Smart TV setup in Exeter
Professional smart tv setup services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-85
Typical Duration
1-1.5 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Smart TV connected to WiFi with all your streaming apps set up and working. I'll optimize picture settings, connect external devices, and explain the remote in plain English.
Turn Your Smart TV Into Something You Can Actually Use
New TV out of the box looks great showing its demo loop. Then you try to actually watch Netflix and it all falls apart. WiFi password screens, app logins you can't remember, picture that looks worse than your old TV, and a remote with 47 buttons that do... something?
Let me get it properly set up.
💡 Pro tip: Smart TVs ship with terrible picture settings (too bright, too saturated, motion smoothing on). Five minutes adjusting settings makes a £400 TV look like a £800 one. But the menus are deliberately confusing.
Working Properly vs Out-of-Box Frustration
| ✅ Set Up Right | ❌ Default Settings |
|---|---|
| All apps installed and signed in | Can't remember Netflix password |
| Picture looks natural and detailed | Too bright, too smooth, looks fake |
| Sound works properly | "Why is sound coming from the TV, not soundbar?" |
| One remote does everything | Three remotes, none doing what you want |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Connect basics | WiFi setup, software updates, initial config |
| Set up apps | Install streaming apps, sign you in, organize them |
| Optimize settings | Picture calibration, sound setup, disable junk features |
| Connect devices | Soundbar, console, Sky box - all working together |
📦 You're Left With
- TV connected and streaming working
- Picture and sound set up properly
- External devices integrated
- Understanding of how to use it all
Pricing Guide
| Scenario | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Just TV, basic app setup | 1 hr | £60 |
| TV + soundbar/console | 1.5 hrs | £85 |
| Complex setup (multiple devices, troubleshooting) | 2 hrs | £110 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after.
Perfect For Your Situation If...
✅ Just bought TV - get it set up properly from the start
✅ Can't get WiFi working - password/connection issues
✅ Apps won't work - Netflix/iPlayer problems
✅ Picture looks wrong - too bright, unnatural, "soap opera effect"
Why Choose Us for Smart TV setup in Exeter?
WiFi connected and streaming working
All your apps signed in and ready (Netflix, iPlayer, Prime)
Picture and sound settings optimized
Remote control explained in plain English
What to Expect
Step 1: Connect & Update
Get TV on your WiFi, run any software updates, do initial setup (country, channels if needed, basic settings).
Step 2: Apps & Accounts
Download your streaming apps, sign you into them, organize the home screen so apps you use are easy to find.
Step 3: Optimize & Connect
Adjust picture and sound settings properly. Connect soundbar, games console, or other devices. Get it all working together with minimal remote juggling.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to try setup yourself? Here's the process:
🔧 What you'll need
- Smart TV powered on
- WiFi password
- Streaming service passwords (Netflix, Prime, etc)
- HDMI cables for external devices
📡 WiFi connection
- Settings > Network > WiFi
- Select your network
- Enter password (use on-screen keyboard with remote)
- Test connection
- Update software (Settings > Support > Software Update)
📺 Installing apps
- Most TVs have app store built in
- Common ones often pre-installed (Netflix, iPlayer, Prime)
- Sign in with your existing accounts (not create new accounts)
- Rearrange home screen to put frequent apps first
🎨 Picture settings to change
Must disable:
- Motion smoothing (called TruMotion, MotionFlow, Auto Motion Plus)
- Dynamic contrast
- Edge enhancement
- Noise reduction
Should adjust:
- Picture mode: Movie or Cinema (not Vivid)
- Backlight: 50-70% (not 100%)
- Colour: 45-50 (not 100%)
- Sharpness: 0-10 (not 50)
🔊 Sound setup
- If using TV speakers: Settings > Sound > Mode > Standard
- If using soundbar: Settings > Sound > Output > HDMI ARC or Optical
- Enable CEC/Anynet so TV remote controls soundbar volume
🎮 External devices
- Connect via HDMI (use HDMI 2.1 ports for consoles/4K)
- Enable HDMI-CEC in TV settings
- Rename inputs so you know which is which
- Set up universal remote if your TV supports it
⚠️ Common DIY problems
- WiFi won't connect - check password, try 2.4GHz if 5GHz doesn't work
- Apps crash or won't load - clear app cache, update app, reinstall
- Picture looks wrong - disable all "enhancement" features first
- Sound from wrong place - check audio output settings
- Remote not controlling soundbar - enable HDMI-CEC
💡 Pro trick: When entering passwords on TV keyboard, use your phone. Most smart TVs let you download a remote app that has a proper keyboard. Much faster than clicking individual letters with the remote.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Wall-mounted TV? If you want the TV on the wall, that's a separate job (wall bracket, cable hiding, testing studs). But once it's up, I can do all the connection and setup work.
Streaming services you'll actually use in the UK:
- Netflix, Amazon Prime (need subscriptions)
- BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All4, My5 (free with TV license)
- Disney+, Apple TV+ (need subscriptions)
- YouTube (free)
Older house with slow internet? Smart TVs need decent WiFi (5Mbps minimum for HD streaming, 25Mbps for 4K). If your WiFi is in the hallway and TV is in the back room, you might need an extender or cable. I'll test and advise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's involved in setting up a smart TV?
Connect to WiFi, download and sign into your streaming apps (Netflix, iPlayer, Prime, Disney+, etc), optimize picture and sound settings, set up any external devices (soundbar, games console), and explain the remote control. Most people can do the basics, but get stuck on WiFi passwords, app logins, or making everything work together.
Can you help with an existing TV that's not working properly?
Yes - that's half my TV calls. WiFi keeps dropping, apps won't load, picture looks wrong, sound coming from wrong place. I'll diagnose what's actually broken and fix it. Often it's settings that got changed accidentally, not a faulty TV.
Will you show me how to use the remote properly?
Absolutely - modern TV remotes are confusing with 50 buttons you never need. I'll show you the 8 buttons you'll actually use, how to switch between apps, and how to get back to live TV when you're lost in menus.
Can you connect my soundbar/games console while you're there?
Yes - getting everything working together is the tricky bit. TV, soundbar, Sky box, PlayStation all need to talk to each other properly. I'll set it up so you don't need three remotes and a degree in HDMI.
How long does TV setup take?
Just the TV with basic apps - about an hour. TV plus soundbar, games console, and complex setup - up to 1.5 hours. I stay until everything works and you can actually use it.
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Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
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