Replacing our 22" CRT TV with a Sony Bravia KDL32EX403U

[Topper]

I recently splashed out on a Sony Bravia KDL32EX403U 32" FV/HD TV and incorporated its installation into my chimney breast project.
Having finally completed the job to my satisfaction although I do not have an HD sky stb I can still watch terrestrial HD channels which are OK in quality certainly can tell the resolution difference on many programs.

I purposely bought an internet ready TV as I wanted to explore IPTV a bit and see what was available. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of available content and am never stuck for something to watch. On the negative side I am disappointed that I cannot get the BBC iPlayer on there but reading around the web it seems there may be a software upgrade released at some point, but I am not holding my breath.

I must mention that I refused point blank to pay £66.00 to Sony for a usb wifi dongle for the Sony TV a ridiculous price for a £10.00 dongle but please note no other works at all hence I am using my Powerline adaptors which at 150mb/s work a treat, not bad for £29.00 second hand from ebay

Once I had the internet sorted I also wanted to be able to access media content from my PC and struggled to find some useful DLNA server software until I came across mezzmo from conceiva, see -www.mezzmo.com
I have to say it worked well with my Sony although initially I thought it was not going to.
I did not realise it had to catalogue all the media content on my PC and as I have a lot of it I initially could not understand why I could see thumbnails, but not view the content. Once everything was catalogued it all works a treat and I can recommend it to anyone having a similar Sony TV / PC setup.

I still have many things to explore with the TV but I have to say our viewing experience is certainly enhanced from the 22" CRT we have been using for the last 15 years, I was fed up of missing the right and left hand side of the viewing screen and think at £450 from John Lewis the TV was a bargain although I accept it may be small for some people's houses, but it is big enough for ours.

 

[Channel Hopper]

You could at least have shown some breast on the screen.

What are you going to do with the kit (and cabling) on the right of the fireplace ?

 

[Topper]

The units and cabling will be sorted and tidied respectively when I find what I am looking for, which I probably will not know until I see it and it is free. I could get a glass unit from somewhere for £100+ but I do not intend spending that amount of money on 4 pieces of glass

 

[Topper]

I am pleased to report that Sony are true to their word and I now have a BBCi player icon in my on-line video selections At the moment it says coming soon but I suspect the delay is down to the upgrades, although having just read this thread below it could be working now
http://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/...787-bbc-iplayer-redesign-goes-live-today.html

 

[PaulR]

Nice going Topper. Very tidy installation - far better than my rat's nest attempts (although I am trying to tidy them up).

 

[Topper]

Yes apart from the power supply which was a spur from a double socket, all other cabling from the back of the TV including scart leads HDMI Cat 5 composite USB and Ipod leads go through a 3 inch flexible aluminium cooker vent pipe down to the side of the fireplace

 

[hexah]

An elegant installation.

£66 is for a dongle is daft - the powerline adaptors may prove more reliable anyway.