First mistake:

Customer wants, and buys an SVA 42 EDTV Plasma (yeah, it's a piece of crap), because his 'buddy" the builder (the very, very cheap builder) tells him how great it is.

Second mistake:

He calls the local TW cable company office to schedule his cable install, with the new SA 8000HD DVR unit for his new "HDTV" (I've tried explaining the ED/HD thing, and I give up).

Third mistake:

Cable company "installer" delivers box. Doesn't hook it up. Leaves.

Fourth mistake:

Cable company installer comes by to deliver the remote that wasn't in the box. Leaves.

Fifth mistake:

Cable company installer apparently left a used unit, since there was no users manual, or any other paperwork for that matter. And still hasn't been back with that item.

Six, Seventh and more mistakes:

Trying to be helpful, I make a mad stab at finding out how this box can be made compatable with the EDTV Plasma. Call cable company tech line (yeah, go ahead you can laugh at that one).

First tech person tells me the box isn't compatable with a EDTV, second tech person ells me it is, but he doesn't know how it works, senior tech tells me the S-video, composite video and "f" connectors don't have any function on this model, so he can't understand why SA has them on it at all.

I finally go to the SA website and pull up the users manual PDF, print it out and educate myself on the installation of same. EDTV now has picture.

I find it amazing that Time Warner can sell a product that they apparently no nothing about. A tech department that is hopeless, helpless and useless......

My mistake:

Getting involved with this mess. But there is a silver lining. Being the good guy Give me my pats on the back...lol), and selling some very nice extras due to being willing to help sort it all out.

Did I miss something?

I have yet to see a "ED" plasma display that would not downconvert a 1080i signal to the native resolution of the panel. You hook the ED display up exactly the same way you would any other HDTV. People dont know what ED means.. They dont care because the "HD" picture comes up on the screen.....

Is this some sort of really strange Plasma that doesnt downconvert? How did you solve the problem... If there was one......

Interesting thread.. But this isnt earth shattering. Cable guys are better nowadays than inthe past, but they certainly dont compare (I Hope) to an installer that works for a specialty A/V Company.

The way I see it, only One mistake was made...... Going with Cable over satellite... The rest are a direct result of that inital mistake.....

MY guess is that the HD box outputs 1080i and that the Plasma is 480P (ED). The CATV box has (from memory) different output resolution settings and TSS was able to change the output from the PDF that neither the CATV company left by way of a manual or tech support was unable to help out due to lack of brains.

WOW! Time for a break!

I'm not familiar with "SVA" but If I take a High definition Cable box or High Def Satellite box thats sitting out on my showroom floor and set it to 1080i Output, I can input that signal into any of my ED plasma displays without doing anything. The ED displays simply downconvert the signal to 852x480.

Ata Boy, Way to Go!!!!!!!! Been there, done that. Sucks when people cant even make an effort to provide customer service. Then you are left holding a "big bag of nothing." Customer has that very confused glassy eyed look pointed right at you. Because you have a conscience and a heart, you hold your nose and dive right in. Go ahead and strut a little, you deserve it. Maybe if people took you as an example the world would be a better place. Whow, sorry about the rant. Once again, ATA BOY!!!!!!!!!!

Has anyone elxe seen a tremendous amount of 4:3 burn in on plasma/CRT. I have seen way too many HD cable boxes set up for 4:3 on 16:9 televisions causing uneven wear on the TV's sides. People have actually been watching their widscreen TV's for years with bars on the sides the entire time. Since you are using the HD input the TV cannot adjust the wide mode and must be done by the cable box. The cable people have no clue how to get the picture to fill out the whole screen. I just saw the other day another CRT RPTV from sony with the bars on the side. This drives me nuts.

Mike

How I solved it?

Read the manual after I downloaded it from the site. Yeah, the manual that should have been there. Of course, the cable guy was supposed to install the box, but that would have been asking way too much. Anyway. The manual has instructions on how to change the output. Which, by the way, must be done before the unit is powered up.

I'm just surprised that (well maybe not really all that surprised) that even the tech manager didn't really know how to operate the thing.

The SVA ED Plasma?

Has composite via "f" connector.

Has composite via RCA.

Has S-Video.

Has component video (480i/480p)

Has RGB input.

The unit comes with an adapter to a take component video into the RGB input, but max at 720P.

Comes with instructions that the RGB can receive 1080i, but only with a RGB cable to the source, whish the cable box doesn't have.

I recently had to set up a cable system for a friend who just moved. The cable company stopped by, dropped off 3 receivers and a cable modem, and split. Did not even attempt to hook up a thing. She said he used a meter in the house and said the levels were good and thats as much as he had to do. I wish i could have been there for this one! What makes this completely absurd is that she is 25 years old, smoking hot with a great body, and lives with 2 friends. Is this not a dream job!?!?!

. I wish i could have been there for this one! What makes this completely absurd is that she is 25 years old, smoking hot with a great body, and lives with 2 friends. Is this not a dream job!?!?!

Hey Mike ,
Do you want me to swing by her place and take a look :)
Zinon

This scenario is almost always always a "lose / lose" situation. It's interesting how many of us myself included, allow ourselves to be suckered into it.

Inherently the problem in this kind of situation is that the customer for whatever reason is easily influecned by the last person he or she talks to. Not uncommon. What it really means is that the customer doesn't understand that you are the only person they need to talk to regarding their AV needs. It's your job to make that clear. And when the painter starts putting ideas in their head, you simply suggest that maybe the painter should be installing their system, or.... if the painter is so knowledgeable about AV, why is he painting? I'm not blaming the painter here. My point is.....become the be all, end all and others advice won't matter. Trust me, I am extremely cynical towards other people sniping at your domain, it often comes with the territory. Just make sure you are clear that you don't play that game as soon as it rears it's ugly head. You might even have to threaten to walk away. You might even be called on that bluff. So be it. You didn't want that job.

Good advice. You can be tactful, yet firm.

I will agree with you on this one.

Recently had one of the electricians "helpers" open his mouth and butt in on a conversation I was having with a builder and client about a data network. Yes, he was full of it, and yes I put him in his place.

I wasn't quite so politic about it though.

I told him that he should stick with doing electrical work, which he apparently, almost had an understanding of (his boss agreed).

And I do blame the painter (or electrician in this case), since this is like giving travel directions to someone when you really have no idea how to get there.

I appreciate the concern, but i've already put in some OT on this one.

I wish i could have been there for this one! What makes this completely absurd is that she is 25 years old, smoking hot with a great body, and lives with 2 friends. Is this not a dream job!?!?!

Got her cell #?

Need help? I work for free on holiday weekends!