Getting the right mounting device for a new television can assure the best viewing as well as the safety of the new screen.
There are a number of viable options for the placement of a television. Space saving flat screens can be mounted on the ceiling, on the wall, or placed on a stand. Some methods of mounting the screens are less costly, others allow for greater ability to save space, and some provide more flexibility to assure that the television can be viewed at different angles and heights. Looking at each of these options in advance will help consumers make the choice that will best suit their needs.
If a wall or ceiling mount is preferred it is important to realize that a television, especially plasma, can be heavy for its size and therefore wall studs or a ceiling joist must be present to support it. Any additional hardware needed for installation should be available with the mounting device purchased but will be dependent upon whether the television will be mounted on wood or metal studs/joists or concrete block. Therefore, consumers should go into the buying situation knowing where they wish to place their new television and what type of structure is present.
A ceiling mounted television can save floor space. A ceiling mount often has an extension pipe in addition to the mount itself to allow for comfortable viewing. Some owners use a "plasma lift" with a ceiling mount option that keeps the screen hidden until they are ready to use it.
Wall mounts can be flat, tilt, swivel or an articulated arm. A flat wall mount is generally the least expensive and is the greatest space saver as it adds only 2 inches to the depth of the display but because it is often fixed, does not offer a flexible viewing angle. Getting a tilt mount for a plasma television adds about 4-6 inches to the depth but is often used when needing to mount the display above eye level; such as over a fire place.
An articulating arm mount allows users to keep the display pulled back flat against the wall but also provides the flexibility of pulling out the display and turning/tilting it as needed.
Table stands are generally customized to the specifictelevision that is purchased but do tend to take up a bit more space. Some stands offer options that allow tilt and other movement of the display including "plasma lifts".
Obviously any mount purchased will need to fit the specific television selected. The television will have a pattern of holes on the back that will need to correspond to the screws on the mount. Some mounts also have adapter plates available that will match up to popular plasma television models.
Selecting the proper mount for a television can help to assure that the television is stable and positioned so as to reduce the risk of being struck or knocked over. A proper mount can also help to assure optimal viewing and comfort.
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Buyers have many choices when they decide to buy a television. Size, display type, and other features must be considered when selecting the television that will best suit your needs.
1. Size: The size of the television that you will want and be able to get the best viewing from is determined in large part by the room in which you will place it. Recommendations vary but one way of calculating the best size for your room is to measure the distance, in inches, from where the television screen will be located to the sofa or chair that will be used to view it. With the higher resolution flat panel televisions, you can then divide this number by 4.5 and you will arrive at the size screen that would produce the best viewing. For instance if the distance measured is 144 inches, it is recommended that you buy a television that has a 32 inch screen or somewhat larger. This is not a hard and fast rule but gives you a good starting point.
2. Display type: Plasma, CRT, LCD, DLP, Rear Projection, EDTV, HDTV, and wide screen are common terms you will hear in regards to televisions.
Plasma television screens are thin; offering a space saving design, and smooth even picture with excellent color accuracy and contrast. A plasma screen typically creates a deeper black for a somewhat more vivid picture than LCD. These screens also display better in a room with low ambient lighting. A plasma television offers a 160 degree viewing angle meaning that it can be viewed from virtually anywhere within the room without losing picture quality. Plasma also offers the largest screens on the market. A plasma television tends to use more power than other displays. Although early screens had significant risk of experiencing burn-in if images were left static on the screen, anti-burn in technology has continued to advance and this is much less of a concern with newer televisions. Pricing for a plasma screen tends to be lower than for a similarly sized LCD screen. Plasma televisions are not recommended in locations with an altitude over 6,500-7,000 feet. Although a short life span was initially a concern with these television screens, manufacturers are now reporting a half life that is equivalent to that of LCD screens. (approximately 60,000 hours). When purchasing a plasma display television you may need to use external speakers as some sets have none. In this case a fiber optic/coaxial cable would need to be used to connect to speakers.
LCD, or Liquid Crystal Diode, television screens can also be thin and streamlined with clear, sharp, bright images. They perform better than plasma screens in high altitudes and never experience burn in. They generate less heat and use less power than plasma television screens as well. To a small extent however, LCD's perform less well with fast action images as they sometimes exhibit a slight lag or blurring with fast motion and cannot produce the deepest blacks. An LCD screen displays better than a plasma screen however under higher lighting levels with better glare protection.
CRT is the traditional (cathode ray tube) tube television. Most are square and have a 4:3 aspect ratio, meaning that there is 4 inches of width for every 3 inches of height although there are some that offer the rectangular screen with widescreen ratio. Some CRT television sets are HDTV-ready and some do offer a flat screen (not a flat panel) although most are curved. Their advantage is their low price and solid technology. However, these sets are heavier and deeper than plasma or LCD television sets of the same size, occasionally experience burn in, and have lower resolution and generally do not allow viewing of HDTV without special equipment.
Rear Projection: A rear projection television offers the big screen at a lower cost than plasma. They can be CRT, LCD, or DLP. DLP or digital light processing, like LCD, does not lose brightness over time or experience burn in. Although both LCD and DLP offer excellent picture quality they are poor at producing the blackest blacks. Both offer a widescreen display and a light weight, shallow television set.
EDTV: Enhanced Definition TV is not true High Definition television as the resolution is lower. However, the picture quality is similar. Small differences can be seen however, if the signal being received is higher than the native resolution of the EDTV as it will not display every pixel of the high definition signal. EDTV sets will be priced significantly lower than HDTV sets.
HDTV: Most consumers who strive for the ultimate big screen or home theater experience buy a television that offers high definition. High Definition television is known for its high resolution that is produced by the large number and spacing of pixels which results in incredible detail, vivid colors, and life-like depth. The televisions are sold either as Integrated HD or HD-Ready. An Integrated HD set has a built in HD tuner so that you have all that you need right out of the box. An HD-Ready set is capable of displaying HD content but it requires a separate HD tuner to convert the signal received to a higher resolution. An HDTV is capable of displaying a resolution of 480i, 480p, 720i, 720p, 1080i, or1080p. The “I” means that the signal is displayed on the screen “interlaced” and the “p” means that it is displayed by progressive scan. Progressive scan generally produces a higher quality picture. Therefore, 720p would provide a better picture than a set with 480i. The highest quality signal a conventional television offers is 480i, but this is the lowest quality signal for an HDTV.
Widescreen: Traditional television screens have a 4:3 aspect ratio; which means that there are 4 inches of width for every 3 inches of height. Many films and DVD's use a 16:9 ratio. This widescreen ratio means that there are 16 inches of width for every 9 inches of height. You are able to view widescreen films on a traditional television set but some of the scene is missed as it is edited to fit the narrower screen. Traditional format programming can also be viewed on a widescreen but there will be portions at the side of the TV screen that are black as there is no image to be shown in that area. Some experts report that due to the static black bars at the sides of the screen when viewing traditional programming on a widescreen television can result in burn-in over time. When you buy a television, you should determine which type of programming you will view most frequently. Currently, the majority of programming is not widescreen with the exception of films and DVD's although the use of widescreen is continuing to increase in all programming.
* A reminder about picture quality: Picture quality is greatly influenced by the programming signal that you receive; not just the screen that displays it. A digital signal, whether cable or satellite, tends to provide greater picture quality than analog.
Proper cables: If you want HDTV you need to be sure to obtain the proper cables. To receive HDTV signals you will need component video cables or DVI cables. For the audio you will need fiberoptic or coaxial digital cables to get the Dolby Digital or DTS Surround Sound. Remember, to get HDTV, you will need to buy a television with built-in HDTV or a television with an external tuner and antenna for HDTV reception. If you have cable or satellite you will need an HD receiver with your HDTV package.
Input ports: When you buy a television be sure it has the input ports for any peripheral devices you want. For instance ports for DVD, VCR, stereo systems, etc. Ports on the front or sides of the TV set are easiest to access. To assure you can view high-definition it is best to assure the television has DVI or HDMI inputs; HDMI are the newest technology and therefore the best bet.
Picture in a Picture or Picture outside a Picture are features that many buyers want. Both of these allow the user to see a second program simultaneously.
Universal Remote: Many users want to control other A/V gear with the same remote that operates their television. If you want this feature confirm that the TV remote is universal and will operate equipment even if it is not of the same brand.
Sound: Most larger television sets offer stereo sound which is of much higher quality that mono. For optimal sound, buy a television with 5 watts per channel or higher. Simulated surround sound gives the effect of rear speakers.
Game console connections: Graphics are best when you have a good connection. Look for S-video input. Again front or side panel inputs give you ease of access. Be particularly wary of burn-in when using game consoles with CRT and plasma screen televisions.
Surge Protector: This is just common sense; don't buy a television without protecting it with a surge protector.
If you want help in selecting specific brands, check out GUIDESTER on the AbtElectronics site.
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A new television remote may be considered to replace a missing or broken device or to consolidate the various remotes used to control all of the A/V equipment in a buyers home.
Cost
Before television owners begin shopping for a new remote however they should consider how much they really want to spend. A very basic television remote can be had for around $12. On the other end of the spectrum, spending in the neighborhood of $1,000 is also possible.
Method of Signal Transmission
Most television remote controls are IR/infrared, meaning that they communicate with a television via an LED which transmits an infrared signal. In order to function properly users must generally be within 30 feet and within line-of-sight of their television. These remotes won't be able to transmit the necessary signal to the television through a wall or around a corner no matter what the distance although in many instances this is not a concern to the average user.
Some satellite TV receivers, stereo systems, and home theater components use RF/radio frequency remote controls which communicate with devices via radio waves. RF controls have a greater range than IR controls. RF can transmit up to 100 feet away and offers the added benefit of being able to transmit through walls. One way that an IR remote can be "boosted" to allow it a greater transmitting range is to get an "RF extender". This does not change the fact that a person is using IR, it just gives them greater range.
Consolidating
If a person's goal is to consolidate their television remote with other AV remote controls then a universal remote should be considered. These remotes are capable of operating multiple devices, even those from various manufacturers. Very handy, but they will have to program in the command codes of each piece of equipment they want the device to control. Information on command codes is generally found in the owner's manual for the equipment. To save time, a "learning" type of universal remote is an option. These remotes are able to read signals transmitted by other remotes and to then begin transmitting those same signals without the user having to program the command codes.
Ease of Use
A common complaint about the average television remote is that it is hard to use in the dark. A back lit keyboard can be useful in this situation. Another issue can be the difficulty of using a remote because of the sheer number of buttons on the face of it. A couple of options can help to address this issue. Some television remote controls use "macro commands" which allow the user to perform a series of commands with the push of a single button. For instance, a macro command could be set up to turn on the television, the DVD player, initiate play, turn on the speakers, etc. by hitting a single button. Remotes with LCD screens can also cut down on the number of buttons by displaying a limited number of icons on the display versus having a button for every function.
Other features
Television remotes today even offer various methods of input aside from pushing buttons. Touch screens, joysticks, and even voice command controls are available; for a price. Touch screens can be color or grayscale; grayscale of course helps hold the cost down. Higher priced remotes offer two way communication which allows the remote to pick up and display information from the device that it operates. For instance, such a remote could display information about the programming on a particular television channel while viewing other shows.
Like all electronics for the home, television remote controls are beginning to multitask and understanding all of the features takes a bit of research. Buyers simply need to assess what functions are important to them and how much money they really want to spend.
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