TV buying advice please

castle96

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-dvd-blu-ray/televisions/large-screen-tvs-32-and-over/lg-47lb730v-smart-3d-47-led-tv-10001849-pdt.html#cat-0

Am thinking of buying this. Right size, I like LG (I think) - good reputation ? Like 5 yr guarantee.

Some Qs though as I have never had a tv connected to a computer.

Does wifi mean that I do not have to have the computer on?
Does a hdmi lead need to connect the two, or is there no lead, ie Wifi (confused here.
IS this set 4 k (if not, what). 3 k then ? Presumably this is 'enough'
4k(this is the HD value ? - comes later this year ?

3d not particularly worth paying for in a TV as there are not many fils shown in 3d anyway... ?

What is 'smart' about this TV ?

Does HD cost any extra through Sky ?

I have a cracking tv at the moment. Big/cathode ray, but still working. The above though looks to be a 'bargain' ?

thanks - any help from u folks appreciated

Cycrow

The TV isn't 4k, its a Full HD, or 1080p TV. 4K is 4 times the resolution, and alot more expensive. (most things arn't in 4k yet anyways)

The wifi is used for internet access, this means the tv can connect to your wifi router (if you have one) to access the internet. This is used to update the tv when needed as well as for the smart tv functions.

Most tv's dont come with leads, so you one need one that can connect your computer to the tv, if thats how you plan to use it. A hdmi cable should do the job if you computer has hdmi out, otherwise you may need something like DVI - HDMI, depending on what connections your computer has.

Smart functions are where you can use apps to access various services online, things like BBC Player, and other catchup services.

If you dont curently have Sky HD, then you might need to get a new sky box and upgrade to the HD package. You dont need Sky HD to use the TV thou, but it would be an improvement

JimmyTheWig

castle96 wrote: »

I have a cracking tv at the moment. Big/cathode ray, but still working. The above though looks to be a 'bargain' ?

I would have thought that a better bargain would be to keep the TV that you've got!

castle96

"Smart functions are where you can use apps to access various services online, things like BBC Player, and other catchup services."

Already have this on Sky


" new sky box and upgrade to the HD package".

so this will cost me.

"the tv can connect to your wifi router"

i OBVIOUSLY HAVE A ROUTER THOUGH IT IS CONNECTED BY LEADS, SO NOT 'WIFI'. iF i HAD A WIRELESS ROUTER, i WOULD NOT NEED LEADS ?, IE WIFI IS A SIGNAL/NO LEADS ??

Going off the idea !

JimmyTheWig

castle96 wrote: »

"Smart functions are where you can use apps to access various services online, things like BBC Player, and other catchup services."

Already have this on Sky

But wouldn't you like to pay £649 to have this direct through your TV as well? [me neither!]

" new sky box and upgrade to the HD package".

so this will cost me.

It will only cost extra each month if you choose this option.
You can stick with non-HD Sky which will work fine with an HD TV. You just won't get the HD quality picture when you're watching TV through Sky. You'll still get the additional quality from Blu-Ray, etc.
So would you like to pay £649 because the picture you see when watching DVDs isn't good enough? [me neither!]

"the tv can connect to your wifi router"

i OBVIOUSLY HAVE A ROUTER THOUGH IT IS CONNECTED BY LEADS, SO NOT 'WIFI'. iF i HAD A WIRELESS ROUTER, i WOULD NOT NEED LEADS ?, IE WIFI IS A SIGNAL/NO LEADS ??

Most modern routers have the option of connecting leads or wireless. A physical lead connection is generally better, so if you use your PC in one place then I'd stick with that. But you can still use wifi for other gadgets.
What router do you have?

Going off the idea !

I don't blame you. Nothing wrong with our big bulky CRT TV. Can think of much better things to spend hundreds of pounds on.

castle96

thanks for that.

Router is a Sky SAGEM - does have 2 connections free
Lookng at reviews, I see
"no twin tuners - you cannot record one show while watching another"
??? how can this be if I am connected to Sky. Surely I CAN watch/record ? Are they talking about Freeview connected only ?

The HD thing confuses me. Not all programes are in HD - true ?
I must pay extra for Sky HD - true ? (then I will get all ?? progs in HD?)
This set is not 4k (what is it then, 3k?), but if I was looking at one that was, 4k,, there would be no point in having 4k unless I had HD - true?
The ability to get ALL progs in 3d IS appealing - would make up for no 4k I would think /
Would you computer haveto be actually turned on to get a signal to the TV, or is plugging it into the router, enough ?
All very confusing

castle96

"In particular the dual play which allows 2 people to both view their own screen whilst gaming removing the need for split screens"

How is this possible ?? I can see how with a split screen = 2 picturs, but how can 2 people see a different thing on the same/one screen ??

Tropez

castle96 wrote: »

"In particular the dual play which allows 2 people to both view their own screen whilst gaming removing the need for split screens"

How is this possible ?? I can see how with a split screen = 2 picturs, but how can 2 people see a different thing on the same/one screen ??

It takes advantage of how a 3D picture is relayed. On domestic televisions, 3D pictures are relayed using two images (one on top) so what they do is relay two separate images to two different people through tricks with the 3D glasses.

castle96

blimey - didn't know that was possible. A good feature if there are 2 of you.

Price comparisons for this are interesting.
Went to PC world "last few going at £649 (with 5 yr g'tee".), Was £899.
Everywhere else they are £649 ish all the time !!

Cycrow

castle96 wrote: »

thanks for that.

Router is a Sky SAGEM - does have 2 connections free
Lookng at reviews, I see
"no twin tuners - you cannot record one show while watching another"
??? how can this be if I am connected to Sky. Surely I CAN watch/record ? Are they talking about Freeview connected only ?

Yes they are talking about the built in Freeview tuner. If you have sky, you wont be using this, so no need to worry about it

castle96 wrote: »

The HD thing confuses me. Not all programes are in HD - true ?
I must pay extra for Sky HD - true ? (then I will get all ?? progs in HD?)

With HD with Sky, you get separate HD channels, so for example, you can get Sky 1, and Sky 1 HD. They show the same programmes, but most of them on the Sky 1 HD channel will be in HD.
(Not all programmes, even on the HD channels will be in HD, this usually applies more to older programmes that were never recorded in HD.

castle96 wrote: »

This set is not 4k (what is it then, 3k?), but if I was looking at one that was, 4k,, there would be no point in having 4k unless I had HD - true?

standard HD res is about 2k (the 4k refers to the number of horizontal pixels).
HD has 1920 horizontal pixels (so close to 2k).

Unless you have 4k content, then theres little point of getting a 4k TV. Sky dont currently do 4k, so the best you will get is HD

castle96 wrote: »

The ability to get ALL progs in 3d IS appealing - would make up for no 4k I would think /

for 3d, its usually better to use it with proper 3D content, like 3D Blu-Rays.
Some tvs can do 2D to 3D conversion, but i've never considered it all that good.
Most new TV's tend to come with some form of 3D anyways.

castle96 wrote: »

Would you computer haveto be actually turned on to get a signal to the TV, or is plugging it into the router, enough ?
All very confusing

If you want to get signal from the computer to the tv, then the computer will need to be switch on. The TV could be used instead of computer monitor

Tropez

castle96 wrote: »

thanks for that.

Router is a Sky SAGEM - does have 2 connections free
Lookng at reviews, I see
"no twin tuners - you cannot record one show while watching another"
??? how can this be if I am connected to Sky. Surely I CAN watch/record ? Are they talking about Freeview connected only ?

Yes, they will be talking about Freeview. If you have a Sky+ box your standard service of being able to watch one channel while recording another or record two channels simultaneously when not watching anything/watching on-demand will be the same since the signal used to watch Sky goes into your set-top box before being routed to your TV.

The HD thing confuses me. Not all programes are in HD - true ?
I must pay extra for Sky HD - true ? (then I will get all ?? progs in HD?)

Yes, Sky HD is a little extra per month. Currently it is part of the Family Bundle which is £33 per month. To watch Sky Movies and/or Sky Sports in HD you need an extra HD upgrade for those which is about £5.25 per month I believe.

However, even without the Family Bundle or a HD addon for Sports and Movies you will receive some channels in HD - such as ITV HD and BBC One HD.

Not all programmes are in HD, you are correct. Many older programmes were shot in non-HD formats, although most films, save for the really old ones, can be found in a HD format. The majority of modern programmes are being shot in HD now and so the amount of HD content has increased to the point that it could be considered "normal" now.

Sports on Sky, with the exception of a few channels such as Premier Sports, are usually in HD.

This set is not 4k (what is it then, 3k?), but if I was looking at one that was, 4k,, there would be no point in having 4k unless I had HD - true?

4k refers to the resolution. It is 4 times the size of a 1080p screen which is a 1920 x 1080 resolution. Sky HD is broadcast in 1080i or 720p so is not 4k, or even Full HD, anyway.

Here's an explanation of the difference between 1080i and 1080p
http://uk.pcmag.com/tv-home-theaters/18675/news/1080i-vs-1080p-whats-the-difference

And here's an article explaining 4K
http://www.techradar.com/news/television/ultra-hd-everything-you-need-to-know-about-4k-tv-1048954

Currently, there are very few services that provide 4k and even fewer programmes in 4k. Buying a 4k TV is generally a purchase with the future in mind, although many 4k televisions have superior "upscaling" of SD video to HD.

Netflix offer a minimal amount of 4K content on their highest subscription level. They recommend an Internet connection of 25Mbps or higher.

The ability to get ALL progs in 3d IS appealing - would make up for no 4k I would think /
Would you computer haveto be actually turned on to get a signal to the TV, or is plugging it into the router, enough ?
All very confusing

You do not have to connect this TV to a computer. To access the Smart TV functions you connect it to the router either via WiFi (and most modern routers do support WiFi) or via Ethernet (wire). The likelihood is that to use the basic functions of the TV you don't actually need to connect it at all although you would have no Internet related functionality and most Smart TVs do download system updates.