Derek Whitfield
Derek Whitfield is the setup & repair editor at Tech Junctions. He's the byline on every "how to mount", "how to connect", "won't turn on", and "no signal" article on the site, because he does this work for real - fourteen years installing residential A/V equipment across the US Mid-Atlantic, certified by the International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians (ISCET), and currently maintaining an active residential-installation business that gives him a steady stream of real customer problems to test his troubleshooting steps against. When a power board fails on a Samsung TV, Derek's article describes the actual fix he'd run, including the multimeter test he'd do before recommending a $200 part. He owns the HDMI/ARC/eARC pillar because cable confusion is the single most common reason readers email a corrections request. He lives in the US Mid-Atlantic.
Published work
Articles by Derek Whitfield
TroubleshootingDiagnose your broken TV by symptom: won't turn on, lines, black screen, cracked, no signal, then get the DIY fix or know when to call a pro.
TroubleshootingExpect $320 on LED sets to $1,500–$2,000 on LG OLED panels, often as much as a new TV. See LG's real 2026 costs and when to fix a board instead.
TroubleshootingFix a dark TV backlight for $30–$80 in parts. Flashlight test, 3 repair methods, DIY-vs-pro cost by size, and when to replace the TV instead.
TroubleshootingNo: a standard TV warranty won't cover a cracked screen (it's accidental damage). See the 5 routes that can, the one exception, and how to claim.
TroubleshootingCompare real Sony TV repair costs (boards ~$300, a Bravia screen $1,000+) and use our repair-vs-replace rule to decide if your set is worth fixing.
TroubleshootingSee 2026 Samsung TV screen replacement costs by model and size: $200 on small LED sets up to $1,500–$3,000+ on QLED/OLED, plus when replacing beats repair.
TroubleshootingSee if your Samsung backlight is the fault with a flashlight test, find the right LED strips by model, replace them for $30–$80, and know when to call a pro.
TroubleshootingFix vertical lines on your TV in order: power-cycle, test if the lines move when you tap the edge, then reseat the T-CON ribbon free before paying for a board.
TroubleshootingCompare your TV repair quote to the 50% rule and a 9-fault cost table to know in 30 seconds whether fixing a 5-, 7-, or 10-year-old set beats buying new.
TroubleshootingYes, a TV screen can crack on its own: thermal stress, a defect, or over-tight mounting. Learn to tell internal vs impact damage and how to claim it.
TroubleshootingCompare 6 ways to get rid of a broken TV: sell the boards for parts, recycle (free or paid), donate or haul away, plus real 2026 Best Buy fees.
TroubleshootingReplace your TV when a repair quote nears a new set's price or it lacks HDMI 2.1 - not for cosmetic 'signs.' See lifespan by panel type and 7 real triggers.
TroubleshootingCompare TV power supply repair cost - DIY board ($30–125) vs pro ($150–475) - plus backlight, HDMI, T-Con and panel prices, and when a fix isn't worth it.
TroubleshootingCompare 2026 TV repair costs by problem, size, and type - most faults are a $40–$210 board fix. See the labor, fees, and the repair-or-replace rule.