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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

In the market for a Flatscreen Television

(I'm digging the Dynex Brand)

Time to move up and wide.

I have been a CRT boy for all of my life. From the Zeniths, RCA's, Sylvanias and Sears tubes that I have wasted most of my life on. Black and white to start out, it wasn't till the mid 1970's that we got our first color set...what a revelation! But, we still controlled our tubes with the familiar get-up-off-the-couch click click click of the channel dial. (I was Dad's remote controller).

Later on, when I turned 18, I got me a Sears touch sensitive changer, still had to get up, but it was so cool to just touch the sensitive electrodes. Then, came the remote control...another revelation.

But, when the flatscreens came out, I really wanted one, but price was a huge factor and besides, my tv sets were working just fine.

Which brings me to another subject. I like to keep two or maybe three of everything, you know...in case one breaks, you got a spare. Simple...for guys. Women, it seems feel that tv's laying around, doing nothing are space hogs and must be thrown out. A point of contention at Joe's estates over the years. Well, they are gone, but the sets are still here.

I been enjoying my last 32" CRT set that I bought new for the past 10 years, but recently, it has suffered some seizure and now displays white line fever. But that's ok, 'cause I have spares... ;D - watching one now. A simple 23" set...not a damned thing wrong with it...but the space in the entertainment center swallows it up - and well...the Chicago Astronomer needs something more substantial.

Flatscreen televisions have come down in price dramatically now, well within my means of considering an upgrade..and so, the comparison shopping begins.

I desire a 40" or 42" inch screen and under $500.00. I do not subscribe to cable, satellite or dish, nor do I intend to anytime soon...so the HDMI factor is not all that vital. I do have my old DVD/VHS & Surround sound decks, so the RCA jacks are important. I like the new option of plugging in one's computer to the screen.

I have been asking and consulting my pals and associates in brands of tvs they like...or most importantly - dislike. The majority like Samsungs and Panasonics. Plasmas tend to be heavier and run hot and LEDs, (although brighter), are more expensive...so I think it will be LCDs.

I have been searching on-line for a bit and treading through the selections can be numbing, but I walked into a Best Buy by chance today and looked at these three sets:

Some reviews:

www.samsung.com/us/video/tvs/LN40C500F3FXZA-reviews

This bothers me:

"Not a lot of connections for adding blue ray or DVD (only one HDMI, one component, one RCA, and one PC input). No audio output. External audio input only works in combination with PC input. Good for a spare TV, but not acceptable for use in a home theater system. USB input allows music and picture viewing, but no movies. You need to buy a higher model for playing video files."

This seems decent.

Good resolution, got the jacks in the back I need...and is also a touchscreen of sorts.



And then I saw this too, although it's a Plasma...

Not bad, but I'm not all the keen on the Plasma technology.


And then finally this brand:

I never heard of Dynex, but I understand that thru research identified that the internals are largely LG in origin. And a reviewer says: " I found myself looking at the 40" Dynex, the name brand of Best Buy. I asked the sales representative why it was so inexpensive-around 450 dollars for a 40" LCD 1080p flat screen seemed cheap-and she told me that the only difference is the name. So I bought and and the picture quality is amazing with video games, movies, television, etc."

This brand, has a built in 24w Speaker system and a host of inputs...

What's Included
Dynex™ 40" Class / 1080p / 60Hz / LCD HDTV
Tabletop stand, screws
Remote with batteries
Component cable, audio cable
Quick-start guide
Product Features
40" screen measured diagonally from corner to corner
For optimal viewing in medium- and large-size rooms.
Ultraslim design (4-1/2" deep without stand)
Ideal for wall mounting (with optional mounting kit, not included).
3D Y/C digital comb filter
For state-of-the-art color reproduction.
176° horizontal and vertical viewing angles
For comfortable viewing from multiple vantage points.
High brightness (450 cd/m²) and incredible dynamic contrast ratio (10,000:1)
For an arresting viewing experience.
1080p display
Provides the highest quality progressive-scan picture possible from a high-definition source.
24W speaker system
Delivers cinematic sound. Sound leveler prevents volume fluctuations.
Inputs
Include 2 composite (1 side, 1 rear), 2 S-video (1 side, 1 rear), 2 component video (rear), 1 PC (rear), 1 PC audio (rear), 4 HDMI (2 side, 2 rear) and 1 RF (rear).
Outputs
Include headphone jack, 1 analog audio and 1 optical digital audio.
4 HDMI inputs
Provide an uncompressed all-digital audio/video link for the highest quality connection, and they support copy-protected HD broadcast content.
PC video input
Lets you connect your computer to experience high-resolution images.
Useful additional features
Include channel labeling and sleep timer.

www.bestbuy.com/site/Dynex%26%23153;+-+40%22+Class+/+1080p+/+60Hz+/+LCD+HDTV/9693695.p?id=1218150610512&skuId=9693695

The reviews are mostly positive:

shopping.cazoodle.com/dp/dynex-dx-40l150a11/television/dx40l150a11

So far, the Dynex is at the top of my list.

Why pay more for just the name, when the insides are the same?

I just might take the chance and get this now....instead of waiting until after the Super bowl, (as I planned), when many idiots just return them afterward. At $449.00, the $50.00 difference could be used to get the extended warranty. (Normally, I do not invest in these, but many of the reviewers felt more at ease with one - and used it on occasion.)

But more comparison shopping to do...

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

There's a 40" Flatscreen in my living room now and I went with the Dynex.

After much extensive comparison shopping, advice and assistance from friends and associates...I went for the Dynex. LG insides at a lower price. There are no 40" LCD Flatscreens for no less than $500.00 and this one was for $449.00.

Fifty bucks is fifty bucks.

Not heavy at all, took minutes to set up and I was watching HDTV in no time. the first movie, by chance, was It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World - my all time favorite comedy movie and took some pics right off the screen

Very good reproductions.

I'm digging the sharpness and clarity that the set is providing, hooks up to my DVD/VHS players with plenty of jacks and sounds good through my Home Theater Sound system. I have yet to connect the computer up to it, as I need to get me a VGA cable, but I will order on that on-line for cheap. I need some other cabling as well, S-Vider, 1/4 mini and some other doo dads - free shipping. I can wait for delivery and save a bundle.

It grabs onto the over-the-air signals well, with little loss. (Through the digital converter box I was using recently, I would lose signal very easily when a truck or bus would pass by.) I do need to upgrade the antenna. But, the HDTV signals are very clear and sharp, showing me every wrinkle and crease on newscasters face. Some low resolution shows are muddy, but acceptable.

The blacks are not as deep as the higher priced flatscreens do, but again - acceptable.

I'm anxious to play the Apollo 11 DVD I won a few years back, as I was impressed with it on my 32" CRT set. It should be great on this thing. With the sound system kicked up, it vibrates the room on lift-off.

Still evaluating the screen and overall, I like so far - but it doesn't fit in the entertainment center nook and I have to rebuild it - repositioning the shelves and audio components. But for now, the flatscreen is resting on my guitar amp in front of the entertainment center..

Updates as I bring it all together.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Why the Apollo 15 Lunar Mission determined what antenna I finally got

I have always had so-so tv reception and living off a busy street, the electromagnetic fields from "dirty" vehicles, (buses and trucks mostly), have always disrupted the signal - bringing ghosting and now with digital broadcasting, pixelation city.

The RCA antenna I have been using for years was only fair in grabbing the signal and different channels want a different orientation of the antenna elements - not cool when already comfortable on the couch.

(I have been known to throw heavy objects across the room at the antenna with varying degrees of success. The broken and bent elements can attest to this. Time to replace.)

I have been researching various models of antennae on-line from cheapo ones to very expensive ones..and they are just about all the same with many disappointing. On a few occasions, I almost bought one at an electronics store - just to get it over with. But at $40.00 and not great reviews, I was reluctant. So, I have been plodding through broadcast television with the the broken antenna. (Never had cable...never will.)

Recently, I stopped in a Doller-ish store to look around and came across tv antennas for cheap. The most expensive was $15.00 and the cheapest was a $2.00 rabbit ear joke. But then I saw this....

I immediately recognized the famous Apollo 15 shot, with Astronaut Irwin by the American Flag, L.E.M and rover. Reaching for the box, it describes what it does...

KK5000DX
High Performance Indoor Antenna Amplifies With Booster

FEATURES:

State of the art 2 stage VHF amplifier.
Low noise high gain UHF amplifier incorporating surface mount technology.
Adjustable linear gain control.
Super efficient noise reduction circuitry.
Highly sensitive VHF elements and gain directional UHF element.
Super FM reception.
Tilt adjustment.
LED power indicator.

And it's $12.00...!

Sold.

I attach it to the flatscreen...

Looks good, powers up and most importantly...grabs unto the signal. I find that a lower setting is better, but I still have to re-adjust the elements from time to time...but it's a hell of a lot better than what I had before.

Whoever came up with the idea of superimposing this "space age" antenna onto the lunar surface, (long forgotten and unknown), got the attention of at least one astronomer...