HDTVs, projectors, and surround sound systems.
Home Theater
Why Doesn't ATSC3 Work With My DVR?
Episode 1765
John fromJohn has a TV with ATSC 3.0, but ATSC3 doesn't work with his DVR. Only the ATSC 1.0 side works. Leo says that most broadcasters aren't even using ATSC3 yet. It could be an incompatible file format. If your DVR supports ATSC3, then Leo says a call to the manufacturer is in order. Welcome to the world of being an early adopter. It's the early days of ATSC3 though, so in time, the issue should correct itself.
Scott Wilkinson ... down to the hertz
Episode 1764
Scott joins Leo to talk about a new sub-woofer from KEF. It's called Uni-core and it uses two speakers that are opposed and use force canceling to eliminate the resonance so all you hear is the low-frequency sound. The result is a pair of tiny subwoofers that can broadcast 11hz, way below what we can hear. Read more about it in Scott's TechHive article here.
Why's My TV Volume Control Stuck?
Episode 1764
Ron fromRon has a 40" Samsung TV with an Amazon Firestick. He can't raise the volume up or down. It's just stuck where it is. Leo says that it's likely an issue with the TV, not the Firestick. Leo says that he thinks that there's an issue with the TV's CEC option, which allows him to control the TV with the Firestick remote. What he suggests is to disconnect the Firestick and see if the volume issue persists. If it doesn't, then he knows there's an issue with the Firestick.
How Can I Get the Company, Dish, To Stop Charging Me To Use My Own Hardware?
Episode 1763
Jerry fromJerry complained to the FCC about having to pay to use his own satellite equipment. A few days later, he got a call from Dish, assuring him that he's being charged half because he is a preferred customer. And they explained that it's not the equipment, it that he's using a DVR inside the equipment. And they see them separate. Leo says it sounds like DISH is exploiting a loophole. The trick is to make complaints en masse.
What's the Best TV Out There: LCD or OLED?
Episode 1761
Tom fromTom is wondering if there's a new TV technology coming out. Leo says that there are two kinds of TVs right now, LCD/LED and OLED. LCD has different flavors, including LED, MiniLED, QLED. But the next generation is microLED, which will be like OLED, but the LEDs are really super tiny. Samsung has a 108" model for $156,000 that is more of a technology demonstrator. But we'll be seeing them more affordably on the horizon soon.
Can I Still Get a 3D TV?
Episode 1761
Mario fromMario is looking to get a new 3D flatscreen. Leo says good luck as 3D capable flatscreens died a quick death about two years ago. RIP 3D TV!
Mario's is concerned that since his Sony Bravia 3D TV is getting older, he soon won't watch his 3D BluRays. Leo says you can still watch them in 2D though. But if you want 3D, then make sure your existing 3D TV keeps working.
One alternative, you can use the theater experience of Occulus Quest 2 and other VR headsets to watch 3D movies.
Scott Wilkinson and the new version
Episode 1760
Scott joins Leo to talk about CES this year, and he says there's been a ton of news already. Leading the way is micro and mini LEDs, the latest version of LCD TV technology. Instead of hundreds or thousands of LEDs, there are now tens of thousands. And that translates to more accurate color and dynamic range. This year will be the year of mini LEDs with LG announcing the QNLED model of 4K TVs, and Samsung showcasing their NEO LED.
Why Isn't My 4k Roku Streaming in 4k?
Episode 1759
Jose fromJose got a new 4K TV and a Roku Ultra. But the Roku Ultra is getting an error for resolution. Leo says Jose needs an HDMI 2.1 cable to support the 4K stream. You don't need a monster cable or anything like that. Just one that's HDMI 2.1 compatible. Leo recommends MonoPrice.com. It's around $12.
But shouldn't the cable that came with the Roku be compatible? Leo says it should be. Try resetting the Ultra and see if it has the latest firmware. If the problem persists, then it's likely a bad Roku unit, and you should take it back and exchange it for another one.
How Can I Prevent My Audio Receiver From Turning on and Off?
Episode 1759
David fromDavid's Denon AV receiver turns on/off randomly. What's going on? Leo says that all home theater gear are computers now, and as such, they are all solid-state. As such, they're not very fixable. But it could be an intermittent power spike that is causing the AVR to turn on/off. A power conditioner could fix it by providing a steady supply of power without interruption. That's the one solution that David can try. Absent that, it's probably cheaper to buy a new AVR rather than try and repair it. Power conditioners include Trip Lite, APCC.
Why Doesn't AOL Take My Password?
Episode 1758
Kim fromKim changed her AOL password last month, but now AOL won't accept the new password. What can she do? Leo says that Verizon owns AOL right now, but they really don't care about them. Gmail is a much better option. But Leo says that email is so important, it really pays to actually pay for the service. Leo recommends FastMail.It's around $20 a year.
