So, you got a new smart television with 4k HD, OLED and the alphabet soup of feature acronyms — now what? Setting up your smart TV can be a little intimidating, especially if it’s your first time owning one. Check out some simple tips for making the most of your new technology:
1. Don’t Skimp on the Setup
If you’re a DIYer, setting up fancy new technology might sound like a welcome challenge but know that you may have some hurdles ahead of you. If you’re bringing a 4K television into your home and you already have a TiVo box or other connected devices, you might have to get new cables. If you’re looking to hook up a new 4K Blu-ray player or a 4K-equipped media-streaming device, you’ll want to make sure you have the appropriate HDMI cables. It’ll make all the difference in your viewing experience.
2. Make Sure You’re Calibrated Correctly
You’ve set up your TV with all right connections and streaming devices. You turn on your favorite show and it looks like you’re watching live taping of a play. Don’t return the TV, this is just one of the calibration settings you need to update to get the best video experience.
The first things first, turn off “motion smoothing” in your TV settings. Motion smoothing causes the “soap opera effect” described above. Your image quality will greatly improve with this simple adjustment. If you want to take it a step farther you can calibrate contrast, brightness, color, and temperature which will all have a big impact in your viewing experience. You can change the settings manually by sight or with a disc. If you are really particular about the picture quality, the best results will come by hiring a calibration specialist. He or she will use professional, precision equipment to properly adjust the levels on your television. Not only that, because your viewing experience varies by the time of day, they create custom presets for your room’s unique light so you can enjoy the best picture quality no matter the hour.
3. Get Super-Fast Internet
Whether you’re connected to cable or just watch TV online, lightning-fast internet is crucial to get the most out of your new television. If you don’t want to worry about connecting additional streaming devices or fiddling with numerous remote controls, Atlantic Broadband could be the way to go. With their TiVo Ultimate Triple Play bundle, customers can get up to 250 Mbps internet, a TiVo HD DVR, two TiVo Minis, HBO, EPIX, and more. But if you stream video or have a heavy gamer in your home, you might consider Gigabit Internet because its download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps provide the bandwidth capacity and speed that will dramatically improve your overall experience. And don’t forget to pair your high-speed internet service with the best streaming services — companies like Netflix offer Ultra HD and 4K content at a slightly higher price.
When you make the most of your new television, you’ll be the house everyone in the neighborhood goes to for binge-watching sessions.
Atlantic Broadband, the internet, TV and phone provider serving homes and businesses in the Aiken area, has invested in a state-of-the-art, fiber-rich broadband network to deliver ultra-fast internet speeds up to 1 Gig and a superior Wi Fi experience. Their wide range of internet and television bundles allow you to get the most out of your new technology. To learn more about their services, visit AtlanticBB.com online or call 844-505-8416.
