AVS Forum Archive 2 - RCA F-38310 How many of you have one and are going strong???

DennisMileHi

08-10-04, 12:42 PM

Bought in Jan 2002 refurb from RCA. I have had two service calls not related to the caps/diodes, one of which required sending to the shop for two weeks. The service guy says he thinks the factory replaced the caps/diodes when refurbed. No cost on the repairs as I have extended warranty through Philips.

I no longer use the internal tuner after buying an HD Tivo which connects through component input. I had to buy a component switcher to switch between the Tivo and DVD player. PQ with the Tivo is the same or slightly better than the internal DTC-100.

Nitewatchman

08-10-04, 12:49 PM

Bought ours(JX4) in Early Nov 2001. On average, it's on 12-14 Hours a day, 80%+ of viewing is OTA ATSC w/internal tuner -- Still going strong, no repairs needed yet(knock on wood) ....

Mr.Victor

08-10-04, 01:43 PM

2 1/2 Years and still going strong. 4-6 hours per day and most all day long on the weekends.

dlhunt0410

08-10-04, 02:59 PM

I'll have to check my records but i believe I bought mine at CC in 2002.
Still works great with no problems so far.

DH

Benji

10-14-04, 03:02 PM

Had mine just about 2 years now. Bought from CC with 5 yr. EW. No problems, no service calls yet. Picture still perfect. I turn on about 3 hours/day. TV is in my bedroom. I have a Mits WD62725 in my living room.

canue

10-14-04, 05:22 PM

I believe my open box purchase of JX4 was a good purchase until it breaks, or a new bigger tube like this one comes out on the market. Plastic new one if it ever comes out, my back is asking for this request not to use glass for it's too heavy IMHO. 50 inch would be nice then the 2.35:1 owned would be a bit more enjoyable, until if ever Titanic and a few others would come out as anamorphic.

everton4

10-15-04, 08:36 AM

2 year anniversary today ;) JX5 floor model from bestbuy...hd channels still a joy to behold - not just for me but everyone else that watches it are very impressed too.

Thinking of getting the Tivo HD box in the not too distant future...so Dennis thanks for the info. And canue couldn't agree with you more about the weight...I usually tell people that if/when I do move..the f38310 will be staying (lol...unfortunately!)

Troyk

11-07-04, 04:30 PM

I have a 1gen unit.(jx1) I got mine before the recall happened, no problems so far. I don't use it a lot, sort of, I travel for a living & don't get to watch TV on a consistent bases, but when I am home ~3hrs a day. Service odometer says 35069.

Kipp Jones

01-14-05, 11:47 PM

Tarpon65

01-15-05, 09:44 AM

We had our 2 plus years now in main tv room without any problem, although I did purchase the extended thru CC. Tv is on whenever we are home, but not sure the exact amount of hours put on it. Absolutely love the picture (Use Dish Network High Def Receiver and OTA Tampa Channels) although I am currently thinking of upsizing (Not sure if this is actually upgrading) to a 50" DLP. Only issue with DLP and larger screen is the crappy picture with the non-HD material . If I do move up in size, I will definately move the RCA into our bedroom.

donyoop

01-16-05, 01:51 PM

Purchased my F38310 in December 2001. What a marvelous picture with the 1280x1080 resolution and high contrast ratio of a CRT. Although the horizontal is not a full 1920, the resolution of the vertical is more important and really provides an excellent viewing experience on all kinds of sports. Most HD cameras don't resolve a full 1920 horizontal yet anyway. 1080 vertical display resolution is "still" not common and you can't get it in FP without letting go of north of 20 grand. This tube was truly a work of art. Yes, the geometry is not perfect but I don't even notice it any more.

I have not had any problems with the set except for the quirky DTC-100 problems of PSIP compatibllity issues, occasional lockup if you change the input too fast, slow channel changing, slow guide data etc.

I have the extended warranty through Ultimate though December of next year. I plan to keep this set as long as I possibly can and will keep it until it dies and can't be repaired any longer.

Don

UncD2000

01-17-05, 10:48 AM

My JX5 purchased in June 2001 has had no problems so far. Several DVI inputs would have been great, but I'm getting by OK with a simple mechanical switcher connecting the following to component: two LG LST-3410A HD DVRs, a Sony SAT-HD300, and a Zenith DVB318 upconverting DVD player. The 38" display is perfect for my setup, so I hope it keeps working until something really spectacular appears on the market.

wdcoy

01-18-05, 07:12 AM

Mine will turn 4 years old at the end of March. Have not had any problems with it. I purchased the service plan when I got it since this set has had a history of problems.

My service plan runs out soon and BB just sent me the "opportunity" to renew the plan. Do I take the gamble and not renew it or play it safe? I don't plan on replacing this set for several years. Well I have a month to decide. Glade others are having good luck with this great HD TV.

I also have a Z1 projector setup in a spare bedroom which we watch DVDs.

Don

UncD2000

01-18-05, 11:02 AM

I picked up on a 3-yr extension of my CC extended warranty in 2004. I very seldom buy EW coverage, but in this case CC would credit the entire original purchase price toward a new TV if the F38310 proves unrepairable.

Evan

01-18-05, 04:12 PM

Mine is 2.5 years old. Never had a problem.

offsite123

01-18-05, 04:43 PM

Bought our YX5 in July 2002 from GG after reading all the raves (and warnings) here on AVS Forum.... got the 5 yr coverage... no probs to date (but we shut off the powerstrip when TV is not in use)... watching 80% HD over TWC... using Panasonic RP91 (as recommended on AVS Forum).

BTW, we moved to a new place a few weeks ago... and decided not to take the big (240lb) beast with us.

While the move was in process we bought a 37" LCD and set that up in the new place while we packed up our stuff in the old place.

But after one week of watching our variety of stuff on the LCD, we decided the RCA had a better picture overall... it was basically free (rather than the $4,500 we just layed out for the LCD)... and we still have about 3 years left on the warrenty in case one of the dreaded failure modes surfaces.

So we had the movers (three big guys) move the beast over to the new place and returned the LCD to GG for a full refund.

The LCD was pretty spectacular for sporting events but still not a match overall for the CRT... so, guess we'll be waiting a little longer for something better to emerge... :)

locomo

01-18-05, 06:21 PM

wdcoy
If you haven't had the caps/diodes fix, I would probably get the extra warranty.

wdcoy

01-19-05, 07:33 AM

iocomo

Thanks for the advice. You are correct, I have not had the caps/diodes fixed, knock on wood. I'll probably renew the warranty.

Don

Ratman

01-21-05, 01:19 PM

Try PM'ing DrJoe. He may have parts that he's willing to sell from a 'salvage' set.

AJ Carlson

01-28-05, 09:34 AM

I love mine. I received my replacement/recall unit 05/15/2001 and have ~31,000 hours odometer.
Every time mine fails I go through an emotional tizzy and frantically search for what currently is available in the market (you never miss your water till the well runs dry).
Fortunately the service issues for the RCA F38310 JX4 DTV306 GC chassis have been well documented. An Internet search savvy average tech can often return the unit to normal operation replacing a diode in-home! RCA had a bad batch of diodes. The replacements are fine.
I have had to repair mine twice now; same diode RCA P/N 234048, in several different locations. (Separate Google searches with P/N in combination with one each location number; CR14611, CR14602, CR14117, CR14102).
My set had the good CAPS, Blue with Gold stripe.

peterbilt

02-09-05, 06:30 PM

Bought my floor model from CC in Nov. 2002. Had caps/diodes replaced in May 2004. Has worked like a champ ever since. I love the DTv tuner built in.

...except, now I've noticed a dark band running vertically down the screen. It's only noticable when the picture is dark, but it's starting to bother me. :(

jkstorer

02-13-05, 11:06 PM

I've had mine (JX4) 2 years last December. Had the DM1 replaced within the first year. It's on at 7 am and off at 11PM (My wife runs the audio channel all day). I refuse to go to anyone's house to watch football unless it's better than the F38310 =). Needless to say, amongst my family and friends, the superbowl is always at my house.

I was thinking of upgrading the DVD player to something capable of producing 720p and 1080i output. There's a few more units now than last time I checked when the only thing I could find was the Momitsu V880. What are you folks using for DVD players?

UncD2000

02-14-05, 11:32 AM

I have the original model of Zenith/LG DVB318 that upconverts to 1080i via component. I also picked up an LG LST-3410A DVR when BB closed them out. These are both very nice accessories for the F38310.

Jeraden

02-14-05, 01:29 PM

Mine hasn't had any problems so far, but my extended warranty is about to expire. I haven't had the caps/diodes fixed. Does it make sense to somehow get them replaced, even though they haven't actually gone bad yet? With my luck the warranty will expire and then they'll start acting up. I'd rather get them taken care of now to prevent a future problem.

lovebuzz#836

02-14-05, 02:24 PM

wdcoy, it is really up to you. If it were mine, I probably would if I were in your shoes since you don't plan to replace it for several years. One major out of warranty repair may change that timeline for you against your will.

locomo

02-14-05, 05:49 PM

I'd try changing them myself and if you mess up...
it's still under warranty.

RandD

02-15-05, 07:38 PM

Still going strong here. JX4 purchased 6/28/2002. Built 4/2002. 5 year CC extended warranty. Not one problem.

HiVision99

02-16-05, 09:25 PM

Hi all...

We bought ours 2+ years ago and it's still going strong (beautiful HD PQ!)
My wife and I found it at a local CC here in Houston, turned off, tucked away in the back and discounted to near nothing. Let me put it this way, our Iscan Ultra (for Laserdisc) cost about $275 more than the set!

While I'm here, however, I have a question regarding (possibly the SVM- -Of which I wish I could dissconnect, but CC threw in a 5 year warranty for nothing and they said it would void the extended warranty if done so).

You see, we watch a great number of Laserdiscs as well as DVD's.
But first, the set-up: Pioneer LD-S9 into the Iscan via S-Vid, Denon 2200 via "pass-thru" (effectively creating a second component input...)

Now here's the problem: When watching either hi-res (well 480P anyway) source (16:9) containing nearly (or completely) all bright white, the upper left hand edge of the screen "pulls"- -That is, it seems as if the set loses "sync" with the EXTERNAL video source. Now here's the interesting part: When watching either the built-in ATSC tuner or the HD DirecTv tuner and an ultra bright white image is displayed (16:9), it doesn't exhibit this anomaly. Otherwise, LD's as well as DVD's, can look fantastic.

Any ideas?

-Sam

PS: I have calibrated the set according to the Avia DVD and Video Essentials Laserdisc.

tpgaffney

02-17-05, 04:57 PM

4yrs and had the caps and turner replaced by BB. Time for another 4 years warranty.

locomo

02-21-05, 04:12 PM

YX5 (thought it was a YX4) bought open box at CC in June '03 averaging 5 hours a day.
Caps/diode replaced by RCA, within a year of buying. Bought a 3 year CC extended warranty only because of the cap/diode problem.
At the time it was either this or the 40" Sony 4:3 TV, but that seems to be having more problems than ours.
Still plan on changing out the fans for some quiet PanaFlo's one of these days, but only notice the noise when the TV's not on.
Recently hooked up an upconverting Zenith 318 DVD player, but still tweaking.
lo

eskimo2176

03-07-05, 07:06 AM

Hey guys...

Mine died about 3 months ago. I went to the dark side, and now I am the proud owner of a Panasonic LCD RP.

jackcs

04-27-06, 01:30 PM

Bought mine Aug 2001
Still going strong
HD shows have finally caught up.

Mr.Victor

04-28-06, 01:49 PM

The flyback transformer on mine is emitting a high-pitched whine, sometimes, when the HD channels are on. The quote to replace the circuit board its on is about $700. I can usually get rid of the whine with a little time and effort. Based upon the collective wisdom of the group, how much longer before it completely dies?