Colour problem with Panasonic TX-28LD1/M television

[Dr Hugh M. Aye]

Hi guys,

About a year ago, my mother moved house and her Panasonic TX-28LD1/M set
started displaying problems soon after - I can only assume that it received
a little bump during the move.

The problem is that the picture is very red where it's supposed to be red -
i.e., people's faces look radioactive. It's just about bearable (my
mother's been stubbornly putting up with it all this time), but it gets a
lot worse when a DVD or video is playing - the red areas are VERY red, and
the green areas are VERY green too.

She's one of these people that thinks that you throw electronic stuff away
and buy a replacement when the old one shows defects, so she's been saving
to buy a new set for the past year. I've finally snapped and decided to see
how much it'd cost to repair before she goes throwing money around. Does
anyone have a rough idea what might be wrong with it? Doesn't seem like a
fatal flaw to me, but I just want to have a rough idea of what to expect
before I go phoning up any TV repair places.

Many thanks,

Dr Aye.

 

[Jerry G.]

Did you try putting the user controls such as the tint, colour, brightness,
and contrast back to factory default? Check the user booklet for details.

If the set is defective, the fault can be in any number of areas that deal
with the video processing itself, or something that I would not be able to
think of over an email. After trying to set the user controls back to their
default, and there is no improvement, then you should call an authorized
service centre to have an estimate. This way, you will know if the set is
worth servicing or not. It may not be very expensive to service, depending
on what the particular fault is. Infact, sometimes if it is a simple fault,
the tech would be able to fix the set on location.

--

Greetings,

Jerry Greenberg GLG Technologies GLG
=========================================
WebPage http://www.zoom-one.com
Electronics http://www.zoom-one.com/electron.htm
=========================================


Hi guys,

About a year ago, my mother moved house and her Panasonic TX-28LD1/M set
started displaying problems soon after - I can only assume that it received
a little bump during the move.

The problem is that the picture is very red where it's supposed to be red -
i.e., people's faces look radioactive. It's just about bearable (my
mother's been stubbornly putting up with it all this time), but it gets a
lot worse when a DVD or video is playing - the red areas are VERY red, and
the green areas are VERY green too.

She's one of these people that thinks that you throw electronic stuff away
and buy a replacement when the old one shows defects, so she's been saving
to buy a new set for the past year. I've finally snapped and decided to see
how much it'd cost to repair before she goes throwing money around. Does
anyone have a rough idea what might be wrong with it? Doesn't seem like a
fatal flaw to me, but I just want to have a rough idea of what to expect
before I go phoning up any TV repair places.

Many thanks,

Dr Aye.

 

[Dr Hugh M. Aye]

Hi Jerry - you hepled me out with a Toshiba set a few years ago, glad to see
you're still here ;-)

Did you try putting the user controls such as the tint, colour,
brightness, and contrast back to factory default?

Yep, just did it again to be sure, doesn't make any difference.

If the set is defective, the fault can be in any number of areas that deal
with the video processing itself, or something that I would not be able to
think of over an email. After trying to set the user controls back to
their default, and there is no improvement, then you should call an
authorized service centre to have an estimate. This way, you will know
if the set is worth servicing or not. It may not be very expensive to
service, depending on what the particular fault is. Infact, sometimes if
it is a simple fault, the tech would be able to fix the set on location.

OK, will do. Just checked their website and there's one close by.

Thanks for your help (again),

Dr Aye.

 

[Nigel]

Hi guys,

About a year ago, my mother moved house and her Panasonic TX-28LD1/M set
started displaying problems soon after - I can only assume that it received
a little bump during the move.

The problem is that the picture is very red where it's supposed to be red -
i.e., people's faces look radioactive. It's just about bearable (my
mother's been stubbornly putting up with it all this time), but it gets a
lot worse when a DVD or video is playing - the red areas are VERY red, and
the green areas are VERY green too. (snipped)

Normal suspect on these sets (EURO 2L chassis) is the VDP3108 video
processing chip. Panasonic now supply an improved type which comes with a
replacement EPROM, some surface mount capacitors and an instruction sheet.

The chip is not cheap, so get the estimate first.

 

[Eric]

sounds like the color control is set too high.


: Hi guys,
:
: About a year ago, my mother moved house and her Panasonic TX-28LD1/M set
: started displaying problems soon after - I can only assume that it
received
: a little bump during the move.
:
: The problem is that the picture is very red where it's supposed to be
red -
: i.e., people's faces look radioactive. It's just about bearable (my
: mother's been stubbornly putting up with it all this time), but it gets a
: lot worse when a DVD or video is playing - the red areas are VERY red, and
: the green areas are VERY green too.
:
: She's one of these people that thinks that you throw electronic stuff away
: and buy a replacement when the old one shows defects, so she's been saving
: to buy a new set for the past year. I've finally snapped and decided to
see
: how much it'd cost to repair before she goes throwing money around. Does
: anyone have a rough idea what might be wrong with it? Doesn't seem like a
: fatal flaw to me, but I just want to have a rough idea of what to expect
: before I go phoning up any TV repair places.
:
: Many thanks,
:
: Dr Aye.
:
:

 

[Dr Hugh M. Aye]

Normal suspect on these sets (EURO 2L chassis) is the VDP3108 video

processing chip. Panasonic now supply an improved type which comes with a
replacement EPROM, some surface mount capacitors and an instruction sheet.

The chip is not cheap, so get the estimate first.

Yikes! Here's hoping it isn't that, then...

Ta,

Dr Aye.

 

[Dr Hugh M. Aye]

sounds like the color control is set too high.

Thanks, but I'm not that daft ;-)

It doesn't really look like that's the problem anyway...it's not a uniform
thing, if you get my drift :-s

Dr Aye.

 

[Dr Hugh M. Aye]

Hi again...

The TV repair guy came by from the local Panasonic Service Agent earlier
today, unfortunately when I was out...was expecting him later. My mother
was in, and the guy's diagnosis was that the tube is dead...he apparently
went into a whole spiel about how the tube on this model of Panasonic TV
just sparks out and dies instantly rather than gradually
deteriorating...which is pretty impressive, considering that it's been going
along quite happily for over a year now!

Anyway, he says the only thing to do is replace the tube, but he took the TV
away to have it "re-focussed". It'll be back towards the end of the week.

Just wondering what you guys make of the diagnosis...am I wrong for feeling
a little sceptical? I don't think I'd have let him take the set away if I'd
been home...I'm not sure what good refocusing a tube that should apparently
be dead would do anyway...

Many thanks,

Dr Aye.

 

[Nigel]

Hi again...

The TV repair guy came by from the local Panasonic Service Agent earlier
today, unfortunately when I was out...was expecting him later. My mother
was in, and the guy's diagnosis was that the tube is dead...he apparently
went into a whole spiel about how the tube on this model of Panasonic TV
just sparks out and dies instantly rather than gradually
deteriorating...which is pretty impressive, considering that it's been going
along quite happily for over a year now!

Anyway, he says the only thing to do is replace the tube, but he took the TV
away to have it "re-focussed". It'll be back towards the end of the week.

Just wondering what you guys make of the diagnosis...am I wrong for feeling
a little sceptical? I don't think I'd have let him take the set away if I'd
been home...I'm not sure what good refocusing a tube that should apparently
be dead would do anyway...

Many thanks,

Dr Aye.

He might be taking it to degauss (demagnetise), but he could have brought
the degaussing equipment with him - it's hand-held.

He might also be planning to put it on a tube rejuvenator, but they're
really for last resort tubes when there is nothing to lose and your
description doesn't seem to match that.

Obviously, without seeing the set, one cannot rule out the possibility of a
tube failure, but most colour faults have other causes.

As I said in my previous post, the video processing IC is the most common -
but not exclusive - cause of colour problems in this chassis.

If you're sceptical then that's something you need to address directly with
the repairer as gut feelings are usually worth following up - it could
simply be that the guy that called doesn't have enough technical knowledge,
so returned it for a proper diagnosis by the workshop technician.

I'm not making any allegations in your specific case, but here are some expe
riences that I've had in the past. Working for a reputable service
workshop - who are the majority - usually means picking up the pieces after
some of the cowboys have had a go.


Technician has no idea what the problem is, but repair department is part of
a sales outlet, so sees opportunity for new sale and avoiding a difficult
repair;

Technician does know what the problem is, but either can't or won't repair
it, so takes it away to 'confirm' diagnosis. In the meantime, has
transplanted parts from the set to fix another one at minimal cost but
charging for components anyway, and returning the first set with the
'confirmed' diagnosis - usually a write-off, new set required. This ploy is
particularly effective for dead sets and if one of the sets is covered by an
extended warranty/insurance, so much the better;

Technician works for large company that sets targets on number of completed
repairs each week. Technician takes path of least resistance - writing sets
off - to maintain targets and keep his job.

Technician dislikes repairing a particular brand, so tries to get rid of
many as possible - this sounds crazy, but I've seen it happen !!

And finally of course, there is an age-old problem. The technician shouldn't
be in the job because he doesn't have a bloody clue - as I say, most
repairers are great, but it's the lazy, the cheats and the liars that give
the majority a bad name.

There, I've had my rant for the day - I feel so much better !!!

 

[Dr Hugh M. Aye]

There, I've had my rant for the day - I feel so much better !!!

My mum's just been back on the phone to them - turns out that she's already
decided that she doesn't trust them, so she's taking the set back.
Apparently the guy just turned the menu on, then claimed the tube was shot
and that it needed refocusing. Go figure.

Kinda disappointed as this is an official Panasonic Agent...I might phone
around some of the others in the area and see what they say...

Many thanks,

Dr Aye.

 

[Nigel]

My mum's just been back on the phone to them - turns out that she's already
decided that she doesn't trust them, so she's taking the set back.
Apparently the guy just turned the menu on, then claimed the tube was shot
and that it needed refocusing. Go figure.

Kinda disappointed as this is an official Panasonic Agent...I might phone
around some of the others in the area and see what they say...

Many thanks,

Dr Aye.

Also give Panasonic a call - they don't like their name to be abused by poor
service.