The Dangers of Amateur Calibration

I haven't seen what everyone is doing, but if you don't have the equipment to generate the proper test patterns and you don't have experience doing this on different TVs - how good a job could you really do?

Allen

OK lets say there are intructions on how to tweak in the service menu. The instructions are for your exact tv you own. You use the same values as the instructions say. Would you see the same results? If you have 2 identical sets would they actually be visibly identical. I would think not. I am sure there alot of variables. I am not going to try this, just wondering what would happen if one did this.

Marty P

This method would not produce the best picture for most types of RPTV's, i.e. CRT.

Where you see this method being done is mostly with DLPs. This is because a calibrator noticed that there wasn't that much variation in the SM values for a large set of DLPs that he calibrated. So for a much smaller fee than an in-home calibration, he sales the SM value averages that he has collected from his other in-home calibrations of DLPs.

This results in a very good calibration albeit not as great as an in-home calibration. But for the savings, it may be worth it.

Brandon

This is like amateur surgery. The only difference is no one dies. You have to have the right equipment and know how to use it. The equip. runs thousands so how can you save money.

Hugh Campbell

This is like amateur surgery. The only difference is no one dies. You have to have the right equipment and know how to use it. The equip. runs thousands so how can you save money

Because the only equipment you need is the remote control that came with your TV in order to access the Service Menu (SM).

Now if you want to calibrate the TV yourself with actual calibration equipment, then you can rent the equipment. For about $300 you can rent the ColorFacts calibration equipment and you have a month to calibrate your TV yourself.

Brandon

Using Hugh

Thanks for your response Richard! I am sufficiently concerned about doing it myself that I think its worth paying a professional...

Rob

You can find a calibrator right here...

http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=33

and here...

http://www.imagingscience.com

Richard Fisher

Hi All,

There are a couple of variables that I am surprised nobody has mentioned here. What about the make and model DVD player being used? Output voltages and other variables between DVD players is HUGE not to mention the TV itself. Since a typical DLP calibration is around $400 for everything it seems to me to be a no-brainer to bring in the pro with 10K + of test equipment and a lot of field experience rather than shooting in the dark for $300 with rented equipment you have never used and don't know how to use. My 2 cents!

----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----

I purchased the service manual to my Pioneer Elite
720HD when I first got the set. I tweaked the overscan
because I was losing stuff at the top of the screen
(read sports scores).

Not being a trained calibrator, I can tell that I
squewed the geometry.

So although being somewhat technical (with a BSEE
degree), I do not have the training to calibrate.

I intend to have it calibrated after my next move
(within the next 6 months hopefully).

So I agree, that although the service codes can be
gotten by anyone, not everyone should attempt to
use them.

Perry

> Why is this not the place to discuss this ?

Even if Dale was not out he would likely ask to me to address this.

Accessing the service menus of your product is not supported by HDTV
Magazine for numerous reasons ranging from potentially voiding your
warranty, causing problems that were not there before and potential
liability since you received the info from an HDTV Magazine service. We also
wish to maintain a good relationship with the calibration and manufacturing
industry and do not support service menu access towards that end.

All in all HDTV Magazine is in full support of the calibration industry
whether it be the ISF or HAA (acoustic science). These folks have made a
significant investment in training and the proper test equipment to bring
your video and audio to it's full potential. ISF calibrators have spent
hours upon hours honing their skills with each chassis and the benefit of
this experience should not be overlooked by those wishing to circumvent this
service and fee. I have walked into numerous homes where the end user has
tweaked his own display and in nearly all cases has simply traded one
artifact for another. If this was about pictures that you find personally
appealing or prefer rather than accurate then the manufacturer has already
provided you with that for decades based on their marketing studies.

http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3282

http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3180

That said there is nothing to prevent anyone here from visiting the many
sites on the internet that will provide you with this information either
free or for a fee. Please check your favorite search engine. Some of these
are contained in our links at HD Library.

http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=36

Note that we have included a disclaimer and warning for those sites that
support this. It should also be noted that many manufacturers are looking at
ways to block end user access to the internal workings of a display and by
default that includes the calibration community which is not conducive to
accurate imaging or free choice since it blocks your ability to pursue
accurate imaging if you desire it.

I have been on board since May of 2002 and service menu access has never
been discussed on the TIPS. Robert apparently is new to the HDTV Magazine
service and knowing that many ISF calibrators participate here must have
assumed his request was not an issue. Doug's response was greatly
appreciated in this matter.

Please do not discuss service menu acess and data items using any of the
HDTV Magazine services. Please feel free to discuss the benefits of ISF
calibration, your experience with ISF calibrators and the use of calibration
discs for end users to adjust the customer controls as provided by the
manufacturer.

Thanks,

Richard Fisher