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
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.
TroubleshootingSee what LED LCD TV repair really costs by fault (backlight, T-Con, power board), plus which fixes you can safely DIY for under $50.
Setup, Mounting & PlacementCompare exact TV width and height by screen size in this TV size chart (32-100 in, in + cm), plus the 16:9 math and a fit check.
TroubleshootingChange your Samsung TV DNS settings the right way: exact menu path by model year, the best DNS by goal, how to revert, and what to do if it doesn't help.
TroubleshootingFix a Samsung TV not connecting to Wi-Fi with 3 tested fixes, then match your exact symptom (error 107, no internet, 2.4GHz) to the real cause.
TroubleshootingRun the built-in Picture Test to tell if a horizontal line on Samsung TV is a quick cable fix or a failing panel, plus repair-vs-replace cost math.
Setup, Mounting & PlacementYes - a heat shield for TV above fireplace works if you choose right. Compare 5 tested picks, a DIY deflector build, and the temps that fry a TV.
Setup, Mounting & PlacementLeave a 4-12 inch gap between console top and TV bottom. How high to mount TV above console depends on size, get the exact gap by TV size.
Setup, Mounting & PlacementFix a wall TV that sits too high. Is my TV too high? Get the signs, the 42–48 in eye-level rule, and how to lower it comfortably.
Setup, Mounting & Placementompare full motion TV mount vs tilting, fixed and ceiling mounts, with a tested best pick per type and how to choose by room, wall and TV size.
Setup, Mounting & PlacementSee the ideal 65 inch TV viewing distance (6.5 to 9 ft for 4K) plus the full 32-100 inch chart in feet, cm and meters.
TroubleshootingHow to fix a TV by symptom: no power, black screen, or lines. See which faults are a $20 DIY and when a crack means replace.
TroubleshootingNo, usually. But can a TV screen be fixed at all? We tested 6 broken sets to show what’s repairable, what a new panel costs, and when to replace.