Problems with Panasonic's new 60 series

[HomeTheatreMaven]

Right out of the box I have a slight but annoying problem with my brand new TH50PX60U. Problem is, it's an intermittent problem.

When I tune to ABC HD, sometimes I see a tiny bit of noise at the very top of the screen. As you know, ABC broadcasts HD in 720p. With widescreen HD material, I haven't seen any noise. But when they broadcast SD material, or HD material in the 4:3 format, I occasionally see the noise.

If I switch the SA8300HD to output 1080i, the noise goes away (but then I'm not displaying in native resolution). It appears that VPOS (?) is slightly off in the 720p setting of the tv.

I have not observed this problem in any other mode, but I just got the tv so haven't looked at a lot of other material.

Has anyone else observed this or other problems with their new 60 series?

[Elemental1]

I just read in another thread about something like this. It seems the service menu can fix it. :)

[dsmith901]

Sounds like you just need to adjust the screen position. Are you using a cable box? If so, that may need adjusting also, especially on SD channels that are actually analog - I have seen that before. One solution is to split the cable signal and use the TV tuner for analog channels and the STB for digital channels only. Usually the PQ is better on analog channels using that approach anyway. That is basically what I do with my 42PA25U. You may be able to adjust the screen yourself using a Digital Video Essentials setup DVD or something similar. Not sure how to get to the hidden menu on your model.

[HomeTheatreMaven]

[QUOTE=dsmith901]Sounds like you just need to adjust the screen position. Are you using a cable box? If so, that may need adjusting also, especially on SD channels that are actually analog - I have seen that before. One solution is to split the cable signal and use the TV tuner for analog channels and the STB for digital channels only. Usually the PQ is better on analog channels using that approach anyway. That is basically what I do with my 42PA25U. You may be able to adjust the screen yourself using a Digital Video Essentials setup DVD or something similar. Not sure how to get to the hidden menu on your model.[/QUOTE]

The problem is only with the digital channel ABC HD, which can't be received OTA. I don't think there's a problem with the HD DVR. If I could get into the service menu, I would.

Someone suggested the problem might lie with the local ABC HD broadcast and not the tv.

[sdjdguy]

[QUOTE=dsmith901]Sounds like you just need to adjust the screen position. Are you using a cable box? If so, that may need adjusting also, especially on SD channels that are actually analog - I have seen that before. One solution is to split the cable signal and use the TV tuner for analog channels and the STB for digital channels only. Usually the PQ is better on analog channels using that approach anyway. That is basically what I do with my 42PA25U. You may be able to adjust the screen yourself using a Digital Video Essentials setup DVD or something similar. Not sure how to get to the hidden menu on your model.[/QUOTE]

How exactly do you recommend splitting the signal? I have Cox Cable and the SA 8300HD box. In other words, how could I set it up so that the TV's tuner is being used only for analog channels (1-99) and the box for all the digitals and HD channels?

[technofan]

[QUOTE=HomeTheatreMaven]The problem is only with the digital channel ABC HD, which can't be received OTA. I don't think there's a problem with the HD DVR. If I could get into the service menu, I would.

Someone suggested the problem might lie with the local ABC HD broadcast and not the tv.[/QUOTE]
If the problems is only one channel its the signal source. I have 2 HDTVs on 2 Comcast boxes, one with DVR. Last week the LCD project TV with DVR box start freezing the picture on HD ABC intermittently. I thought its the box until I see the same problem with my plasma connected by the older HD motorola box. Comcast is constantly working with its signal stream and problems crops up intermittently!

[HomeTheatreMaven]

I did a new test. I attached a cheap rabbit-ear antenna to the antenna input of the 50PX60U, via a coax cable. Then I tuned to the ABC HD station using the antenna and voila, no noise. Switched back to the SA8300HD component input and the noise was there.

So it was the PVR that is causing the noise, not the station. I feel so much better! :p

[zman5225]

I have a Panny 50px500u and the cox dvr does the exact same thing to mine on the same channel. I know you already did a test of it, but i'm just confirming what you've already confirmed for yourself.

Jack

[RandyWalters]

I had this "problem" for a long time, first with my 32" HD-ready Tube TV, and now with my 26" LCD and 42" Plasma, and only happens on some HD channels when watching 4:3/non-HD programming. It seems to be the worst on my plasma but that's because it has minimal overscan (like 2%) compared to the LCD and former Tube TV which have more overscan. My LCD is currently set up right next to my Plasma and sometimes i can see it on both TVs, and others i can see it only on the Plasma but not the LCD on the same channel (both connected via HDMI) so the Panny's minimal overscan is partially to blame. This line is more hidden by the other TVs.

Sometimes it's coming from the broadcaster itself because some commercials will have this upper line while the next one does not. It happens with my TWC 3510HD, my SA8000HD, and my SA8300HD whether they're connected via Component or HDMI.

[Elemental1]

Well....it was interesting today choosing between a 50PX60u and a 50PX500u.
There was something about the 60u, beyond the cosmetics, that just made me say no. I know people keep saying don't go by the feed in a store but the 500u just looked better all the way around. The 60u had some real issues with noise and I don't think it is due to the source. Maybe I should have gone for the 8UK but I am tired of looking and it was go time. I think for a first plasma, a 50PX500u is not a bad choice. :)

[plazman]

[QUOTE=Elemental1]Well....it was interesting today choosing between a 50PX60u and a 50PX500u.
There was something about the 60u, beyond the cosmetics, that just made me say no. I know people keep saying don't go by the feed in a store but the 500u just looked better all the way around. The 60u had some real issues with noise and I don't think it is due to the source. Maybe I should have gone for the 8UK but I am tired of looking and it was go time. I think for a first plasma, a 50PX500u is not a bad choice. :)[/QUOTE]
------------------------

Panny sould have put the 60U electronics and glass on the 500U frame, I am wondering why they didn't do it, especially since the new 600 series is totally redesigned :rolleyes:

Did you ever get a chance to see an 8UK in person?

[Elemental1]

[QUOTE=plazman]------------------------

Panny sould have put the 60U electronics and glass on the 500U frame, I am wondering why they didn't do it, especially since the new 600 series is totally redesigned :rolleyes:

Did you ever get a chance to see an 8UK in person?[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately not. I think it would have been a possible better choice.
Yes, that would have been nice...600 internals with 500u looks :eek:
I think it's all about the bottom line and, just like Pioneer and the nice cosmetics they use, it is not a money maker these days. Quick, simple and cheap seems like the future of Plasmas... :eek:
Pretty soon the consumer won't even know how nice Plasma cosmetics USED to look :D

[TyTimp]

This has been covered a million times. It is the same with the 50/500 series. Short answer, you can't get rid of it unless the 60/600 series allow you to adjust the overscan. Simple solution, don't watch 4:3 shows on HD channels.

[ininja]

i have a different problem and wonder if any one else experience it. My th50px60u cannot hold channels. ABC seems to be the only station i have the problem with now. Every time i change the channel to abc13, it automatically take me to channel 2 in 3 seconds. When i go back and look for abc13, it missing and become abc32. ?? what gives? It will remain at abc32 but will later become abc13 (when i turn on the tv next time). =(

[optivity]

[QUOTE=TyTimp]This has been covered a million times. It is the same with the 50/500 series. Short answer, you can't get rid of it unless the 60/600 series allow you to adjust the overscan. Simple solution, don't watch 4:3 shows on HD channels.[/QUOTE]Yup, the same problem exists on my 50PX50U, crappy cable box, crappy content provider.