Agreed: The market place has change radically since the small shops could
even make a modest income repairing just the direct view small size teles.
Modern devices are a bit more complex, require a bit more diligence in
diagnostics and repair, but are not overly intimidating.
As the other posters noted, service manuals, almost a total requirement to
work on the newer technologies, are available from the manufacturers
normally with a paid subscription. Many manufacturers require that you are
authorized to repair their specific products before allowing you to
purchase that literature.
The tools are basically the same as in repair of direct view with some
rather expensive notations specific to RPTV, PLASMA, And the DLP/LCD sets.
You already have gotten your feet wet doing the Samsung Plasma Repair,
continue on with as much tutorial training you can get and try to become
authorized for a couple of the brands.
Our facilities do almost 95% of the repairs on site, in the home, place of
business, etc. Inclusive of CRT Replacement (Multiple in RPTV at times),
light engines, DMD boards, Etc. The combination units are preferred to have
serviced on a bench level process however. Good Luck.
"Leonard Caillouet" wrote in message
news:_Uzpe.11538$Hj.2415@lakeread02...
What special interfaces are you talking about on ALL newer HDTVs? Which
manufacturers require factory authorization to get service manuals? I
service many major brands and don't have problems getting manuals for most
of them. I use no special interfaces on the sets that I service.
Computer
monitors and many of the LCD and DLP projectors are another matter, but
for
consumer HDTV most are not that big a problem.

Also, many repairs are not done in the home. Lots of sets have light
boxes
or easily removable chassis and CRTs. We do minor repairs in the home and
pull to shop for majors, leaving only final alignments on reinstall.

I can't imagine that anyone is still profitable in the consumer TV
business
not working on PTV.

Leonard

wrote in message
ups.com...
It is mostly component level repair in the house. ALL the newer HDTV
sets REQUIRE special interfaces and factory authorization in order to
even be able to get the service manuals. Plasma sets are all board
level repair via the manufacture, NOT PTS. The least expensive boards
on the Plasma sets are typically $350 authorized servicer cost.

I would expect you will have a significant investment in order to start
doing repairs on anything current technology.