Panasonic TV - my straight lines are all curvy !

[Ian182]

OK,

Bit hard to describe this one, but hopefully someone can help........

I've got a Panasonic TX 32PL1, connected to a DVD player and SKY+ via RGB SCART.
In the last few weeks, I've noticed that on the right hand side of the screen, things that should appear straight have now started appearing curvy. It can vary from being slightly curved, to being almost an "S" shape !! As an example, watching 24 on DVD...........when it goes to split screen the boxes on the left of the screen are fine, and the edges are straight, but the one nearest the right hand side of the screen has an obviously curved right side to it. Its most noticeable when watching something with a wall/door etc.

Happens on both DVDs and SKY, so looks like the TV is the cuplrit.
Anyone know what causes it, or more importantly, if its fixable ?
I can posts pics if it helps...........

Ta,

Ian.

[LV426]

So, you bought a CRT TV and expected perfect geometry? This is one of a number of areas where CRTs do not typically produce "the best" picture.

Does the (mis)shape remain the same, or does it vary, depending on how bright the contents of the image are? I'm going to guess that what you see is the picture being a tiny bit WIDER where that horizontal part of the image is bright (so, for example, a bright sky above a dark foreground would give a kink, with the sky wider than the ground).

If yes, then this can't be solved. It is a design failing of the internal EHT power supply, and is quite common on CRT TVs of all sizes. They are built down to a price and the output suffers.

If, however, the curve/shape is of fixed shape and position, then a visit by a competent person into the service menu may be able to reduce it or solve it fully. If it's under warranty, get them out to it. Be prepared, however, for a response of "it's within tolerance".

[Ian182]

Ha Ha !!

Cheers Nigel.........
You're quite right, it varies in shape........I had not noticed whether
this was due to brightness or not, but could well be the case.

Its nearly 3 years old, so out of warranty. I paid for someone to look
at the RGB banding on it about 6 months ago, and they told me it was
"working as designed" or words to that effect, so I imagine they would only
say the same again, especially bearing in mind what you've said !

I guess in the grand scheme of things it could be worse

Ian.

[LV426]

So:

Either:

Live with it.

Or

Replace it with either a Loewe (which tend to have better sepecified power supplies) or with an LCD or Plasma, either of which won't have this particular failing (but may have others......).

[movie_fan]

Originally Posted by Ian182

OK,

Bit hard to describe this one, but hopefully someone can help........

I've got a Panasonic TX 32PL1, connected to a DVD player and SKY+ via RGB SCART.
In the last few weeks, I've noticed that on the right hand side of the screen, things that should appear straight have now started appearing curvy. It can vary from being slightly curved, to being almost an "S" shape !! As an example, watching 24 on DVD...........when it goes to split screen the boxes on the left of the screen are fine, and the edges are straight, but the one nearest the right hand side of the screen has an obviously curved right side to it. Its most noticeable when watching something with a wall/door etc.

What a coincidence!! While watching 24 on dvd last weekend, I noticed some distortion on the botom of my 32PD30. I had never noticed it.

I went to the service menu and fixed it in the trapezoid section.

[DRGL]

Sony HQ100-not a bit of distortion here PSU's seem really good,shame about the QC!!!!!

[Ian182]

Movie Fan......

Was it a similar kind of problem to the one I described ?

How easy is it to fix in the Service Menu - I'm never that keen on tinkering with things that I don't understand

I know its a different model, but I guess the Service Menu's will be similar.

Ian.

[movie_fan]

Well, for some hints about the PD30 service menu read the thread about the PD30 problems here in the forums.

Perhaps you'll need to adjust the trapezoid anf the parabole settings.

Read the mentioned thread carefully, and before making any changes in the service menu save the factory values.

Good luck!

[LV426]

Care: There is a BIG difference between

poor geometry settings - the effect of which is STATIC - and which can be adjusted to a greater or lesser degree in a service menu

and

poor EHT voltage regulation - the effect of which is moving and varies with overall brightness - which is not an adjustment issue, but rather, a hardware issue and cannot therefore be fixed in any menu.

You can minimise the effect of poor EHT regulation by keeping brightness and contrast settings down as low as you can bear. That's THE ONLY way of addressing it.

If you do venture into the service menu

WRITE EVERY SINGLE VALUE DOWN BEFORE YOU CHANGE ANY OF THEM

[Ian182]

No worries.

Thanks for the advice Nigel - always appreciated

I'll leave the tinkering alone, and see if I can minimise the effect by lowering
the contrast and brightness a bit, as suggested.

Rather be safe than sorry I think.........

Ian.