Room Factors

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How to Contact the FCC: Do you still have questions about the DTV Transition? If so, please contact the FCC.

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Room Factors

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Posted: 1:16 PM Nov 15, 2006
Last Updated: 11:10 AM Sep 5, 2007
Reporter: Andrew Felix

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Different room factors should have an impact on the selection of your HDTV. Room size, seating arrangement, and lighting conditions will have a drastic impact on your optimal viewing experience. Expect to rearrange your room to get the most vivid picture with the least amount of reflection for everyone to enjoy.

Room Size As a general rule you should sit 2-3/4 times the diagonal distance away from your TV to get the best viewing experience. For example, if you purchase a 42” screen your couch should be 115.5” (or nine feet) away from your TV. You will see the pixels that make up the image if you have a screen that is too large or if you sit to close. Sitting too far from the screen will degrade the overall picture quality as well.

Viewing Angles Usually TV is best viewed straight on, with the HDTV at the same level as your eyes. If your TV room is set-up with seating on opposing angles or not directly in front, you will want to consider screens that allow for off-axis viewing. Flat Screens (Plasma, CRT or LCD) offer the best viewing angles. Rear-projection, although it has improved, still does not look as good from side angles. Front-projection (theatre style) can offer decent viewing from multiple angles if set-up correctly.

Lighting Always consider the lighting conditions when selecting your HDTV. Rooms with little or controllable (bulbs on dimmers) lights work best for optimal viewing experience. In rooms with a lot of competing light (Large Windows) Flat Screens (Plasma & LCD) work best, whereas, projection styles cannot compete and don’t look nearly as well.

The noticeable difference between types of HDTV’s comes from the technology. When selecting an HDTV that is right for you make sure you look over all the different styles. In my article Types of HDTV's you can read the pros and cons of the different models. For more information on the terms used when selecting an HDTV view my article on Terms to Know.

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February 17, 2009 (in ) the era of analog broadcast television in the United States will end as the nation completes its transition to an all-digital system. While this change will mark the end of the traditional analog method of broadcasting over-the-air television, it won’t signal the end of free broadcast television, and your favorite broadcast programs and local television stations will still be available.

Consumers that subscribe to a "pay" television service such as cable and satellite aren’t likely to be affected by the switch, but if you currently receive analog television over the air or via an antenna, you’ll need to take action to continue watching your favorite stations.

TV sets that currently receive programming through cable or satellite are not likely to be affected by the transition to digital.

However, TV sets that rely on "over the air" broadcasting with an antenna (set-top or rooftop) to receive a signal will be affected by the cutoff of analog broadcasts in 2009. You will need to consider one of the following options:

Purchase a digital-to-analog converter box that plugs into an existing television. The boxes, which are expected to cost between $50 - 70 will be available for purchase in 2008. Beginning on January 1, 2008, U.S. households can request up to two coupons valued at $40 each. Each coupon can go toward the purchase of a single set-top converter box that will allow you to continue watching FREE "over-the-air" television on an analog set.
Subscribe to a cable, satellite or telecommunications service provider if all desired local broadcast stations are carried by that service.
Purchase a new television set with a built in digital tuner.

Any of these steps will ensure that "over-the-air" television consumers will continue to receive programming.