As televisions get larger, brighter, and more colorful it can be difficult to imagine what will be next. Will it be 3D, interactive, or perhaps more of a “virtual” experience? All of these things may well be in the future but for now one of the most unique offerings is “location free” TV. Sony’s 12″ portable LCD LF-X11 offers a type of flexibility that is new in the industry with its battery powered, Wi-Fi enabled touch screen. This dual band wireless TV allows users to enjoy movies, programs, and even internet access/e-mail from any room in the house and even outdoors. Just as cordless phones 20 years ago freed us from needing a phone on the wall in every room, so this television may well free us from a screen in every room. Whether on the patio or out in the garage, the LF-X11 provides quality audio and video without disturbance from microwave ovens or cell phones.

Away from home, this television allows users to enjoy A/V content and internet access by connecting to their Base Station via any public wireless access point: airports, hotels, internet cafes, and other hotspots. This portable LCD monitor weighs in at just over 5 lbs and comes with the Base Station for the living room that weighs only 1 lb. Complete with a handle and stand this 12″ monitor is truly portable.

This Sony television even offers a memory stick port which allows users to view their photos on the LCD screen. The on-screen universal remote with learning capabilities is also a welcomed addition, giving users more control.

The future of most electronics devices is hard to determine but with most items going wireless, allowing users to be more mobile perhaps this direction of location free television should have been anticipated. For the Sony LF-X11 the future is now.

I was thinking about the power of choice because the greatest freedom you have is your freedom of choice. What does this mean? It means that you can choose how you want to be in your life. You may not be able to immediately change your circumstances, such as your health or finances, but you can instantly change your response to them. You can choose your attitude and that is a very potent decision.

Adversity gives you the opportunity to make the “tough” choice of acceptance and grow. I say tough because it is infinitely easier to just behave the way you have been conditioned to:

• As a victim, feeling helpless, hopeless and trapped.
• With conflict blaming ourselves, other people, the situation, or the Divine.

At any time in your day, you can stop and choose your thoughts and responses to the stimuli of this world. Will you be open hearted? Will you be curious? Will you be fearful? Will you be a victim? The freedom to choose is yours and there is no right or wrong. This is your life, you get to make these decisions, no one else can.

This reminds me of the movie Click with Adam Sandler (a different kind of movie for him). He plays Michael an ambitious man conflicted in his life. One fateful night he goes to Bed Bath and Beyond to buy a new remote control. Somehow, he wanders into a store section called Beyonder and meets a strange man named Morty. Morty gives him a “universal” remote control, one that has the power to literally control the universe. This remote control allows Michael to alter time and reality, fast forwarding through arguments and career stalls. Eventually, however, the remote control becomes self-programming, goes on autopilot and makes choices Michael no longer wants.

In a pivotal scene, as Michael laments that this is not the life he wanted or even dreamed about, Morty runs the final credits for his life. Michael is shocked to realize he was responsible for every choice he made that created his life story.

Like Michael, you are the writer, producer, director and star of a movie called your life. What kind of story are you writing? Is it a drama? A comedy? A tragedy? If you don’t love your story – the life you are living – it is time to fire your writer.

Now is time to make a different choice. To take responsibility for your attitude and where you are right now. Breathe deeply and make a commitment to choose something that serves you better. This is about the best story ever written – YOURS! Why not pull out all the stops and make it the way you want it to be?

A new life story starts with the seemingly small step of making 1 different choice and building from there.

Here is my coaching challenge to you:

• Set an intention for yourself every morning, before you get out of bed, for how you want to experience your day, (pleasant, fun, educational, joyful, loving). It is not important what you choose, as long as you make a conscious choice. This will keep you out of default or autopilot mode.

• During the day, as your life unfolds, check in with your choice and see how well you are holding your intention.

• If you have veered off course, it is ok. Simply recognize it.

• Stop, breathe and ask yourself what do you have to let go of, right now, to realign yourself towards the intention you chose this morning.

• Reset your intention in the moment. Honor the choice you made.

• Repeat daily and watch how your life changes.

As the saying goes; “life is not a dress rehearsal.” Now is the time to take charge of your life and make the choices you want. Exercise your true power and remember to have fun!

This is the age of the universal remote control, the mother of all remote controls. Remote controls basically operate on the principle of unique codes that are transmitted from them to the receiving device, which recognizes the code and decodes it.

That is why your T.V., home theater system, DVD player and music system have their own separate remote controls. This leads to the problem of too many remotes, which causes confusion. Now this problem is solved with the universal remote control. You can feed the command codes of all your devices into one universal remote control and use it to control all their functions. Manuals accompanying universal remotes usually list the codes of different brands. Another wonderful invention is the learning remote, which automatically absorbs and stores the codes of other remotes (including universal remotes) and uses them to control their respective devices. All learning remotes are, therefore, universal remote controls as well.

Universal remote controls are super-intelligent, as they are driven by complex and sophisticated software. Imagine a scenario where the entire electrical wiring system of your house is wirelessly connected to your universal remote. Then, while you are sitting on your couch, you can set or reset the security alarm system, direct MP3 music to the speakers of your home theater and transfer your digital photos so that you can see them on your T.V. What’s more, since your entire house is controlled through the universal remote, when you switch on your DVD player to watch a movie, the T.V. will be switched on automatically and even the lights will be appropriately dimmed. Impressive, isn’t it?

All this is already happening in a few homes. Soon the ease and convenience of universal remote controls will be seen in more homes, doing away with the clutter of many separate remote controls and bringing a digital synergy between all appliances to create a truly intelligent home.

You need not settle for the conventional gifts such as ties, socks and toiletry kits when shopping for a gift for your husband or boyfriend. There are a lot of gifts, which you could buy to make guys feel special on Valentine’s Day. Similar to women, men also have the need to be and feel emotionally secure. With that in mind, you need to start thinking of ways, which would be thoughtful and special enough for the man you love.

You could start off with a card or letter that contains your sincere message to him. Remember that words of admiration, affection and affirmation effectively boost the self-esteem of a man. Make sure that he would feel special with the gift you would be giving.

Another way to give him a unique and loving gift would be through serving him. You could probably cook a delicious dinner for him – his favorite dish perhaps. You could bake him some brownies or some pastries. You could give him a relaxing and romantic massage, some kisses and hugs – men appreciate this kind of gifts the most.

If you have the money to spend, you may want to buy him some cool gadgets that would definitely be appreciated by the modern and tech-savvy man of today. These would include a high-quality watch, an Apple iPod, a universal remote or the latest mobile phone. You could also get him perfume, grooming products, DVDs, magazine subscriptions, silk boxers, engraved jewelry and even a puppy or kitten.

Getting your special man a special gift for Valentine’s Day would truly bring more meaning to your relationship. You need not spend a whole lot to make him smile and feel warm with your love. You just have to give it a lot of thought and think of something that would let your love for him shine through.

Compared to setting up all the connections, buying a flat screen HDTV is the easy part. Indeed, connecting the correct cables to the right inputs and outputs of the proper equipment can be a challenge, especially for those who aren’t tech-savvy, so make sure you read the basics first before you take on the task.

Types of Connections

Usually, a flat screen HDTV carries two basic types of connections – analog connections and digital or HD connections, although some new ones only come with the latter. Analog connections are comprised of radio frequency (RF), composite video and S-video connections, which can be used to connect cable boxes, VCRs, DVD players, antennas and some game consoles, of which S-video has the capability of delivering the highest video quality. There are also analog audio connections for older audio receivers and stereo components.

HD connections, on the other hand, consist of component video or YPbPr, FireWire or IEEE 1394, VGA or PC input, DVI and HDMI connections, which are what you should be looking for if you want to enjoy the highest video and audio quality from your HDTV. Check for HDMI connections, in particular, since these allow you to get superb video and audio quality from most HD sources, including HD cable boxes, Blu-Ray players, surround sound speakers, HDTV tuners and newer game consoles.

Connecting Your Cable Box

To get cable on your HDTV, you simply have to connect the wire running from the cable outlet to the box then plug the box to the back of your HDTV using an RF, composite, S-video or HDMI connection, depending on the type of cable box and the input you have available on your HDTV. If you want to record your favorite shows on an HD DVR like a TiVo box, you have to connect your cable box to the DVR first instead of connecting it directly to the HDTV, then connect the DVR to the HDTV via the connections provided.

Connecting your Speakers

To enjoy the superior sound quality offered by your HDTV, it is recommended that you connect external speakers, whether a pair of stereo speakers or four, six or seven surround sound speakers. You cannot connect them directly to your HDTV, though. Rather, you have to connect them first to the AV receiver that comes with the system then connect the AV receiver to the HDTV. Make sure you connect the wires to the right ports on the receiver. For example, if the pair of wires are coming from the front right speaker, they should be connected to the inputs labeled front right, specifically to the ports that match the color of each.

Connecting Your Computer

You may also want to use your flat screen HDTV as your computer monitor. If you do, you will need to get a high quality video card for your computer then connect the CPU to the HDTV via the output provided on the card. If the card only has an S-video, component video or VGA output, you will need to run an audio cable from the soundcard of the CPU to the HDTV, as well. You can also connect your laptop to your HDTV if you want to use it as your DVD or Blu-Ray player, which is especially a good idea if your laptop has an HDMI output.

Connecting Your Game Console

You can also enjoy playing video console games on your flat screen HDTV. In fact, most HDTVs have a dedicated gaming mode that disables video processing to eliminate controller delay. There are two ways to connect your game console – through your AV receiver or directly to your HDTV. Either way, the type of cable you need depends on your game console. Wii game consoles have component video outputs while Xbox and PlayStation consoles have HDMI for superior video quality.

As for your other equipment, simply look at their available outputs then shop for the correct cable. Don’t hesitate to ask at the electronics store if you’re not sure about which cable you are looking for. Your set-up depends on the types of equipment you have as well as how many of them you want to use with your flat screen HDTV. If you are using a lot of equipment, you might want to go with a wireless hub so the back of your HDTV isn’t too crowded. You might want to get a universal remote control, as well.

A multitude of accessories are available to make your flat panel viewing experience more enjoyable.

Antenna and Tuner

The first thing you will need is a TV antenna, used to amplify, clarify, and optimize the signal for your TV. After all, you want to view more than a TV signal, right? If so, make sure to get a tuner.

Cables

Cables are another necessity for your flat panel TV. Often, cables are not bundled with your components, which include a source for the TV/video signal, and an audio signal. This means you will need to buy the cables separately. And please, spend the few extra bucks to upgrade your cheaper cables. Your power and signals going in and coming out of your components will reward you by being stronger and steadier.

Speakers

Do you want to make viewing your flat panel TV more like a night out at the movie theater? If so, you should consider purchasing speakers and subwoofers to create stereo sound. What a way to boost your TV viewing experience! You will feel like you are right in the middle of the action!

Universal Remote

Wow! With all the components hooked up to your flat panel TV, you are bound to have at least three remote controls floating around. And honestly, can you keep straight which remote goes to which device? Investing in a Universal Remote Control would be an excellent idea. Universal Remote Controls allow you to program for several components on one remote. Now your VCR, your DVD, your cable, your satellite, and anything else you might have hooked up to your flat screen TV will work from one remote. What is the best part of only having one remote? No more fumbling around with remotes or searching for remotes under couches, chair cushions, and in the garbage!

Wall Mounting

Some people choose to mount their flat panel TVs on their wall. To do this, you need to have mounts and braces. An attractive feature of some of the mounts is that they allow your flat screen TV to turn or swivel. Now you can watch TV from any seat in the family room! Other people prefer to use special flat screen furniture, such as TV stands, carts, trolleys, or shelves to set up their home viewing area. These types of options do double-duty. The keep your home theater neat and organized, and provide additional storage for the other devices that are hooked up to your TV, not to mention storage for DVDs, CDs, etc.

Surge Protector

With such expensive and delicate equipment at the mercy of any storms or power surges that may come through your house, you will want to invest in a good surge protector. The more expensive surge protectors may even protect your dial-up connection, your DSL connection, or your cable connection. You will be able to leave the house and not worry about unexpected surges frying your electronic devices.

Screen Protector

While flat panel TVs provide an excellent viewing experience, there are a few drawbacks. One is that the screens are delicate and pricy to replace. Another drawback is that the flat panel screens often cause glare and eyestrain to people who sit in front of them for many hours at a time. Luckily, there is a fix for these problems. You can purchase a screen protector to prevent damage to the screen and reduce eyestrain. Some screen protectors will even blur the screen from a certain angle to keep prying eyes from seeing whatever is on the screen.

The installation of a home theater entertainment system in the comfort of your own home can revolutionize the way you experience movies, music, your favourite TV programmes and more.

There are many options to consider when purchasing the best home theater equipment – and luckily there is now greater choice than ever when it comes to custom home theater design, packages, set-up and accessories. For instance, wireless home theater systems and speakers have become more popular in recent years, as they offer greater style and compactness, and allows for a more spacious home theater room; and “home theaters in a box” are advertised as providing a simple introduction to entertainment centers. Home theater stores are also willing to combine top quality individual parts (such as custom home theater projectors, speaker systems, DVD players, receivers and screens) in whatever way you choose, and for cheaper than you might expect.

Additionally, building your own custom home theater system is increasingly simple and cost effective. Many home theater magazines and webzines offer useful information on custom home theater construction: including practical instructions such as home theater plans and layout advice, audio system plans (including surround sound), DIY wiring diagrams and advice on custom home theater electronics.

Websites can also provide you with expert-quality home theater reviews on products from high street companies such as Sony, Yamaha, Panasonic, Pioneer, Bose, Onkyo and Samsung – often complete with photo galleries – so that you stay informed whether you choose to buy online or not.

If you have a custom home theater idea you are unsure about, or simply want to discuss, you may also find it valuable that a lot of these websites contain forums in which you can exchange ideas and suggestions with others planning to build their own home theater. Whichever home theater option you chose, the web is a valuable resource that can be a great aid when deciding on the best entertainment center for you.

Buying or creating a custom home theater may be more than just a purchase – it can turn into a lifestyle! This is reflected in the vast array of home theater accessories and furniture available, from décor such as custom cabinets and speaker stands, to time- and trouble-saving items like the Home Theater Masterâ„¢ – an acclaimed universal remote control.

Options in home theater room design include a variety of seating, whether you opt for a chair or a recliner, and ranging from cost-effective to the ultimate in luxury. Websites can also provide you with the best home theater room plans that can optimise your space and enjoyment of a DVD entertainment center.

Search Google for “how to change traffic lights” and you will find numerous sources of information. There are techniques that actually work for example the use of a mobile infrared transmitter (MIRT) and those that don’t like the universal remote control method. One thing that is consistent is that there is only one method that is legal for everyone in all 50 states.

A MIRT works by sending a signal to a traffic light that will either turn the light green or turn all the lights red. This technology is only authorized for emergency vehicle use. If you do not drive a police car, fire truck, or ambulance it is not legal for you to own or operate a MIRT. In Michigan the penalties of using a MIRT or pretty stiff and I assume they are similar for all states.

Michigan MIRT Law…

A misdemeanor and up to 90 days in jail and a fine of $5,000 for the unlawful POSSESSION of a MIRT. A FELONY charge with up to TWO YEARS in jail and a fine of 10,000 for the unlawful SALE of purchase of a MIRT. A FELONY charge with up to FIVE years in jail and a fine of $15,000 for individuals using a MIRT that resulted in a traffic accident A FELONY charge with up to 15 years in jail and a fine of $25,000 for the use of a MIRT resulting in death.

In fact any device used by an individual to alter the normal operation of a traffic light is illegal in all states. With Penalties this stiff why risk it when there is a legal solution. Fortunately, a motorcycle accessory known as a Traffic Light Changer is perfectly legal and works great.

Most traffic lights use electro magnet sensors buried under the road surface to determine if a vehicle is present. They usually appear as large black outlined rectangles on the road surface. Left turn lanes are the most likely to find these sensors but some secondary roads also have lights that will not change until a car is present. These sensors have to be sensitive enough to detect a car on them but not trigger when a vehicle is in the next lane over.

A Traffic light changer does not alter the normal operation of any traffic device. It merely helps to inform the traffic light’s sensors that you are there and waiting. Frankly there are not enough steel parts in a motorcycle to properly trigger the traffic light every time. A traffic light changer simply makes your motorcycle appear much larger to the lights sensors. The best part is that this form of a traffic light changer is completely legal in all 50 states.

The Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/12-601.1 reads, in part:

(e) This Section does not prohibit use by motorcycles of electronic or magnetic safety devices designed to allow traffic control signal systems to recognize or detect motorcycles.

So if you or anyone you know is tired of being stuck at lights for what seems like forever get a traffic light changer today. THey will fit on any motorcycle, install in minutes, can be hidden out of site and are fully self contained. It is a perfect inexpensive and LEGAL solution to a common motorcyclist problem.

What is a Receiver?

A receiver is that big, heavy thing that you plug your speakers and other components into (like a DVD player, TV, CD player, Xbox, PlayStation, iPod, and etc.). Its the “brain” of the show, really. The idea of connecting all your components to a receiver is the concept of audio/video switching, allowing you to switch to different video sources (like TV, DVD, camcorder) on your TV
and thus changing the audio source accordingly – all without touching anything but the receiver.

Of course, the main purpose behind audio/video switching with a receiver is to drive audio to external speakers, like surround sound or stereo speakers.

Most receivers have a plethora of inputs; up to 8 speakers and a subwoofer (more commonly, 5.1, or five speakers and a subwoofer), several video inputs, and even HDMI inputs. You could plug your Xbox, Plasma, and DVD player into the receiver and use one remote to switch between all the different video sources (games, TV, DVD video) and have your speakers pump out surround-sound. Let’s start with inputs and outputs. If you don’t understand something, read through the entire How-To as most of it will be explained in detail.

Keep in mind that a receiver is the hub of your entire home theatre, so this How-To will actually guide you through the basics of connecting your complete home theater.

So what the heck is all this ’stuff’ on the back of your receiver?

I’m going to go over just about anything that you would find on the back of your receiver. The one I’m basing this guide off of is a Harman Kardon AVR-247 I’m going to start from the top left of the unit and work my way to the right, then I’ll start at the left of the next row and so on.

The first three inputs are for antennas. An FM antenna cable would slide on to the first jack while two speaker wires would plug into the remaining slots for AM. Of course, you don’t have to plug your antennas in, but if you’d like AM/FM reception through your speakers, you’ll want to go ahead and do that. These are standard connections, so if you lose one of your antennas, just go buy another for a few bucks.

You’ve probably heard of composite video. Its a very basic video connection used by most any component (TV, DVD, VCR especially). Its common and its cheap. As such, its very low quality.
Composite uses an RCA cable for video (yellow) and two more RCA cables for audio (red and white, stereo). The problem is that a composite video cable combines luminance and chrominance in the same cable, reducing the quality of the picture. You lose a lot of sharpness, and the color begins to degrade from the original source. Its useful when you need the extra input or the device you’re connecting only has composite video. Otherwise, use something else, like component video. Sounds similar; very different.

S-Video is next in line after composite. It uses a different type of connector (five pins in a circle) and gives you marginally better video quality. It is also a video-only cable, so you’ll need to plug in audio separately. In this case, you’ll probably use a pair of red and white RCA cables for your audio inputs.

Next up: a ton of composite audio inputs. These inputs use left channel and right channel RCA cables, typically red and white. They look just like the yellow composite video cable, and you could even use them for video and the yellow for audio, but let’s keep the color scheme how it is Composite audio is the bottom-of-the-barrel in audio. Its perfectly fine for most use, but if you’re looking for high quality surround sound, you don’t want composite. Game systems, like the Wii or Xbox, and very basic DVD players are a perfect match for composite audio.

The same goes to VCRs, CD players, and anything that only has a composite audio output. Plus, if you don’t have surround sound, or your receiver is only two channels (2.1, stereo sound), you won’t be able to use anything but composite audio. Note that there is a composite audio input under each composite video input so that it is easy to match them up. Plug them in the wrong inputs and you won’t get sound when you’re on that particular video input.

Here we have one of the least-used features of a modern receiver: 6 (or channel direct input. This is only used for two purposes: SACD or DVD Audio. SACD is an acronym for Super Audio CD. It is a proprietary audio format developed by Sony for special CDs that are recorded in 5.1 surround sound. That means you need a CD or DVD/CD player that supports SACDs, a receiver with SACD support (as in the picture), and of course Super Audio CD’s. DVD Audio is the same idea, different brand, different media (its a DVD, not a CD!).

DVD Audio discs are special DVDs that are recorded in 5.1 surround sound and can only be played by devices with support for them. These CDs go all the way up to 7.1 surround sound, meaning you would need to have two front, two rear, two side speakers and a subwoofer to enjoy full 7.1 surround sound. Most receivers support up to 7.1 now but you won’t find DVDs with that kind of capability for movies. 5.1 surround is still the defacto standard, so don’t run out and buy more speakers any time soon.

You could skip this next little item because it is unique to this brand of receiver (Harman Kardon). The Bridge” is a proprietary connection they developed for you to connect
an iPod. You need to buy a separate component that includes a docking station and special cables to connect the iPod. It fully integrates with the receiver, displaying
menus and songs on the front LCD screen of the receiver. This allows you to easily pump your tunes through your speakers, whether it be stereo sound or full surround sound.

Of course, the music on your iPod is stereo sound, so the best you can get is simulated surround sound or stereo surround; the same music playing in the front two channels
is put through the rear and center channels. Some receivers do this more intelligently than others, but more on that later.

Here we have our high-end sound inputs/outputs. Basically the same performance wise, you have fiber optic connections (with the square shape) and digital coaxial (just like an RCA cable).
Both of these are 100% digital, whereas composite is analog. The only way you can get true surround sound from any source is by using one of these connections (or the SACD/DVD Audio option)

Almost all DVD players these days have either optical or digital coaxial outputs (sometimes, both). Many high definition cable and satellite boxes also come with these
connections so you can enjoy 5.1 surround sound on high definition channels. Choosing between the two, there’s really no different in audio quality, so feel free to use
what you’d like (or what you’re forced to).

I don’t think I need an image for the next plug. Its a pair of power inputs. One is for powering the receiver, the other for whatever you’d like. This way, when you turn
on the receiver, you give power to the other device (be it a DVD player, CD player, cable box, whatever). I don’t necessarily recommend this unless it specifically suits
your needs. It is useful if you’re running low on outlets, of course.

Something else you’ll never use: D-bus RC-5 input/output. This is used for infrared remote controls to take over your home theater system. Honestly, its not something any of us will ever use. Some of the real high-end junkies might be using something for it, but I’ve never even come across a device that uses this technology. Stick to the remote that came with your unit, or buy a quality universal remote control. There’s no need for this option. An alternate use for this may be a bit more common: if your receiver’s front panel is blocked (like inside a cabinet), you could get an infrared transmitter to latch on to the front of it. This transmitter would hook up to another device somewhere in your room that will accept signals from your remote control. The receiving device then transmits the remote’s commands to your receiver (via the transmitter you’ve attached to the front over the regular infrared transmitter).

Pre-outs , located right under the Remote in/out. Pre-outs are used when you’d like to add an amplifier to your system to boost the power (and hence volume/audio quality). Average
users will not use this for anything but the subwoofer preout. You’ll want to run a subwoofer cable from your subwoofer to the subwoofer pre-out to provide it with
the right frequencies. This is the proper way to connect your subwoofer to your surround sound system. The other inputs won’t be used unless you plan on adding
an amplifier. This is highly unnecessary for home use. You might add an amp if you’re trying to fill a room the size of a small house with enough sound, but you’re not, right?

Here we finally get to the meat of the system: the speaker inputs! Harman Kardon receivers use bind posts for connecting speakers, as seen in the picture. They
work by being loosened up as your turn them counter-clockwise, then you sneak the speaker wire in underneath the caps and tighten them back up by turning clockwise. This’ll
give your speaker wire a nice tug fit that probably won’t loosen up on itself over time. Other brands may use other types of connectors, but bind posts are very common.
You might have been able to tell this is a 7.1 channel receiver because of the speaker inputs.

You’ve got room for 2 front left and right speakers, 2 rear left and right speakers,
a center channel, and two left and right “surround” channels which are placed somewhere in between your front and rear speakers (”side surround”, or 7.1). If you have enough
speakers, you can go ahead and plug in those extra 2 side ones, but they won’t play any sound at all on a 5.1 DVD. You would need a DVD that supports 7.1
surround sound, and at this time, there just isn’t a market for it. CDs will gladly blast stereo surround through all 7 speakers, though, so for some larger rooms, that’s an
advantage.

Our final set of connectors for this receiver: component video . The best video you can get next to composite or s-video. You’ll notice its a set of three cables (all for video),
usually Red, Green and Blue. Don’t think that’s what the cable does, though – it separates the video signal by luminance and two separate color channels. In the past, component
did it in fact represent R, G, B (splitting the primary colors in transmit and recombining them at the destination device), but that is not used in current component video
connections. Component video can carry high definition signals, all the way up to 1080p, so it is the most cost effective and readily available high definition input.
Not seen on this receiver are DVI and HDMI, the two all-digital video connections.

HDMI is the newest, fastest, sharpest video and audio connection available today. Its the only cable that can carry audio and video in one – not to mention, in high definition.
HDMI must be supported by the source and the display you’re connecting it to to use all of its features. Not all DVD players, cable boxes, or receivers support both
audio and video in HDMI. Its becoming more and more of a standard now to support both. The advantage is clear: less cable clutter, higher quality audio and video. You can get up
to 1080p high definition video and 7.1 surround sound through an HDMI cable. Newer cable and satellite boxes, DVD players, high definition DVD players, and more expensive receivers
support the full capability of HDMI. Its the best you can get as all-digital goes.

The last connection for this article is DVI. DVI is also all digital like HDMI, but it cannot process audio signals. HDMI may provide a technically superior image,
but I don’t think anyone could tell the difference. DVI supports high definition video all the way up to 1080p, just like HDMI. Its being used less frequently now,
but if you’ve bought a new computer or video card for your PC recently, it probably has a DVI (or two) port on it. Most computer monitors use DVI now and video cards
have followed suit. HDMI is edging its way into the PC market, but its dominance is seen in the home theater arena.

Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with common connections, let’s plug it all together.

This part of the receiver How-To is going to guide you through hooking a 5.1 surround sound system(5 speakers and a subwoofer) with a high-definition TV, a high-definition cable or satellite box, a DVD player, and a 5.1 receiver.

Your TV & Components

Where you put your TV is dependent on how large it is, how large your room is, and where you will be sitting. If its 50 inches, don’t sit more than 10-15 feet away; but no less, either.
A 60″ set is perfect for 12-20 feet. If you have a 32 inch set, try to sit no farther than 8-12 feet away. Your receiver, DVD player, cable box, and other components should obviously be close together, but don’t place them physically on top of each other. They all get hot, especially your receiver. If you have no other choice, slide a thin piece of plywood between the components to help dispense the heat.

Lay Out of Speakers

The first step is to lay out your setup. Different rooms call for different locations for your speakers and subwoofer. If your room is a typical rectangle, go ahead and place your two front left and right speakers somewhere flush with the television on that side of the room. Your left speaker goes toward the left corner, right speaker toward the right corner. Don’t bother with speaker wire yet (unless your speakers come with speaker wire attached already; in that case, just let them dangle for now). Note that which speaker is left or right is solely dependent on how you connect them to your receiver. Your speakers aren’t actually designated “left” or “right”.

Depending on how you acquired your speakers, your front speakers could be larger than your rear speakers. That’s how you know they’re for the front. Otherwise, all your speakers are the same shape and size, and you can use each for any purpose.

One exception: the center channel. Usually, a center channel is much shorter and wider than your other speakers. It should only be used for the center channel. Sometimes, all 5 of your speakers could be the same, usually on a very inexpensive setup. You can use any of these speakers for any purpose.

Your center channel should always go either directly on top or under your television set. However you have to do this, get it done! It’s not called the center channel for nothing, you know. Any movie will pump out almost 90% of the voices you hear and a majority of the rest of the sounds through the center channel. It is a vitally important component to your surround sound setup.

Your subwoofer should always be on the floor. If it is impossible to place it on the floor, get it as close to the floor as possible. Placing it behind objections or in closets will diminish its effects. In a perfect setup, the subwoofer would be on the floor close to the TV (perhaps off to the left or right) in your line of sight. Nothing should block the side of the subwoofer that air will come out of (usually covered by a grill protecting the subwoofer speaker itself).

When it comes to finding a good spot for your speakers, you might want to mount them. You can usually buy compatible speaker mounts online or in stores. You can also
use existing shelving, buy some shelving, or place them on tables or other objects. No matter how you do it, try to keep the speakers as close to ear level as possible. A speaker mounted at the ceiling of your room isn’t going to give you the optimal aural experience.

The last thing to keep in mind about layout is speaker wire. You’ll probably need at least 100ft of speaker wire, but you’ll often find yourself using much more if you
try running wire through your ceiling, under carpeting, up through the basement, or around objects to conceal it. Take measurements and buy at least 10% more wire than
you think you need. You’ll probably use it!

Cabling

You need to know the different kind of speaker wire available to you before setting up your home theatre. If you bought an HTIB (home theater in a box), it probably came with 100ft of horribly cheap speaker wire. You don’t want that! Do yourself a favor: buy some high-quality, 14-guage speaker wire. Anything higher than 14-guage is just to thin and will be susceptible to interence, quality loss, and poor quality over longer distances. Fourteen guage is a good thickness and suitable for most home theatres. Make sure its also not too thick – some speaker wire simply will not fit in to the speaker wire jacks on some receivers.

Some receivers use proprietary speaker inputs. Sony is one example. Many Sony receivers have special connectors for speaker wire and will not accept a standard speaker wire. You’ll need to use either the Sony-provided speaker wire, take the ends off of Sony speaker wire and put it on your own, or buy some of these special connectors from Sony directly to place on your speaker wire. My recommendation? Avoid any receivers with non-standard speaker wire posts/jacks/connectors. Look for bind posts or other jacks that allow you to slide in and clamp down on a typical speaker wire.

Once you’ve got your speaker wire sorted out, you’ll have to do some cutting and stripping if you opted to purchase your own. This is way easier than it sounds, so don’t worry!

Measure out each length one at a time, cutting the speaker wire with either really great scissors or a sharp blade. Now you need to strip the ends of the wire. Use either a stripping tool or plain old scissors. You can place the scissors on the cable and gently apply some pressure as you twist the scissors around the cable, carefully slicing into the plastic coating. Eventually, it’ll get weak enough that you can just slide it off by tugging on it with your fingers. You need at least 1/4″ of exposed wire.

Now you can connect your speakers. Note on your speaker wire the difference between the two ends. You’ll need to use one as your positive and one as your negative. Sometimes the coating is a different color between the two or there is text on one and not on the other. Keep track of this – whichever side you use for positive on your speaker, use it for positive on your receiver. Crossing the two can cause damage, either immediately or sometime in the future. It might work this way but you don’t want it to!

Connecting the speakers is easy enough. Front left to front left on your receiver, center speaker to center on your receiver, etc… Your rear speakers may be referred to as “Surround” or “Rear Surround” instead of just “Rear”, but keep in mind, if you have a 7.1 or 8.1 channel receiver, “Surround” may indicate side surround speakers, not rear speakers.

Subwoofers

Your subwoofer is going to be a little more complicated. There are a few different ways to do it and many variations of inputs/ouputs on the back side of subwoofers. I’m going to go with the most standard and efficient method first.

You will need a subwoofer cable for connecting your sub. If you don’t have one or don’t want to buy one, you can substitute it for a standard red or white RCA cable (or a pair, since they are usually connected; just let the other cable dangle). It will work, but its really not the best way to do it. You’ll also need whats called a Y adapter. On the back of your sub, there should be a left/right input (red and white). You plug the Y adapter in to these connections and then your subwoofer cable (or RCA cable) in the other end of the Y (note: if you don’t have a Y adapter, just choose the left or right input to plug into).

Now, take the other end of your cable and plug it into your receiver’s
subwoofer preout. Hopefully you have a powered sub, meaning it gets plugged into an AC power outlet. All you need to do now is plug that in and your subwoofer is good to.

If you don’t have RCA jacks on your subwoofer, or it only has speaker wire jacks (and its most likely not powered), you’ll need to connect it the old fashioned way. Your front left and right speakers will plug into your subwoofer’s ouput jacks instead of your receiver. You’ll then run speaker wire from the left and right inputs on the subwoofer to your left and right speaker outputs on your receiver. This way, the subwoofer is powered by the receiver and will not work as well as a powered sub. You also take some power away from your front speakers with this method. A good idea is to buy a new, powered subwoofer with line in RCA jacks.

Connecting the Dots

You’ve got the hard stuff out of the way. Now finish it up by connecting your TV, DVD, and cable/satellite box. Always try using the best options first. If your DVD
has HDMI and so does your receiver, use it. If your DVD only has composite, s-video, and component, use component video cable. When it comes to audio, you absolutely need
to use digital coaxial (jacks are usually orange) or fiber optic (usually the jack is recessed into the unit and has a door on it; when the door is open, a red light is visible). If you do not use either of these two, you won’t get true surround sound! When all else fails, resort to composite (red and white) audio connectors.

Note: Look closely at the connections on your receiver. Everything is labeled, like the first set of red, green, and blue component video inputs might be labeled “Comp 1″. If you’re using composite audio cablesfor your sound, you’ll need to plug them into the jacks that coordinate with “Comp 1″. This might not be clear by looking at the receiver, so refer to your receiver’s manual to figure out which video inputs use which audio inputs. Most often, you’ll be able to configure them from the receiver’s internal menu using the remote control.

On some receivers, all the component video inputs, for example, are linked to a single composite audio input (usually “DVD”), so if you connect more than one of the component inputs, you will be competing for sound when more than one device is active. This is why you’d want to configure the component inputs to use different audio inputs.

Your manual is the only way to figure out how to go about it. Composite video will usually match up to composite audio inputs with naming conventions like Video 1 -> Video 1, Video 2 -> Video 2, etc., but cables like component and DVI may not. You should also configure digital audio inputs to match up with the video inputs you’re planning on using. For example, if you’re using a digital coaxial input (possibly “Digital 1″), and you use component video, you’ll want to match “Digital 1″ with “Comp 1″. Again, refer to your users manual for how to do this.

With all the news surrounding satellite radio, you may be more and more interested in these systems. Whether you want to take yours on the go, in the car, or keep it at home, there are systems that can fit one or all of you needs.

For those who are on the go, a portable satellite radio that works much like an mp3 player is flexible in its use. Plug in a pair of headphones and listen to your favorite music on the bus or on the job. If you want to make portable systems work in your car, you can easily purchase a plug-n-play system so that you listen while you drive through your car’s audio system.

In fact many of the car satellite radio systems work in this manner. Others, however, attach behind the dash of the vehicle and can be left there on a permanent basis. Vehicle specific brackets, as well as universal mounts, allow you to place the system in your car as well.

Home satellite radio systems come as simple or sophisticated as you need. From a plug-n-play option to a tuner with optical and coaxial digital outputs, you can now connect these systems to your TV screen and home entertainment center.

Many satellite radio systems come complete with a remote control, especially those designed for the car and home, so that you can control your radio with ease whether you are relaxing on the couch or driving down the road. If your system does not come with its own remote control, there are universal remotes that are designed to work with all XM or Sirius devices.

Additionally, there are many accessories you can purchases, like car kits, home kits, and antenna extensions. Most car kits include a car cradle, an antenna, and a power supply.

Before you purchase any one of the many satellite devices, determine your needs and search for available products. Although most products offer the same benefits, the more research you do, the likelier it is that you are happy with your product. The happier you are with your choice of satellite radio, the more like you are to take full advantage of your subscription.

Those who are looking for a bargain can often find rebates on many types of satellite radios. Most rebates require activation by a specific date, as well as certain items to be mailed in with the rebate form. However, those who are able to take advantage of said rebates will often find a fair discount from normal retail prices. Portable devices are the latest craze and have been dipping into the iPod market lately. Don’t forget to keep your usage in mind.

To find out more about satellite radio, you can look online at the available products or you can search retail stores for more options. At most retailers, you can get the experience of knowledgeable employees who know the different products, and most likely own at least one of them, before you make your purchase.