Distortion when watching DVDs

[WalksInDarkness]

Hi All,

This might be related to my other thread, but it seems different than my DirecTV issue.

I recently noticed another weird thing, specific to watching DVDs. If there is any object that is black on screen, and if it (or something near it) is moving, then I get all kinds of bright white pixels showing up in the black area. When the motion stops, the problem stops. And it only shows up on black.

This one does not reproduce reliably, so I might not be able to show it to a repair tech.

Anyone ever see this problem before?

TIA,
Will

[snowmoon]

What display / What DVD player / how are they attached / any other pertinent ifnormation ?

[WalksInDarkness]

[QUOTE=snowmoon]What display / What DVD player / how are they attached / any other pertinent ifnormation ?[/QUOTE]

Sorry about that, here is the system:

Display - Toshiba 42" Plasma Enhanced Definition (1 year old)
DVD Player - Samsung DVD & RAM player/recorder (2 years old)
Connection - Component cables (monster)

If that is not enough info, I can try to look up the model # when I get home.

The weird thing is that the two problems only showed up in the last couple of weeks, with no changes to the system. The other problem I have is a "snow" like effect, which seems to concentrate in the corners, while watching DirecTV via TiVO.

I am guessing my plasma is going wacky?

TIA,
Will

[snowmoon]

Two things come to mind.

1) Plasma is going off it's rocker.

2) Electrical interference.

I might have also listed oxidizing cables, but it's also affecting TiVo.

[WalksInDarkness]

[QUOTE=snowmoon]Two things come to mind.

1) Plasma is going off it's rocker.

2) Electrical interference.

I might have also listed oxidizing cables, but it's also affecting TiVo.[/QUOTE]

I am afraid that it might be #1 too, since it popped up out of nowhere.

I was wondering about possibility #2. The only recent changes I have made are a higher powered subwoofer, but I have tried unplugging it with no change. I also upgraded the speakers, and the Center Channel (which sits 1" above the TV) is twice a big as the old one; but it is supposed to be shielded for Home Theater use (so I doubt it's that, but I might try moving it).

Since both problems come and go, I am waiting for a more consistent problem before calling a service tech. But now I am in a race against time, as I only have about a month left in the warranty! ugh...

[snowmoon]

#2 could be anything else that shares that half of the breakre panel in the basement...

new/old fridge? microwave? furnace?

[snowmoon]

[QUOTE=WalksInDarkness]Could this interference be caused by an appliance starting to go bad? Like say a refridgerator was starting to have problems that were not immediately apparent, could that cause interference in the houses wiring?

TIA,
Will[/QUOTE]

Yes, when you see it again try and see if there are is some other device running ( fridge compressor, circualtor, ... ). Motors are the #1 reason, but there could be others.

[WalksInDarkness]

[QUOTE=snowmoon]#2 could be anything else that shares that half of the breakre panel in the basement...

new/old fridge? microwave? furnace?[/QUOTE]

Nothing new has been added. But I did think of one more thing, my HT reciever is new (although it is nearly the exact same model reciever), but the problem happens even when it is shut off (but I will try unplugging it completely).

Could this interference be caused by an appliance starting to go bad? Like say a refridgerator was starting to have problems that were not immediately apparent, could that cause interference in the houses wiring?

TIA,
Will

[WalksInDarkness]

I also tried unplugging the new reciever, but that had no effect on the problem.

The only appliances that are powered up sporadically might be the dryer and dishwasher. So I will have to experiment if either (or a combination of both) might be causing this issue. But I would be baffled as to why, as there was no problem for the past year.

Has anyone had a similar problem, and solved it with one of those fancy "Power Conditioning" units like Monster makes?

TIA,
Will