New TV query.

[VK2FLAW]

I may be in the market for a new TV.
Does any of you learned people have some real world experience with the new Plasma and LCD TV's.

How bad can it get?

Brands to avoid?

How to test in store?
I could probably try my scanner, but they are harldy to isolate different TV's for me.

[VK2GOM]

Hi Robert,

Plasma TV's have had a bad reputation for two valid reasons - excessive power consumption, and also bad QRM. In fact, the days of the Plasma are over in Europe - legislation against them has resulted in no more being sold there. LCD only. I believe such action hasn't reached these shores yet.

I have a 42" Philips HiDef LCD TV here that causes no problems at all on tests I've done.

Whilst you might choose an LCD TV that causes no problems, it's not to say your neighbour won't install a giant 60" plasma and create all sorts of interference issues.

For an idea of what it sounds like, have a look at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTXlLxV_Xwk

The only other piece of advice I could offer is go for a reputable brand. They are more likely to have done proper R&D, EMC testing etc. than some of the cut price Chinese no-name/rebrands.

73 - Rob VK2GOM / G0MOH

[VK6SIX]

If you want pain, pain, pain, pain on the ham bands , get a plasma RFI generator.
The EU are thinking about banning plasmas

Pioneer in japan has stopped making them

They run hotter

they last 1/2 as long as LCD/LED

they use more electricity

plasmas are real bad nasty bits of work.

They wipe out large blocks of ham HF bands

terrible things.

cheers graham

[vk6zry]

In the USA lots of house fires are caused by Plasma TV's due to the dust entering from the top.
As the TV uses more heat than older style, the inevitable happens after prolonged use and they go to bed.

I have found that the Set top boxes, terrestrial receivers tend to have no screening and generate noise, my noise floor rises to S9 +10 on all HF bands.

This masks out all the HF signals. I have 3 boxes and they all do it.
A fellow amateur in Germany had the same problem and complained to the manufacturer, they sent a MOD that fixed his problem.
Sadly we don't have RFI related legislation in Australia, and it is never enforced.

Banana Republic - Australia.

[vk3py]

A few years ago our old glass-screen TV died, so the obvious replacement was a flat-screen TV. I had recollections of stories concerning plasma screen TV's, so they were out of the question - no discussion entered into! I opted for an LCD TV. A Samsung, if that's of any consequence. Digital "tuna" on the inside, as the advert went. As a sweetener, the toyshop from which I bought it threw in a "surge protector" power board. The latter turned out to have a power line filter and antenna low-pass filter/braid breaker integrated into the one unit. Whatever......best move I ever made. No RFI from the TV and equally important, no TVI from HF to the TV. Happy as Larry! Now if only my neighbours asked me before buying their crappy TV's.......

Chas
VK3PY

[vk4tu]

What brand/model was the power board - I can't say that my tivo generates noise (that I've noticed) but my old CRT widescreen TV causes bad QRM on MW AM. When the TV finally dies I'll probably get an LCD, I prefer the technology anyway.

[vk4fp]

I sold my large plasma TV due to bad QRM on low frequencies (eg 80m band).
Noise radiating from screen panel ,
not from power supplies or out of mains or RF .
Bought a new 1080p LCD TV.
No garbage noise from it.
I hope my neighbors do not buy a plasma TV.

[vk4abw]

I've got 2 tv's in the house which haven't been turned on since 2007......and you think i'm joking.
The only tv i use is a 21" glass one as a monitor for my 2.4ghz wireless camera (eme stuff).
Plasma, Digital Set Top Boxes, inverters, neighbours , etc all = qrm
Having said this, i am very happy that my 1.7kw 240v converter (solar system for whole house) causes zero qrm.

[vk3py]

The surge protector/filter supplied with my LCD TV is called a "Surgecube" made by Pure Av. See http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/hi-fi-ho ... ter/256845

I should state that I installed it at the time I bought the TV. I've not tried removing it to verify its efficacy. I'm happy to leave well enough alone if there's no TVI or reciprocal RFI!

Chas
VK3PY

[VK3BA]

Has anyone had any experience with the new LED type flat screens? My oldies have recently bought one, a Samsung I think. Nice picture and all. I was quick to tune around the AM & FM broadcast bands over there at Christmas but I didn't notice any dramas. And yes Chas, throwing in one of those u-beaut surge-protectors with every flat screen sold seems to be the deal clincher these days, as my father ended up with one of those too. Haven't tried the new TV without it, probably for the same reasons as yourself. Not as good as a decent UPS but worth a try I guess.

Anyway, any dramas with LED TV's out there??

Cheers,

[VK7HDX]

Personal experience for me at my QTH is 2 things about Plasma's...

1....Massive amounts of QRM on most parts of HF. I remember when 10 years ago 80m was fairly quiet and local QRM was very low but NOT these days due to over the years more and more neighbors have jumped on the wide-screen experience.

2... Yes they do get hot.

73..Karl
VK7HDX

[VK7HAY]

Plain and simple, get a LCD or LED.

They are far superior, lower energy cost, and don't run as hot. LCD technology has improved over the last few years too.

We have a plasma and I have to turn it off to use 80m, but our neighbours keep theirs on of course, still got a noise floor of S8-9. About 3-4 years ago my noise on 80m was non-existent.

[VK2HRX]

I know someone who is active from HF up to 23CM and has a Samsung LED TV. He hasnt mentioned anything about interference and he would have if it was there!!

Compton