How to Phase Out of Tube Televisions
Cathode ray tube televisions--with their boxy shapes and limited screen resolution--are rapidly going the way of the dodo. You may be looking at yours and considering a trade-in for a nice HD flat-screen TV. Before you change televisions, however, it pays to prepare. You want your new TV to fit in with no fuss--providing equal or better reception than your old one without your having to replace an entire entertainment system. Some basic measurements will help you replace any or all of your tube TVs quickly and easily, phasing them out as time and resources permit.
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Instructions
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Measure the space where your tube TV sits. New high-definition TVs are wider than tube sets, using a 16-to-9 ratio rather than a 4-to-3 like the tube sets. Measure the horizontal and vertical space--leaving 2 or 3 inches free on each side for the TV to vent its heat--and compare that with the listed length and height on any new TV you purchase. Do not relay solely on the screen size described on the packaging of a new TV. That measures the diagonal length of the screen, which won't help you determine whether your new set will fit on a given shelf or entertainment center.
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2
Measure the diagonal length of your tube television--the size in inches listed on the packaging--and multiply that number by 1.22. That's the listed diagonal length a new flat-screen TV needs to be to match the screen size of your tube TV. Because flat screens are wider than tube screens, the listed length actually translates to a slightly smaller screen than a tube TV of the same listed length. Make sure your new TV will fit in the space you measured in Step 1 after you have made these calculations.
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3
Check with your cable or satellite service to see about getting HD broadcasts. If you have a tube TV, chances are you aren't receiving such broadcasts--and if you are, your tube TV probably isn't picking them up. A flat-screen HDTV can receive HD signals, but you'll need to pay a little extra each month for the privilege. Call your local service to learn the specifics. If you don't have cable or satellite, skip this step.
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Make sure the new TV has a built-in digital tuner if you don't have cable or satellite service. You likely have a digital converter box on your old tube TV. New TVs are required to have digital tuners, though some older ones may not. A built-in digital tuner means you can put aside your converter box and continue to receive broadcasts. You can also receive some programs in high definition; major networks like ABC and Fox often broadcast their prime-time programming in HD.
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Check the cable jacks in the back of your auxiliary components such as your cable box and DVD player to see what kind of cable connections they possess. You may be able to make use of cables that provide a superior signal when you switch to an HDTV. If you're using a tube TV, you're likely using RCA cables (the red, yellow and white ones) to connect other components. Those components may have S-video connections, component video connections or HDMI connections as well. All of them should be labeled as such, and all of them provide better images than RCA. When you purchase your new TV, make sure it has corresponding input jacks to fit all of your components.
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Shop around for the best price on a new TV and make your purchase based on the parameters you have determined.
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Tips & Warnings
Select a flat-screen TV with 1080p resolution if you can. The 1080p has the highest possible screen resolution--1080 horizontal pixel lines delivered progressively, with each line broadcast simultaneously--allowing you to make the best use of flat-screen technology. However, screens with lower resolution can still provide excellent images and may be a little cheaper. These include 1080i (which has the same number of lines as 1080p, but flickers back and forth between one half of the lines and the other) and 720p (which has 720 horizontal lines instead of 1080).
References
- Photo Credit zapp image by djul from Fotolia.com
