Plasma and LCD TV All You Need To Know

Hi there! Need some help setting up your new LCD or Plasma TV? Want to know which one is the best screen on the market? Need To know the best place to buy your display panel? How do they work? What about burn or image retention? How do I clean my set without harming it? I try to answer all these questions and much more.There are myths like, plasma TV's should not be used for...

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Setting Up Your New Plasma/LCD TV

I have divided this into multiple posts. This will hopefully make it easy to find what you want and avoid what you don't need.Get A Surge Protector for your Plasma TV.Follow The InstructionsWhere To Put Your Plasma or LCD TVCan I Put A Plasma or LCD TV Above A Fireplace?Heat Sources and Plasma TVsLight Sources and Plasma TVsHow To Tune It InTerrestrial Analogue, Terrestrial Digital versus Satellite/CableWhat Is Analogue and Digital with regard to Plasma & LCD TV'sSummary - Setting Up Your LCD or Plasma...

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Get A Surge Protector for your Plasma TV.

This might sound obvious but its worth mentioning. 'Electrical Spikes' in domestic power supply are very common. This is when the voltage supplied to a home is inconsistent. Most of the time an appliance will be unaffected but sometimes it can completely wipe out a component. Processors in Plasma TV's (and PC's) are particularly susceptible.A rarer but more consistently devastating event is a lightning strike. It does not need to be on the scale you might see on the news when roofs are zapped off. It can be a strike in the wrong place at the wrong...

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Follow The Instructions

Before we move on it goes without saying that you follow the manufacturers instruction to the letter. I will go into a few specific important examples in more detail but it has been known for manufacturers and extended warranty operators(Samsung, Sony, PC World you know who you are) to use minor, non fault making set up indiscretions as an excuse to blame malfunction on the own...

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Heat Sources and Plasma TVs

Next subject regarding where to put it is Sources. Before we go any further you will harm your TV if you get any Sauce on it, but I was talking about light and heat sources. We will cover heat first as this is more simple.Simply put don't put it next to a heat source. If the Plasma or LCD TV gets too hot several things will happen. First the processor will be working at higher temperatures and is more likely to stall causing the TV to temporarily go blank and reset and can also shorten the life of the processor and other components.Probably the...

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Where To Put Your Plasma or LCD TV

Get a good stand. You need to consider the obvious things like sharp corners and if it matches your room decoration but also this as well.Is the stand physically suitable? I.e. Is it strong enough, wide enough, deep enough and stable enough. Most importantly get a stand that is either supplied specifically by the manufacturer or a stand that specifically states your TV size/weight as being suitable.Not only because you don't want to be woken up by a fifteen hundred pound crash in the middle of the night or of course have any of your family injured...

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Light Sources and Plasma TVs

I hope you are enjoying a bit of source. The next source to cover is light. If you have ever viewed any TV with the sun or a bright light on it then you know how annoying and unclear the picture is. The good news is that most of the TV's we are discussing are much less susceptible to these problems. And in fact I can view a bottom of the range 42 inch Samsung with the sun right on it(just about). The effect light has on it becomes more acute the wider the angle you make from your sitting position to the screen. So the first moral about light sources...

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How To Tune It In

The actual specifics of which buttons to press are not something which can be discussed here as they will vary from make to make and model to model. Most now come with an auto set up feature which even sets the time. A couple of things to point out which will almost certainly not be in the menu are as follows.Terrestrial Analogue, Terrestrial Digital versus Satellite/CableAnalogue and Digital with regard to Plasma & LCD T...

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Terrestrial Analogue, Terrestrial Digital versus Satellite/Cable

If you get your picture from a regular aerial in the loft or on the roof then this is terrestrial. So called be cause it comes from a source on the planet. Hence 'terrestrial'. Satellite signals also originate from the planet but as the name suggests go via a Satellite making the signal extra terrestrial if you like. Now if we consider cable TV then speaking pedantically this is also terrestrial but is generally not referred to as such. Simply put cable and Satellite are 'pure digital'. Aerial receptions are known as terrestrial and can be analogue...

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What Is Analogue and Digital with regard to Plasma & LCD TV's

This could be a really long discussion but I just want to quickly make a point about setting up your new TV so I am going to over simplify the difference in order to explain. Digital is a higher quality picture than analogue.Very few instruction manuals make it clear that if you are plugged in via a terrestrial aerial you have to specifically choose digital on the TV buttons. I know at least one person with two thousand pounds worth of technology who was watching low quality TV unnecessarily. Make sure you press the DTV button (or something similar)...

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Summary - Setting Up Your LCD or Plasma TV

So you've got a surge protector. The new Plasma is an a good position for light and heat, suitably placed on a specifically recommended and attractive stand. You have switched off any light meters and if your not on cable or Satellite you have switched to the digital broadcast. If you only read one more section read the one about Plasma and LCD TV Screen Burn Protection! Sounds nasty. It ...

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Plasma and LCD TV Screen Burn Protection

This is probably the most important section to read. Failing to prevent screen burn will render your plasma or LCD TV as useless, it will not be covered by the warranty and it can occur within a few hours of getting it home. Not only that but some of the most likely causes are NOT what most people are on the lookout for. Screen burn CAN be prevented almost completely.What Is Screen BurnScreen burn is where an image you were viewing on the Plasma or LCD screen remains there either temporarily or eventually permanently even after we have finished...

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Initial TV settings and Screen Burn

This is probably the best tip you can ever get with regard to avoiding the dreaded screen burn. By default most sets are packed in the box with unsuitable default settings. I have yet to purchase an LCD or a Plasma TV where the contrast, brightness and colour were not set to 100%. This is stupid if you consider who should know the most about this relatively new technology. Of course I am referring to the manufacturers.Unless the set is going in an extremely bright room you should easily be able to lower the contrast, brightness and colour down...

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How To Check For Screen Burn

Sometimes a factor in spoiling a Plasma or LCD TV with screen burn is that it creeps up on us. That is we get a minor removable burn but don't realise its there. If we don't realise it is there we don't take action and of course the problem gets worse and we trash our expensive screen.There are a few ways to check. The most convenient is to check your TVs menu for a 'white screen' option. This as the name suggests displays a still white screen. The other option is to find a DVD with a plain white picture (often at the very end or start) and pause...

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BBC News 24 and Screen Burn

This channel deserves special mention. The red blocks and scrolling messages at the bottom of the screen are possibly the worst example I have ever come across as a culprit of causing screen burn. Check for burn regularly and take action when need...

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Channel logos and Screen Burn

Watch out for channels with static logos. Most of the children's channels have these as well as just about all the music channels. Just watching the TV for too long can burn one of these images onto the screen permanently.Some of the channels are getting more Plasma and LCD friendly. For example CBEEBIES now has a rotating logo which changes colour as well as fading in and out of prominence. This 'virtually' removes the danger of a permanent logo being burnt to your set.Most however do not. And the best way to avoid burn without spoiling the viewers...

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Computer games and Plasma/LCD Screen Burn

Console games like Play Station 1,2,3 Xbox (inc 360) and the various Nintendo consoles are probably the most likely things to spoil your LCD or Plasma by causing screen burn. However for a games player the thrill of gaming is often multiplied by doing so on a big vibrant screen.I urge you not to lose sight of the real reason for spending loads of money on a SUPER TV. If your not going to let the kids get their gaming fix on the new TV then maybe consider not buying one. This is especially true if you have a Sony PlayStation 3 or a Microsoft Xbox...

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Built in Screen Burn Prevention Features

More and more manufacturers are including screen burn prevention features with their Plasma and LCD TVs. This section will cover the most common ones, how they work and how to use th...

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PCs and Plasma/LCD Screen Burn

PCs can be worse than all the others. At least with a game the image would temporarily change between levels or games and with a TV channel it might get a break from the logo during the adverts but with a PC there are no such times.Simply put you need to be more Aware, Check more often and take action whenever required. Here are some tips to help minimise the problem a bit. They are not however a complete solution to checking etc.Get rid of the task bar. This almost always a bright primary colour and stretches the entire width of the screen. You...

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Pixel Shift for Screen Burn Protection

This does exactly what it says it does. It moves (shifts) the entire picture(made of pixels) to the left, right, up and down. Most go left, then down, then right and finally up. This means that any static images are shifted and made less(static). Beware! This is usually only by a few pixels each way(4 is common) so any static image bigger than 4 pixels still has a significant impact on the potential for image retention. However every little does help and if your TV has it I would recommend using it all the time.In your TV menu you will probably...

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Plasma and LCD 'Signal Pattern' and 'All White' Features

These features are a bit like screen savers only they can actually 'rub out' screen burn. Please be aware however that it is still easily possible to cause irreversible image retention. 'Signal Pattern' and 'All White' are however fantastic tools.'All White' is great for checking to see if you have got any screen burn as it shows retained images very clearly. It is also the quickest way for removing minor screen burn. Quite simply when you select 'All White' the screen goes.. well.. all white. This is simple but very effective.Signal pattern makes...

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The 'Snow' distortion trick for Plasma and LCD TV's with Screen Burn

'But I already have a TV without screen burn protection' I hear you cry. No problem. This works almost as well. Select terrestrial TV. Then choose a channel that does not exist. You should have a nice snow pattern (more of a blizzard really) this will remove completely minor screen burn and help reduce permanent bu...

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The PC Screen Burn Fix trick for Plasma and LCD TV's

If you can hook your PC up to your screen burnt TV try this. Create a folder in 'My Documents' called 'Screen Burn'. I'm not joking keep reading. Now open up a picture editor like 'paint' available on all Windows PC's. When you run 'Paint' a blank white document is what you should have in front of you. That is exactly what you need. Select File – Save as and name your picture 'white'. Be sure to save it in the folder you just created.Next you need to click on the 'black' section of the colour pallete at the bottom of the 'Paint' window. After you...

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Make Your LCD or Plasma TV Last

Plasma and LCD TVs are still a 'fragile' technology and many consumers have had their fingers burned. However with the appropriate care as I have stated before in my previous entries a good one can last a decade.Brightness, Contrast & Colour settings,Quite simply turn them down to a maximum of 70%, preferably as low as 50%. Screens are supplied with the settings at 100%. This significantly reduces the life of your screen and one can only wonder why they are supplied like that? Also many TVs have a 'Power Saving' setting. This usually works...

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Screen Burn Prevention

This is when part of the screen displays an image which should not be there. This can be a temporary problem or it can mean the end of your TV as a useful item.This is a huge topic please see my other entries about screen bu...

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Get extended warranty

2 Years ago I never dreamt I would say it. Plasma screens have several weakness. The phosphors can fade or become permanently set. This will almost certainly not be covered by any warranty. Fortunately this problem can largely be avoided.There are many components in a plasma TV that are just waiting to go wrong. The processor, the cooling system to name but a few. So if your Plasma TV is likely to get a lot of use then this is one of the few situations were an extended warranty is worthwhile.You should of course pretend you are not interested when...

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Clean Your Plasma, LCD TV

What's the point of buying a high technology super screen and then view it through mountains of dust and finger marks? Here I will explain how you can easily and cheaply clean your beloved Plasma or LCD TV to get that stunning viewing experience, like the day you had it delivered, every day.Plasma & LCD Screens are Porous.First of all a warning! Most screens of this type are porous. This means that any moisture no matter how slight will be absorbed into the screen. At the least it will leave an annoying mark that will never come off and at...

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Caring For Your Family

At the end of the day even more important than the TV itself is its users. Generally speaking as long is you follow the usual safety procedures as you would with anything electrical you and your family should be safe. There are a few issues to bear in mind however.Radiation & Eye strain from Plasma and LCD TV'sPhotosensitive seizures & TVsPlasma TV operating temperat...

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Radiation & Eye strain from Plasma and LCD TV's

While watching television, the lighting in the room should be dimmer than the screen. Make sure that the lighting doesn't reflect on the screen or cause a glare. Don't watch in very dim light because the contrast in light is almost as bad as glare. Avoid viewing from an angle which causes an unclear or glare effect. Sit in front of the plasma screen about four or five times the width of the TV screen away. This is just a rough guide.You might also be interested in:-Can I Put My Plasma Or LCD TV Above A Firepla...

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Photosensitive seizures

Television and electronic games are major factors that evoke seizures. Other light sources include flickering or reflected sunlight, lightning, car headlights, flickering artificial lights, arcade games, disco or even simple Christmas tree lights and sharply contrasting patterns.Some computer games can evoke seizures. Several factors explain why seizures occur during video games: photosensitive response to physical characteristics of the TV display, e.g., flicker at or near the frequency of the electrical supply; photosensitive response to the...

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TV operating temperature

Quite simply plasma and LCD TVs get very hot. Especially on the top edge but generally all over as well. Out of all the large screens I have checked (and i have checked a fair few) I don't think it is possible to cause a significant, serious burn but they do get as hot as say a radiator.If a child were to touch the hottest part they would probably instinctively let go quick enough that no real harm would be done. But just suppose the TV were to fall or perhaps a circumstance were to arise that the child could not remove their hand (or other part...

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How A Plasma TV Works

This explanation requires a few sub explanations so please bare with me. I promise it will all make sense in the end. I have taken the liberty of slightly simplifying a few aspects, like the actual reactions between gases and electrical current. However you should be safe giving this explanation down the pub or at the office without fear of some smarty pants chipping in about anything you missed or got wrong.What Is A Plasma and What Can It DoA plasma is a gas. It is made up of an equal number of positively and negatively charged electrons which...

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How LCD Screens Works

This explanation requires a few sub explanations so please bare with me. I promise it will all make sense in the end.What Is A Liquid Crystal and What Can It DoA liquid crystal is a substance with unusual properties. That is it behaves differently to most substances and this is quite useful. If you supply an electrical current to one of these liquid crystals then it temporarily changes its 'state' and can be controlled to either allow light through it or not.Liquid Crystals and ColourNow imagine a light and then a liquid crystal and then a colour...

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WOW Screen Wipes for LCD and Plasma TVs

Features1. Sumptuous size 40 x 25 cm2. Screens are left totally dust free.3. WOW Cloth Screen Wipes remove all finger and grease marks.4. It removes all marks from sneezes, coughs and other splashes.5. If you compare the price to the cost of conventional wipes, (in the shops or online) then this cloth costs you less and can be washed in the washing machine over and over. And most importantly The WOW Cloth Screen Wipes give much better results than conventional screen wipes.6. They are 100% safe on listed screens(link to list)7. Will not affect...

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WOW Screen wipes suitable, safe and Stunning on:-

TFT/LCDPlasmaLaptopsPDA'sApple IpodCompaq IpaqRegular CRT MonitorsCamera LensesSpectaclesNormal TVSony PSPNintendo DS/ Gameboy Advance (inc SP)Mobile Phonescd or dvd dis...

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WOW Cloth Instructions

Thie micro fibre cloth is usable on all the above surfaces. It is always advisable however to test the cloth on a discreet corner of your screen first.Use dry for dust and most marks and smears. For stubborn marks a very fine water spray on the cloth (NOT THE SCREEN) will suffice.The first time you use the WOW cloth you might need to 'focus' on individual marks or smears that may have been there for a long time. Once you have your screen gleaming and new a regular 'quick wipe' will be enough to remove all finger – grease – splash marks and dust.Great...

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A Sample of Genuine WOW wipe Customer Feedback

Excellent Service, fast delivery, many thanksvery pleased with product will def. use again ***Everything perfect - recommendedItem arrived quickly & did what it said. many thanksscreen wipes have done the trick thanks againexcellent item cleans like a dream really pleased + fast delivery A+++++Received promptly .Ideal for my lap top as finger marks removed,Thankswow, great itemfirst class item and delivery, def recomend!!! thanksIt works, tagreat product! cleans very well, thankyou!!! supercloth !!an excellent product. Easily gets rid of kids'...

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A Word From WOW Wipe

Welcome to a great way to clean. These unique screen wipes have no chemicals at all. The cloths are made from millions of micro 'smart' fibres which have such an amazing natural cleaning effect that no chemicals are required to clean and dust laptop screens, tft screens, plasma screens, lcd screens, Sony PSP screens, PDA screens, Ipod screens, Ipaq screens and regular screens.We hope you try o...

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Plasma/LCD TV Buyers Guide

This guide is not intended to address the pros and cons of individual screens, not even individual manufacturers. Makes and models change so quickly. But instead this guide will talk you throught the technicalities to aid your understanding and then show you how to asses the fundamental aspects that are essential to making the right choice for YOU. T hats right just because a TV gets a great review does not mean it is great for YOU!All The Plasma/LCD TV Features ExplainedWhat I Think Is Really Important When You Buy A Plasma TVHow To Get A TV With...

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All The Plasma/LCD TV Features Explained

Firstly here is a fairly comprehensive list of all the technical specifications that you might come across and what they meanHigh-definition television (HDTV)HDTV is a new system that transmits a TV signal with roughly twice the standard picture resolution as normal standard definition telly. Both Sky (satellite) and Telewest (cable) operate HDTV channels. To watch you need a subscription to either one of these services and an 'HD ready' TV. However, not everything on the dedicated HD channels is actually recorded in HD. More programmes are being...

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What I Think Is Really Important When You Buy A Plasma TV

Right then... Have you memorised all that technical stuff? OK then, now forget it. All of it! All the technical specifications in my opinion is not as important as the manufacturers and retailers would have you believe. The technical stuff is important to make sure it has the features you want. Like has it got PIP or enough scart sockets, HDMI input or whatever but below is what you really need to be looking for and the good news is you are already an expert!How To Get A TV With The Best PictureHow To Choose A TV With Great SoundIs The TV going...

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What the sound is really like

Sound is a huge topic. There are no end of technologies and options. However it does not have to be difficult. For watching TV almost any regular plasma or LCD has sufficient built in, in terms of both volume and quality. How can you be sure? Ask the salesperson for the remote control and try it out.Of course many of you will be after the 'ultimate cinema experience' and I can safely say that there are no TVs in any store at all that are good enough. This in a way simplifies the problem.A quick summary:- Just want 'good sound' test it out in the...

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What the picture is really like

Simple as that! It does not mean that you have a quick look then buy one, but if you take your time and use my tips you should choose successfully.Check out your satisfaction with multiple image types. What I mean is see what the plasma looks like with a regular DVD playing. Then ask to see it connected to a regular TV picture. If you are going to use it for games then ask them to hook the appropriate console up to it. If it is too much trouble then politely explain that it is a make or break requirement and that if they can't you will have to...

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What it actually will look like in your home

When I made my first ever Plasma purchase the whole family was a bit taken aback by its 'presence' in the room. As the weeks went by however we stopped 'noticing' it every time we walked in the room. And now we actually feel that the smart black rectangle on a curved glass stand compliments our somewhat minimalist decoration.All I am saying is to make sure you are happy with the style and colour etc. It is going to make a much bigger impact than you might think and is likely to be a bit imposing at first especially when compared to how it looked...

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Is it going to do the things YOU want

Having said all the things I have you obviously cant ignore the specifications completely. If you want a built in TV tuner on your LCD or PIP for your plasma, HDMI for your HD DVD player then clearly you need to make sure it has got it. Enough sa...

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How much?

Obvious really. If you have a few TVs that could be good then eliminate by price. On the other hand is it really worth the extra £100 for a particular Plasma when one albeit with a minor difference can be purchased more cheap...

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Now look at the technical specifications

If you are torn between a couple of LCD TVs and have considered all of the important factors now and only now compare the brightness, contrast and other ratin...

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Where To Buy Your Plasma TV

The best place to buy your plasma or LCD TV really depends on you. If you search the various on-line stores you can certainly beat the high street price by quite a bit. If you look somewhere like Ebay you can sometimes cut a bit more off of that.If you were buying something that is £50 in the shops, £40 in web stores and £30 on Ebay you could perhaps justify the risk as being worth it for the gain. But if the TV your after is £1000 and Ebay sellers have it for £800 then of course you have to consider what to most people is an enormous risk. Personally...

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What If My Plasma TV Goes Wrong & The Dreaded Extended Warranty

2 Years ago I never dreamt I would say it. Plasma screens have several weakness. The phosphors can fade or become permanently set. This will almost certainly not be covered by any warranty. Fortunately this problem can largely be avoided.There are however many components in a plasma TV that are just waiting to go wrong. The processor, the cooling system to name but a few. So if your Plasma TV is likely to get a lot of use then this is one of the few situations were an extended warranty is worthwhile.You should of course pretend you are not interested...

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Glossary of Technical LCD and Plasma Screen Terms

Please feel free free to add your own or correct me if you think I have boobed!LCDLiquid Crystal Display. A screen constructed using liquid crystal system.TFTThin Film Transistor, the lattice of circuitry that makes an LCD screen work.PlasmaA gas which when stimulated electrically emits a light.CRTCathode Ray Tube. The good old fashioned method of displaying a picture. Involves an electron gun firing at phosphors on a screen to illuminate them and make the picture.HDHigh Definition. A broad, non specific term used to describe a picture quality...

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Cleaning LCD, Plasma TVs, Laptops and Other Screens

What's the point of buying a high technology super screen and then view it through mountains of dust and finger marks? Here I will explain how you can easily and cheaply clean your beloved Laptop or LCD/TFT screen to get that stunning viewing experience, like the day you had it delivered, every day.TFT and LCD Screens are Porous.First of all a warning! Most screens of this type are porous. This means that any moisture no matter how slight will be absorbed into the screen. At the least it will leave an annoying mark that will never come off and...

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Will Plasma and LCD TVs become Outdated?

In a word, “NO”, in a couple of words, “probably not”. Bill Gates once said that computer networking would never catch on. So who am I to predict the future of Plasma TVs?But I can look at the history and development of the TV and it is quite clear there is an obvious trend. Bigger, clearer, louder, more real. The TV quite simply is trying to catch up with the cinema. And if you consider the availability of HD in the home and the surprising lack of it in the cinema then TV is doing a good job at catching up.Next consider the advantages of plasma...

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What Is Best – Plasma or LCD?

LCDFor:LCD has the widest number of size options, from small portable TVs right upto the huge screens.LCD TVs use around 60% of the power of a Plasma.Less susceptible to screen burn.Against:Picture quality side effects when watching conventional TV or ordinary DVDs like ghosting and smearing.Many LCD sets don't do black well, so darker pictures can look blurred.More acute viewing angles are required compared to plasma TVs. So if a TV is positioned in a corner with seats all around the room, some will get a better view than others.PlasmaFor:Plasma...

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