Re: TV, VCR, and TV Mounts

[Russell Smith <rssmith@TENET.EDU>]

>My curriculum director asked me to write a proposal concerning how much it
would cost to mount TV's to the wall in each classroom...I also need
computer hookup to the TV, a VCR, and cable
I would appreciate suggestions as to where to look-what company????? Thanks
Aileen


   I have five TVs wallmounted in my house and I've done this myself in the
last three houses I have lived in. Each mount cost about $75, maybe a little
bit more for 25 inch TVs. I bought some from Damark and others from another
online manufacturer. It's pretty easy to find them with a search engine. I
even bought one mount for $69 from a local furniture store where I purchased
my last 25 inch TV.

   Mounting them is pretty easy...I have become expert after doing it about
15 times and can do one in about ten minutes. The trick is to find the stud
with a stud finder and then test it with a nail to make sure you're hitting
wood. Then mark the holes, drill a hole just barely smaller than the screw
bolts which will secure the mount. It's best to use a 1/2 drill on this
job...a smaller electric drill is not as good although it will work. A good
custodian should be able to do this job for your school. Now if your wall is
masonry or has steel wall supports it will be trickier, but it can be done.

    The cables you will need are coaxial for cable and VCR. For the computer
to TV hook-ups this is a gnarly issue. In my opinion the quality is so poor
with virtually any type of converter that I don't recommend it. Even TVs
that are 36 inch will have poor quality conversion because of the built-in
deficiencies of TV monitors compared to computer monitors. Text will be
especially poor. Now there are large screen TV/monitor devices that work a
little better, but they are expensive (over $800) and still have a shortfall
in the distance they can be seen easily. From ten feet or less they work
well, get beyond that and you might as well loan out binoculars.

    Scan converters will run about $300 for a good one. Some computers may
have video out ports and not need a converter. My laptop is that way and it
looks fairly good showing a DVD movie through a TV. But computer text and
graphics look lousy.

HTH,

Russell Smith
Edtech Consultant, Journalist
A+ Certified Technician
http://www.rustysmith.com

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