Televisions

[Liz]

Thank you everyone for your TV advice, it's been an interesting read.
I'm so glad we don't need a new one yet, it's all too confusing for a mere mortal like me who doesn't own a Firestick or chromecast or anything!

[Pachapapa]

Size of TV screen.
Really depends on the definition.
SD, HD, Ultra HD.
For the same diagonal screen a change to a higher definition means one can sit CLOSER to screen without noticing pixels.
For example a HD 50" TV has an optimum distance of around 1.8 metres.
Less distance for pixelisation and large heads, greater distance no pixelisation but heads get smaller.

[suein56]

At present we have a 102cm/40" screen and OH and I are comfortable viewing at a distance of 2.5m/2.7m .. our sitting room is not big .
Next time I would like a screen a little larger .. say 108cm/42.5" .. OH says what we have is big enough so he's hoping our 2011 TV lasts a tad longer.

[Char]

Well I've just watched an episode of the Wheel of Time on the amazon fire stick and t'was like being at the cinema.
You can see every pore on peoples faces and the hairs up their noses.
phenomenal picture quality for the cheapest tv in the shop.

[MAD87]

Jeepers, I've skimmed through the posts here, although not looking for a new TV. They're full of initials, of which I only recognise USB Good luck with the new appliance, Char.

In the old days, one just rented / bought a TV, and when it didn't work, you gave it a wallop on top. Or changed the valves....

[RobertArthur]

@ Mad87, in the new days you just change several electrolytic capacitors in the power supply (if you are lucky...). In this case even a once top of the line product has fallen victim to the red pencil of a bookkeeper. Problem: the tv was hesitating to do something useful, finally you had to wait for about thirty minutes or more before anything happened. In the power supply (left) where nasty peak currents flow, Mr. Samsung was penny wise, pound foolish. From the consumer's perspective ....Or was it planned obsolescence?

The use of standard grade electrolytic capacitors here produces after several years a standard problem, almost leaking capacitors. Replacing them with a more profesionnel type, high temperature, low ESR etc., and the help of a soldering iron restored this huge flatscreen tv to its former glory. I still regret it however that I sold my Marconi valve tester.....

[Hotrodder]

Yes, you can blame the penny pinching accountants for the short lifespan of modern stuff. A lot of hi fi enthusiasts buy kit that is 40, 50, or 60 years old and much of it is still working fine. When its not, all it usually needs is some of the capacitors replacing. In many cases a tenner's worth of decent replacements puts things right. If you can't manage it yourself then finding someone who can is the first challenge. The second challenge is coughing up the kidney he wants for doing the work.

[RobertArthur]

@ Hotrodder, a kidney? A good bottle of wine is enough fore some, probably the reason why Robert's repair shop is rather unprofitable....

[Char]

Well we've been punished now - our Humax box has stopped working.

[exile]

That is an absolute Bummer Char.

Are you sure it is the box? It could be a connection - at either end - or the lnb itself, let alone dish alignment.

I say this as one who has suffered all of these except the lnb failing.