Why are some thread prefaced with "57 FAQ" ?
In cleaning up some old unanswered threads I accidently deleted a number of 57's FAQs. (I purge old posts that have zero replies. The FAQ's don't have replies and I forgot to exclude them) I have...
View ArticleFAQ - How Do I Make Hyperlinks (Fancy URLs)?
Ever wonder how people create Hyperlinks - you know, those fancy URLs that appear as "blue text" in posts, but take you directly to the internet site. Well it's not hard. Here are the easy step by step...
View ArticleFAQ - Signal Leakage Between CATV and OTA
If anyone is contemplating running a combination of Cable TV and OTA to the same TVs or receivers, there are specific safeguards you must take to isolate the two signals from eachother. This is not a...
View ArticleFAQ - Recording HD
Updated 2014.05.17 This question comes up frequently, so I’ve prepared the following summary: This FAQ discusses legal HD recording. Hacking is not discussed on this forum. Flags: HD programmes may...
View ArticleFAQ - Extended Warranties
Updated 2011.12.05 This question comes up a lot. Should you buy an extended warranty? If you get additional service with the warranty, it may be worthwhile, but in most cases the answer is no. Based on...
View ArticleFAQ - Can I get Digital Cable (and HD) Using My QAM Tuner?
Updated 2015.04.17 I developed this FAQ for a US Forum, but this question comes up a lot now that people are buying HDTVs with QAM tuners built in, or people wish to use Computer QAM cards. In Canada,...
View ArticleFAQ - Burn In & Break In.
Updated 2021.03.17 Burn in is more properly known as "uneven phosphor wear". What causes burn in? CRTs (or plasma phosphors) "wear/age" as they are used. If the same part of the TV is "hit" with the...
View ArticleFAQ - Things to check first.
Updated Late 2017 I've developed the following FAQ with a list of "things to check" similar to what they have in most operating manuals, but also based on the experience in this forum. We know that...
View ArticleFAQ - Why Does My HDTV Have Poor SD Picture Quality? (Mostly for History)
Updated 2010.12.01. Why Does My HDTV Have Poor SD Picture Quality? 1. Your HDTV may be a lot larger than your old TV, so it's a bit like putting a magnifying glass to a newspaper. For example, a 50"...
View ArticleFAQ - What's Available in DD5.1
Updated 2019.04.21 Almost all SD channels are DD2.0. (DD2.0 sound can be processed by Dolby Pro Logic II or other DSPs in your AVR to produce surround sound, but is not DD5.1. For most TV sources,...
View ArticleFAQ - What's 2:3 Pulldown and Progressive Scan
2:3 pulldown is a technology that compensates for the different frame rates between film (24 frames per second) and TV (30 fps). Progressive Scan is a technology that "paints" all of the TV picture in...
View Article57 FAQ - Acronyms & Definitions
Updated 2013.02.25 Some of the more popular acronyms that have been used on this forum follow below: I type the item I'm looking for, followed by "acronym" into my favourite search engine and it...
View ArticleFAQ - Black Bars - Why Do I Still Have These?
Updated 2011.03.01. 13,577 Previous Views. This post is best used in conjunction with the "companion" post on "Widescreen Stretch Modes". Black bars are normal on your TV under certain circumstances....
View ArticleFAQ - Service Menu Codes
Updated 2014.01.30 Used to have some links to service codes, but all the links have gone dead. Please note the following warnings about using the service menu: - The service menu is designed to be used...
View ArticleFAQ - Anamorphic, Enhanced for Widescreen DVDs. (Historical FAQ)
Updated Late 2017. 3,659 previous views. The defacto FAQ for the answers to what an "Anamorphic" / "Enhanced for Widescreen TVs" DVD. Some expired links have been removed:...
View ArticleFAQ - What is Resolution (Active Lines)? (Historical Purposes)
Updated late 2017. 3803 Previous views. What is the relative "resolution" of various pieces of hardware and TV signals? These should probably be called active scanning lines, not resolution. 480i...
View ArticleFAQ - How Large an HDTV to Buy.
Updated 2010.02.08. 9,258 Previous views. Here are some guidelines for TV size. 1. It's rare that anyone buys a set that's "too large" to watch, however.... 2. The set has to fit into its surroundings....
View ArticleFAQ - How to Connect a VCR, or DVD Recorder and STB
Updated 2015.03.07. 11,248 Previous views. This setup applies to a Cable, Satellite, IPTV set-top-box (STB), but is applicable to other STBs as well. Here's a solution for high picture quality and the...
View ArticleFAQ - If Only I'd Have Known - What Features to Look for in TVs and AVRs
Updated Late 2017. 10,834 Previous views. Here's a list of the typical regrets that some people have after purchasing a TV or receiver: There is no "perfect" TV or receiver, but you may wish to...
View ArticleFAQ - Cables & Connections
Updated 2015.03.04. 16,667 Previous Views. There are a large number of different ways to connect components together. Let me outline them below: Video Connections first, then Audio. Tip: Remember that...
View ArticleFAQ - HDTV & 4K Formats
Updated 2023. 9,521 Previous views. HDTV Formats This question comes up frequently, so here are the formats that the various television stations "broadcast". The term broadcast is in quotes because...
View ArticleFAQ - Types of HDTV - Their Advantages & Disadvantages (Historical Information)
FAQ - Types of HDTV - Their Advantages & Disadvantages (Historical Information) Updated 2009.09.12. 9,825 Previous views. Comparison of Display Types: Each type of HDTV has advantages and...
View ArticleFAQ - What You Need To Do To Your New HDTV
Updated 2011.05.11. 38,691 Previous views What you need to do to your new HDTV: Here are some hints to get your HDTV in tip-top shape, to get the best possible picture, and to see the movies and shows...
View Article57 FAQ - What You Need To Do To Your New HDTV (Duplicate, do not delete -...
57 FAQ - What You Need To Do To Your New HDTV (Duplicate, do not delete - many links) Updated 2007.12.14. 38,691 Previous views What you need to do to your new HDTV: Here are some hints to get your...
View ArticleFAQ - Native Display Resolution vs. Input Format
Updated late 2017 Most HDTVs today can accept a number of different input formats. These are typically listed in the specifications as: 480i, 480P, 720P (sometimes not), 768P (mostly not), 1080i, 1080P...
View ArticleFAQ - HDMI Comments/Issues
Slightly Revised 2020.12.10 This HDMI FAQ discusses the issues, pluses, minuses of HDMI connections HDMI Comments: 1. Although HDMI carries video and audio, be careful when purchasing an A/V Receiver....
View ArticleFAQ - On Upconversion
Questions regarding Upconversion are pretty frequent on this site. Here's a summary which provides a few "rules of thumb", however, please realize that, as with all rules of thumb, there will be...
View ArticleFAQ - Widescreen TV Stretch Modes.
Updated 2013.11.11. 10,135 Previous views: This FAQ was first written when most HDTVs were Plasmas or CRTs, there was mostly 4:3 programming and people were concerned with burn in. Now that many HDTVs...
View ArticleFAQ - On Overscan
What is Overscan? Why is it there? Overscan is extra image area around the four edges of a video image that is not normally seen by the viewer. It exists because [older] television sets...were highly...
View ArticleFAQ - Motorola STB Helpful Links, Tips
Updated 2011.05.15 Since this applies to several cable companies, I thought I'd put it here. It's a very helpful link for those with Motorola STBs. I believe the diagnostics are applicable to Pace STBs...
View Article57 FAQ - Tips For SA (Cisco) STBs. (also Pace)
This FAQ was created by 57 and Updated 2018 Several useful tips for SA/Pace STBs (Set Top Boxes) are included in this FAQ: Much (but not all) of the information in this thread is applicable to STBs...
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