OT - Question for the TV repair types...

[RSY]

I have a Panasonic set, roughly 4 years old, that just started showing thin, flashing horizontal red lines whenever Component Video is selected as the input. After about 5 minutes, they disappear and the screen is a pure black, again. Now, this happens even with the DVD player OFF, so I know it's not the player.

Could it be a bad CV cable bundle, or is it something with the set's hardware?

Thanks, in advance. I expect it's only going to get worse, at this point.

Scott

[FWiedner]

What happens when you disconnect the cables?

Does it happen on any of your other alternate input channels/ports?

[RSY]

Well, if you disconnect the cables on this set, Component ceases to even come up as a choice anymore. So, there's no way to evaluate the cables aside form getting a new set and trying them out.

And, no, no other alternate inputs display this weirdness.

Ideas?

Scott

[FWiedner]

If you're certain that the DVD output is good and you're not seeing the same thing on any of your other inputs or in the normal TV/Cable display, it kinda narrows it down.

You made sure the cables were seated properly, right? On both ends?

Do you have another TV handy to hook the DVD player to, just to test the cables? Before you spend money on new ones.

I had a set with a 36" tube where the vertical deflection went out, and it started by just showing a horizontal line across the display line that disapperared after a few seconds, then longer and longer until I got tired of waiting and sprang for a new TV.

[RSY]

Yeah, I'll test the DVD and cables on another set. Thanks for that idea.

So, you just went and got a new set, then? Does anyone even repair these things, anymore? Or, is it just toss and replace, now?

Scott

[FWiedner]

I'm sure that there's someone who does repairs, but the set I had wasn't an expensive one to begin with. I weighed the cost of the repair against the cost of the set itself, and the effort it would have taken to transport the big *** anywhere to get to service.

I figured it would cost less and take less effort to just set it out in the alley and let the garage sale vultures have it, and go get a new digital ready HD capable flat-screen. 2009, you know.