Sorry for starting a new thread on this well-established issue, but I'm seeking advice from those who own an RCA F38310 and have experienced edge distortion and have had it successfully repaired.

--When playing a progressive scan DVD through the component input the left and right edges are distorted, giving the image a rather "fish-eyed" appearance. It is most noticable when the camera pans. It is only present in the component input. If I switch off the progressive scan and watch a DVD through the S-video input the image is uniform from edge to edge.--

I know some who own this set have had this problem and some haven't. I recently purchased an extended warranty through Circuit City, solely to address this problem. But when the technician came to look at the set, it was obvious he didn't see a problem. He is going to have his manager come to take a look, but it is my suspicion that they are going to take the position that it is just something this TV does, and they are only required to bring the set back to factory specifications. In short, quit being anal and get used to it. When I read to him the posts from this site that addressed this issue, and stated its fix, he said that it was unlikely to fix the problem since it is only on one input.

In addition, when I called Thompson, they did not have this problem in their database. The assistant stated that an RCA certified technician might have more access to information. But with my service plan Circuit City sends their own guys.

So I have a couple questions.

Has any owner of this TV had this problem and had it successfully repaired? If so, what was replaced or repaired?

Could it be my Zenith progressive scan DVD player? I suppose I could track down someone else that has a progressive scan DVD player, but that is going to be hassle that I wish to avoid if it won't be useful.

Thank you for your indulgence.
Robert Goodrich

>>it was unlikely to fix the problem since it is only on one input.

I was always concerned about that since you and I started discussing this privately. Are you sure this isn't simply a format option such as stretch mode? I would think the tech would have mentioned or thought of that. You should see it with HD as well if it is the failure in our database.

Anybody?


Richard F. Fisher
Mastertech Repair Corporation, Lawrenceville, GA
770-513-3987 E-Mail - help@mastertechtv.com
Have you been calibrated? ISF and HAA Trained
Factory Authorized
Mitsubishi, Hitachi, Toshiba, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, NAD

It most certainly isn't the stretch mode. In fact, the F38310 does not offer an alternative aspect ratio in component input (which is an absolute pain when viewing a 4:3 movie). A circle is a circle. This I am absolutely sure of.

That is why I mentioned the possiblity of it being my DVD player. After I track down another progressive scan player and hook it up I'll report my results.

I was drawn to the fix noted on this site simply because it represented my problem so accurately. But as I stated, when I watch a DVD through s-video the geometry of the image is perfect. I honestly don't think I would notice that great a difference between s-video and component, but I certainly would miss the progressive scan, as it virtually eliminates motion artifacts and scan lines.

I hope it's the DVD player because I could get another for less than the extended warranty (which I can cancel with a full refund within the next two weeks). As anyone who loves quality images appreciates, when you know there's a problem with your picture you just can't take your eyes off it and enjoy the movie.

I too am going through the same run around with my RCA F38310 and Edge distortion.
I have found the distortion both on DVD's through my Progressive scan unit which plugs into the component in jack and also my Cablevision SA 4200HD box which also plugs into the component in ( I use a splitter to do this.
My OTA HDTV channel (CBS) through the internal RCS HDTV tuner seems fine I am pretty sure.
Circuit City through whom I have the extended warrentee doesnt have a clue although I did mention to them that a well know repairer down south (Richard) has indeed repaired this problem (at least I thought that's what Richard had said in prior posts).

Keep me in the loop please!

BTW other than this distortion nuisance I am happy with the set.

Thanks

Jeff

I am not having the same problem as you have been having but my problem is alittle different.
The picture from time to time will get wavy/distortion in the upper left hand corner of the screen. It does this for awhile and then quits. I don't know what to think about it.

It is a refurbished set.
Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks.................

>>(Richard) has indeed repaired this problem

I have not repaired this but have seen it during calibration. In my case it was in all modes with all sources.

Richard F. Fisher
Mastertech Repair Corporation, Lawrenceville, GA
770-513-3987 E-Mail - help@mastertechtv.com
Have you been calibrated? ISF and HAA Trained
Factory Authorized
Mitsubishi, Hitachi, Toshiba, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, NAD

Richard,

As so many of us are calling and being told that there is no ongoing file for this problem, do you remember who you called that told you there was a fix and even offered a part number?

You are missing the point...

"In my case it was in all modes with all sources."

That does not fit your problem. Sorry.

Oh well, fellow owners of the F38310. It sure looks like we're on our own. We did the right thing and called tech support, posted on this forum, tried different inputs, substituted components...

I suppose all we can do now is if anyone manages to get it fixed post the service proceedure for everyone else.

But until then, just try not to look at it. Really, its not there. Just watch the movie.

I dont know if this is pertinent but from what I have read on other threads they buy this tube from Loewe, the same as the Aconda and it also has edge distortion problems.

I don't have this RCA, and I am not a tech, so take this comment in the category of a"Brain Storming" idea where one idea that is wrong may suggest a better one. Richard is the expert.

I had to have the 3 picture guns replaced under warranty in my rear projection. After the new install, there was a pincushion distortion that caused the picture to curve in at each of the four corners creating a fisheye effect, that sounds like what you describe. The service guy called up a grid from the service menu which showed these curved lines and using the service adjustments got everything square again.

If this is pincushion distortion, maybe you could have the basic picture pincushon setup adjusted just a little " out of square" in the opposite direction as your distortion to compensate for the distortion, without messing up other modes too much. Just a thought, since you seem to be out off ideas, and this may not even be related to your problem
Don

Thank you Don,

Unfortunately, this set does not have geometry adjustments.

(If I'm incorrect, someone please post the service codes.)

You do have the DVD player setup for a 16:9 display rather than a 4:3 display?

<If I'm incorrect, someone please post the service codes.)>
I am assuming this set uses Cathode ray tubes, so they usually have adjustments for height, width, pincushion and others. Even a grid for the service convergence (not the user controled one) might work by adjusting the red,green,blue convergence in the corners.

This not a "user" adjustment. But a trained service tech with the right manuals would know the codes. I would be afraid of really screwing it up to try it myself. But the tech needs to know what you want him to do.

Also have you tried a DVD like Joe Kane's "Video Essentials to feed in a grid pattern from DVD to see how things look? If the lines curve you could see how various settings affect it. This DVD has a bunch of test patterns.

To the question two above:
There is no stupid question. But no, the component input only displays 16:9.

To the question one above:
I will purchase one soon. Probably the Avia. But I do have a copy of Monters Inc. which has a grid pattern as part of the THX adjustments menu. Unfortunatley, the last line is off the screen, so I can't see how wide the box is compared to the adjacent ones. This has led me to be tempted to "artificially matte" the left and right side with a piece of black tape (It is really only the last inch on both sides that shows distortion). I know many of you have fallen off your chairs, but when I view a movie in the S-video input it has slightly more overscan, and that part of the picture is lost anyway.

Again, correct me if I'm wrong, but I have heard that this television does not have a service mode in which to adjust geometry. I have adjusted another television, and feel comfortable doing it (having written down meticulously the original settings). But if anyone has contrary information please let me know.

>>To the question two above:
There is no stupid question. But no, the component input only displays 16:9.

The component input will display whatever format you feed it. Is the DVD player set for a 16:9 display? AS for service codes have you considered ordering the manual?

Donshan,

You are talking about RPTV not direct view.

<Donshan,

You are talking about RPTV not direct view.>

Yes RPTV and I am in over my head and should have stayted out of this discussion, so correct my stupidity where called for.

However I did remember the fish eye effect when the service tech installed the the new guns and it was what I call pincushion curved lines.

When he left after 2 hours of adjustments he left me the service manual instructions for the Service Menu convergence ajdustments, since there were 5 modes to do and he did not take the time to do them all precisely. I found I still had a curved picture in the Corners that I was able to straighten out by calling up the Service grid and adjusting the Red, Green, Blue portions of the lines to straighten them in the corners. I noticed there were height/width adjustments too and touched them up a bit in one mode.
End of File of total memory info on subject
Don

Since I straightened the curves I had it seemed possible to intentionally create curved lines in the opposite direction this way, but this may be irrelevant to the problem here and not a good idea.

>>so correct my stupidity where called for.

Stupidity? Never! Ignorance? Naive and innocent ignorance is fully allowed and dare I say expected. There is so much info out there and ALL of us are susceptible to not knowing enough. Now if you choose to be ignorant then, well, you are definitely on the wrong forum.

Richard.

I am always learning. I define an expert as one who has finally made every mistake possible in his field and learned how to prevent them all.

I should comment I wish I had a competent person with the right equipment to do a calibration on my Toshiba. The repair I referred to was scheduled by Toshiba Main office over a burn-in issue I won't belabor here(I won), and the shop sent a guy who had never worked on a Toshiba and he had only serviced 2 Mitsu. HD sets before mine . We still have a ways to go here in tech training. I have called a couple of places and was told that HD sets simply take too much time to work on to train someone and buy the test gear. So I was and still am on my own. I hope it may be better today than 2 years ago, but my picture is great now.
You do good in your field!

>>I define an expert as one who has finally made every mistake possible in his field and learned how to prevent them all.

LOL - still working on EVERY mistake possible.

As for your service issues I am sorry to hear that. Sounds like you are having a tough time finding someone who understands general electronics. All an HDTV is, is a TV that runs at a different scan rate than an NTSC TV. That's all. No big deal. But... IT IS NEW. DEAR LORD FORBID! Better go hide behind the bushes.

Seriously, it's just another TV. The only thing that makes them difficult is having a generator that can run all the different scan rates and understanding that there may be more than one convergence alignment.

I would suspect that in your area they are having a tough time fixing just the regular TV's.

One further comment which is sort of relevant to the issue of getting picture distortion corrected.

Richard>I would suspect that in your area they are having a tough time fixing just the regular TV's.<

No, the tech I had was quite familiar with regular big screen RP TV's, and replaced the picture guns quite competently, including the curved line distortion and convergence in the first picture mode. The problems came up when he was ready to leave and I tested the OTHER 5 picture modes in this HD set and they were all still totally out of convergence with horrible, distorted pictures. He was suprised by having to do more than one convergence on a TV set, and had to call the shop to say he would not be back and that Toshiba did not pay enough for this amount of work. He stayed till 5:30pm trying to get the curves out of the rest of the modes. In particular there is a "Theater wide" mode that has the same width, but has three different heights. This was a sad comedy of the blind leading the blind. I am still not sure this is set up correctly and I found myself reading the service manual to him since it was not clear as to what height was correct for each mode and we had infinite choices. I thought these 3 picture ratios should match various standard movie size ratios(???). Even after he spent almost 5 hours, I was left with many more hours getting the lines really straight (I used a string plum bob) and the red,green,blue convergence precisely on to make white lines their entire length. As a first time customer of HDTV I felt let down. I have a technical background , but I was in too deep. Further. I asked about him coming back to address the adjacent channel selectivity tuning issue in my Toshiba DST 3000, with me paying the bill, and he said they didn't know anything about digital tuners.

Clearly I am not an expert yet, and never will be.

>>He was suprised by having to do more than one convergence on a TV set

That was an ignorant statement on his part or a good acting job.

>>, and had to call the shop to say he would not be back and that Toshiba did not pay enough for this amount of work.

That, unfortunately, is true. I have spent hours myself setting one of these old dogs up. BTW, it is a great display - just a pain due to the way they handled all the formats. BTW, we only perfected the theater wide mode necessary for non-enhanced widescreen DVD's so I did not do all theater wide modes - this was a COD repair.

>>Even after he spent almost 5 hours, I was left with many more hours getting the lines really straight (I used a string plum bob) and the red,green,blue convergence precisely on to make white lines their entire length.

Toshiba supports convergence templates. You put it on the screen and match your green to it and then converge red and blue to the green. It would appear he didn't know about this or didn't want to mention it to you. That is unfortunate since using this method yields the fastest and most accurate convergence and geometry.