The following general guidelines apply specifically tor Receivers and Projectors.
When purchasing equipment, the user wants good quality, trouble-free,
unbroken service over as long a period as possible. In order to achieve this,
you need to ask yourself the following questions:
1 Is the equipment of good design and manufacture?
To answer this question you need to find out:
- For how long has this manufacturer been making this equipment?
- Does this equipment or manufacturer have a good reputation / name for quality equipment?
- What life can be expected from this equipment? In the case of projectors what is the expected life of the projection lamp and the replacement cost?
2 Is there an agent nearby for maintenance and spares?
You could find this information by:
- Checking telephone directories, yellow pages or business directories
- Asking local suppliers who the agents are
- Searching on the Internet for the manufacturers & agents details
Asking the manufacturer for the name of the local agent.
Once you have located a local agent, ask if he keeps spares, and especially for projectors what the cost of a spare lamp is and how long it takes to obtain one.
3 Who will help us during broadcasts?
This is especially important in the case of Receivers, and for users who have little technical training, who may need to contact their local Help Desk or Hotline for support. Staff at most such Help Desks can only know and support a limited number of equipment types.
Therefore, if you decide to purchase a receiver which is not the make / brand name recommended by ATN or your local Conference or Union, you may not be able to get assistance from them, as they may not know your Receiver.
4 Is the equipment suitable for my country and location?
A number of factors need to be considered, including:
- Format or standards of your country - e.g. PAL, NTSC
- Power supply - Does my equipment match the local power supply - e.g. 110 or 220 volt. In many countries the voltage can fluctuate widely, which can damage sensitive equipment. You may need to obtain devices to regulate the power for your equipment.
- Electric storms / lightning - if your area is prone to such storms, you will need to protect your equipment against these.
5 Is there a warranty on the equipment?
A warranty is not much good if it can only be offered in another country, as it may cost you time and expense to return it for warranty service.
If you feel uncertain about any of the above questions, we recommend that you contact your nearest media center, or technical specialist for advice. If you cannot find anyone to assist to you, send an email to Technical Help at the address given on the ATN web site [www.adventist.tv]