Panasonic 2012 Plasma - special codes

[fluxo]

Warning: I am not encouraging anyone to enter any special TV menu. Doing so may be a risky activity.

I think many of us are aware that there is a special routine that is used to bring up the service menu. But these sets also have other special modes and I'm wondering what the "secret" method of invoking those is. This is the current state of my knowledge:

(1) SM: TV(vol-) + (3 x Remote(0))

(2) Self-check: TV(vol-) + (3 x Remote(Info)) ???

(3) Hotel mode: ???

It would be nice if someone knowledgeable could complete and confirm (2)-(3) above. In case my description is not self-explanatory, here is a decipherment key:

TV(x) means pressing x on the TV.
Remote(x) means pressing x on the remote control device.
A + B means doing A at the same time as doing B.
3 x A means doing A three times.

While I'm at it, may I ask, is there more than one self-check mode? E.g., a quick one and a more comprehensive one. If there is, does only one of them reset the TV to factory defaults? Finally: I have read that one of the self-checks resets the hours count in the SM. Is it safe to run a self-check that resets that count?

My reasons for asking this: my TV has been restarting itself for no obvious reason every so often. If it is safe to run a diagnostic self-check, then I would like to do so to see if it finds anything. Also, I wouldn't mind using hotel mode to get the TV to default to a particular HDMI input on startup.

If anyone has the information I am looking for but feels uncomfortable posting it here, feel free to PM me.

Thank you very much.

 

[MAX1210]

Warning: I am not encouraging anyone to enter any special TV menu. Doing so may be a risky activity.

I think many of us are aware that there is a special routine that is used to bring up the service menu. But these sets also have other special modes and I'm wondering what the "secret" method of invoking those is. This is the current state of my knowledge:

(1) SM: TV(vol-) + (3 x Remote(0))

(2) Self-check: TV(vol-) + (3 x Remote(Info)) ???

(3) Hotel mode: ???

It would be nice if someone knowledgeable could complete and confirm (2)-(3) above. In case my description is not self-explanatory, here is a decipherment key:

TV(x) means pressing x on the TV.
Remote(x) means pressing x on the remote control device.
A + B means doing A at the same time as doing B.
3 x A means doing A three times.

While I'm at it, may I ask, is there more than one self-check mode? E.g., a quick one and a more comprehensive one. If there is, does only one of them reset the TV to factory defaults? Finally: I have read that one of the self-checks resets the hours count in the SM. Is it safe to run a self-check that resets that count?

My reasons for asking this: my TV has been restarting itself for no obvious reason every so often. If it is safe to run a diagnostic self-check, then I would like to do so to see if it finds anything. Also, I wouldn't mind using hotel mode to get the TV to default to a particular HDMI input on startup.

If anyone has the information I am looking for but feels uncomfortable posting it here, feel free to PM me.

Thank you very much.

I have posted this a few times for people. For hotel mode on 2012 tv press and hold down button on tv, then press av button on remote control 3 times - for 2012 tv's press and hold volume down button on tv instead then press av button 3 times.

This allows you to set the tv to turn on to a specific input, set an initial turn on volume and to set a maximum volume.

I can check a service manual for info on self check tomorrow if I remember

 

[TONYELISE]

When I had problems with my 55vt50 I was told to run the self test and then got a read out on the screen of saying it failed with a list of numbers underneath,one thing I did find though if you do a return to shipping reset in the normal menu it returns everything to how it came except it does not erase your pin and owners info yet after the self check which also reset everything I had to enter it all again as it had been erased.

 

[fluxo]

Thanks for the help so far. It's very much appreciated.

 

[fluxo]

The GT50 restarted itself again today and, caution having been displaced by the frustration, I decided to invoke the self-check.

I held down the vol- button on the TV itself and pressed the info button on the remote. I'm actually not sure if the info button needs to be pressed once, repeatedly or held down, but one of those brings up self-check mode.

No faults were found, so I took a photograph and then pressed the power button on the TV to turn it off. On restarting the TV I could see all the TV's settings had been reset. However, a quick check of the service menu showed that the hours count had remaind intact. Which is good. I was worried that resetting that, too, might have some adverse effect.

I do think there may be two self-check modes for this TV. I have seen an indication of this for earlier Panasonic plasmas. And in this troubleshooting guide for last year's DT/WT LCD TVs (US models), there is this:

1. Self-check display only:
While in TV reception mode, press the [VOLUME ( - )] button on the main unit and simultaneously press the [OK] button on the remote control for 3 seconds or more.

2. Self-check display and forced to factory shipment setting:
While in TV reception mode, press the [VOLUME ( - )] button on the main unit and simultaneously press the [MENU] button on the remote control for 3 seconds or more.

If option 1 exists for the GT50, I wouldn't mind knowing how to access it - it's more convenient if settings are not lost. The special entry code would probably be the same as on other Panasonic UK PDP 2011 and 2012 models.

Cheers.

 

[Chavassea]

The GT50 restarted itself again today and, caution having been displaced by the frustration, I decided to invoke the self-check.

I held down the vol- button on the TV itself and pressed the info button on the remote. I'm actually not sure if the info button needs to be pressed once, repeatedly or held down, but one of those brings up self-check mode.

No faults were found, so I took a photograph and then pressed the power button on the TV to turn it off. On restarting the TV I could see all the TV's settings had been reset. However, a quick check of the service menu showed that the hours count had remaind intact. Which is good. I was worried that resetting that, too, might have some adverse effect.

I do think there may be two self-check modes for this TV. I have seen an indication of this for earlier Panasonic plasmas. And in this troubleshooting guide for last year's DT/WT LCD TVs (US models), there is this:

If option 1 exists for the GT50, I wouldn't mind knowing how to access it - it's more convenient if settings are not lost. The special entry code would probably be the same as on other Panasonic UK PDP 2011 and 2012 models.

Cheers.

I have a 65'' VT50 which I purchased 2nd hand in 2018 and I have been searching high and low on how to check how much viewing time it has had. The fans in the rear are quite dusty and you can hear the whirring which I am looking to replace. I have followed some instructions I found online in terms of how to access the SERVICE MENU but the TV only returned a SELF CHECK result. I followed the instructions i was given on this thread

Why on earth did plasma die?

The 85" and 103" models were silly prices new but can be had for next to nothing now. Picture quality is superb if you don't mind the energy consumption and weight. I've viewed 4k on OLEDs and it is better but several thousand pounds better? Not for me just yet! :)

www.avforums.com

Does anyone know how the service menu can be accessed on the VT50 or any of the 2012 and onwards Panny plasmas?

Regards