Randy Tomlinson
Auditioning
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2001
- Messages
- 1
Somehow I stumbled across the thread (from last spring) about the "incompetent" ISF tech that was "outdone" by Michael. There were some interesting comments and viewpoints in that thread.
As an ISF technician, I just wanted to comment on the attitude I sometimes saw which basically said "anybody can do the standard ISF stuff except for color temp." Well, that's the whole key. Setting color temp requires some very expensive equipment that most people would find beyond their budget for home use. A few years ago, the Phillips color analyzer cost $10,000. The Photoresearch still costs over $10,000. Sencore sells theirs for about $3000 but you'll have to buy a laptop to use it. Some of these are not accurate from day one and others (like the Phillips) need regular recalibration. (I happen to know someone with a Photoresearch so I'm able to keep mine calibrated with that.) Add the cost of ISF training and travel/lodging to get it and you end up with quite a high price tag that will take a long time to recoup.
When TV's were simple, the standard ISF fee was probably about right considering the cost outlay of doing it, but with HD, TV's have become MUCH more complex and (to make matters worse) change every 12 months or less. Often the tech will spend hours on a job figuring out what this or that manufacturer did in this model (which will change in a few months). Sometimes there are obstacles that the tech can't overcome due to lack of available information. I ran into this on a Panasonic TAU set and one of Panasonic's top technical people couldn't get the answer for me. Even if SOMEONE has the answers, you'll often end up making repeat trips (at no additional cost) for problem sets to try them. Believe me, it's often hard to make any money at this. (fortuntely, it's not my primary job)
I've pretty much decided to specialize in 2 or 3 sets so I can attempt to know "all there is to know" about them. In this way, I can do quickly do the tweeks that really matter without charging extra. If you're doing your own, of course, you're "specializing" in that set and can spend unlimited time learning about it, but do-it-yourselfers that make a mess (SO easy to do) then scream "WARRANTY" are the reason manufacturers are making it difficult or impossible for ANYONE to get the necessary plus desirable information to fully calibrate. (which is part of the current ISF problem)
The solution to this problem (which Mitsubishi MAY be doing soon) is perhaps multiple service menus where an easily accessible one (but still slightly hidden) has only the adjustments necessary for a reasonable calibration while critical adjustments are kept more secret. This might make them more willing to share information.
I read all the "tricks" Michael (who's quite good) talks about in Keohi and try most of them on my own (Toshiba) HDTV, but some of these haven't improved the picture. I spent an entire afternoon reducing the screen trimpots to various levels then compensating in the service menu hoping for a sharper picture. Not only was the picture not sharper, getting a perfect grayscale became impossible. I began increasing the screens in small increments but only after I approached the original factory setting (which I'd measured with the light meter) was perfect grayscale tracking possible again. Maybe this would help some sets, but it didn't help mine so I'd certainly not spend hours on a customer's set for such a questionable and time consuming exercise. Some of these things are like "opening a big can of worms."
So guys, ease up on the ISF Techs. We don't live at your house so we've got to do a good job on what we're actually supposed to do and get out in a reasonable amount of time for the ISF standard fee to be even slightly profitable for us.
[Edited last by Randy Tomlinson on July 31, 2001 at 10:18 AM]
As an ISF technician, I just wanted to comment on the attitude I sometimes saw which basically said "anybody can do the standard ISF stuff except for color temp." Well, that's the whole key. Setting color temp requires some very expensive equipment that most people would find beyond their budget for home use. A few years ago, the Phillips color analyzer cost $10,000. The Photoresearch still costs over $10,000. Sencore sells theirs for about $3000 but you'll have to buy a laptop to use it. Some of these are not accurate from day one and others (like the Phillips) need regular recalibration. (I happen to know someone with a Photoresearch so I'm able to keep mine calibrated with that.) Add the cost of ISF training and travel/lodging to get it and you end up with quite a high price tag that will take a long time to recoup.
When TV's were simple, the standard ISF fee was probably about right considering the cost outlay of doing it, but with HD, TV's have become MUCH more complex and (to make matters worse) change every 12 months or less. Often the tech will spend hours on a job figuring out what this or that manufacturer did in this model (which will change in a few months). Sometimes there are obstacles that the tech can't overcome due to lack of available information. I ran into this on a Panasonic TAU set and one of Panasonic's top technical people couldn't get the answer for me. Even if SOMEONE has the answers, you'll often end up making repeat trips (at no additional cost) for problem sets to try them. Believe me, it's often hard to make any money at this. (fortuntely, it's not my primary job)
I've pretty much decided to specialize in 2 or 3 sets so I can attempt to know "all there is to know" about them. In this way, I can do quickly do the tweeks that really matter without charging extra. If you're doing your own, of course, you're "specializing" in that set and can spend unlimited time learning about it, but do-it-yourselfers that make a mess (SO easy to do) then scream "WARRANTY" are the reason manufacturers are making it difficult or impossible for ANYONE to get the necessary plus desirable information to fully calibrate. (which is part of the current ISF problem)
The solution to this problem (which Mitsubishi MAY be doing soon) is perhaps multiple service menus where an easily accessible one (but still slightly hidden) has only the adjustments necessary for a reasonable calibration while critical adjustments are kept more secret. This might make them more willing to share information.
I read all the "tricks" Michael (who's quite good) talks about in Keohi and try most of them on my own (Toshiba) HDTV, but some of these haven't improved the picture. I spent an entire afternoon reducing the screen trimpots to various levels then compensating in the service menu hoping for a sharper picture. Not only was the picture not sharper, getting a perfect grayscale became impossible. I began increasing the screens in small increments but only after I approached the original factory setting (which I'd measured with the light meter) was perfect grayscale tracking possible again. Maybe this would help some sets, but it didn't help mine so I'd certainly not spend hours on a customer's set for such a questionable and time consuming exercise. Some of these things are like "opening a big can of worms."
So guys, ease up on the ISF Techs. We don't live at your house so we've got to do a good job on what we're actually supposed to do and get out in a reasonable amount of time for the ISF standard fee to be even slightly profitable for us.
[Edited last by Randy Tomlinson on July 31, 2001 at 10:18 AM]
