mr video 2066
12-31-2007, 05:25 PM
My family purchased a high definition television two years ago. It was a Sony WEGA 50" rear projection LCD television.
We've had absolutely NO complaints. GREAT, big, clear picture.
Research?
- How long do the lamps last and how much do they cost to replace?
- How many lamps are there?
- How do they compare to LCD projector lamps?
There is one replacable lamp.
The lamp has lasted two years so far, with no quality deterioration issues and the television is on every day for many, many hours.
I was concerned about the cost and the extra maintenance in replacing it, every year. This lamp IS NOT the same as the lamp in LCD projectors. It lasts much longer and is much cheaper to replace. I'm not quite sure of the official price, but I did the research on the internet a year or two ago, $175 (a lamp). I was told that they can last about four years.
Our options were, Plasma, LCD, LCD Projector or LCD Rear Projection. The Projection TV's generally supported larger television screens. We couldn't get a true LCD screen past 42". We purchased based on viewing the images on the televisions and the general BANG for the BUCK.
----- NEXT ISSUE - HD programming ------
The REAL point of this FORUM entry is to share my investigation of cheap HD television in the Kitchener - Waterloo area, Ontario, Canada and mt experience with Bell ExpressVu customer service.
FREE! FREE! FREE!
First off, if you don't live within 60 miles of Toronto or Buffalo, New York, you will currently get no channels for FREE. I was very disappointed. I read all about computer cards that tuned in FREE HD programs.
I tried to find UHF antenna's that had a range of 70 miles or so, but found out that they really didn't exist. VHF signals had a generally larger range (up to 200 miles), but HD is currently broadcast in UHF only. The best antennas seem to stop at 60 miles. It is probably a limit of the technology used and the strength of signals being broadcast. I have not actually tried an external antenna, but from reading entries on this FORUM, I've heard that HD signals generally require to be within a 40 mile radius from the broadcasting tower.
So much for my FREE HD TV!!!
The next step was to evaluate Bell ExpressVu and Star Choice. I didn't evaluate Rogers. I had enough research to do!
My family were already Bell ExpressVu customers from 2002 or 2003, when the 18cm dish was marketed aggressively.
When HD required a new dish and a new receiver, my family held off on the HD programming option. Bell ExpressVu wanted 10$ extra per month, wanted to rent you receivers for an additional $10 a month and wanted you to install your own dish or get it done professionally for over $150. What?????????
Bell had great deals for NEW customers! We read all the new deals and promotions and ALWAYS there was a disclaimer stating that it was for NEW customers ONLY. This was unacceptable.
Competition, Star Choice offered FREE installation, free HD programming and a FREE receiver. We would only have to pay $80 for a basic receiver, to support our two TV system. This was a pretty sweet deal. I worked out the cost to be $62.75 per month for about 27 HD channels and the equivalent to our current Bell ExpressVu arrangement. Star Choice has come along way. They now have all the major networks and even some HD that Bell doesn't have (Showcase HD).
I read articles on this FORUM regarding picture quality from Bell and Star Choice. Lots of opinions! My experience with digital video, other than Bell, was Look Communications. My experience was that Bell had a better picture. I can't judge Star Choice, but Bell did broadcast with less compression than Look.
After comparing BANG for the BUCK, I convinced my family to make the plunge for a NEW HD system. We were ready to cancel Bell ExpressVu. After all, $150 for a new dish and installation, $200 for a new HD receiver and $10 extra per month ($70) for a few more HD channels than Star Choice didn't seem worth it.
After phoning Bell to cancel our existing service, we were promptly put in touch with someone in Customer Service that actually cared about their existing Bell customers. After explaining that we wanted to experience HD without a huge overhead and that competition offered a better deal. Bell actually offered us a deal!!
We were offered:
FREE rental of a HD receiver for two years
FREE HD programming for 6 months
FREE dish upgrade installation to be reimbursed on next bill
10% off our total bill for a year after the original 6 month discount
On paper, this deal saves a lot of money, but renting long term (paying) always incurs more cost (remember renting Bell phones - you can buy refurbished ones for $10).
Bell sweeted the deal enough to keep us as a customer. Without competition, the consumer suffers.
In the long run we will still have to purchase a HD receiver and pay extra for HD programming. Star Choice still seems quite attractive, but for now, I tip my hat to Bell.
Installation was scheduled and performed the following week. We are currenly enjoying television, the way it was supposed to be!!!
Football, hockey, golf and nature shows are truely awesome on our 50" screen. There are no more "jaggies" on hockey sticks or blurry players in the distance. It is truely a pleasure to watch!!
Thank-you Bell for giving existing customers a break!!
We've had absolutely NO complaints. GREAT, big, clear picture.
Research?
- How long do the lamps last and how much do they cost to replace?
- How many lamps are there?
- How do they compare to LCD projector lamps?
There is one replacable lamp.
The lamp has lasted two years so far, with no quality deterioration issues and the television is on every day for many, many hours.
I was concerned about the cost and the extra maintenance in replacing it, every year. This lamp IS NOT the same as the lamp in LCD projectors. It lasts much longer and is much cheaper to replace. I'm not quite sure of the official price, but I did the research on the internet a year or two ago, $175 (a lamp). I was told that they can last about four years.
Our options were, Plasma, LCD, LCD Projector or LCD Rear Projection. The Projection TV's generally supported larger television screens. We couldn't get a true LCD screen past 42". We purchased based on viewing the images on the televisions and the general BANG for the BUCK.
----- NEXT ISSUE - HD programming ------
The REAL point of this FORUM entry is to share my investigation of cheap HD television in the Kitchener - Waterloo area, Ontario, Canada and mt experience with Bell ExpressVu customer service.
FREE! FREE! FREE!
First off, if you don't live within 60 miles of Toronto or Buffalo, New York, you will currently get no channels for FREE. I was very disappointed. I read all about computer cards that tuned in FREE HD programs.
I tried to find UHF antenna's that had a range of 70 miles or so, but found out that they really didn't exist. VHF signals had a generally larger range (up to 200 miles), but HD is currently broadcast in UHF only. The best antennas seem to stop at 60 miles. It is probably a limit of the technology used and the strength of signals being broadcast. I have not actually tried an external antenna, but from reading entries on this FORUM, I've heard that HD signals generally require to be within a 40 mile radius from the broadcasting tower.
So much for my FREE HD TV!!!
The next step was to evaluate Bell ExpressVu and Star Choice. I didn't evaluate Rogers. I had enough research to do!
My family were already Bell ExpressVu customers from 2002 or 2003, when the 18cm dish was marketed aggressively.
When HD required a new dish and a new receiver, my family held off on the HD programming option. Bell ExpressVu wanted 10$ extra per month, wanted to rent you receivers for an additional $10 a month and wanted you to install your own dish or get it done professionally for over $150. What?????????
Bell had great deals for NEW customers! We read all the new deals and promotions and ALWAYS there was a disclaimer stating that it was for NEW customers ONLY. This was unacceptable.
Competition, Star Choice offered FREE installation, free HD programming and a FREE receiver. We would only have to pay $80 for a basic receiver, to support our two TV system. This was a pretty sweet deal. I worked out the cost to be $62.75 per month for about 27 HD channels and the equivalent to our current Bell ExpressVu arrangement. Star Choice has come along way. They now have all the major networks and even some HD that Bell doesn't have (Showcase HD).
I read articles on this FORUM regarding picture quality from Bell and Star Choice. Lots of opinions! My experience with digital video, other than Bell, was Look Communications. My experience was that Bell had a better picture. I can't judge Star Choice, but Bell did broadcast with less compression than Look.
After comparing BANG for the BUCK, I convinced my family to make the plunge for a NEW HD system. We were ready to cancel Bell ExpressVu. After all, $150 for a new dish and installation, $200 for a new HD receiver and $10 extra per month ($70) for a few more HD channels than Star Choice didn't seem worth it.
After phoning Bell to cancel our existing service, we were promptly put in touch with someone in Customer Service that actually cared about their existing Bell customers. After explaining that we wanted to experience HD without a huge overhead and that competition offered a better deal. Bell actually offered us a deal!!
We were offered:
FREE rental of a HD receiver for two years
FREE HD programming for 6 months
FREE dish upgrade installation to be reimbursed on next bill
10% off our total bill for a year after the original 6 month discount
On paper, this deal saves a lot of money, but renting long term (paying) always incurs more cost (remember renting Bell phones - you can buy refurbished ones for $10).
Bell sweeted the deal enough to keep us as a customer. Without competition, the consumer suffers.
In the long run we will still have to purchase a HD receiver and pay extra for HD programming. Star Choice still seems quite attractive, but for now, I tip my hat to Bell.
Installation was scheduled and performed the following week. We are currenly enjoying television, the way it was supposed to be!!!
Football, hockey, golf and nature shows are truely awesome on our 50" screen. There are no more "jaggies" on hockey sticks or blurry players in the distance. It is truely a pleasure to watch!!
Thank-you Bell for giving existing customers a break!!