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Worf101
02-18-2010, 07:29 AM
As some might know, in an effort to "keep peace" in the house I've two HT hookups. One downstairs with the 52-inch Sammy and the Onkyo 905. And a second system ustairs anchored around a 42-inch Westinghouse LCD and a Onkyo 607. Yesterday I was watching some classic war movies on TCM when my son, Los Knucklehead, mosey's up stairs to watch more sports.

He comes down 15 minutes later to hit the books. This strikes me as odd, Ian doesn't do homework during mid winter break unless I've a gun, a whip AND a chair. I ask whazzup he tells me that "there's sound but no video" coming through the upstairs system. Curious I head upstairs to see what's what. Sure'n than chit he's right. This is something I've never encountered before. So I panic. Instead of using the process of elmination to determine what the problem is I start ripping and running and replacing stuff.

1. I assumed (wrongly) that the cable box was acting up. Replaced it with a new unit from Time Warner. Problem persists.

2. Tried adjusting set-up of Onkyo 607 to no avail. During the process lost both viden AND sound.

3. Tried elminating the 607, which I was beginning to believe was faulty, but running the DVD direct to the TV produced no video either.

4. Stumped I gave up and went to the internet. After about an hour I found out the culprit. The Westinghouse LCD in question.

Seems the Westinghouse LCD I got cheap (every good buy ain't a bargain and every bargain ain't a good buy) has HDMI issues. On some sets they just quit. The models discontinued and the company has NO tech support to speak of so.... I was thinking I was screwed. One poster did say that he got the HDMI ports to start working again by unplugging the set and rebooting it. In desperation I tried this and voila success. However I'm sure it's gonna be only a temp solution. With selling my old HDTV the Westy'd only cost me $400 to begin with, I doubt it's even worth fixing when it does go. The idea of disposable LCD's sticks in my craw.

Worf

poppachubby
02-18-2010, 08:02 AM
Rough. I don't have HDMI as my set is old school, although still a nice Sony IMO. My impression is you get what you pay for with the LCD's. I've been told that the lesser brands use the same tech, but have almost no QA in the factory. As an industry worker, I can tell you that's bad news. Either way sorry to hear Worf...

GMichael
02-18-2010, 08:11 AM
Can your Onkyo output via component cables?

kexodusc
02-18-2010, 09:25 AM
Worf,

You might not be at a total loss...a lot of HDMI issues are software/firmware related, not hardware...often the stuff doesn't die, it just....buggers up real nice. Memorize the reboot process and you may be fine, if not a little inconvenienced.

The component out might be a good idea too if it comes to it.
Here's hoping for a pain free recovery.

Sir Terrence the Terrible
02-18-2010, 09:41 AM
Worf, I am sorry to hear about your issue, but I am glad you posted it.

Westinghouse, Apex, Vizio, Olevia, Polariod, and Insignia are brands you should stay far, far away from just for the issues of QC that you mention here. Aside from Vizio, none of these brands have customer service department, and none of these brands have in house design teams, manufacturering plants, internal part supplies, or any form of support structure whatsoever. When things go wrong, there is often nothing you can really do.

http://gizmodo.com/5111747/why-you-shouldnt-buy-off+brand-tvs

http://gizmodo.com/5108151/cheap-hdtv-battlemodo-the-best-sets-under-900

http://hdguru.com/will-you-pay-a-price-by-purchasing-a-tier-three-hdtv/325/

bfalls
02-18-2010, 01:54 PM
I've had the same issue with my Dishnetwork Vip622 HD receiver. Every so often when changing channels, or going back to broadcast after watching a recorded program, the sound would go away. The first time it spooked me, but after a power cycle of the receiver all returned to normal. It's happened maybe 4 times over the past 7 months.

pixelthis
02-18-2010, 02:00 PM
As some might know, in an effort to "keep peace" in the house I've two HT hookups. One downstairs with the 52-inch Sammy and the Onkyo 905. And a second system ustairs anchored around a 42-inch Westinghouse LCD and a Onkyo 607. Yesterday I was watching some classic war movies on TCM when my son, Los Knucklehead, mosey's up stairs to watch more sports.

He comes down 15 minutes later to hit the books. This strikes me as odd, Ian doesn't do homework during mid winter break unless I've a gun, a whip AND a chair. I ask whazzup he tells me that "there's sound but no video" coming through the upstairs system. Curious I head upstairs to see what's what. Sure'n than chit he's right. This is something I've never encountered before. So I panic. Instead of using the process of elmination to determine what the problem is I start ripping and running and replacing stuff.

1. I assumed (wrongly) that the cable box was acting up. Replaced it with a new unit from Time Warner. Problem persists.

2. Tried adjusting set-up of Onkyo 607 to no avail. During the process lost both viden AND sound.

3. Tried elminating the 607, which I was beginning to believe was faulty, but running the DVD direct to the TV produced no video either.

4. Stumped I gave up and went to the internet. After about an hour I found out the culprit. The Westinghouse LCD in question.

Seems the Westinghouse LCD I got cheap (every good buy ain't a bargain and every bargain ain't a good buy) has HDMI issues. On some sets they just quit. The models discontinued and the company has NO tech support to speak of so.... I was thinking I was screwed. One poster did say that he got the HDMI ports to start working again by unplugging the set and rebooting it. In desperation I tried this and voila success. However I'm sure it's gonna be only a temp solution. With selling my old HDTV the Westy'd only cost me $400 to begin with, I doubt it's even worth fixing when it does go. The idea of disposable LCD's sticks in my craw.

Worf


I beleive thats EL knucklehead.
SO THE WESTY uses cheap procs?
So what?
So you have to reboot the processor (or clear the memory) every once in awhile?
TOO MUCH EFFORT to get off the couch, eh?.
MORE THAN LIKELY its a version problem.
I wouldnt worry about it.
BTW in this age of computers masqurading as everything from TV sets to CD players,
the first thing you do is "reboot" the sucker.
Especially with a cable box, receiver, or anything that is chip intensive.:1:

BadAssJazz
02-18-2010, 02:50 PM
The silver lining...you now have an excuse to replace the flatscreen. Add another $200 to what you spent on the Westinghouse LCD (short for "Los Crappy Displays") and you're back in business!!!

winston
02-18-2010, 08:06 PM
hey worf" sorry bout your LCD man!! hope the rebooting hold up...that will save you from (taking the mattress $$$ apart??!!) he-he" good luck.

Worf101
02-19-2010, 05:51 AM
Live and learn as they say. Interesting articles there Sir TtT. I learned alot about "tier three" LCD's. Of course I'd learned the same thing years about about computer monitors but I've never had one try and crap out on me before. In the old days you knew when a CRT was going on you. You had time to prepare before the ghastly white line or blip to black. With these LCD's it's kinda like "poof" here this morning gone this afternoon. Still this is the first non-Samsung TV I've bought since my old Sharp 19-incher back in the day. The Sharp was a great set too, I'd still have it but it was stolen off the street when I was moving.

Well, the temporary patch is holding. I'll see if there's a firmware upgrade I can snag. Thanks again for the love folks.

Worf

pixelthis
02-19-2010, 01:00 PM
Live and learn as they say. Interesting articles there Sir TtT. I learned alot about "tier three" LCD's. Of course I'd learned the same thing years about about computer monitors but I've never had one try and crap out on me before. In the old days you knew when a CRT was going on you. You had time to prepare before the ghastly white line or blip to black. With these LCD's it's kinda like "poof" here this morning gone this afternoon. Still this is the first non-Samsung TV I've bought since my old Sharp 19-incher back in the day. The Sharp was a great set too, I'd still have it but it was stolen off the street when I was moving.

Well, the temporary patch is holding. I'll see if there's a firmware upgrade I can snag. Thanks again for the love folks.

Worf

ITS NOT a "temporary" patch.
Its a fact of life in the computer driven world.
ITS TEMPORARY LIKE REBOOTING YOUR COMPUTER IS TEMPORARY.
Just the cost of doing business, don't let it bother you.
WHAT surprizes me is that it hasnt happened to you before.:1:

GMichael
02-19-2010, 02:02 PM
ITS NOT a "temporary" patch.
Its a fact of life in the computer driven world.
ITS TEMPORARY LIKE REBOOTING YOUR COMPUTER IS TEMPORARY.
Just the cost of doing business, don't let it bother you.
WHAT surprizes me is that it hasnt happened to you before.:1:
After 4 years, I've never had to reboot either of my projectors.

Sir Terrence the Terrible
02-20-2010, 07:57 AM
ITS NOT a "temporary" patch.
Its a fact of life in the computer driven world.
ITS TEMPORARY LIKE REBOOTING YOUR COMPUTER IS TEMPORARY.
Just the cost of doing business, don't let it bother you.
WHAT surprizes me is that it hasnt happened to you before.:1:

Perhaps this is the first time he has purchased a budget product, something you do all of the time. You are used to putting band-aids on poorly made products, he isn't.

I have 4 HD DVD players, never had to reboot.

I have a 60" Kuros, a 55" Sony Bravia Pro, a 52" Bravia XBR 10, and 4 PS3, and never had to reboot them. So perhaps it is not a fact of life after all, but nothing more than another patch on a QC hole.

pixelthis
02-20-2010, 09:21 AM
Perhaps this is the first time he has purchased a budget product, something you do all of the time. You are used to putting band-aids on poorly made products, he isn't.

I have 4 HD DVD players, never had to reboot.

I have a 60" Kuros, a 55" Sony Bravia Pro, a 52" Bravia XBR 10, and 4 PS3, and never had to reboot them. So perhaps it is not a fact of life after all, but nothing more than another patch on a QC hole.

I have never had to reboot anything either, except for a yamaha receiver .
Always looking for a chance to brag on your probably non-existent gear.
And QC HOLE?
Speaking of holes, how about sticking your toung in a light socket, might help if you "reboot" that tiny brain of yours.
pUT A "BANDAID ON THAT:1:

Sir Terrence the Terrible
02-20-2010, 09:29 AM
I have never had to reboot anything either, except for a yamaha receiver .
Always looking for a chance to brag on your probably non-existent gear.
And QC HOLE?
Speaking of holes, how about sticking your toung in a light socket, might help if you "reboot" that tiny brain of yours.
pUT A "BANDAID ON THAT:1:


Your jealously is making you :out:

pixelthis
02-20-2010, 09:32 AM
Your jealously is making you :out:

Jealouse of what?
And what is your excuse for being :out:

:1:

ForeverAutumn
02-20-2010, 09:24 PM
WHAT surprizes me is that it hasnt happened to you before.:1:


I have never had to reboot anything either, except for a yamaha receiver .

I'm curious. Why are you surprised it's never happened to Worf before and call it a "fact of life", if you've never had to reboot anything yourself? On what experience do you base this "fact of life"?

Sir Terrence the Terrible
02-21-2010, 08:53 AM
I'm curious. Why are you surprised it's never happened to Worf before and call it a "fact of life", if you've never had to reboot anything yourself? On what experience do you base this "fact of life"?

Hell, he doesn't know. This is just another one of his knee jerk talking from the @ss comments. He does it all of the time, and it is getting old as heck. Besides, he is a lover of tier 3 televisions, and defends them like a rabid dog.

Sir Terrence the Terrible
02-21-2010, 08:57 AM
Jealouse of what?
And what is your excuse for being :out:

:1:

I have to deal with you. Its enough to drive anyone insane.

In the Grinch that stole Christmas(Jim Carrey), the Grinch was in his cave talking to himself. He yells out "I'm a idiot", and it reverberates all through the cave. You do that same thing here. You yell "Pix is an idiot" and it reverberates all up through these forums.

winston
02-21-2010, 10:09 AM
I have to deal with you. Its enough to drive anyone insane.

In the Grinch that stole Christmas(Jim Carrey), the Grinch was in his cave talking to himself. He yells out "I'm a idiot", and it reverberates all through the cave. You do that same thing here. You yell "Pix is an idiot" and it reverberates all up through these forums.
"ouch ouch" :smilewinkgrin:

pixelthis
02-21-2010, 11:14 AM
I'm curious. Why are you surprised it's never happened to Worf before and call it a "fact of life", if you've never had to reboot anything yourself? On what experience do you base this "fact of life"?

my cable box has to reboot all the time, for upgrades.
Look on the instructions for any receiver, or other proccessor intensive product.
There is a routine for rebooting if it gets stuck.
As components get more complicated, reboots are going to become more common.
Sometimes your gear is rebooting, and you dont even realize it.
My old Sony Blu player would just restart sometimes.
Like I said, a fact of life:1:

Worf101
02-21-2010, 01:26 PM
Man what a rough crowd!!!.. I've had to reboot cable boxes and cable modems in the past, as well as numerous computers and laptops but NEVER an LCD. What I forgot was that HDMI is a "two way street". You can get sound for a while BUT if the video portions down even the sound will stop after a while. Took me awhile to realize that and once I rebooted I got the sound AND the picture back. I never thought the Westy was anything more than it was/is just didn't know that these things part of the package. I just thank god I've friends here that can steer me straight and a place to share my miniscule knowledge. Despite the spats and feuds, I love this place.

Worf

Wireworm5
03-07-2010, 06:27 PM
Live and learn as they say. Interesting articles there Sir TtT. I learned alot about "tier three" LCD's. Of course I'd learned the same thing years about about computer monitors but I've never had one try and crap out on me before. In the old days you knew when a CRT was going on you. You had time to prepare before the ghastly white line or blip to black. With these LCD's it's kinda like "poof" here this morning gone this afternoon. Still this is the first non-Samsung TV I've bought since my old Sharp 19-incher back in the day. The Sharp was a great set too, I'd still have it but it was stolen off the street when I was moving.

Well, the temporary patch is holding. I'll see if there's a firmware upgrade I can snag. Thanks again for the love folks.

Worf

Hey my friend picked a Sharp TV off the street years ago when he was visiting the States. I dunno where he was. Anyway it had a problem of shutting of when it heated up. A cheap repair and it worked like a charm for many years. I really liked that TV cause it had all the hookups in the back that I wanted.

I can't remember what happened to the TV don't have it anymore. I think I gave it to someone.

dakatabg
03-07-2010, 08:34 PM
Hey my friend picked a Sharp TV off the street years ago when he was visiting the States.

I know a dude who found Cerwin Vega and Scott speakers by the garbage! He refoamed them and I guess he is still using them! Both speakers had 12" woofers so it was a great find. I wish I can find stuff like that on the garbage those days!

pixelthis
03-08-2010, 12:39 PM
I know a dude who found Cerwin Vega and Scott speakers by the garbage! He refoamed them and I guess he is still using them! Both speakers had 12" woofers so it was a great find. I wish I can find stuff like that on the garbage those days!

DEFINE "great".
What, his car needed some speakers on the package shelf?
One thing about those Cerwins, they were the right price.
NOW I have been falsely accused of "slamming" others gear on this board from time to time.
But its not like Cerwin Vegas count, its not like they actually produce music.
Or anything.:1: