How to Avoid Common Issues with Your TV Setup

With so much to watch on TV these days, whether it’s through streaming services or classic free-to-air, you want the best possible viewing experience. And that often comes down to how you set up your TV in the first place. 

There are so many smart TVs on the market, which makes the possibilities quite exciting. However, can also lead to a range of issues that can hinder that highly-valued viewing experience. 

Whether you're enjoying your annual rewatch of Buffy The Vampire Slayer or kicking back on the couch ready to watch the big game, a smooth TV setup guarantees you get the most out of your tech. Here’s how to avoid the most common TV setup mistakes so you’ll feel like you’re smack bang in the middle of the action.

What Are The Common TV Setup Problems?

Before we look at the solutions, we first need to understand the problems. Here’s a quick look at the typical issues that can turn a simple TV setup into a frustrating experience:

• Choosing the wrong screen size for the room.

• Poor television placement or mounting that causes neck strain. 

• Tangled, messy cables that make the setup look cluttered and cause connectivity issues.

• Poor sound quality from using low-quality or incorrectly positioned audio equipment.

• Signal dropouts or pixelation due to improper antenna installation and the need to boost your antenna signal.

• Unadjusted TV settings like brightness and contrast that don’t match the lighting in the room. 

Identifying these common mistakes is an important first step in setting up your TV seamlessly. Now that we know the mistakes to avoid, let’s see how to avoid them. 

Choosing the Right TV for Your Space

Picking the perfect TV for your bedroom or living room is about more than just screen size.

If you’re a fan of the US version of The Office, you might remember the classic Dinner Party episode where Michael and Jan invited colleagues over for a meal. The episode highlight was Michael proudly showing off his new plasma screen TV which is clearly too small for the room.

These days, TVs come in all kinds of sizes, dimensions and resolutions so it’s significantly easier to find something that fits your room and viewing habits. It’s important to consider the size of your room, the wall space, and how far you’ll be sitting from the screen.

While it certainly might be tempting to go for a larger TV, the picture can feel overwhelming if you’re sitting too close. On the flip side, you’ll miss important picture details if the screen is too small. 

It’s also worth taking the lighting of the room into account. OLED screens work well in dark rooms, while LED screens handle brighter areas better. 

Positioning and Mounting: Avoiding Glare and Strain

Where you place your TV is key to creating a comfortable viewing experience. 

A common mistake is mounting the TV too high. If you’ve ever been forced to sit in the front row at the cinema, you’ll know how uncomfortable that can be. A wall-mounted television that is too high up on the wall can lead to neck strain over time. The sweet-spot position for your TV should have the centre of the screen at eye level when you're seated. 

You’ll also want to think about glare. Sunlight pouring in from the windows or reflections from lights can ruin your picture quality. Consider positioning the TV away from direct light sources or using blinds and curtains to manage glare issues. 

Handling Cables and Connectivity Issues

Messy TV cables and connection problems can turn a sleek TV setup into a frustrating tangle. 

If you want to avoid connectivity issues and keep the back of your TV tidy and organised, it’s well worth putting some sort of cable management solution in place. Clips or sleeves will often do the trick effectively. 

As for HDMI cables and power cords, keep them securely connected and use high-quality cables for better performance. It's easy to forget to check if you're on the right input setting, so double-check your source if things don’t seem to be quite right. 

A little care with your cables and connections can help you avoid those annoying ‘no signal’ messages and keep your setup running smoothly.

Setting Up Audio for Maximum Effect

Great picture quality and equally impressive sound should go hand in hand, but many TV viewers often overlook their audio setup. 

Most if not all modern TVs have built-in speakers. While they’re serviceable at best, in larger rooms they can often fall short of providing a fully immersive experience. To get the most out of your TV viewing, consider upgrading to a soundbar or home theatre system for richer, more engaging sound. 

Positioning your speakers just right will also make a big difference. You’ll typically place a soundbar directly under the TV, while surround sound system speakers get spaced evenly around the room. 

Professional Antenna Installation

If streaming isn’t your thing and you’re happy with the free-to-air channels, you’ll need a well-installed antenna for a clear, uninterrupted signal. Yes, it can be tempting to go the DIY route with the installation, but this often leads to signal dropouts and frustrating interruptions. 

This is where professional installation comes in. A skilled installer knows how to position the antenna to deliver the best reception. You’ll avoid the hassle of trial and error and enjoy a more reliable viewing experience right from the start.

Optimising TV Settings for Picture Quality

There’s more to getting the best picture quality from your TV than simply turning it on - you also need to fine-tune the settings to suit the conditions of the room.  

Chances are your TV will have preset picture modes with names like "Vivid" or "Sports". While they might look impressive, they’re often too bright or over-saturated for regular viewing. You’re better off manually adjusting the brightness, contrast, and color balance based on the room's lighting. In a dim room, for example, you’ll want to reduce the brightness to avoid eye strain and increase contrast for sharper images. 

Finally, don’t forget to disable motion smoothing - this can make films and shows look unnaturally smooth. 

Sit Back and Enjoy Your Perfect TV Setup

With the right TV setup, you can enjoy endless hours of viewing and entertainment without the usual frustrations. 

By choosing the right TV for your space, positioning it correctly, and getting your audio and picture settings just right, you'll create a viewing experience that’s both comfortable and immersive. 

Don’t forget to keep your cables tidy and organised and, if you’re using an antenna, get professional installation for the best possible signal. 

Avoid the common setup errors and your next movie night or Bridger on binge will go off without a hitch. Now, all that’s left is to grab your remote, sit back, and enjoy your favorite shows as they were meant to be seen!

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