STACK #223 May 2023

TECH FEATURE

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For TV installation, the price varies depending on the size. Larger TVs can require multiple installers, and thus the price will reflect that. A wall mount and TV setup basic package includes the TV bracket installation, unboxing and mounting the TV, connection to power and Wi-Fi (have your passwords ready!), and tuning to free-to-air TV channels. The JB TV installers will also connect one streaming service, reconnect up to five ‘plug-in and play devices (think consoles or a 4K Blu-ray player), coil or tie cables, give you a basic tutorial on using the TV. This is the moment the customer gets the remote for the first time to experience their new visual treasure; the excitement is palpable. The installer will even take away the TV box as part of the service. “When we take the boxes, they either end up back at a store to be reused for display televisions or the rubbish gets separated from the cardboard and Styrofoam,” notes Sullivan. “The cardboard and Styrofoam get recycled, leaving only a small amount of rubbish in the bins.” For customers looking to hide the TV cables in the walls, this is possible in most cases but not part of the base package. It can be done at an additional cost if requested prior to installation. “Cable concealment is not included in a standard installation, although it can be added to any wall hang,” Sullivan says. “Cable hiding can be performed in a few different ways, mostly with an entry and exit cable plate behind the TV and then another below, behind the cabinet. Sometimes it needs a bit of cable ducting on the outside of the wall if there is no way to run inside the wall.” For busy lifestyles, picking an installation service feels like a no-brainer. Hassle-free, all you need to do is organise a time and be there to open the door for them. But is there anything else that a customer can do to help in the process? “Best thing, in my opinion, would be to have a clear path to where the TV is going, have animals outside or locked in another room (to keep them from under feet and keep our installers safe),” says Sullivan. “But mostly, I would say have a pre-thought of where you would like your TV positioned the night before.”

Buying aTV is just the first step. Making sure it’s installed safely is the second.We chatted with JBTV installer Robert Sullivan about what’s involved. Words Paul Jones B uying a newTV is an exciting process. It will be the centrepiece of the room it’s positioned in, offering cutting-edge As we’ve already mentioned, it’s not just TVs that are covered either. JB offers a whole gamut of installation services. “We provide pretty well anything to WALL POWER

technology while levelling up your home entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. But the million dollar question is: do you attempt a wall install yourself or call in the cavalry? Hanging a 85-inch TV off a wall isn’t for the fainthearted, and you don’t want your investment falling off it. If the task doesn’t land within the parameters of your handyperson experience, or you simply don’t have the time to do it, help is at hand. JB Hi-Fi offers an installation service that isn’t just reserved for TVs but also covers projectors, audio, computers and smartphones, the smart home, and even Wi-Fi set up. “A TV installation can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours, really; it all kind of depends on the job, the TV, the wall material, and what extras are involved,” says Robert Sullivan, a professional JB installer with over seven years of experience. “I generally give my customers an idea of an hour if everything goes perfectly to plan.”

do with television and home theatre, so basic fault finding/on-site help through to designing and installation of full home theatre systems,” Sullivan explains. “Including, but not limited to, television wall mounting, cable hiding, soundbar wall mounting, projector installations, and surround sound systems.”

We asked Robert if he could recall any funny stories from his time installing TVs. On a job when I first started, one of the guys who was working with me went to stand up and knocked a wall-mounted light against the top of his head. Out of nowhere, the light came on. Before I could say a word, he looked me in the eyes and said, ‘I just had a great idea’. He and I and the customer all had a laugh before the customer told us that the light hadn’t worked for years. ONTHE JOB LOLS

38 MAY 2023

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