Setting up a new HDTV for the first time - Very Frustrating

It has been a while since I set up a new HDTV. And, I personally have only set up my own and that was a while ago.

A friend called me a few days ago to tell me she bought a new 32" HDTV and needed help setting it up because her and her boyfriend tried and got nothing; no picture or sound and were frustrated as hell.

So I stopped by for a free meal and got to work. Boy was I in for a big surprise. I could not believe, and did not remember, how difficult it was to set up a new HDTV. I also forgot how much they (meaning the people you bought it from, the "owner's manual", and the world in general) don't tell you about buying and setting up a new HDTV.

In the middle of it all I had her fire up her computer and go to this website so I could get all the info I needed in terms of locating and manually programming in the DTV stations using the UHF conversion numbers (she's in the same viewing area as me but I couldn't remember all the numbers).

The bottom line is that there is no way she would have been able to do this herself without calling the cable company and spending lots of dollars. The other thing that surprised me was how different each HDTV manufacturer is so different when it comes to the various input jacks, and setup menus.

My HDTV has a "cable in" and an "antenna in" jack separately. She only had one jack on her Westinghouse. So I could set hers up the way I set mine up.

On mine, I can easily switch from basic cable to DTV. I have my basic cable coax going into the "cable in" jack, and I have my VHF/UHF Antenna connected to my "antenna in" jack.

She only had one "IN" jack so without additional equipment like an RF switch box or something like that, she wouldn't be able to do what I do. She also is not technically savvy and wanted ON and OFF. So for her, I suggested she contact her cable company, subscribe to HD and have them come in and set it up for her. I know they can do that because I did that a year and a half ago before I dumped all that and went with antenna-only high definition.

So in conclusion, my point in the post is that I feel for you. Anyone who bought a new HDTV and is trying to figure out how to make it all work (but doesn't have the background to understand it all and do it) must be so frustrated. I even got a bit frustrated and I understand it; somewhat anyway. So that's why I write this web site. I know that I don't cover every detail and every possible product and situation out there, but I'm doing my best to help anybody I can.