Technical Advice

[denismartindale]

Start off with google–com and youtube–com for tricks and tips and equipment updates.

[denismartindale]

Most faults are usually going to lead to switch off and switch on again choices but we ought to delay the switch on for a while to help clear out existing memory of the data that isn’t working. Some equipment will offer a reset button or a tiny reset option on the back panel or underneath the equipment. Sometimes there are remote control actions or Menus or SubMenu actions required. A total reset is something to avoid if possible. Google and YouTube will offer us various tricks and tips and even remote control codes such as for Sky remotes and their different version numbers as well as the brand and model of the TV and whatever code or codes might work.

Some gurus on YouTube has offered us incredible workarounds when things go wrong, yet these may be updated later and improved so we need to keep note of what the video description is and the identity of the person offering us such details. Computers can save such content as a complete website web page or bookmark the web page for us as a favourite.

Service manuals are available as PDF files and these can be studied better if we increase the zoom value eg from 100% to 150% instead.

Otherwise, we could spend a fortune on expensive Helpline numbers if no 0800 alternatives exist.

[denismartindale]

I have 4K Smart TVs and sometimes need to adjust the settings. So I have explored various ways to help improve the picture quality and one type of picture control is to do with the fast playbacks of certain shows. The speed motion is something that YouTube gurus may have recommended that we switch such controls off. Even so, here’s something that I noticed this week:

EDITED QUOTE:

Turn on motion smoothing to watch the Olympics (and then turn it off)

“Television enthusiasts typically rail against the motion-smoothing feature included in many TVs. I know because I’m one of them. I tell people to turn off the feature whenever possible. However, there is one important exception: live sports. That includes the major worldwide sporting event many people will sometimes watch this summer, the Paris Olympics. Turn motion smoothing on for sporting events. It’s one of the few cases where motion smoothing looks good.”

::::::

Another factor that I’ve been told about is that the High Street stores have TV demo settings for sales purposes so we may need to experiment with the colours that we recognise as correct and set up one of the customised options such as USER or CINEMA or VIVID or SPORTS. I had to do this recently with the tint colour settings for red and green options to match an Internet device’s default colours I’ve seen for years.

[denismartindale]

Audio Description, Sign Language, Subtitles and Screen display options.

Our audio and video devices may have extra settings beyond the screen formats 4:3 and 16:9 displays. When we use the set-top boxes for Freeview, Freesat and Sky we use the I for info action to see details for widescreen, sign language and audio description. The settings may be changed so we can customise the displays for sign language or subtitles. The widescreen setting shows the extreme left and right. The 4:3 setting may be displaying well. Otherwise, we try the 4:3 pan and scan options. Or letterbox as a different option, or the zoom option. The central screen area view shows a limited zoom display which could be useful for small text views, maps or order numbers for the shopping TV channels. The 4:3 option also shows a wider view of the central area so it appears as the full widescreen display and the full height display. Sign language may offer us the English language screen view or the original foreign language screen view. Beyond these another option is Audio Description when the action is explained on the screen. There may be sound control settings for the maximum volume instead of anything the original scenes may offer.

So we don’t just have to sit there accepting the current default or customised settings. We can customise yet again for the older films and TV screen views for temporary and yet better displays and we can switch back later when these have ended. So if we have 4:3 or 16:9 TV screens we could test what works before our favourite shows begin. Then we may see different displays for the titles and the credits rather than the main content. So find out what works. One way is to download content using a Sky box and your paid subscription. Some i-for-info key options reveal the HD or SD picture quality, SL for sign language, WS for widescreen, and AD for audio description or if subtitled. Different TV series may have started 4:3 and later became 16:9 so bear these variations in mind. You may not want to see text on the TV screen so choose episodes and their TV options as you require if granted the choice from available films and shows.

[denismartindale]

It’s likely that millions here in the UK may buy brand new TVs this Christmas and in 2025. I was surprised to watch a YouTube video about buying from High Street stores such as Currys. Local stores such as Currys may seem convenient for returning faulty items but the 12-month or 24-month warranty coverage is the reason there’s a lower price than other companies and stores offering a 5-year or a 6-year warranty coverage such as John Lewis and Richer Sounds.

Modern Smart TVs may get broken because of a top heavy effect based on weight as well as feeble supports under the TVs. Even my LG and Hisense TVs are not the best support designs. So the YouTube video explained a broken screen costs hundreds to replace if the customer insists on it or the insurance covers that cost and doesn’t offer a new replacement TV instead.

The somewhat recent Sales of Goods Act has to be reconsidered as customers out to get TVs that last 5 years and even more. However, some TVs are deliberately sold with substandard parts and some TVs had to get withdrawn.

Another factor is energy usage and costs as well as changing the default ECO-settings on some TVs. We may need to reconsider what we pay for our customised settings that require higher costs than the default settings.

It’s possible that the electricity and gas standing charges may be revised with energy companies ordered to provide tariffs without these charges. The companies would simply charge more per energy unit anyway, but very low users could save some money and perhaps even more if using a fast microwave than the gas oven taking longer.

The 4K Smart TVs have efficiency ratings for energy usage but people may be more interested in the other specifications and apps. Even some some YouTube videos question if Smart TVs are really worth the extra money and that could depend on any freebie or home trial discounts the TVs display which could save customers money.

The horrible TV Licence Tax increases by £5 in 2025 so no chance of a cancellation for tens of millions of customers who hardly ever watch BBC shows or use the BBC iPlayer online.

As for extra TV channels the Internet access provides, I use the Netgem Netbox 4K model as it lets me add over 100 Netgem Internet channels when I retune the Freeview channels so a secondhand purchase on eBay proves very helpful to get even more channels and apps.

YouTube has several tutorials and tricks and tips and TV settings advice so that’s another app for our TVs and devices to access.

In any case, I look for 4K Smart TVs with the little circle input for satellite TV and Radio channels as I’ve got spare satellite dish cables to receive Sky and Freesat frequencies. However, the ultra picture quality receivers for Sky Q and Virgin Media’s 360 box don’t let me record content via a SCART output or HDMI output to my DVD Recorder. Both receivers had to be taken away and I was switched back to Sky+ cables instead. I don’t recommend Sky Glass or Sky Stream either. I’m staying with my 2TB storage Sky+ box instead so with my Sky subscription I can store content and download it, too.

As for Sky, I prefer NOW TV for Sky Cinema and cancel that every now and then rather than get Sky’s long 18-month contract at a discount price yet hardly ever watched… Sky Entertainment is worthwhile because of the extras at a discount if you’re lucky…

[Author]

Posts