Frequently Asked Questions:

All About HD

The following questions and answers are intended help you prepare for your installation as well as lend some assistance in your decision making process.

Installations:

What is included in a professional installation?
Why are there several installation packages?
Why can’t I just run the power cord through the wall and connect via an extension cord to the nearest AC outlet?
What items are required for me to provide at time of installation?
What additional services can you provide?

HDTV

What is HDTV?
Which type of HDTV is best for my room?
What is the best screen size for my room?
Do I need to make changes to my existing cable or satellite programming package or hardware in order to receive HDTV broadcasts?

Installations:

What is included in a professional installation?

Site Survey to explain the installation to the client.
Written Quotation of accessories and options.
Unpack television/purchased equipment.
Connect television to all existing/new equipment provided.
Test the television HD functionality.
Set up programmable remote control functions with client's equipment.
Provide basic operational instructions
Remove all installation packaging/debris on site.

Why are there several installation packages?

Standard Installation - $249
This basic wall installation includes the connecting of all HDMI, Component, S-Video, Optical, Coaxial, RCA wires, as well as the connection and set-up of current components such as cable or satellite boxes.

Deluxe Installation - $349
This is perfect for customers who would like their LCD or Plasma TV mounted above the fireplace, preferring the clean, picture-frame look. Includes the connecting of all HDMI, Component, S-Video, Optical, Coaxial, RCA wires, as well as the connection and set-up of current components such as cable or satellite boxes.

* In order to hide the power cord in an on-wall installation, an AC outlet must be present directly behind your TV. HD Expert technicians are prepared to add or relocate your outlet for an additional fee.

Why can’t I just run the power cord through the wall and connect via an extension cord to the nearest AC outlet?

The power cord included with your television does not meet standards for high voltage through interior walls. If you don’t have an AC outlet available behind your intended location, HD Experts can install one for an extra fee.

What items are required for me to provide at time of installation?

Television.
Mounting Hardware or Cabinet/Table.
Cables and AC Power Outlet ( HDMI Cable(s), Component Cable(s), Audio Cables, Surge Protector (minimum), Uninterruptable Power Supply (optional).
HDTV Source, i.e., Satellite, Cable, or Off-Air Antenna.
Additional hardware, i.e. DVD Player, Personal Video Recorder, Gaming Device.

What additional services can you provide?

AC Outlets behind wall mount TVs complete the clean, no wires look. associated with today’s flat panel applications. $140 per outlet.
Your Dolby Digital 5.1 sound systems installed. $65 – including. speaker wire.
Custom Home Theater Remote Control
Whole House Audio
Custom lighting control
Restaurant, Bars, or Office installations, no problem!

HDTV

What is HDTV?

High-definition television (HDTV) transmits TV signals digitally, in contrast to the analog signals that have been used for the past 75 years.Color resolution and picture sharpness are greatly enhanced with HDTV, and sound quality is also much improved through the use of Dolby Digital.

Which type of HDTV is best for my room?

There are three major categories of HD televisions, Plasma, Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), and Rear Projection or Micro Display. It is easy to speak volumes about each technology, but we will limit this response to a few rules of thumb.

Plasma is the most popular display technology.; Plasma TVs are thin, wall mountable, and relatively affordable when compared to LCD TVs sizes 50” or larger. Plasma sets are well suited for wall applications in rooms with wide viewing angles, limited reflective ambient light.

LCD TVs are best suited to rooms with lots of light, as their screens are bright and less reflective. LCD TV’s tend to be more costly than Plasma in screen sizes in excess of 45” and suffer somewhat when viewed from extreme angles.

Rear Projection TVs are easily the most affordable HDTVs on the market. They are best suited to table top applications due to the depth of their cabinets, typically 17” to 19”, however their screens often measure in excess of 55”.

What is the best screen size for my room?

Selecting the proper screen size for your viewing enjoyment is entirely based on personal preference. A good rule of thumb is simply multiply the diagonal measurement of the screen by a factor of 1.5 to 3 to determine optimum seating distance.

50” diagonal HDTV screen x 1.5 = 100” or 8 feet.

Do I need to make changes to my existing cable or satellite programming package or hardware in order to receive HDTV broadcasts?

Most likely you will need to upgrade your service and your hardware prior to installing you new HD television. Both cable and satellite require special set top boxes to provide the new higher resolution digital content. Typically, there is a $10 additional fee for the HDTV tier of programming.

Alternatively, local networks, like NBC and ABC, provide free HD programming via off-air antenna. Unfortunately, premium programming such as HBO and ESPN are only available via your cable or satellite provider.

HD-DVD, Blu-Ray DVD, several gaming platforms, and conventional DVD (480P)* are excellent sources for HDTV.

There are a many questions when deciding who will install your new home theater system. Where to place the speakers? What do I connect it with? How do I hide these ugly exposed wires?