twfsa wrote:
Is there a reliable low cost protector out there for my big screen tv and
DVD/VCR

Are the plug in strips worth a ****?

Avoid the lowest-cost strip protectors. Consumer Reports found they
didn't protect very well compared to the higher-priced products from
APC,Tripplite, Curtis, etc. Look for products that include RF filters
consisting of both chokes and capacitors (cheaper ones have only the
capacitors) because the rest of the protector will be built better as
well.

A whole-house protector installed in the breaker box isn't very
expensive and can shunt surges to ground better than any plug-in
protector, and some also include protection for telephone and TV. In
old homes the protection provided by the phone company may consist only
of neon bulbs, which don't short as well as MOVs installed in newer
homes.