Prior to hiring a car in Australia, it’s crucial to get a few things sorted out first.

o Where do you want to go, and for how much time can you stay? Vehicles of each kind, model, and size are on hand in just about each region.

o Are you focusing your trip on the urban areas? Then you may not even require your own transport, as the public options are exceptional (and parking is not easy to find). To go through any given neighborhood thoroughly, you should choose an economical late model motorcar with an automated gears.
o Do you mean to go into the outback? In that case you could need 4WD vehicles; you might even appreciate a campervan or motor home.Just like there is no limit to the types of vehicles available, there seems no limit on the stupendous number of locations to rent a vehicle in Australia. It really pays to have a clear plan of where you want to take off, so you could rent a vehicle at the nearest location you can find. For someone faithful to name brands, there are scores to choose from. You will find the old faithful - Hertz - almost everywhere you see, especially at the airports. You can ease your entire break by taking care of arrangements in advance with one or other of the chief travel sites that make plans for an schedule that incorporates flights, hotels, and car hires.

You could get thinking and look for other alternatives, such as There is a plethora of specially intended vehicles to please every type of camper from the robust to the not so tough, and their rental/dealer websites are easy to locate.In case you have a lot of time to plan, you can carefully compare each company’s offers, and huddle as one an arrangement exquisitely planned with all your wants, and travel peculiarities, in mind.Although, if you are limited in time to plan, your arrival date is fixed and you’ve got to effectuate plans right away, your best choice is to go through any of the comparison sites that have popped up to make sense of the vast car rental industry across the country. Even as some are just gateway websites that guide you to subscriber’s listings, a large number such sites truly do put forward car feature and price comparisons, taking care of most of your needs.

Prior to your car rental endeavour in Australia, there are a few basics you should look into.

o Where are you going, and for how much time will you stay? Vehicles of every kind, model, and size are offered in just about every neighbourhood.

o If your travel plans is limited to the metropolitan areas, then you should also contemplate about using public transportation, thus not having to be anxious about parking problems. In oder to explore any given neighborhood thoroughly, you should opt for an economical late model vehicle with an automated gears.
o If your holiday is taking you into the Australian outback then you could want to reflect about leasing a 4 Wheel Drive or a motor-home in accordance to your loking.Just as there is no constraint to the types of vehicles offered, there seems no threshold on the sheer number of localities to lease a vehicle in Australia. It thoroughly pays to have a clear picture of where you want to take off, so you can rent a car at the closest spot you can find. For a person committed to popular brands, there are scores to pick from. You will find the old standbys - Budget - just about anywhere you look, specially at the airports. You can ease your entire trip by taking care of arrangements in advance with one or other of the chief travel websites that arrange an tour that incorporates flights, hotels, and renting cars.

You can get creative and go through other alternatives, like off road vehicles with camping options, and these rental/dealer internet sites are simple to locate.In case you have loads of time to plan, you can carefully equate each company’s offerings, and huddle as one a plan deftly planned with all your wants, and travel quirks, taken care of.Nevertheless, if you are restricted in time for planning, your date of travel is certain and you’ve got to formulate plans immediately, your best bet is to visit one of the comparison websites that have come into existence to understand the extensive car hire industry across Australia. Although some are just gateway sites which lead you to subscriber’s listings, a large number of these sites actually do present car feature and price comparisons, taking care of largely of your needs.

Easter came this year and you may have hunted for decorated eggs, had a nice brunch, or exchanged little chocolate bunnies, all of which are quite nifty.

But you missed out if you didn’t buy yourself some rabbit ears.

Happily, it’s not too late.

For those of you who have grown up with cable and satellite TV, you may not know what I’m talking about.

Rabbit ears are those adjustable metal rods that come out of a ball-like base that squats on or near your TV set in order to improve reception. Along with rooftop antennas, they’re what households used before the advent of cable and satellite TV.

Admittedly, the clarity they bring is less than perfect, but heck, if you’re looking to dump that cable or satellite TV provider; they’re just what you need.

I bought my rabbit ears at the 99 Cent Store, and I can’t tell you how happy I am.

I am getting about 25 stations for FREE. Compare this to paying anywhere from $39 to $69 a month for what is dubiously called, “America’s Top 30″ or “America’s Top 50″ by one of the satellite firms.

Their channels are no better than what my ears and I are pulling out of the air.

If you’ve been reading my articles with any regularity, you know I’ve been “unplugging” from needless technology, especially that which requires an outflow of money on a subscription basis.

There are some exceptions, such as Major League Baseball, which I can get on my laptop or my PC.

But I found the customer service at the cable and satellite firms so abysmal, and the quality of their programs so low, that I decided to take action.

If you can’t summon the gumption to go completely TV-less, try rabbit ears, and tell your friends.

When you tune in that first free show, you’re going to be in for a thrill!

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service, and the audio program, “The Law of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable,” published by Nightingale-Conant. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC’s Annenberg School, a Loyola lawyer, and an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations from Santa Monica to South Africa. He holds the rank of Shodan, 1st Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com.

For information about coaching, consulting, training, books, videos and audios, please go to: http://www.customersatisfaction.com

Surge Suppressors - A First Line of Defense

All home theater equipment should be equipped with at least some form of surge protection. Surge suppressors represent the most basic form of power protection - a first line of defense for all sensitive electronic gear.

Keep in mind that a surge in the ac voltage or a lightning strike, could lead to disaster - turning expensive gear into a smoking heap of plastic and metal. Investing in a suitably rated surge protector is surely a lot cheaper than having to replace expensive home entertainment electronics.

The large selection of suppressors available on the market at an even wider range of price levels can make the process of selecting an appropriate protection device far from simple. Many of these surge suppressors would look the same to a non-technical person - with almost nothing that distinguish the cheapest from the best.

In their simplest form, surge suppressors often come as an inexpensive surge protected multiple-outlet power-strip. More expensive units would normally incorporate additional surge protected connections for the phone line and the coax TV input; some units include surge protected LAN connections as well. In this manner, anything that interconnects with your equipment would have to go first through the surge protection circuitry within the power-strip.

How Surge Suppressors Work

The basic operational principle behind surge suppressors is to clamp high transient voltages while absorbing this potentially destructive energy. This energy is then dissipated in the form of heat - thus protecting vulnerable circuit components and preventing system damage.

In the event that the surge lasts for several milliseconds, the process may also cause enough current to trip the house circuit breaker, or blow the equipment fuse, thus protecting your gear.

Surge suppressors usually make use of a mix of components to suppress voltage spikes on the line. However, the mostly used component in surge protection circuitry is the Metal Oxide Varistor (or MOV).

The MOV is not the only surge protection component - gas-tube surge arrestors, avalanche diodes (similar to power zener diodes), and reactive type passive circuitry using inductors and capacitors, all possess the desired electrical properties required to dampen a transient behavior.

None of these devices does represent the perfect surge suppressor. Some lack speed, while others - like avalanche diodes - though extremely fast acting, do have a limited energy absorption capacity. For this reason, commercial surge protection devices combine several of these technologies arranged in multiple stages, to prolong surge suppressor life and improve response times.

Surge Suppressor Ratings

This discussion will not be complete without highlighting a few of the most basic parameters that define the capabilities of a surge suppressor; these are the UL listing, voltage rating, peak surge current, and power handling.

IEEE 1449 Underwriters Laboratories Listing: Referred to as ‘UL 1449′ or simply ‘UL listing’, represent a set of specifications that determine if a surge suppressor is safe during use.

Ensure that the selected surge suppressor is labeled as ‘UL-listed transient voltage surge suppressor (TVSS) 2nd edition’. A UL-listing as ‘power tap’ is not sufficient.

A UL-listed TVSS does not imply that it will protect your equipment from surges, but rather that the surge protector is not likely to pose any personal hazard to you during use e.g. through electrocution, fire, etc.

Operating Voltage: The lower the voltage rating of a surge suppressor, the more effective protection the surge suppressor will provide, however the voltage rating has to be in line with the respective application. In particular, the chosen suppressor voltage rating should allow the normal peak AC voltage to exist across the line - this is 1.414 times higher than the specified RMS value.

Peak Surge Current: This represents the maximum transient current that the suppressor can handle during a surge.

Joule Rating: Also referred to as ‘Energy rating’, this is a measurement of the energy absorption capability of the surge protection device. Typical values may vary from 500 to 3000 and over. The higher the joule rating, the better is the surge suppressor capability to absorb energy spikes on the line.

A Word of Caution

Designed properly, surge suppression devices can work over-and-over again, but…

Do not take surge suppression devices for granted. Beware of cheaply made power line conditioners and other protection gear. Some surge suppressor components used in these devices are typically a one-time use only. This means that your system may end up completely unprotected after a surge.

Quality: The quality of a surge suppressor is reflected in the price of the protection device, but not only. Check the joule rating of the surge protector to get an indication of how much damaging energy the suppressor can handle. The bigger the joule rating is, the better. Keep in mind however that unlike the UL-1449 Listing, there is no standardized testing methodology to determine the energy rating of a surge suppressor. Hence, do not rely on the joule rating alone - look also at the built-up quality and in particular, at the product warranty on offer.

Warranty: In addition to the standard product warranty, some manufactures also offer a ‘Connected Equipment Product Warrant’. This is normally in the region of several tens of thousands of dollars.

A longer product warranty period and a higher connected equipment warranty value reflect a higher level of confidence on part of the manufacturer that the surge suppressor can protect your expensive home theater gear. Try to go for surge suppressor devices that come with at least a 5-year product warranty period, and a minimum of $10,000 (preferably $25,000), connected equipment warranty.

Performance: The performance of surge suppressors degrades with each surge absorbed. The problem here is that the rate of degradation is totally unforeseen due to the unpredictable nature of the surge. Surge rise time, peak voltage, energy level, and duration, all have a varying effect on surge protection circuitry.

A surge may have a higher energy level than the suppressor can handle, leading to the destruction of the suppressor and zero protection against possible future surges. To minimize this risk, top-quality power protection gear would normally make use of over-rated components in protection circuitry - thus allowing multiple surges to take place without any damage to the equipment.

Surge Suppressors are not lightning protection devices: Surge suppressors can provide adequate protection from ‘normal’ surges on AC power lines. Protection against lightning strikes it is a completely different story. No surge suppressor device can offer you the required level of protection in this respect.

Personal safety: Ensure that your surge suppressor is clearly specified as UL listed Transient Voltage Suppressor (2nd edition). This will reduce the risk of personal harm from fire or electrocution especially during a surge. At the same time, keep in mind that a UL-listed device does not guarantee that it will protect your equipment.

Conclusion:

In reality, surge suppressors are just a first line of defense - they do not provide protection from damaging voltage fluctuations and noise on the line that can seriously degrade the performance of your AV gear.

Surge suppressors should form part of an overall power protection solution - the use of line conditioners and ac-regenerators coupled with an appropriately rated surge suppressor would surely provide a more comprehensive approach to protecting expensive electronic gear.

Obviously, there is a price to pay for power protection, but it is literally - an ounce of prevention that can save you a big headache down the road!

Andrew Ghigo - A Telecoms/Electronics engineer by profession, with specialization in digital switching and telecoms fraud management systems.

Editor and publisher of http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com - a site dedicated to all home theater enthusiasts with the scope of serving as a comprehensive home theater guide to home theater systems, product reviews and home theater design.

This article is an excerpt from a series of articles appearing under the
Power Protection section of the site.

Topics covered include benefits of power protection in the home theater, power line conditioners, ac regenerators, and surge protection. There is also a ‘before-you-buy’ power protection checklist, and a short discussion on the possible use of inexpensive computer-grade uninterruptible power supplies, as part of a home theater power-protection solution.

Hockey is a popular game. This is an organized team game and you have wear the hockey uniforms to play the game. The uniforms are like other games uniforms but you can find some main difference between these uniforms. Hockey is a global game and you can find many version of this game played in the world and one type of the game is popular in a specific part of the world and another type is popular in other part of the world. But the basic hockey is also so popular in many countries. The traditional hockey uniform is a combination of sleeveless jerseys, shorts and practice jerseys. These are the main parts of a hockey uniform but surely there are other parts which are also important in the game. You have to wear the best hockey uniforms which will provide you perfect comfort and flexibility in any weather condition in any place of the world.

There are many games apparel producing companies in the world and most of them will provide you the hockey uniforms and the Gordon International is one of the most reputed companies of them. They will provide you the highest quality products with many new design and styles having various colors and sizes to fit any body. So you can buy your liked hockey uniforms from them and you will get a discount on the main prices of your uniform.

If you’re thinking of acquiring a new TV for your den or living room, it probably goes without saying that you’d like to have a high-resolution television with a great picture. But which set to buy, and more, importantly, which type of television should you consider buying?

Today, in the “high def” arena, there are a number of choices available to the consumer: LCD flat panels, High definition tube televisions, high definition projection televisions, DLP projection sets, and, of course, plasma televisions. However, since tube sets and standard projection systems are, for the most part, on their way out, and since LCD flat panels are still rapidly evolving (they seem to get bigger and pricier with each passing month), we’ll narrow this discussion to two high definition television types: plasma sets and DLP projection sets.

Plasma TV’s use hundreds of thousands of tiny cells containing natural gasses that have phosphors to get their color. DLP (DLP stands for digital light processing) TV’s, on the other hand, use a system of over 1.5 million micro mirrors used to project light on or off of a single bulb which is filtered through a color wheel.

How can you distinguish between the two formats to decide which is best for you? As with any type of television the first and foremost consideration is picture quality. Plasma sets, according to most reviewers, do look better, though the actual picture quality of a plasma TV is not markedly higher than the picture quality of a DLP set. In either case, however, a plasma or a DLP television will represent a major upgrade for anyone who currently owns a large tube set. And since the resolution on either format is, a thousand times better by comparison, any prospective buyer who spends the occasional Saturday or sunday haunting electronics stores, would surely be satisfied to own either type.

Size is another consideration to ponder when it comes to choosing between a plasma or DLP set. DLP projection sets have come quite a long way from their forebears (those huge box frames that double as wall units) and now have a depth of only seven to eight inches. However, DLP televisions still need to fall a bit further from their family treewhen it comes to size considerations, plasma sets that are only three and a half inches deep and can be hung on walls are the clear winner.

So far, you may think the plasma sounds a little better; it’s smaller so it can hang on the wall and it’s picture quality is slightly better. However, there are other things to consider, aside from size and relative picture quality, such as maintenance and “lifespan”.

While a plasma television does sound better at this point, it does have a limited lifespan. In fact, at 60,000 hours most plasmas are dead. At 30,000 hours, the gasses are only half as bright, therefore your picture is half as bright as when you bought this expensive object of adulation. Unfortunately, there is nothing that can really be done about this since all plasma sets are known to progressively leak gas. By contrast, DLP projection TV’s leak no gas, simply because they have no gas to leak. DLP technology, instead, uses, a bulb, and therefore a DLP TV can be repaired “relatively” easily. How easily, of course, may be up to you. Some DLP sets are user friendly enough that you can replace the bulb yourself; on the other hand, there are models for which a technician will be required to accomplish this. And technicians, as a general rule, are not cheap. Nor are the replacement bulbs for a DLP TV, as these can cost up to 200 dollars, or more. The solution to the technician problem, of course, is to find a model that allows the average layman to do the work.

When it comes to maintenance and lifespan considerations with regard to either of these high definition formats, consumers can choose a TV that, at some point, may require costly maintenance, or a TV that, basically, like people, will be in slow decline from the day of its “birth”.

Price, of course, will probably be the deciding factor in most consumer’s decision-making process. DLP TV’s usually cost much less than plasma televisions, sometimes only half as much. But, regardless of the choice made by a consumer considering a DLP projection television or Plasma television, either decision will represent a major leap forward from a old fashioned tube tv.

The author of this article is Tim Moore, who publishes a website on Vitamins, herbs, and nutrition which features a section on Antioxidants

The optimum TV screen size is directly related to the available viewing distance - but there are other factors as well that need to be taken into consideration.

Viewing Distance: Is it just a matter of personal preference?

Sit too close to your big screen TV and you will be able to see the image build-up structure - scanning lines or pixels forming the image - thus distracting your attention and spoiling your home theater experience. Yet, sit too far away, and the impact will be lost.

There are differing opinions on the best way to determine the optimum TV viewing distance for a specific screen size. Just go to the movie theater and you will soon realize that it is all a question of personal preference - some would sit at the very back. Others would go straight to the front row, as they prefer the bigger picture and a wider angle of view, while some would simply choose their seat randomly somewhere in between these two extremes.

The truth is that there are no scientific rules her. This does not mean that there aren’t any guidelines that you should follow when planning a big screen purchase or a would-be home theater room.

SMPTE Recommendations and the THX Certification standards:

The Society of Motion Pictures and Television Engineers (SMPTE) recommends that the screen size for home theater use should occupy a 30 degrees field of view - in the horizontal plan - for the audience. Alternatively, the ideal TV viewing distance should be such that the screen width occupies an angle of 30 degrees from the viewing position.

This 30-degrees viewing angle seems to have been accepted by many as the standard in home theater and motion picture viewing.

This SMPTE guideline is also in line with the THX certification standards in that these recommend that the back row of seats should have at least a 26 degrees viewing angle and while recommending an optimum viewing angle of 36 degrees.

It is believed that within these viewing angle limits, the viewer will get better immersed into the action movie itself.

Vision System limitations:

There is also the issue of TV viewing distance based on visual acuity. This does not represent the optimum viewing distance - rather, this relates to the maximum viewing distance beyond which some picture detail will be lost.

Technically speaking, visual acuity is a measure of the eye spatial resolving power and indicates the angular size of the smallest detail that a person visual system can resolve. A person with 20/20 (or 6/6 when expressed in meters) normal vision can resolve a spatial pattern separated by a visual angle of one minute of arc angle i.e. 1/60th of a degree, at the eye when viewed at 20 feet away. Expressed differently, a person with normal 20/20 vision is capable of identifying an object with a height of 1.76mm at 20 feet way.

In terms of TV viewing distances, these represent the point beyond which some of the picture detail will no longer be resolved by the viewer vision system.

So How Does All This Translate In Practical Terms?

A few rules-of-thumb can help put in practice the guidelines detailed above. These rules for viewing distance refer to the screen width rather than the screen diagonal and therefore apply to both 4:3 and 16:9 display formats.

A general rule for the TV viewing distance based on the SMPTE and visual acuity guidelines, is that the nearest TV viewing distance between you and your big screen TV should be limited to approximately twice the screen width (more precise 1.87 x screen width for a subtended angle of 30 degrees), while the furthest distance being no more than five times the width of your screen.

This rule of thumb should give you a fairly good approximation for your TV viewing distance. It does not necessarily represent the ideal home theater viewing distance but rather the limits within which your TV viewing distance should theoretically be out of the trouble zone.

In other words, move closer than twice the screen width size, and the picture scanning lines, pixels and any other video artifacts will become too visibly intrusive - leading to distractions that will spoil your movie watching experience. Move further away than 5 times the screen width and your vision system will no longer be able to resolve all the picture detail.

But…

It is also important to realize that these maximum and minimum viewing distances should be seen in the light of the video signal definition.

A fully resolved high definition TV (1080i, 1920×1080) supports a closer viewing distance than standard analog TV. Thus while twice the screen width would be the ideal TV viewing distance for a HDTV display, it would be a bit too close for standard TV; in the later case, a three times the screen width would be a better option.

Similarly, the five times the screen width as the maximum view distance, while more than adequate for a standard analog TV picture, is a bit too far away for a person to see the fine detail supported by a HDTV picture - a three to four times the screen width represents a more practical limit for the maximum viewing distance in the case of HDTV.

These rules-of-thumb work best with big screen TV sizes in the range 42-inches and over.

When it comes to the use of regular-size standard definition analog TVs in the home theater, i.e. up to 36″ / 40″ diagonal, the optimum viewing distance range is between 8 feet and 12 feet. TV sets smaller than 36-inches aren’t big enough to qualify for Home Theater use; their smaller screen size will not provide the desired impact on the viewer.

Vertical Angle of View & Screen Height:

For optimum viewing, the eyes of the viewer should be level with the center of the screen.

Maximum vertical angle of view: In those home theater set-ups where this is not possible, the SMPTE guidelines suggest that the maximum vertical angle measured at the seated eye height from the front row center seat to the top most part of the projected image should not exceed 35 degrees.

This does not represent the optimum viewing angle but rather the limit beyond which the viewer will be subject to an increased neck strain.

This maximum vertical angle limit is always measured from the front row as this represent the extreme angle of view.

Minimum angle of vision: While there do not appear to be any specific SMPTE or THX guidelines in this respect, yet studies have shown that if the screen size occupies less than 15 degrees of the viewer’s vertical field of view, than that image appears small.

Practical Considerations:

In a typical home theater set-up, you do not need to really worry about neither the maximum vertical angle of view, nor about the minimum vertical angle of vision for an effective movie theater experience.

If one were to adhere to the recommended TV viewing distance of twice the screen width (as further detailed above based on the SMPTE guideline of 30 degrees horizontal field of vision), you would automatically be complying with the minimum angle of vision. The reason being that there is a fixed relation between screen height and width in accordance to your home theater screen aspect ratio of either 16:9 or 4:3.

Further more, in a typical home theater setup, it would be very difficult to exceed the maximum vertical angle of view beyond which you will be subject to an increased neck strain.

Taking into account that most home theater rooms are approximately 10 feet (3m) high, the resultant vertical viewing angle is normal well within the maximum of 35 degrees detailed in the SMPTE guidelines - all you have to do is just remain within the twice the screen width guideline for your viewing distance.

Andrew Ghigo - A Telecoms/Electronics engineer by profession, with specialization in digital switching and telecoms fraud management systems.

Editor and publisher of http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com - a site dedicated to all home theater enthusiasts with the scope of serving as a comprehensive home theater guide to home theater systems, product reviews and home theater design.

This article is an excerpt from a series of articles appearing under the
home theater design section of the site.

Table skirting can be used to create an elegant, or even casual, setting for any function. It is on banquet tables at wedding receptions and demonstration tables at corporate functions that table skirting is most commonly known to be used. Table skirting is made up of a length of material that is connected to the edge of a table with a set of discrete clamps. Pleated table skirting and shirred table skirting are the two most common types of table skirting used.

If you are attempting to locate table skirting that will complete the look of a specific occasion, conference or presentation, consider choosing table skirting in a color that complements the table cloths. For example, if you are using theme printed table skirting, choose colored tablecloths that highlight a solid color found in the theme print of the table skirting. Some companies opt to complement the colors of their logo or the materials that they are displaying when they choose their table skirting. Table skirting permits you to hide items that are stored beneath the table as well as the ugly legs of the table itself.

People are not limited to special occasions and corporate affairs when they use table skirting. An event inside the home would benefit from the use of table skirting too. A majority of casual in-home functions serve food buffet style. Use table skirting and you will be able to conceal, below the table, any of the supplies you used for setup or cleaning up. You could also keep additional table napkins and equipment in back of the table skirting. This helps make entertaining easier for you due to the fact that you won’t have to keep going back and forth between the kitchen and the table.

When you need table skirting think about ordering them from an online wholesale company. When you have a non-standard size table, they can supply you with tailored table skirting. Select from cloth such as theme prints, sheers, satins, metallics, lace and even velvets and velours for the table skirting when you have them custom-made. After all, not every table skirt has to be created from polyester.

In addition to table skirting, online wholesalers also provide table cloths, chair covers, table napkins, placemats and table lighting accessories. The table linens you are looking for can be found in an assortment of colors, fabrics and sizes for everything from your own dining room to a conference center or restaurant. Many people learn that using table skirting, along with different table linens, permits them to bring a creative touch to their occasion’s decor.

Now that technology has made having an in-home entertainment system a reality, how do you go about incorporating one into your own home? Creating a home theater involves more than just choosing a system, you’ve got to design a space that will provide the best viewing experience.

First decision: location. To create a true “theater” experience, you’ll want to have as little interruption from outside light as possible. For that reason, many people use a basement or an attic room for their home theater. If you don’t have an attic or basement, choose a room with the fewest or smallest windows. Covering the windows with both pull-down shades and heavy, dark-colored curtains will best darken the room for optimal viewing during the daytime. Check with home-improvement stores and window showrooms for special “black-out” curtains and shades.

You might think that wall color isn’t a big issue in your home theater-since the lights will usually be off. However, you should give wall and floor treatments some consideration so that they don’t distract during show time. For example, you’ll want to use dark, deep colors such as brown, deep red or charcoal gray to keep the walls in the background while a movie is playing. Textured wall covering or matte finish paint will keep walls from “shining” with screen light reflection.

Although the lights will usually be off in your home entertainment room, you’ll need a good lighting source for entering and leaving the room. It’s best to avoid overhead lights as they can be too glaring. Sconces that produce soft light on walls and recessed lighting are the best choices for this room. Use dimmers to control the lighting so that you can adjust the brightness to keep viewers’ eyes comfortable.

The kind of seating you choose for your home entertainment theater depends on the kind of crowd you expect to entertain. Will your young children and their friends be the heaviest users? If so, a couple of large sofas will work well. Kids tend to fight over individual seats, but they can all pile on a sturdy sofa. An added benefit to a comfy couch is the opportunity for one or two people to simply sprawl over it for more private viewing. Recliners and loveseats offer a comfortable seat for teens and adults. In fact, why not put a number of recliners in the room, so everyone can have the most comfortable seat in the house? If multiple recliners are not in your budget, easy chair/ottoman sets work just as well, if not better. In a pinch, the ottoman serves as extra seating.

The finishing touches in decorating your home entertainment theater are the most practical ones. A solid level surface, such as a wooden table or T.V. tray, within reach of each seating area makes it easy for viewers to set down snacks or drinks. To avoid having to leave the room to replenish snacks, keep a mini refrigerator in the room, and use cupboards or existing closet shelves for dry snacks. A small microwave oven will let you make popcorn and heat up nachos without ever leaving your home entertainment haven.

Additional information, resources, and updates for this article can be found at:
http://www.diyhomedecorating.com/articles/2005-10/203/home-entertainment-theater-decorating/

© 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard. Visit The Do It Yourself Home Decorating Network - http://www.diyhomedecorating.com - for more Decorating Ideas, Tips and Resources.

If you have been salivating for a true home theater experience a projector beats any of the new fangled television technologies any time.

Think about it, you can get images up to 120 inches whereas the largest plasmas or rear projection TVs are only 70 inches in diagonal length. Furthermore, these huge televisions cost an exorbitant amount ranging from $5000 to $10,000.

Compare them to budget projector models which sell for less than $1,500. Now’s really a good time to consider them. They used to cost many thousands of dollars and prices have since fallen.

Now the market is in favor of new projector technologies such as LCD or DLP which utilize compact digital image chips which have brighter light output than CRT technologies. Now there’s no need to completely see your movie in total darkness. A dimly lit room will do just as fine.

The older CRT technology were heavier at over 100 pounds. These new generation of projectors are compact and light. They weigh from 5 to 15 pounds. You can carry the lighter ones around. There’s no need to rush home to watch your live sports programme. You can just simply bring it wherever you want. An example would be watching a movie in a friend’s house. A compact projector is a great idea if you have several houses since there’s no need to buy a projector for every home. One projector will do simply fine.

Their small size is a boon. They may either be placed on a coffee table or be mounted on a ceiling. Imagine the mammoth hulk of a projection TV taking up your previous living room space which otherwise could have been used in more better ways.

New projectors boast an array of connectivity options which regular television sets lack. You can hook it up to your PC enabling you to surf super sized web pages, watch slide show of your digital camera photos or play computer games.

Nowadays you have the option of either having a projection screen or simply using the wall to project the image on.

Setting up is easy and new projectors offer simpler solution. Normally your entertainment console consisting of all the various components such as DVD Player, Cable set top box and other AV components will be in front of the living room while the projector will be mounted at the back of the room. So how do you reconcile the difference in location for all these gizmos? You either had to move all the components back or simply lay cables from the various sources to the projector behind.

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Now there’s all in one home theater with speakers and DVD player thrown in together in one unit. There’s no need to worry about cables snaking from one end of the room to the other, not to mention the headache of setting up the projector system.

Another alternative would be wireless projector allowing you to bring your projector from room to room without worrying about wires and cables.