas TVs have a shorter lifespan than a DLP and LCD TVs have a lifespan somewhere in-between. Old CRT TV sets (the big box types), can last well over ten years with proper care. Although each TV technology has specific things to look out for, here are some general tips for TV maintenance.

Temperature and Humidity
Despite their sometimes flashy exterior, TVs are essentially, at the core, complex electronics devices; they’ve got lots of wires, circuits and other electronics goodies inside. If you ask your local TV repairman, which you can find on our website, they’ll tell you that room temperature and humidity are among the most important factors affecting the lifespan of a TV set. The ideal room temperature for a TV set should between 68-77 degrees. Anything beyond in either direction could potentially damage the delicate internal circuitry of the device.

Dust-Free Environment
Creating a clean and dust free environment is another good rule to follow. Too much dust can prevent proper ventilation of the TV set, which would cause overheating; this is a common problem with older CRT TV sets. Make sure to clean out the ventilation slits on the back side of the TV set regularly. This will ensure that your TV set is always well ventilated.

In addition to keeping a dust free environment, TV owners should consider the likelihood of water spills or any type of liquids that might be prone to spilling onto the TV set. Placing an expensive Plasma TV in the kitchen can be a risk if there are small children in the house. Liquid spills can cause discoloration to your picture, or even worse, they can cause your TV to malfunction. Liquid damage is generally not covered by warranty, so do your best to avoid it.

Stable Foundation
After spending thousands of dollars on a new Plasma or LCD TV, you decide to be cheap and buy a subpar TV stand. Your son comes by and knocks into the stand and the TV falls and cracks in half. The repair estimate is in the thousands and it’s not covered by warranty.

The above scenario is easily avoidable. Buy a reliable TV stand and make sure to place your TV on a solid foundation where it will not be knocked or bumped into. If you have the option of mounting your TV to the wall, do it. Wall mounted TVs are less likely to be damaged. If you do decide to stand the TV on the ground, try to keep it as low to the ground as possible, because it will reduce the likelihood of the set falling over.

In general, if you have a problem with your TV that would involve unscrewing the back of the set, it’s probably safer to call your local TV repairman than risk further damage. Dismantling the TV set can be dangerous as there are numerous wires and circuitry that if exposed to moisture, could either hurt you or damage the TV set.

Plasma TVs Vs. LCD TVs

Plasma and LCD TVs are both higher end TV technologies that produce bright, crystal-clear and super color saturated images. Both generally come in flat screen, thin build casing. Furthermore, in recent years, the price of both LCDs and Plasmas have gown down further reducing the bottom line distinction for consumers.

Picture Quality
Plasma TVs outshine LCDs in situations where there is low lighting, for example night clubs, bars, and home theaters. LCD TVs, on the other hand, have the advantage when it comes to well lit areas, such as airport terminals, public display boards and rooms that are bright and well lit.

Playback
Plasma TVs are better than LCDs in displaying fast moving images often found in sports or video games. They generally have higher contrast levels and faster response times than LCDs. Though LCDs are improving gradually in terms of response time for fast moving images, there’s still a notable delay or lag that occurs in the most fast paced sports and games scenes.

Lifespan
In the past, LCDs had a reputation of lasting longer than Plasma TVs. Plasma TVs produces light through the emission and combinations of gases that, over time, begin to fade. LCD TVs, on the other hand, emit light via a backlight bulb. However, with advances in the development of Plasma TVs, manufacturers are now capable of developing Plasma TVs that remain functional much longer than before. LCD TVs, according to manufacturers, last around 50,000 to 65,000 hours of use at which point their backlight usually dies out. Plasmas have a half life of 60,000 hours, at which point the brightness levels of the display halves, making everything look dimmer. When it comes to lifespan, the make and model of the TV would give you better insight rather than comparing LCDs to Plasma TVs.

Size
When it comes to size, both Plasmas and LCDs are evenly matched. Both come with screen sizes (diagonal length) 60" and higher. Plasma TVs have an advantage over LCDs in that they can be manufactured in larger sizes without a decrease in picture quality. LCDs, however, often face difficulties with pixel defects (burnt or dead) as the units increase in size. However as manufacturing processes improve for LCDs, the gap between Plasmas and LCDs should decrease dramatically.

Computer Use and Gaming
LCDs win when it comes to gaming and computer use because LCD TVs don’t suffer from flicker or screen-burn in. Screen-burn in happens when fast moving images get “burned” onto a screen, leaving a residue or trace of previous images on top of new ones. Also given the high density of pixels per square inch, LCDs are well served in displaying large amounts of data and pictures that retain great detail, such as in video games.

Plasma manufacturers have done a great deal to address screen burn in with new motion adaptive anti burn technologies. However, for the serious gamer, LCDs are still king.

Price and Screen Resolution
LCDs, as previously mentioned, have a high density of pixels per square inch in comparison to plasma screens which gives them crisper and more detailed images. For example a 40" LCD has a resolution of 1366x768, while a 42inch Plasma HD would only sport a resolution of 1024x768. The difference in resolution may be difficult to detect for the average viewer, but avid sports fans may notice the slight difference.

While LCDs have better resolution per square inch of screen size, Plasma TVs have the advantage of larger screens for lower prices. Since large LCDs are expensive to make, their cost is higher. The choice between the two comes down to which you prefer: better resolution or a larger screen.

In the end the choice between purchasing a Plasma or LCD TV comes down to preference of features and price. Comparing specific models is more effective than comparing technologies because they both offer high quality, super color saturated images with comparable screen sizes.

Plasma TVs Vs. DLP TVs

Plasma and DLP Rear Projection are two types of TV sets that come in a variety of brands and models nowadays. In terms of picture quality, both DLP and Plasma TVs have much to offer. The areas of interest for consumers are: contrast, clarity, color saturation and accuracy, and brightness.

Contrast
Contrast measures the difference between the darkest (black) and lightest (white) spectrum that the TV can display. Since DLP is a relatively new technology, it cannot offer the high contrast ratios that Plasma TVs can. Some Plasma TVs offer contrast ratios from 2000:1 to even 4000:1. However it’s important to note that unless you plan on watching TV in a completely darkened room, a contrast ratio over 1000:1 is virtually indistinguishable from 500:1. When it comes to black and white levels, Plasmas TVs win out over DLP TVs.

Picture Clarity
In general, Plasma TVs have better picture clarity than DLP TVs, the difference is minimal. Picture clarity refers to the sharpness of the edges and lines in images displayed on the TV screen. When it comes to color saturation, Plasma TVs win hands down. If you go to a show room and do an eye to eye comparison between the two, you’ll notice the difference. Colors on Plasma TVs are richer and more vibrant than on DLPs. DLP TVs are less reliable with color saturation. Some colors display well while others leave much to be desired. If you’re looking for deep, rich hues on your TV screen, Plasma is the way to go.

Brightness
When it comes to brightness, both DLP and Plasmas are well matched. There’s no clear advantage to either.

Size
DLP TVs are rear-projection sets and generally come in larger models (40, 50 and 61"). Like their traditional rear projection TV counterparts, DLP TVs require almost the same amount of space, with the exception of the base. Plasma TVs start at 37" to 60" and are known to for their super slim designs, with the average coming in around 3.5". In retail stores, Plasma TVs are typically mounted onto walls and tables. DLP TVs are deeper and bulkier. The choice comes down to preference.

Price
For the same viewing screen, DLPs are cheaper than Plasma TVs. However as the technology required to produce Plasma TVs decreases, the prices of the units will follow suit. As of early 2009, a 67" DLP comes in under $2000 while a 60" Plasma runs close to $5000.

One of the nice things about Plasma TVs is that they almost always come with a computer input making them nice, albeit expensive, computer monitor replacements. DLPs are designed for home-entertainment and do not sport the necessary plugs for a computer monitor hookup.

Viewing Angle
Plasmas have near perfect 180 degree viewing angle which means that the picture looks almost the same regardless of which angle you watch from. DLPs, however, range from around 100 degree and under.

Lifespan
DLPs have a longer lifespan than Plasma TVs because of the way they display images. DLP technology bounces light from a bulb off mirrors. If the bulb goes out it can be replaced ($200 or less). However Plasma TVs emit light from the emission of natural gases and cannot be replaced. Plasma TVs should be replaced every three to four years. DLP light bulbs last around eight to nine years.

Overall, Plasma TVs seem to win out in most categories over DLP TVs; however if you’re looking for a TV that will last years, DLP may still be an attractive option.

Things to Check

Before you call a repairman, check the following:

• If your television will not turn on, you should check your power cord to insure that the TV is actually plugged in. Make certain that the AC outlet the television is plugged into works by connecting a lamp or other electrical device to the AC socket being used. Press the Power button on your television and/or power the set on using your remote control. Insure that the batteries in your remote are good. If necessary, replace your batteries in the remote control.
• Many newer Television sets have sleep timer settings accessible through the main menu. If your TV turns off unexpectedly, you can try to power up your television manually and verify that the sleep timer settings are turned off by deactivating the wake up timer.
• Adjust the picture quality of your Television by adjusting the picture settings on your menu. If the Television is on but you can’t get a picture, try selecting a different signal input on you television front panel or remote control. Scroll through the input settings one by one to see if your picture comes back with a different input signal setting. Check your antenna, cable, or satellite TV connections, and try a different channel in case there is a problem with the current channel. Remember that both analog and digital sets are subject to weather related outages due to heavy rain, storms, or objects blocking your satellite dish if using Direct TV or another satellite provider.
• If your Television sound reception is poor, go to the menu and select Sound options. Try the mono setting first or choose Stereo, or Dolby or other sound settings to see if your sound comes back on. Most new television sets have an internal speaker off/on setting. Insure that the setting is turned to the on position. If there is still no sound, insure that the Television sets mute option is turned off. This can be done by pushing the mute button on the remote control or through the menu options.
• Verify that your Television is set to the proper source if you are unable to get any channels above channel 13. Verify that your menu settings for cable or antenna source are properly set. Check the TV/Cable function on the menu or a similar function on your TV so that you can properly access your appropriate source. Generally you should select the Antenna option only if you are using a UHF/VHF antenna to obtain your TV signal. You should select the Cable setting if you are using cable TV for your TV signal source. Satellite TV will usually be broadcast to one specific channel (usually channel 2 or 3) in the antenna position or to HDMI or other optional inputs if your satellite receiver is equipped with HDMI and other optional outputs.
• Turn off the closed caption feature if you have a cable box, satellite TV Receiver or black box connected to your television. Depending on your model of television, the closed caption feature may be set to "text" mode. Use your remote or the controls on the TV to turn off closed captioning.

Remember
It's always better to be safe than sorry - if in doubt, have a professional look at your set so you can get it repaired fast!

DIY Television Repair

Television repair is one of those useful skills in life that you don’t learn in school, which is probably a good thing because TV repair can be potentially lethal; this is why professional TV repairman are worth the money for complicated repair jobs. However, there are a few things that the average TV owner can fix without much difficulty.

Common problems that you might have experienced at some point in your life include: snowy picture, loose coaxial fitting, loose or broken antenna, bad coaxial cables, poor sound or speakers, poor picture quality or overheating. Before doing any TV repair work, REMEMBER: DISCONNECT ALL CABLES.

Cable Issues
Coaxial cables are copper cables used to connect your TV to the community antennae owned by Cable TV companies; it’s that long wire that screws into the back of your TV set. If you’ve ever had to twiddle with the cable in the back of your TV set to get a better picture, then you’ve probably had your fair share of headaches with the coaxial cable. The solution for a loose cable is to simply wiggle the cable until your picture returns. If this doesn’t correct the problem, you may need to replace the fitting, which is the metal part of the cable that connects to the TV or you may have to replace the cable itself. If it turns out that none of these suggestions fix the problem, you may have to call your local TV repairman and replace the fitting on the TV set.

Antenna Replacement
If you suffer from fuzzy picture quality, chances are there’s a problem with your antenna. While this isn’t a problem for recently purchased TV sets, for the old, but still functioning CRT tubes, replacing the antenna may just do the trick. Grab a small Philips screwdriver (the one with the “+” head) and remove the small screws that connect the antenna to the base. You can buy a replacement antenna from most electronic stores like Best Buy or Radio Shack. Be sure to buy the right antenna for your model. When installing the new antenna, make sure that the washers and spacers stay intact. Screw the antenna back into the base tight enough so that it doesn’t fall down, but not too tight that it can’t move.

Bad Picture
One of the most irritating problems to troubleshoot on a TV is bad picture. You’ve switched to every channel and still the picture still looks terrible. Chances are the screen is magnetized and the automatic de-magnetizing function built into the TV isn’t working. If there are any stereo speakers, electric motors or anything that may be magnetic, remove them.

The typical way to de-magnetize or de-gauss, the technical term, is to buy a special de-gaussing coil available at any electronic supply store. Start in either the upper left or right corner and start moving the coil in small circles about 2-3 inches from the screen; the effect it produces should look like a dull, rainbow. The pattern will fluctuate. Gradually move the coil in larger and larger circles until you cover the entire screen. Congratulations, your screen should now be de-magnetized and your picture restored.

Buying a Used Plasma or LCD TV

When it comes to electronics, buying new is generally the safest strategy. However for budgeted consumers, buying a used TV may be the only viable option.

Warranty
At Boise LCD, we provide a 1 year warranty on anything we sell or service. Used TV sets usually don’t come with warranties, unless they’ve been refurbished by the manufacturer in which case there may or may not be a manufacturer warranty. Without a warranty, the most important aspect to look for in a used TV is the age and frequency of use.

Frequency of Use
LCD and Plasma TVs generally last around 50,000-65,000 hours of use. The mileage may vary for less reputable manufacturers. Before purchasing a used TV, make sure to find out when the TV was manufactured and how long it’s been used. Keep in mind that Plasma TVs have a set half life after which their brightness levels halve. LCDs, on the other hand, are backlit by a bulb that is sometimes replaceable.

Price and Purchasing
Since the motivation for purchasing a used TV is price, used TV consumers should look for good deals on reliable machines. Much like buying a used car, it’s important to find the right price for the amount of mileage currently on the machine. Checking online for deals on used TVs is a good place to start. Another place to look for used TVs would be repair shops; oftentimes you can find a refurbished TV at a fraction of the cost of new units. Another possibility is buying a used TV off a friend or a neighbor who’s preparing to a new home. Since Plasma and LCD TVs are becoming popular household furnishings, it’s not uncommon to find good deals for TVs at moving sales among neighbors or friends.

Picture Quality
When buying a used TV, be sure to test out picture quality. Sometimes TV sets that have endured prolonged use may have a dull look. Also make sure to check if there are any burnt pixels on the screen; although these may not impact the picture quality significantly, they can be used as a bargaining position to lower the selling price.

Cables, Settings, Jacks
Always check to see if all audio jacks and cable inputs are functional prior to purchasing a used TV. Also makes sure that the display settings and menus on the TV set are working properly. Since audio jacks and inputs are vital for DVDs and stereo speakers, purchasing a TV with broken inputs is reason for significant price reduction or a pass altogether.

Buying a used TV, with proper research and consideration, can be the perfect solution for price conscious consumers. However keep in mind that some deals, like many things in life, are too good to be true. Be weary of outrageous deals that seem unbelievable, even used TVs have their proper price range. When it comes to purchasing used items, the most important things to consider are mileage and price. The more hours a TV has been used, the shorter its lifespan regardless of how good its condition.

DTV & HDTV - What's the Difference?

One of the common misconceptions is that DTV and HDTV are synonymous. While HDTV, or high definition TV, is DTV, or digital TV, not all DTV is HDTV. You can think of HDTV as a special kind of DTV or a subset of DTV.

DTV generally comes in one of three standard formats: 480p, 720p and 1080i.

480p
480p is short hand for progressive 480 line resolution. Progressive scan DVD players display images in this format. Standard Definition TV or SDTV broadcasts with 480i or 480 interlace. The "i" in 480i stands for interlaced passing which prints the image on the screen in two sets of lines: the odd numbered resolution lines first and then even numbered ones. The progressive scan 480p gives images a much more fluid, film-like look. While 480p represents only half the potential of HDTV technology, it is still a step up from SDTV's 480i resolution. Since 480p broadcasting requires less bandwidth, broadcasters have the option to provide multiple channels of programming, which means more options for the viewer.

Pros and Cons: high quality progressive scan DTV broadcast, takes up the least amount of bandwidth. Image loses crispness on larger screens. 480p is not HDTV.

720p
Unlike 480p, 720p is a DTV format that is also considered a standard HDTV format. Because it has more lines of resolution (720 compared to 480) 720p provides a much sharper picture than 480p. With a higher resolution, 720p looks better than 480 on larger screens 32" and higher.

Pros and Cons: high quality progressive scan HDTV broadcast, doesn't take up as much bandwidth as 1080i. Image still looks detailed and crisp on larger screens (32"+).

1080i
1080i is the most commonly used HDTV format and provides the highest quality image than all other DTV standards, however whether this image is that much better than 720p is debatable. Despite the better picture quality, the benefits of 1080i cannot be seen on screen sets below 32" simply because the extra lines provided by the 1080i format are not displayable on smaller screens.

Pros and Cons: 1080i - highest quality HDTV broadcast standard. 1080i broadcasting takes up the most amount of bandwidth. Since most Plasma, LCD or DLP TV sets do not come in true 1080 resolution, the image is converted to 720p or 480p in order to be displayed, which reduces picture quality. 1080p is superior to 1080i but since so few TVs can display 1080p, it has yet to become an HDTV standard.