The Dangers of Amateur Calibration

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 07, 2004 4:32 pm

Here is a question for Richard and perhaps others. One can see posts in other forums where people have callibrated their HDTVs and have given step by step instructions on how to do your own callibrating (beyond the basic stuff in AVIA). One is certainly tempted to save their money and do it yourself, sort of like fixing your own motorcycle so to speak. But what are the dangers?

Rob (Login Hoopnoop)
Internet Users

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 07, 2004 4:33 pm

I haven't seen what everyone is doing, but if you don't have the equipment to generate the proper test patterns and you don't have experience doing this on different TVs - how good a job could you really do?

Allen

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 07, 2004 4:34 pm

OK lets say there are intructions on how to tweak in the service menu. The instructions are for your exact tv you own. You use the same values as the instructions say. Would you see the same results? If you have 2 identical sets would they actually be visibly identical. I would think not. I am sure there alot of variables. I am not going to try this, just wondering what would happen if one did this.

Marty P

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 07, 2004 4:35 pm

This method would not produce the best picture for most types of RPTV's, i.e. CRT.

Where you see this method being done is mostly with DLPs. This is because a calibrator noticed that there wasn't that much variation in the SM values for a large set of DLPs that he calibrated. So for a much smaller fee than an in-home calibration, he sales the SM value averages that he has collected from his other in-home calibrations of DLPs.

This results in a very good calibration albeit not as great as an in-home calibration. But for the savings, it may be worth it.

Brandon

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 07, 2004 4:35 pm

This is like amateur surgery. The only difference is no one dies. You have to have the right equipment and know how to use it. The equip. runs thousands so how can you save money.

Hugh Campbell

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 07, 2004 4:37 pm

This is like amateur surgery. The only difference is no one dies. You have to have the right equipment and know how to use it. The equip. runs thousands so how can you save money

Because the only equipment you need is the remote control that came with your TV in order to access the Service Menu (SM).

Now if you want to calibrate the TV yourself with actual calibration equipment, then you can rent the equipment. For about $300 you can rent the ColorFacts calibration equipment and you have a month to calibrate your TV yourself.

Brandon

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 07, 2004 4:40 pm

Using Hugh

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 07, 2004 4:40 pm

Thanks for your response Richard! I am sufficiently concerned about doing it myself that I think its worth paying a professional...

Rob

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 07, 2004 4:42 pm

You can find a calibrator right here...

viewforum.php?f=33

and here...

http://www.imagingscience.com

Richard Fisher

Kevin Miller · Post by **Kevin Miller** » Tue May 25, 2004 9:52 am

Hi All,

There are a couple of variables that I am surprised nobody has mentioned here. What about the make and model DVD player being used? Output voltages and other variables between DVD players is HUGE not to mention the TV itself. Since a typical DLP calibration is around $400 for everything it seems to me to be a no-brainer to bring in the pro with 10K + of test equipment and a lot of field experience rather than shooting in the dark for $300 with rented equipment you have never used and don't know how to use. My 2 cents!