I am looking to purchase a 46" HDTV at some point, and I note that Vera has the ability to control TVs via RS-232. The wiki specifically mentions Panasonic plasma TVs. I was focusing my search on 120 Hz LCD TVs, but I’m open to learning about any TV models that have an RS-232 port.
Joe,
In general, it’ll be the higher-end models in any manufacturers lines that’ll have them. You’ll need to hunt, but if you focus on their more expensive models, then you’ll likely find it.
The 2nd thing you’ll need is the documentation for their “usage” of the RS-232, or the Protocol they use.
Each Vendor has a different version of this, and even within a Vendor (like Panasonic) their are subtleties.
Make sure it not only has an RS-232 connection, but also that there is documentation available for it. I had to hunt a LOT to get the data I have for the Panasonic, I never understand why these folks keep it so secretive 
Sometimes the vendor may put an Ethernet connector on, and it may be possible to control it via that interface as well. On my Panasonic [Viera] they weren’t smart enough to do that, unfortunately, so I’ve wired with both Ethernet (for Amazon, YouTube, etc) and RS-232 (for Control)
I remember reading that the Sharp Aquos TVs have RS-232
Not all Acquos have RS-232. My 3-year old, top of the line at the time, 52" doesn’t 
When in doubt, check the spec sheets. I have an 30" 1080p Aquos that I use for my Mac Mini monitor and it doesn’t have one… It probably wasn’t considered a target for Home Automation 
As a side-note…
The HDMI-CEC looks like it can replace the need for RS-232…eventually. There are quite a few vendors that have it in their products now (by different names). Unfortunately the interop standard is loose right now so it’s effectively “custom” over the wire-format per Vendor.
There are HDMI-CEC - USB bridges starting to come out, mostly early prototypes. Hopefully they’ll mature to be a good USBUIRT replacement, based upon HDMI cabling… that’ll avoid all the 60’s tech in our home theater’s.
Joe, why LCD? i was also sold on LCD (as my last two flat panel TV purchases have been LCD) until i started doing some research and found out that plasma TV’s have overcome most of the old disadvantages they used to have and have improved upon PQ even more! Decided on the Panasonic V10 range in the end mainly because there are not many TV’s, be it LCD or plasma that can equal its PQ! (maybe one or two) Plus the fact i also work for a subdivision of Panasonic and also got a hefty discount that helped to sway me
Most of my TV watching is either ESPN or SPEED (I watch college basketball, Formula 1, Rolex Sports Car Series, and the American Le Mans Series on these channels). We also watch typical sitcoms and drama stuff, but these on on screen for usually an hour or less, while these other events are all 2.5 hours or greater (sometimes much greater) in duration. With ESPN’s bottom line and the ticker that scrolls across motorsports events, I am worried about burn-in. I know newer plasmas are more resistant to it, but it’s still a concern that I have.
For a 46" HDTV it seems the LCD and Plasma prices are comparable (~$1000 or $1100 for the cheaper models). It doesn’t look like any of the TVs in this price range have HDMI anway. So I think it best to play it safe and go with the LCD. I’m open to hearing all opinions, though.
My Samsung LED has HDMI-CEC, but until you posted this and I looked it up, I didn’t even know what it was. No wonder my TV comes on when I turn on my BD player. And I thought it was just reading my mind. : I’m thinking this is the promise of great HA integration possibilities for the future.
I really debated between the highly-rated plasmas and this LED. PQ aside, my choice was ultimately determined by two factors that are probably not priorities for you:
- We don’t have air conditioning, so the heat generation factor was huge
- It projects from the wall less than two inches, and for our mid-century modern home aesthetics, the WAF for that is even huger ;D
@Joe, 47 inch LG with RS232, too expensive? (nice though)
http://www.lge.com/us/tv-audio-video/televisions/LG-lcd-tv-47SL90.jsp
Well, it’s a few hundred more than some other models, but it’s certainly not ridiculously out of range. Something to consider - thanks.
Plasma vs LCD is a never ending argument. There are still up’s and downs to both. Blacks are still better on the plasmas that I’ve seen lately but it’s really not that big a deal. On my older plasma I had some burn in because I would hit pause on the TiVo and walk out of the room and forget. My newer plasma starts moving the picture around the screen if it has the same image for more than 5 minutes and even the logos of stations in the corner dont burn in on it. So the burn in is a non issue. The LCD uses about 25% less power for the same size screen though, even less if it’s LED. In the long run the price difference gets better and better for the LCD as it keep saving on the power bill. It’s also getting a lot tougher to find a plasma as I think only 2 or 3 companys are still making them. Who remembers when a 42" plasma was $15,000. It doesn’t seem that long ago.
Panasonic V10 plasma FTW
[quote=“denix, post:11, topic:165375”]http://www.amazon.com/Sharp-LC46E77U-46-Inch-1080p-120Hz/dp/B001RCTA38/
$1024[/quote]
Hey, now we’re talking. The Sharp LC46E77U actually appears to be a slightly outdated model, with the newer model being the LC46E77UN. I looked up the RS-232 protocol for the UN model and it seems to be right in the manual (how nice of them).
PDF Page 42: Page Not Found
Either the LC46E77U or LC46E77UN look like good options, and I can probably get them for around $1000.