Help! My HDTV!

[GS kid]

I have a direct-view tube HDTV. I noticed this with the winter games because it had alot of white backgrounds. I thought it was just a dirty lens. But then I saw pure white sweep across my screen when CBS 58 was sending a rolling color bar pattern on 1-1 and it was there then. I notice what looks like small, slightly off-white "dirt stains" on certain parts of the white background. It's not huge and most of the time you can't see it due to lots of dark colors on the screen. It does concern me a little. I have cleaned the tube glass, so it ain't dirt on the outside. Is it some kind of burn-in or imperfection in the screen mask?!? I do have a 3-year warranty on it at American TV. I kinda wanna get input before I call them. Overall, it's not a big deal. If it can be fixed or replaced, I might do that. Any ideas anybody?!?
------ GS kid

P.S.--- Hey Kjarnold! You have the same set as me (just that mine has the Proscan name on it). Have you had this problem?!? Moving white backgound will show you if you have the same problem. Thanks!


[This message has been edited by GS kid (edited 03-22-2002).]

[Kevin Arnold]

Can't say I've seen the white spots you mention on my set. Only problems are some edge compression resulting in a tiny bit of "rolling" of the picture near the edge. If you go to hometheaterspot.com and go the the ge/rca/proscan section you can find links to a pdf for the service manuel for these sets.  There are some internal tests you can run. Don't know if this will help but its worth a try.  You get to the service screen by
Press and release power button to turn on.
Press and hold the ch down button
Press and release the TV-Directv button.

This displays a version number and P:0 V:0
Vol +- controls V
Ch +- controls P

Set V to 76 for alignment/check mode.
V to 90 displays the warranty clock.
Exit by hitting menuOK button.

Got to read the manuel first before changing anything but this gives you a start.

------------------
Kevin Arnold
38" RCA widescreen w/a Winegard on a rotor.

[GS kid]

Thanks alot guy! I will try this out later to see what can be done. I know what you mean about that "roll effect" at the Horz. edges. It's kinda weird, but doesn't really bother me all that much. It's kinda like the picture  is being rolled on and off rollers at the very edges of the screen. I wonder why it does that? Oh well. I most likely think that I will have to call a tech. from American to see if they will replace the set if they can't fix this kinda slight "water stain" effect here and there on bright color fields. What kinda sucks about our sets are that the STB is built-in and has no video output. I'm looking into getting a D-VHS recorder to record HD stuff and will now have to buy a STB to put in front of the VCR so I can record HD programs. Plus... JVC is the only one I know of that makes a D-VHS VCR that has  component output which is the only HD input the vast majority of the older HDTV sets can accept. All the other D-VHS decks are pretty much all FireWire conected to be connected with the newer FireWire HD sets. :-(
I'll let you know how that test works out.

---- GS kid

[GS kid]

I checked out that home theater spot. Wow! It's amazing the problems some people have had with this set and the bad customer service that RCA has provided them. Yet all of them seem to insist on sticking with this model. Even if it means going through their 3rd TV set in some cases. I must say that I love this set as well, even with the lack of video outputs. I have a 3 year on this. I hope mine is one of the lucky ones like it has up to now. Would you know where to get that service manual for our set? I heard it mentioned that there was a link to it somewhere on that site, but I didn't see it.
Thanks!
------- GS kid

[GS kid]

Hey Kjarnold! I did what you said and I can change the "V" value, but I can't get the "P" value to change at all! Everytime I do the channel up or down, it cycles through the following on the screen: Vid1, Vid2, Vid3, Comp., Frnt, Vga1, Vga2. Have you ever been able to change the "P" value?!? If so, How!?!?!? Thanks!
---- GS kid