A Guide To Choosing And Mounting Plasma Tv Frames

Most televisions do not come packaged with their own mounting frames and it can sometimes be a daunting task selecting the right one for your needs let alone trying to actually mount it on a wall.

Fixing lcd or plasma tv frames to walls can be a tricky business especially if the fitter has little or no previous experience with do it yourself projects. Also sufficient time should be set aside to carefully plan and consider where in the room you are going to place the television set.

Choosing the right frame

The television is more often than not the focal point of the family sitting room and there is nothing better than watching a great movie in the company of loved ones. That said when the television is not switched on, your gaze will still unfortunately be drawn to it but instead it will now be a depressing empty back square

Fortunately you can buy custom plasma tv frames that smartly conceal the set in a number of different ways:-

Firstly and probably the oldest method is to hide the screen in a self contained unit looking not dissimilar to a wooden cabinet. The motorised mechanism allows the screen when switched on to rise from the cabinet. This is best suited as at the foot of the bed in the style of an ottoman.

You can also hang plasma tv frames from the ceiling! These ingenious motorised designs allow for the tv to either drop or fold down from a concealed panel in the ceiling. These are probably the most costly plasma tv frames on the market and careful consideration needs to be taken into account when assessing the structure of the building bearing in mind the weight of a large plasma screen.

The most popular and fashionable art of camouflage is to hide the screen from view behind a picture. Again, there are various ways this can be done. Typically the screen would be hidden from view by a hand picked piece of artwork complete with frame. This would either roll or rise up or slide to the side. This is probably the cheapest and most practical method to hide your screen and would be ideally suited to the sitting room above a mantelpiece.

Many of the specialised plasma tv frames will also allow the screen to be tilted or swivelled to achieve the optimum viewing angle. The design opportunities are endless and you can even buy a plasma that turns into a mirror! How cool would that be to be brushing your teeth in the bathroom whilst watching the breakfast show picture in picture!

Groundwork and Preparation

The majority of us will simply be installing standard wall mounted plasma tv frames which the average Joe should be quite capable of fitting if the correct planning and preparation is adhered to.

Read your tv manual for mounting guidelines. Some models require the use of specific plasma tv frames whilst others will be compatible with a range of third party frames.

Make sure the spot where you intend to hang the screen is not in direct sunlight making it difficult to view.

Also check the maximum weight capacity of the frame and that it will support your television set. Make sure the wall is free from any obstacles and certainly check for electrical wires and pipe work that may be hidden in the wall.

Ensure you have the right tools to hand. A power drill, tape measure, screwdriver, pencil and spirit level will all be essentials.

Finally make sure you have a friend available with strong and steady hands to assist you as these sets can weigh in excess of 90lbs. Trying to hang anything straight on a wall single-handed is difficult enough let alone a plasma television.

If careful planning and preparation together with accurate measurements made, you will have the job done in no time at all!

Vicki Churchill writes for several sites including a sites that specializes in plasma tv frames and designer car interiors and wedding table ideas, a great source for wedding table ideas and special occasions.

How plasma TVs work

We're all familiar with the common cathode-ray tube (CRT) technology that has been the backbone of television for decades. Inside each CRT, an electron gun similar to a laser fires a negatively charged beam of electrons at groups of gas molecules (the pixels), which causes them to change color; producing the pictures we see everyday. These televisions work well and produce very crisp pictures, but they are notoriously bulky and heavy. This is because as the screen gets larger, the electron gun must be moved farther back so that it has a good angle to hit every pixel with its beam. Thus, the larger the screen, the deeper the TV.

Enter the plasma flat panel television. Arriving with the turn of the millennium, these televisions come in large, widescreen models that measure only 6 or 7 inches deep; a huge improvement over CRT. This dramatic change in shape results from individual transistor electrodes at each pixel. We no longer need the laser to hit every inch of the TV and, without the laser, manufacturers can eliminate most of the traditional bulk. The individual pixels in a plasma TV are composed of 3 fluorescent light cells: one red, one blue, and one green. The television produces pictures by varying the intensity of each cell to produce a unique color at every pixel without a laser. These lights give the television its name because they contain free flowing ions called plasma. The plasma, when hit with an electrical charge, produces light.

Traditional CRTs used the electron gun, or laser, to charge each pixel and create colored light. Plasma TVs instead have two sets of electrodes, one set running vertically and one set running horizontally. The horizontal set, which runs across the front of the screen, and the vertical electrodes, which run across the rear of the screen to form a grid like a checkerboard. The computer, by sending specific charges through a single vertical and a single horizontal row, can color one pixel of plasma at a time. When the various sub-pixels are charged, the gas molecules inside release light particles called photons. The problem here is that photons are typically in the ultraviolet spectrum, and invisible to the naked eye. However, as they are released, they strike the surrounding surface of the cell. These surfaces have been specially coated with phosphors. A phosphor is a chemical that produces light, but only after being hit by another source of light. So, the invisible, ultraviolet photons strike the phosphor, creating a spectrum of light that our eyes can see.

Depending on how the three sub-pixels are charged, we may see a greener, redder, or bluer shade. These primary colors may combine to produce one of a million different colors. If you think about the basics of this technology, each light cell is a miniature fluorescent light. This produces the brilliant, flicker-less picture we see when we watch a plasma television. Now you understand the technology behind the plasma flat panel television.

Jakob Culver is founder of the website www.plasmatvarena.com providing information, articles and reviews about plasma tv's. To find more articles like this one visit the site http://www.plasmatvarena.com/

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Pioneer Leading The Plasma TV World

In today's fast-moving, swiftly-growing technological field, it takes a lot to stay in the lead. But Pioneer is doing precisely that with its plasma TVs. With their sharp images and robust feature packages all rolled up into a sophisticated package, it is no wonder that this company is out-pacing its competitors in the field.

The Pioneer PDP-507HD is commonly considered one of the best 50-inch plasma TV across the board. This incredibly versatile piece of entertainment hardware is ideal for those who list image-quality as one of their highest criteria. Reviewers applaud the rich, thoroughly-saturated colours and the deep quality of the blacks, a hue that has been notoriously difficult to capture for other plasma TV companies. This is not to say that the Pioneer PDP-507HD is not adaptable; it comes with a multitude of features, including a CableCARD slot, an electronic program guide, a USB output and a dual tuner PIP. In addition, for those who demand high performance and then insist on have the tools to achieve it, there are many options for those who like to adjust the picture quality to their own exacting standards.

The 43-inch Pioneer PDP-4360 is another landmark in Pioneer's development. This smaller screen has all the crystalline resolution of the other plasma televisions and once again, the colours, particularly the difficult black, are rendered as faithfully as on a movie screen.

The newest in Pioneer's stellar lineup is the Pioneer PDP 607XD. It is marketed as integrated home entertainment, and with 2 HDMI inputs, a PC input, a digital tuner, there is a much greater ability to take advantage of high definition media. This exciting model features Pioneer's seventh generation plasma screen, with improved brightness and contrast, creating the sharp picture quality and vivid colour that is part of the Pioneer trademark.

One feature that is applauded across the board is Pioneer's consistently sophisticated design. Pioneer has chosen to give its plasma televisions a sleek and streamlined grace, something that blends perfectly with a modern home. The thick, high-gloss frames of the Pioneer plasma TVs create a striking impression. When turned off, the screen goes to a deep velvety black and the effect on a bare white wall is quite striking and you can find suitable brackets on http://www.tv-wall-brackets.co.uk. These televisions accentuate your viewing area, commanding it with ease, and their graceful lines are an excellent addition to any home. Another fun feature is the silver stand that is available if you should choose to make the plasma TV freestanding. The inky bulk of the television in the elegant stand has all the charm of a piece of modern art.

The Pioneer plasma televisions have made bringing home a vivid, theater-quality home entertainment center more possible than ever. Like its namesake, Pioneer strides forward in the development of cutting-edge technology and always delivers on it's well-earned reputation.

Peter Thomas is the marketing manager for http://www.plasma-television.co.uk - the UKs leading plasma & lcd tv price comparison website.

An Introduction To Plasma TV Technology

Plasma TVs have become increasingly available, and their cost is lowering all the time. We have all heard about plasma TVs, and advertising campaigns are constantly telling us that they are the status symbol to have. Adverts are extremely effective at glorifying the benefits of having a plasma TV, so much so that it appears that even our pulling power and popularity will be improved. The one thing that these adverts don?t really tell us is what a plasma TV actually is. Here is a brief guide to plasma TVs to help you appreciate this apparent miracle of modern technology.

Plasma TVs have a higher resolution than other conventional display devices which means that they can display the high definition signals of HDTV and DTV. Also, plasma TVs are compatible with the computer signals SVGA, VGA, and XGA.

Unlike other display devices, plasma TVs have a transistor electrode for every pixel cell which means that there are none of the scan lines that are visible with regular TV sets. The whole image is evenly lit across the display by these electrodes, and not produced by an electron beam which is the cause of scan lines.

Top-of-the-range plasma TVs have display capabilities of over 16 million colours. This ensures that the picture has far more realistic colour than that shown on a conventional TV screen. This is because they are able to show far more shades of colours compared to the lesser quality TV screens.

Plasma TV screens are completely flat which has two benefits. There is no edge distortion, unlike on more curved conventional TV screens, and also there is a far wider viewing angle. The viewing angle of a plasma TV is 160 degrees, and allows the image to be seen properly from more areas of the room where the TV set is situated. This makes plasma TV screens ideal for large groups to view, and lessens the need for more than one TV set to be placed.

Of course, the main benefit that most people are aware of with plasma TVs is their space-saving quality. They are extremely shallow, and can therefore be installed in many more locations than a conventional TV set. The depth of a 50 inch screen is approximately 4 inches, and it can therefore be hung on a wall.

John Rivers is the owner of TV Home Center. Find out what you need to know before you buy a plasma tv or video projector.

Plasma TV Lifespan

Plasma TV Lifespan

The lifespan of a plasma TV, contrary to rumor, is great. Also, the technology is ever advancing to produce better televisions that will last even longer. Most manufacturers will give an approximate lifespan of 60,000 hours for their plasma televisions. That's 20 to 25 years of normal viewing before the screen begins to noticeably dim. This is a new number that reflects the improvements made to the technology in recent years. In the infancy of the plasma television, the lifespan was only 30,000 to 40,000 hours; a substantial improvement. After the television begins to dim, many models give you the option of replacing the light source, which renews the life of the unit.

There are several new technologies that have helped to increase the lifespan of plasma televisions. First we have the pixel orbiter. The orbiter quickly swaps the color of adjacent pixels when a static image is being displayed. This creates a sense of picture change for the television itself but it practically impossible for the viewer to see. This almost single-handedly eliminates the threat of burn-in. Another software component of "Anti-Burn" technology searches out pixels that have been on too long and shuts them off for a short period of time to allow them to rest. These advantages prevent burn-in and, by attending to pixel health, extend the lifespan of plasma televisions.

A good tip for plasma television users is to watch as many shows as possible in widescreen format. This helps prevent a quality difference from developing between the inner pixels and the outer ones that would be neglected when sidebars appear. Also, keep brightness levels as low as possible. If you have your television in a bright room, you don't need to keep the brightness at 100%. Reducing this takes some of the strain off of the pixels and phosphors and helps lengthen lifespan. One last tip to increase the life of your plasma television is to keep it in a cool, well-ventilated location. A cool atmosphere reduces the amount of work done by the internal cooling components and helps the phosphors work longer.

Plasma televisions provide a large screen (42 inches and up) for considerably less than a comparable size LCD. Knowing this, we see that even if television manufacturers are exaggerating the average lifespan of their plasma models, these units are still a better value than an LCD. Obviously, a first generation plasma television presents concerns for owners. They must more actively monitor the health of their screens. However, looking at the newer model plasmas and the future of the technology, it must be conceded that a plasma television's lifespan is long enough for any average user.

Jakob Culver is founder of the website www.plasmatvarena.com providing information, articles and reviews about

plasma tv's. To find more articles like this one visit the site http://www.plasmatvarena.com/

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This article may be reprinted for use in websites provided that the information box is kept intact. Email notice of intent to publish is appreciated but not required: millenniumonlinemarketing@hotmail.com

LCD vs Plasma television

Anyone who is currently thinking about buying a flat panel television at the moment will probably be thinking about whether to buy an LCD television or a plasma television. The LCD vs Plasma debate shows no sign of going away any time soon. This article aims to explain the main differences between the two technologies and clear up any confusion.

Visually, LCD and Plasma televisions look very much alike. Both are variants of the flat panel genre, both are slim and both take up very little space compared with their traditional CRT relatives. But that's as far as the similarities go. Under the bonnet the technology driving LCD tvs is very different from that driving Plasma tvs.

Plasma

A plasma display consists of two plates of glass, sandwiched between which are hundreds of thousands of tiny, gas filled cells. These cells are rather like tiny flourescent tubes as they are filled with neon gas and coated with phosphor.

Each plasma cell can be individually energised with an electric current. This causes the gas to release ultraviolet photons. These photons cause the phosphor coating of the cell to radiate visible light. If the cells are switched on and off in the correct sequence, the picture is formed. This switching happens 1000s of times a second.

These gas filled cells form the pixels of the display. In fact, each pixel consists of 3 cells, giving off red, green or blue light. By varying the relative intensities of red, green and blue, different colours are formed.

LCD

The pixels of an LCD TV dislay, unlike those of a Plasma display, do not give off any light themselves. A liquid crystal solution is trapped between two sheets of glass and the whole display is illuninated with a back light. The voltages applied to the various pixels is varied and this controls how much light from the back light reaches the screen. In turn, the pattern of light reaching the screen forms the picture.

Whis is better - LCD vs Plasma?

Traditionally, Plasma tvs have had the edge over LCD tvs, particularly at larger screen sizes. This difference is diminishing all the time, however, as LCD technology moves forwards. Prices are generally coming down and the price difference between the two is getting less. Performance-wise the difference is diminishing too. There is a slight issue regarding LCD tvs not displaying deep blacks as well as Plasma, but in general use this difference is becoming negligible.

Dave Cassidy is a staff writer at www.lcdtvpages.com. For more information on LCD and Plasma tvs, see LCD vs Plasma.

Review of Hitachi 42 Inch Plasma Television

Hitachi plasma televisions are some of the best in the world because they offer great value for an extensive amount of features. They also offer great quality in the LCD market but plasma is the elite market for the best video quality.

Some of the key factors that make Hitachi plasmas great are apparent before the screen is even turned on. The screen is sleek and sheen. It follows some basic rules that are rarely followed in the flat screen market. The screen has a completely black surrounding that is important to contrast colors. A black border around the screen creates an absolute contrast for the color to appear more brilliant. The border is also housed by glass to make it reflective. This also helps make the screen seem to stand out more. As you explore the controls, you notice that it will accept a USB connection on the side of the screen. This means that you can connect a digital camera or camcorder to view on the screen. On the back side you may notice one of the best arrays of digital connections available. First off, the TV has two HDMI connections. This is a standard now even though it is hard to find. There are too many digital connections today to have a television that accepts just one. For everything else, there are also 2 component inputs, 3 s-video inputs and 5 composite video inputs. If video is not enough, the sound is so superb that you may forget to turn on your stereo equipment. Treble has a very high range and the bass has great tight response. For feature hungry freaks, this television offers a motorized stand. Yes, from the remote control you can rotate the television clockwise or counterclockwise.

Video capabilities bring 1080i video with unbelievable clarity. This Hitachi plasma television is a top notch addition to any media room.

Get the best inside information about all kinds of plasma televisions at http://www.my-plasma-tv.info/