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dangers in the company you hire anyonefor hometheater installs

2011-04-16T17:08:00Z

Most customers are unaware of the laws governing the installation of home theaters. In the state of california
anyone can work on a home theater if the work including materials does not exceed $500. if it does the people installing need to be licensed. the contractors could face jail time and up to $8000 in fines

If the install requires the moving of an electrical receptical to be placed behind the tv screen, it must be done by a certified electrician or an electrical contractor c-10. If it is not and a fire insues, and your house burns down your insurance company will refuse to pay the claim. Hiring a licensed contractor is a small price to pay for peace of mind. In addtion licensed c-10 contractors are bonded and insured.

dont be foolish

sparky bob

double dvd players

2011-01-31T21:31:00Z

Dear Client

Normally blue ray players come with only one disk playing ability. I have not seen a double. If I am hearing you right I believe yoou want to drive two different locations with two different formats. to my knowledge it dosent exist. Even the players that have a combo dvd/vcr player can only operate one at a time. If I run into something like what you are looking for I will post it for you

sparky bob

TV Mounts

2011-01-29T18:21:00Z

Many people will try to buy TV mounts without giving thought to the type of TV you are mounting.

When mounting TV's, one of the most important criteria to be considered is the weight and the size of the tv.

For tv"s up to around 24" and 40 lbs it is ok to buy an articulating mount that connects to the wall using one
stud. If you go above 24" and 40 lbs the one stud mount tends to creak and loosen up as the articulating mount is flexed back and forth.

Larger Articulating mounts for larger tv's must allow for mounting to 4 points. Two on each stud. This stabilizes the larger tv''s and prevents damage by dropping to the floor. This especially occurs with mounts of the SIMPLICITY BRAND from COSTCO.

TAKE HEED AND BE CAREFUL

Sparky Bob

home theater misconceptions

2010-06-12T15:43:00Z

Best buy and the rest of the retailers never want to explain properly about buying a 5x1, 7x1 or other tuner becasue you would never buy a system from them.

the facts:

A 5x1 home theater tuner means that you can hook up 5 (8 ohm) speakers to the system and nothing more unles they have a connec tor on the back of the unit that allows for an external amplifier to be attached.

A 7x1 means the same but allows for seven speakers.

If you want to use your system for both home theater and a music and sound system for your house, you need to buy a am/ fm tuner
that has:
       1. two zones that operate independently
        2. an amplifier pre out that allows the unit to be hooked up to an external amplier.
        3. an amplifier that has enough wattage (power) to run all the speakers you have in the house for music and sound.
        4. volume controls that allow for matching the speakers to the tuner or amplifier.

If you presently have a home theater system in place, and the unit shuts down when you turn the volume up, your unit has self protect and is shutting down to protect itself .

so as you can see it takes a professional to install a real home theater system and music and sound system, or you have to do a lot of reading and need to learn a little electronics

sparky bob

blue ray dvd rip off

2010-06-11T15:55:00Z

For all you people buying dvd's with netflix and pandora, be appraised of the fact that they are not selling you all you need to get onto your network. Costco and the other retailers are not telling you that the great price on the new samsung and other brand blue ray dvd's, that offer netflix are not including a lan adapter which you have to buy at a retailer like best buy for at least another $80.

I consider this devious marketing

sparky bob

buying used equipment

2010-05-14T20:12:00Z

This weerk i had several calls to install systems that people had bought on ebay or craigs list. I felt a sense of duty to tell
people to be aware of what you are buying before you hand the cash to seller.

Even though the back of many high priced audio video receivers is quite impressive and at one time were very expensive, you can many times purchase new equipment for a third of the cost and have ten times more equipment.

many old machines are setup for AV and not component and not hdmi which gives you true digital processing. In addition there is no guarantee that the old equipment will even work

buyer beware or at lease know what you are buying. If you dont know, ask a professional

sparking bob

Time warner cable

2010-03-26T21:42:00Z

Many homeowners use cameras that bring the picture of their cameras to each tv by use of an rf modulator. this is an electronic machine that changes the video signal of the surveillance camera into a broadcast that can be seen on one of channels of your cable tv.

the only problem now is that the cable companies are trying to monopolize all of the channels, thus leaving no channels for home owners to broadcast any cameras on to unused channels.

the way to get around the trickery of the cable companies is to use Notch filters.

Bob

Plasma TV misbeliefs

2010-02-28T23:13:00Z

It used to be true that laying a plasma tv at an angle greater than 20% from straight up could damage the set. This is no longer true and many times I will lay the Plasma down, just like I do a LCD or LED to install the back mount. The Newer plasmas are not sensitive to being laid on their fronts.

sincerely

Sparky Bob

New Samsung WiFi

2010-02-26T18:26:00Z

Samsung has finally taken Dvd players to the next level. Their model 3600 Wifi Netflix unit utilizes you home network to transmit
streaming movies to your TV via you Samsung Wifi DVD.

You can choose from over 1200 movie titles and your computer, via the network, sends them to you Samsung, ready to be
streaamed to your TV at the touch of a button

Have installed quite a few and I am in love with this unit.

Sparky Bob

soooo coool

TV marketing

2010-02-05T16:16:00Z

Just like Car companies try to confuse you with all the different models they sell, TV manufacturers do the same.

You have noticed all the different prices associated with all the confusing information about each TV.

The important thing to remember is that the HZ rating is how fast the electrons are traveling across the screen of the tv. The amount of cycles per second.

The best buy in a lcd TV will find you purchasing one that has at least 120 Hz and a resolution of 1080p. The naked eye cannot tell the difference between the more expensive 240 Hz and the 120. Dont buy the old 60 HZ TV's

sparky Bob

Bad tv installation suggestion from Eric Stromer

2010-01-18T22:34:00Z

I had to laugh after watching Eric Stomer, a specialist in home improvement, show how to install a flat screen tv.

1. e did not mention how dangerous it is to use the wrong size screws when applying a mount to the back of the tv.
     you can destroy a tv's circuit boards if the scres are too long.

2. e did not mention the proper way to locate the studs in the waslls and that many times the studs are not 16" apart.

3. He did not mention that the proper installation calls for channeling the walls for the placment of power and coax b ehind the tv
      instead of having to dange the cable below the tv down to the compnenets.

4. all in all I find Eric Stomer to be what we Call "blow and Go"

Sparky Bob

Plasma TV myths

2010-01-15T18:40:00Z

Hint for the day:

while it is true that the original Plasma TV's had an issue with moving them during and prior to installation it is not true of the Plasma tv's of today.

The older TV's were not supposed to be tilted more than 20 degrees prior to installation due to the gas in their tubes. The Plasma tv's of today can be laid flat on their front for extended periods of time prior to installation without damaging the unit.

sparky Bob

home theater hints

2010-01-12T17:41:00Z

hint of the day:

before venturing off into a new universal remote control do yourself a favor and check out eh new zagg box unveiled at the
consumer electronics show in las vegas.

it will revolutionize the way we treat our home theater remotes and could possible save you money and time.

sparky bob

Using Banana clips with stereo systems

2010-01-10T18:06:41Z

Receiving many emails regarding of wiring speakers to sstereo systems.

Even though they are more expensive, the use of banana clips when hooking up speaker wires to a stereo accomplishes
two things:

1. allows the easy swithching of one speaker to another stereo terminal, for instance when changing a mistaken connection
from one location to another.

2. easier to connect without having to put a wire through a terminal hole on a stereo output.

hint for the day

"Sparky Bob"

HDMI vs Component Cable

2010-01-08T20:08:00Z

Many customers ask if they can use component cables from their cable box or other driver to their tv, instead of HDMI cables and will they get the same audio visual results.

Both HDMI abd Component cable will bring digital tv to your tv monitor, however HDMI has the following advantages.

1. HDMI cable is much thinner and allows easy passage thru the walls to reach your tv monitor.

2. HDMI allows passage of digital inormation back and forth from you cable box or other driver to your tv monitor allowing for
real digital sound that component tv does not allow.

hope this helps

sparky bob

Home Theater Installation Hints

2009-12-30T17:14:00Z

Dear Do It Yourselfer:

Whenever installing a flat screen tv on a wall why make sure to have the power lines and the low voltage coax lines
seperated by at least 6 inches?

when you bring power up a wall to install a 120 volt recepticle behind a new flat tv screen installation, you must make
sure that the tv coax that is brought up the wall to bring the picture to the tv, is at least 6 inches away from the 120 volt
recepticle. If high voltage, in this case 120 volts, is brought up the wall paralelling the low voltage audio cables or coax cable,
there is a possiblility that 60 cycling or "humm" from the 120 volt line will cause tv interference.

These two lines have the possibility of this interference if the paralelling is for 12" or more.

"A hint from Dr "Sparky" Bob"

Welcome

2009-12-15T21:21:34Z

Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries.