1. What is 3D TV?
3D TV is a generic term for a display technology that lets home viewers experience TV programs, movies, games, and other video content in a stereoscopic effect. It adds the illusion of a third dimension, depth, to current TV and HDTV display technology, which is typically limited to only height and width (“2D”).

2. How can you get 3D from a 2D screen?
A 3D TV or theater screen showing 3D content displays two separate images of the same scene simultaneously, one intended for the viewer’s right eye and one for the left eye. The two full‐size images occupy the entire screen and appear intermixed with one another‐‐objects in one image are often repeated or skewed slightly to the left (or right) of corresponding objects in the other‐‐when viewed without the aid of special 3D glasses. When viewers don the glasses, they can perceive these two images as a single 3D image. The system relies on a visual process called “stereopsis”. The eyes of an adult human lie about 2.5 inches apart, which lets each eye see objects from slightly different angles. The two images on a 3D TV screen present objects from two slightly different angles as well, and when those images combine in the viewer’s mind with the aid of the glasses, the illusion of depth is created.

a. Stereopsis ‐ Is the remarkable power of the visual sense to give an immediate perception of depth on the basis of the difference in points of view of the two eyes.

3. Can everyone see 3D?
No. Between 5 percent and 10 percent of Americans suffer from stereo blindness, according to the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. They often have good depth perception‐‐which relies on more than just stereopsis‐‐but cannot perceive the depth dimension of 3D video presentations. Some stereo‐blind viewers can watch 3D material with no problem as long as they wear glasses; it simply appears as 2D to them. Others may experience headaches, eye fatigue or other problems.

4. Does everyone watching a 3D TV need to wear the glasses?
Yes. Every member of a family sitting around the 3D TV must wear the glasses to see the 3D effect. The 3D TVs of today require active liquid crystal shutter glasses, which work by very quickly blocking each eye in sequence (120 times per second systems in some systems). The glasses, in addition to the liquid‐crystal lenses, contain electronics and batteries (typically good for 80 or more hours), that sync to the TV via an infrared or Bluetooth signal.

5. Why does a consumer need a new TV to view 3D?
TV manufacturers have stated that none of their current HDTVs can be upgraded to support the new 3D formats used by BluRay, DIRECTV and others.

a. One reason is that the TV must be able to accept a higher‐bandwidth signal (technically 120Hz) to display BluRay 3D, and older TVs can typically only accept relatively lower‐bandwidth (60Hz or less) signals. That’s potentially confusing because many non‐3D LCDs have 120Hz and 240Hz refresh rates, and manufacturer marketing also mentions “600Hz” plasmas. Regardless of the “Hz” spec, these non‐3D models can only handle a source that outputs at 60Hz or less via HDMI‐‐the “conversion” to a higher rate, if applicable, occurs inside the TV itself.

b. Another reason is that 3D requires different video processing and additional hardware, including some way to send the necessary Infrared or Bluetooth signal to the 3D glasses.

c. The exception applies to the approximately 4 million 3D compatible rear‐projection DLP and plasma TVs sold in the last few years by Mitsubishi and Samsung. The Mitsubishi 3DC‐1000 HDTV Start Kit will be required to make these previous generation TVs compatible with the current 3D sources.

6. Does the consumer need a new BluRay player?
YES!

a. No BluRay player maker has said it will upgrade existing 2009 or earlier standalone players to work with BluRay 3D movies.

b. The Sony PS3 is the one exception. 2 separate firmware updates by Sony will allow the PS3 to become a 3D BluRay player.

7. Will the consumer need new HDMI cables?
If the consumer already has a HDMI High Speed cable then they are set. If they do not and they would like to enjoy the 3D experience then they need to have a HDMI High Speed cable.

a. One exception possible is with the DIRECTV 3D experience. An older HDMI cable may pass the signal but the information is not clear yet.

b. Be safe and ensure the customer will get home and be able to view all 3D content with a HDMI High Speed cable.

8. What is the difference between “3D Ready” and a “3D TV”?
A 3D ready TV does not have the built in 3D processing to decode 3D content and will require an external box to decode the signal. A 3D TV has built in 3D processing to decode the 3D signal. Let’s look at a couple of the issues that will muddy the waters:

a. Some “3D” TVs do not have a built in 3D emitter and will require a 3D emitter to be purchased separately.

b. All “3D ready” TVs will require the purchase of a separate emitter.

c. Almost all “3D” TVs will require the purchase of glasses as only a very few models will include a set of active shutter glasses.

9. What A/V receivers will pass the 3D signal?
The Pioneer, Pioneer Elite, Sony, Onkyo and most of the Yamaha 2010 models will pass through the 3D signal. Check the specs on the Yamaha models prior to selling a Yamaha receiver with a 3D system.

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In the electronics repair business, technology changes rapidly. For example, in less than 10 years televisions have changed from tube or CRT sets to projection, LCD,  Plasma, and now 3-D LED televisions. Regardless of the type of television you own there is one question that is always asked when these sets break – “Is it worth repairing?”

In reality, TV’s are no longer made only for home entertainment. They are widely used by businesses large and small, from taco stands to corporate boardrooms. Another fact is that the life span of the television is shrinking. I hear day after day “I just bought this TV less than a year ago and now it’s broken and my 10 year old TV in the garage is still working fine.”

If we ask the question “Is my TV worth repairing?” to Sears service, Conn’s, Geek Squad or any large consumer electronic retailer with a service department, the answer will mostly be NO. I am not bad mouthing anyone: I’m just speaking from experience. I worked for one of these companies for ten years, and know their policies.

The technicians need to have a certain number of televisions repaired per day. We needed to have 7 televisions fixed per day and a ‘Not Worth Repairing’ ticket was considered to be a fixed television on my daily report. I would still have a perfect record and look good at my yearly review. Heck, I might even get a full fifty cents per hour raise.

Some company technicians actually get paid a commission for ‘Not Worth Repairing’ since their pay structure is commission vs. hourly. The more not worth repairs, the less work they do and the more money for the technicians because they can visit more customers per day. I heard some technician get paid close to $ 8000.00 a month.

Questions you need to ask yourself to decide if the TV is worth repairing or not are:

1. How old is my TV? If your TV is HD ready, it is automatically worth repairing it.

2. How many hours does my TV run? If it’s like my household, I have two young children. The television is on from the time they wake up until they go to bed. A projection television is the way to go if it is going to be used extensively,

Fact: None of the televisions in the market today last like a projection TV.

3. Cost of TV repair VS replacing your TV.

Keep in mind that you must compare apples to apples, size to size, brand to brand. The reason I say this is because customers mostly think about the price and get excited about specials. For example, if we are repairing a 50 Inch TV, a customer will tell us “I can go to Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club and buy a 42 Inch TV for a few hundred dollars more rather than repairing the 50 Inch TV.” If we look closely the TV is a smaller size and it is not the same brand.

Wrong Comparison: If you have a Sony TV it must be priced against a Sony TV
and the size must be the same, not an off brand such as Vizio. If you do:

1. This is downgrading not upgrading
2. You are not saving money; you are spending more than the amount of the repair [you might even have to finance it.]
3. It is NOT the same brand. Because the brand EQUALS quality [At least name brand companies will back up their products.]

In the end, the decision is yours. If you have the money to spare to buy a new television and enjoy life, do not let price cheat you. Manufactures used to compete on quality, now they compete on price. I do not expect prices to go much lower than they are right now. In Canada all televisions have a 2 year manufactures warranty – in the U.S. only one year. I think Sears, Wal-Mart, Best Buy and other major retail stores care about their customers, but an extended warranty must be given away for free and their service department shouldn’t have any relationship with sales. Give customers the honest cost for repairs and allow them to make their own decision.

Bottom line: It is your money, your decision.

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There are few pretty good blogs and reference pages discussing Samsung’s warning that was released today regarding their new 3D TV. Can you imagine getting in the mood to buy a TV in Houston, getting it home, then reading this warning? Don’t watch while drinking. Don’t watch if your are in “bad physical” condition. Might cause epileptic seizures. WOW. Read more of the information here: TheRaggedyMom, blog with Samsung details.

When you decide NOT to buy a TV that is 3D, view our on-line store today! We have great prices on popular LCD, Plasma and Big Screen TV’s. We also repair most brands of tv’s. Call today!

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Are you in need for TV Repair in Houston? J&K Electronics, your Houston TV Repair Factory Authorized Dealer, has a 2nd Day repair guarantee for all service requests received PRIOR to 2pm on Monday – Thursday! Customer Service Guaranteed!!

J&K Electronics has factory trained, professional tv and computer repair specialists. We repair all types of televisions including plasma tv’s, LCD tv’s, DLP tv’s, and most big screen televisions. By offering a two day service guarantee on all tv repairs received before 2 pm, Monday-Thursday – why NOT call J&K Electronics?

Call us today and we’ll dispatch one of our service technicians to your home, and get you back in business with your tv! Call Today!

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On June 12, 2009 all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital. Digital broadcasting will allow stations to offer improved picture and sound quality and additional channels. Find out more about whether or not you will be impacted by the digital TV (DTV) transition.

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