Archive for the ‘home theatre’ tag
The Ideal Home Entertainment Set Up
Home theater can mean different things to different people. For some people, having a big TV is enough. For some people, you cant have the big television set without a nice DVD player. And for some people, you cant have the big television set and the DVD player without the super surround sound and a high tech Blu-ray player. It all depends on what you want out of your set-up.
Some want a good picture and good sound, others feel that the sound needs to exceed what you would hear in a theatre. So, how can you decide on the best home theatre for you?
First, it is helpful if you visit a retail outlet to check out some of the set-ups in person. Then, you will have a better idea of what you like and what you do not like. It is harder to guess by just reading the specs online. After you do some checking out of the equipment in person, make a list of what you want and what you would like.
Do a little research online. You can look for reviews and ideas from other people who have done the legwork for you already. Then start putting together a plan for what you want, making sure that it fits the size of the room that you will be using, remembering that in the case of home theater, there is such a thing as too big. Dont overdo it, make reasonable decisions, but dont be cheap. You can find deals if you look for them, but going cheap means that you always get what you pay for.
The last step would be obtaining the proper cables for your set up. A wireless set up is less hassle, however it does not fit into everyone budget. What you need to know about cables is make sure and purchase an HDMI cable. Nothing to expensive, nothing to cheap, just a middle of the line cable and you will be fine.
Depending on the quality of sound you are looking for, the type of speaker wire can make all the difference. Whether you are shopping for wire or video cable go to www.selbyacoustics.com.au for assistance or to simply find what you are looking for.
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Digital Television for beginners
Digital TV has transformed the way that we view television programmes with more choice than ever before via more providers and more choice of delivery method and interactive features. It can be received from a terrestrial broadcast using an aerial or a satellite dish, cable, phone line or the internet. There are also programmes that are available with and without a monthly subscription or contract. The type of programmes that you will receive will depend on how much you are willing to pay and the type of programmes that you want to view. On top of this there are also high definition channels that are free or monthly subscription charges or contracts.
Paid services include Virgin’s Cable service, Sky Digital, Tiscali and BT Vision. Free services are available via Freeview, Freesat by the BBC and ITV, Freesat from Sky and Virgin Media if you use their phone service.
Freeview television
Freeview digital television broadcasts are replacing the normal analogue terrestrial television broadcasts received by an aerial throughout the UK. To receive Freeview you will first of all need to be in an area where it is available and then you will have to have a suitable aerial and either a Freeview set top box or a television with freeView built in. Apart from having to pay the UK television licence Freeview is free of any other charges and offers 48 channels of television and 24 channels of radio.
Up until recently there have been both the old analogue broadcasts and the new digital broadcasts in many areas of the country. The much advertised Digital Switch Over is currently switching off the analogue broadcasts area by area around the UK. This process should be completed during 2012. If you havent already opted to switch to the digital channels you will have to by the time your area switches to digital. You will need either a TV with a freeview tuner or a freeview set top box to use with your existing TV. The digital switch over will affect non digital TVs, Video Recorders and DVD recorders which will need either replacing with freeview equipped equivalents or a set top box connecting to each of them to receive freeview broadcasts. If you choose another method of receiving digital television broadcasts then you will need different equipment to connect to your TV.
If you already receive all of your TV content via Virgins Cable service, either of the Freesat options, Sky Digital, Tiscali or BT vision then you dont need concern yourself about the much published terrestrial digital switch over.
Top Up TV
Top Up TV adds additional channels to the standard channels that are available from Freeview using your existing Freeview compatible aerial. For 9.99 three channels are added namely a sports channel a movie channel and an On Demand channel that stores programmes on the hard drive of your set top PVR which can then be viewed when you choose. No further equipment is required other than a card that is slotted into your existing Set Top Box PVR.
Virgin Medias Cable TV
To receive Virgin Medias Digital TV channels via cable you must first live in an area that can offer this option. You will also have to be willing to at least switch your phone line to Virgin Media to receive a basic 45 channels for free. If you are willing to pay 19.50 per month then over 165 channels are available and there are other cheaper options with less channels. Every television that is connected to cable will have to have a compatible set top box to receive the programmes. So if you have multiple televisions in your house then you will need one for each television at an additional discounted monthly cost.
A large library of programmes and films are accessible On Demand when you choose either in standard or high definition. Some of these are accessible free of charge and some are viewable by pay per view.
Sky Digital Television
Sky Digital is available by means of a monthly subscription charge. To receive Sky Digital you will need a satellite dish installing and a Sky set top box. The majority of houses in the UK can receive Sky Digital.
You probably wont be able to have a satellite dish installed if you live in an apartment, high rise flats or a building that has planning restrictions prohibiting satellite dishes. Also if live next to a large building or Trees that prevents the required position and angle of installation for the satellite dish then you wont be able to have a satellite dish installed.
Once the dish is installed you will be provided with a set top TV box that connects the TV to the satellite Dish. If you want to watch satellite TV on every TV in your house you will require extra set top TV boxes and possibly an additional dish. There will be extra charges for providing the additional equipment, installation and monthly fees albeit at a discount. This can work out to be quite expensive.
There is usually a charge for providing and installing the satellite dish and the set top box. Sky packages start from 16.50 per month with a free set top box and 60 for the dish and installation offering over 200 channels. If you opt for all the channels available from Sky you will receive over 630 channels of TV and Radio channels at a cost of 46 per month with an installation charge of 60 for a standard box and 30 for Sky Plus set top box. Sky also offers the widest selection of HD channels at an additional cost of 9.75 per month.
Sky Digital also has an On Demand service that is available via the set top box and the internet. Sky Anytime is free of charge and offers a selection of films, documentaries, entertainment channels etc. Sky Box Office offers the latest films for a small charge on demand using the Sky Digital set top box. It is also possible access hundreds of films via your PC that you will have to download to your PC and then you can watch them on your PC or on your television. To watch them on your TV you will either need to copy them to a DVD Disc for playing on your DVD player that is attached to your TV or a you will need a Media Centre so that you can stream the data directly to your PC.
Freesat Television
The name Freesat is confused by the fact that there is a version provided by Sky and one by a joint venture of the BBC and ITV. Each option requires a satellite dish and set top box which you will have to purchase and both are free of monthly charges. Panasonic also have a television with a built in Freesat tuner that is compatible with the BBC and ITV option, so a set top box is not required if this is bought. Like with Sky Digital the installation of the satellite dish is subject to the same restrictions but generally Freesat is available to over 99% of homes in the UK. If your house already has a Sky Satellite Dish installed on it that is unused or it has a spare connector on it then you wont need to go to the expense of having a Satellite Dish installed.
High definition channels are available free of monthly subscription on the Freesat from the BBC and ITV. To receive HD you will need to make sure that you buy a HD Freesat set top box.
Set top boxes that are compatible with the BBC and ITVs Freesat are available from around 49.99 or 129.99 complete with a dish and installation. There are in excess of 140 channels of programmes of different types that are available without any commitment or monthly subscription. If you want the HD version then you will have to pay 129.99 for the set top box or around 229.99 with satellite dish and installation. If you opt for a Freesat compatible television then you wont require a set top box just a satellite dish.
There are in excess of 240 standard definition television channels on Freesat from Sky, Sky Freesat is obtainable for an initial payment of 75 and then there arent any further payments required. High definition television channels are not available on Skys Freesat.
BT Vision Television
BT Vision is provided using a broadband connection and a BT Home Hub router which is then wirelessly connected to a wireless receiver which is connected to your television. The BT vision television service offers Freeview and an on demand service of entertainment and movies. If you already use BTs broadband then the Home Hub Router is supplied without any cost.
You can either pay for each programme that you watch or pay a monthly subscription for a bundle of programmes. If you dont have BT broadband there is a basic charge for the set top TV box of 29.36 and installation at 29.36. With the minimum package there arent any monthly charges you only pay for what you watch. There are also options to pay a monthly charge for a bundle of programmes including 40 channels of Freeview, sports, kids programmes, music and some films, but you then pay extra for additional films. The bundles are from 13.70 per month to 19.57 per month.
Tiscali TV
Tiscali television is only available in certain areas of the country via a phone line with broadband and possibly an aerial. The Tiscali television service offers in excess of 70 channels of digital TV channels and digital radio channels and in excess of 1000 on demand programmes, Movies and Music. The basic offering starts from 19.99 per month and includes 8Mb broadband and telephone line rental with on demand movies charged per view.
Fetch Television
Fetch television is another non subscription service that provides 48 channels of Freeview and access to over a 1000 standard definition and high definition on demand programmes and films that can be downloaded when you choose and streamed to your television. You will need a Fetch television PVR which is a Freeview box and high definition media centre, a computer and broadband. The media centre allows you to access films that you have downloaded to your PC and play them on your television. Fetch television set top boxes start from just under 130.
IP Television and On Demand Television
It is now possible to download movies via the internet to your PC which you can then record on to a DVD and then play via a DVD player that is attached to your TV. Alternatively you can stream the movie from your hard drive to a media centre under your television. It is also possible to download HD content on the web. IP TV also allows the viewing of programmes from the BBC, Sky and many other stations in the UK and around the world.
Conclusion
Never before has there been so much choice and so many ways to receive TV content. Which one you choose will depend on the availability of Cable, Satellite, Freeview or Broadband Phone Line and how much you want to pay for the equipment, the type and quantity of programmes you want to view, and how much you want to pay a month if anything. Then to further complicate the decision you need to decide if you want HD content and are you willing to pay for it. IP TV is available now albeit a bit difficult and sometimes slow to access but this will probably be the way programmes will be received in the future. Of course you will also need a suitable widescreen HD LCD TV or HD Plasma TV to appreciate the benefits of Digital television broadcasts.
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