Let's Discuss Televisions

[Kruse]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan

I didn't have one until 1980. It was a reconditioned (thinking) RCA (what was that signature title???) XLR (???) that was liquidated from either a hotel or hospital that's lease was up and upgraded.



For awhile just about every TV from RCA was the "XL 100". The icon was slapped on dozens of different models and sizes of RCA tv sets and really meant nothing to the TV tech. RCA also had many problems with an IC chip on the tuner board that went out. Planned obsolescence? Probably, because they made no effort to remedy it. (The generic replacement could be purchased from MCM for about $2 and it lasted forever)
Speaking of the hotel/motel model you talked about, a lot of those models had a radio built into the TV. Those were a real PITA to fix because SAMS didn't made a schematic for most of them.
Except for the things mentioned, RCA made some sets that lasted a long time. I had a 25" set that lasted about 15 years before, of course, the tuner went out and I upgraded.

 

[stranger706]

Up until a few months ago all we had was a 10 year old 24" RCA that my Mom gave us 4 years ago when we got married. Mostly went OUT to dinner & a movie on the weekends.

Recently we decided to stop going out to dinner & movies and bought a 42" Samsung plasma tv from Amazon for $600 delivered. Also got a 5 dvd player and wireless surround sound to match. I canceled the Directv movie package (ripoff) and we signed up for Netflix. Couldn't be happier with them, and the new TV is already paid for by the money we saved from going out to the movies every weekend, and the canceled Directv movie package.

 

[labman]

We quit watching much 20 years ago. We don't even have one now. We do have a DVD/VCR and an adapter to display video on a computer monitor. It hasn't been hooked up for most of a year.

 

[97tbird]

BITOG seems to be an anti-HDTV place ...

 

[UncleS2]

I bought a new 27" Magnavox for my mother in late August 1994. Stereo sound, Picture in picture, a nice set. It worked without trouble until a few months ago, when it suddenly died one night, after a little over 14 1/2 years of service. And she plays her TV a lot.

Tried to steer her toward a a newer style flat LCD or whatever- but nope, she hadda have something that would fit in the TV "storage cabinet" she bought a few months after she got the M-vox. You ought to try to find a new 27" CRT V these days! I found that Sears carries just about the only thing that looks good, and so she got one of those. It fit perfectly, she's happy with it- and since it has a built-in digital tuner, she can now tune in to the audio-only channels on her cable system.

I'm still watching a little 20" CRT Philips "flat screen" I got a few years ago on Ebay. Seller was semi-nearby so drove over & picked it up. ~$40 for TV and a Philips DVD player, both still work fine. I'd love to get one of the new large TVs- say around 45-50" screen- but it just ain't in the cards right now.

Maybe the most durable TV of all was a little 9" screen color "portable" bought from Sears a long time ago. No remote, just the two separate tuner knobs for VHF & UHF. Mfg by Panasonic, sort of big & heavy for its screen size, had integral rabbit ears, Mom used it for a few years in her bedroom. Then 2 younger brothers took turns taking it off to college, she finally got it back. I even used it for a year or so after that.
Finally gave the little Sears Panasonic to the Salvation Army some years ago. It was at least 15 years old, had seen rough use & one rabbit ear was broken off- but it still worked just fine.

 

[benjamming]

Originally Posted By: Papa Bear
Most all the famed U.S. tv manufacturers have closed as well.
As a retired electronics tech, that brings a tear to my eye.


Predicta TV is somewhat still around.

 

[eljefino]

I have a $400 "element" 32" LCD from Sears. Snarky comissioned salesdroid said "you know that's a disposable TV right?"

Great picture except for a bit of white bleed through in a corner when a dark scene is on.

I don't have cable or any pay TV service, so for a years worth of paying for that I splurged on a new HD screen.

Also have this thing plugged into a computer VGA port for streaming netflix movies.

 

[Kruse]

Originally Posted By: benjamming
Originally Posted By: Papa Bear
Most all the famed U.S. tv manufacturers have closed as well.
As a retired electronics tech, that brings a tear to my eye.


Predicta TV is somewhat still around.


Luckily you said "somewhat still around". Their web page could use a little updating.

As quoted:
15. What about HDTV?
Predicta TVs operate under the same conditions as any TV you can purchase today. Whether it be Sony or Samsung, all of these TVs are adaptable to the new broadcast standard due in 2006. (unquote)

Still, it's still an interesting looking TV. They said they don't make the CRT or the chassis. In reality, that's most of the parts of a working TV.

 

[Win]

Originally Posted By: wirelessF


Anyone had a CRT TV last longer than 10 years?



Sure, I have an early 70's ish japanese manufacture GE set out in my ham shack, that still sees a lot of use. I retubed it for the first time last summer. The CRT is still bright, a good thing since I have been unable to find a replacement CRT.

 

[Malo83]

57" Sony CRT HDTV-Living room
32" Sony LCD HDTV- Master
26" Sanyo LCD HDTV-Garage
Living room and Master tv's hooked up to DIRECTV HiDef recievers and Sanyo picking up local OTA Hi Def signals via antenna

 

[Win]

Originally Posted By: XS650
Originally Posted By: Familyguy
.

You Luddites can keep your CRTs. Meh...


They remind me of the people explain why they didn't buy color TVs when they came out.


I wasn't alive in the 50's but I am sure the first NTSC color sets were priced beyond the means of most middle class families.

My family got our first color set in '68 or '69, IIRC, one of the early RCA solid state chassis, I think even the horizontal sweep might have been solid state.

Somewhere in the deep bowels of my electronic junk stash, I have an ancient Zenith space command remote control and the receiver guts from a chassis, that used a mechanical striker and tuning element to generate an ultrasonic control signal.

 

[Steve S]

Originally Posted By: Familyguy
Paid $599 for a 42" 1080p LCD about 4 months ago. It replaced a 15 year old 32" CRT behemoth that required 2 rather large men to carry out to the curb. The picture is better, it throws off a LOT less heat, and uses a LOT less electricity. Also, due to its thin stature, it is much less imposing in the room (and is actually mounted to the wall).

You Luddites can keep your CRTs. Meh...
must have been a Sony My dad had a Sony 32 inch that weighed 158 lbs.

 

[benjamming]

Originally Posted By: Kruse
Originally Posted By: benjamming
Originally Posted By: Papa Bear
Most all the famed U.S. tv manufacturers have closed as well.
As a retired electronics tech, that brings a tear to my eye.


Predicta TV is somewhat still around.


Luckily you said "somewhat still around". Their web page could use a little updating.

As quoted:
15. What about HDTV?
Predicta TVs operate under the same conditions as any TV you can purchase today. Whether it be Sony or Samsung, all of these TVs are adaptable to the new broadcast standard due in 2006. (unquote)

Still, it's still an interesting looking TV. They said they don't make the CRT or the chassis. In reality, that's most of the parts of a working TV.


More updated information:
"As the consumer TV market changes, Telstar is developing HD Predicta TV. Pricing for HD will most likely start at $2,350. Please continue to check our website for HD updates. We are in the process of creating a new website.

Non-HD TVs are currently unavailable. Our source for these parts no longer carries them, and we have been unable to find a replacement source. The standard units (non-HD) we were manufacturing had digital tuners which eliminated the need for the converter. As a comparison, pricing for our non-HD models were:

PRICING*

$1,899 Princess 24” 25.5”H x 26”W x 20”D
$2,299 Holiday 32”H x 27”W x 20”D
$2,499 Pedestal
$2,499 Danish Modern 50”H x 27”W x 21”D
$2,999 Corona 49”H x 27”W x 20”
$3,599 Meteor 51”H x 27”W x 22”D
$11.99 Predicta nightlights for sale (includes shipping)

discontinued models:
Princess 18”
Chalet
mini-Holiday

CAN I PLACE AN ORDER?

We are accepting orders, but will not take a deposit until we can lock onto a source for parts. When a reliable source has been procured, you will then be asked for the first down payment (see below), and a letter will be sent confirming your order.

*Shipping is quoted as a separate item (see below for more information). Prices do not include custom colors or variations to design and cabinetry (see below for more information).

LEAD TIME
All TVs are built to order. It generally takes 12-16 weeks for an order to be completed.

SHIPPING
Non-HD Predicta TVs are shipped by Fedex National LTL or TransTech. Shipping runs between $150-$325. The norm is $225-$325. Shipping costs are actual costs to ship by the carrier; we do not mark up this cost. Cost of shipping depends on size of model chosen, destination, residential delivery. When your TV is ready, we will coordinate with you a date for shipping. You will need to be there to take receipt of the TV from the driver."

 

[CivicFan]

These are very high prices for what these TV-s are.

 

[Gary Allan]

(shrug with an audio component) T'isk-eh

..chump change for those of true distinction. Have Tweeter custom fit your Bang & Olufsen systems into your distinctive home. The performance can be had for much much less ...but the design??? Tweeter (formerly Bryn Mawr Stereo) makes most of their money on installations and integration of this type of stuff.

You're not paying for devices. You're paying for interior decorating.

 

[CivicFan]

I found them extremely ugly. When decorating, I think it's better to find the originals of these devices rather than poor replicas. They look like the stuff you find in Target.

 

[Kruse]

Originally Posted By: benjamming
CAN I PLACE AN ORDER?

We are accepting orders, but will not take a deposit until we can lock onto a source for parts. When a reliable source has been procured, you will then be asked for the first down payment (see below), and a letter will be sent confirming your order.



Sounds like this company employs one person and he does this on weekends out of his garage. Nothing wrong with that, I guess.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: CivicFan
I found them extremely ugly. When decorating, I think it's better to find the originals of these devices rather than poor replicas. They look like the stuff you find in Target.


Well, you're just not cultured enough to appreciate them (turns nose up in the air and turns about after a "hummph"). Truthfully, I never want to join that club if they would have someone like me as a member.

 

[Cutehumor]

I was just trolling through craigslist. tons of 25 inch and up tvs for $50, and hit them with $40. May just pick up an extra tv. People are upgrading to flat screens.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: Cutehumor
I was just trolling through craigslist. tons of 25 inch and up tvs for $50, and hit them with $40. May just pick up an extra tv. People are upgrading to flat screens.


That's how we got a free larger screen television for my daughter's off campus shared house. The guy upgraded and just wanted it out of his garage. Worked perfectly.