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
TroubleshootingCheck if your TCL TV black screen warranty covers a dead backlight (defects yes, cracks no), how to file a claim, and what changes out of warranty.
TroubleshootingLearn how to fix a TV with vertical lines: free checks first, then reseat the T-Con ribbon or swap a $15-60 board, plus the one line that means replace.
TroubleshootingHow to fix TV screen problems yourself: the power-cycle, reseat and backlight fixes that actually work, plus the toothpaste and epoxy myths to skip.
TroubleshootingFind out how long do TVs last: 5–10 years or 40,000–100,000 hours by type, why the backlight dies first, and how to add years to any set.
TroubleshootingCompare Best Buy TV repair cost: the $49.99/$99.99 Geek Squad diagnostic fee, what they fix, $0 with a plan, and when replacing wins.
Setup, Mounting & PlacementSkip the hype: we tested 5 pull down TV mounts and ranked them by drop distance, weight fit and price. See the best picks for any high wall or fireplace.
Setup, Mounting & PlacementLearn how to determine TV mount height with a seated eye-level formula and a free calculator, plus worked examples by TV size. No guesswork, no neck strain.
Setup, Mounting & PlacementGet the exact TV height from floor in cm for every size (43–85"): floor-to-center + bottom-edge, in cm and inches, on seated eye level.
Setup, Mounting & PlacementFind your TV viewing distance: sit ~1.2–2x the screen diagonal (THX 40° / SMPTE 30°), with a two-way size chart, how to measure, plus 4K and gaming tips.
TroubleshootingCompare real 2026 costs for a broken Samsung TV screen across 7 brands, why a panel nearly equals a new TV, and your cheaper options.
TroubleshootingCompare cracked TV screen repair cost by size and damage in 2026, plus the break-even math vs new-TV prices and when fixing actually beats replacing.
TroubleshootingSee if a cracked TV screen is worth fixing: repair-vs-replace-vs-salvage verdict, real cost math, and the 3 steps to take first.
TroubleshootingCompare TV repair costs by problem, learn the 30–40% repair-vs-replace rule, and see which fixes are DIY, pro-only, or a write-off in 2026.
Setup, Mounting & PlacementTV mounting height calculator: get your exact floor-to-center and bottom-edge numbers from your seated eye level, screen size and mount type. Free.