Video projector TV is sick, please help

[sundevil777 102]

It is a Sony 8 year old big ass projector style. It is 8 years old.

Suddenly now the picture is all messed up with the different colors slightly offset from each other - kinda looks like a 3D movie before you put on the glasses . It looks the same no matter where the input is coming from, so I know it isn't just a bad coax or video cable.

Of course I'd like to know anyone's thoughts - is this a typical sort of problem when a particular component fails and whether that is super expensive, whether it is a do-it-yourself part replacement project, or if a pro is appropriate, advise on how to find a good pro.

Thanks in advance.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

I am not an expert. Double check with them.

I am guessing multiple beam projetor unit. If it isn't then all this is useless.

Are all the projectors working? If one goes out it can produce that effect.

Did the projector get bumped? My second guess would be alignment. Some of the old projector units had adjustable alignment (kind of like aiming headlight beams). It might be in the owners manual. You saved it right??

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[Dumpster 0]

Go get a nice big Hi-Def TV.

Problem solved!!

Easy Does It

[quade 4]

Pretty sure it's out of alignment.

You -should- be able to access a menu and do a realignment yourself, but it can be a tedious process.

Got a model number? We should be able to look up the manual on-line. Sony is pretty good about that.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[mdrejhon 8]

Hello,

I used to own one of these types a decade ago! Imagine owning 1080p in the late 1990's, top of the line video -- when these devices cost at least $10,000 new. (I got mine used -- an NEC XG135LC CRT projector, with liquid-coupled lens and superbright triple 8" CRT projection, and good integrated calibration/convergence system, and became VERY GOOD at realigning/converging these devices.) .... I still even have photos of my old CRT setup at http://www.marky.com/hometheater/ (That webpage is now outdated, though...)

Your may simply have 'forgotten' its calibration memory, and you need to recalibrate. In this case, all you need is a knowledgeable fix-it guy with the service menu codes (like me). Power surges, extended unpluggings, etc, may cause calibration memory to get lost; that is necessary in order for the projector to know how to align and focus the red/green/blue successfully onto each other, with proper geometry. On the other hand, some board in the projector is now fried... And now you need to replace it.

Contact Curt Palme -- http://www.curtpalme.com/
He can ship you CRT Projector Parts for pretty cheap.

These days, I do recommend purchasing a new digital projector. Although videophile purists will argue CRT has really great quality, modern digitals can now produce a black almost as dark now -- especially if it's not a basement batcave with black walls. I'd recommend a good recent 1080p digital projector for approximately $2000 new; there are some budget models. Or getting one off eBay for $1500. Panasonic PT-AE2000U, Mitsubishi HC5500/HC6000, Sharp XV-Z15000, etc. All with native 1920x1080 resolution -- imagine a 24" computer monitor at 100" on the wall; you can much more easily connect a computer to it too -- And all of those have been seen below $2000 with a picture about 4 to 5 times brighter than CRT projection, and approximately twice to three times as sharp as 7"/8" properly calibrated high-def capable CRT projection. They generally are easier to maintain, even though some models may break down more often than certain well-built older CRT projectors (some of them were built like TANKS - no kidding) -- much less of a hassle to repair or replace for most average consumers. The chief disadvantages is really the black levels, and that's no longer an issue now that modern digital projectors still do better blacks than even the local IMAX movie theater...

Some more info from www.avsforum.com or www.hometheaterforum.com ....

[shropshire 0]

That would be a registration error .... needs some tweaking. Call an engineer..... or send me a return airline ticket

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[sundevil777 102]

The TV is my GF's. I don't think it got bumped. I tried going through the different menus that pop up, but there didn't seem to be anything like alignment. I will try looking up the manual when I get there tonight.

Is an "alignment" something that is done from the back/behind the panels, or something that is controlled from menus?

As for getting a new TV, well, we don't have money burning a hole in our pockets.

Thanks

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[mdrejhon 8]

Quote

That would be a registration error .... needs some tweaking. Call an engineer..... or send me a return airline ticket

First, we need to determine if it's a software/memory error, or a failed hardware board (needs replacement).

If it simply lost its picture-adjustment memory (lost its calibration/registration data), then somebody like me can fix it with all the advanced adjustments (keystone/pincushion/sizing/positioning/linearity/astigmatism/9-point convergence/36-point convergence/etc). I actually had calibration skill to make my NEC XG135LC achieve usable 1920x1080 computer display back in the year 1999/2000. Those days, you needed PowerStrip software (from entechtaiwan.com) to force a graphics card to output that formerly-nonstandard computer resolution from either a Matrox card, then later from an early Geforce I original (the very original Geforce256)

Let me guess... you have a Sony VPH-1252Q?
Failing that, my next 3 guesses are: model 1031, 1271, and 1292?
Okay, a G70 or a D50? All were popular by the high end home theater users "back in the day".

[quade 4]

Quote

Is an "alignment" something that is done from the back/behind the panels, or something that is controlled from menus?

There ought to be a way to do it with the remote. Doing it from the back of the device is kinda stupid (although was the way it was done WAY back in the day), but most projection TVs of the era you're talking about should be able to be aligned while sitting on the couch via a menu option and with the remote.

Again, a model number would be helpful here.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[mdrejhon 8]

Sundevil,

CRT projector calibration instructions:
http://www.cinemasource.com/articles/calib_video_proj.pdf

It's more complicated than adjusting brightness/contrast, but any good SOB who is able to learn all the SIM's and manuals/procedures to pass an A license test, B license test and a C license test, can probably learn how to calibrate a balky CRT projector at least to reasonably progressive-scan-DVD-quality specs.
Assuming you got one of the HD-ready models (most CRT projectors manufactured in the last 15 years are!) the picture by your projector can still blow away a modern 60" plasma display, once properly adjusted... They look absolutely terrible until properly adjusted, though.

Definitely set aside several hours. For a firsttimer following a calibration manual like this, it can take many hours to calibrate a CRT projector, but the effort is worth it (especially if you've already got one and can't afford anything else!) Especially if you find you end up having to move the projector and re-focus.

[kj126 0]

I also have a rear projection screen 61" that had the same misaligned colors, its was a board that went bad in the TV and cost me about $350 to fix.
Just did not want to deal with it so had the repairman fix the damn thing.

I Am Sofa King We Todd Did!!

[1969912 0]

Quote

The TV is my GF's. I don't think it got bumped. I tried going through the different menus that pop up, but there didn't seem to be anything like alignment. I will try looking up the manual when I get there tonight.

Is an "alignment" something that is done from the back/behind the panels, or something that is controlled from menus?

As for getting a new TV, well, we don't have money burning a hole in our pockets.

Thanks

It'll be called "convergence", not alignment. It likely can be done using buttons and/or the remote, but if it's way out of whack, thre are probably mechanical adjustments inside. If you can't find a "convergence" menu, you may need to find a manual for it. Also, if you google the model number and "adjust convergence" or something similar, you should find instructions on some A/V forum.

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[DrewEckhardt 0]

Quote

It is a Sony 8 year old big ass projector style. It is 8 years old.

Suddenly now the picture is all messed up with the different colors slightly offset from each other - kinda looks like a 3D movie before you put on the glasses . It looks the same no matter where the input is coming from, so I know it isn't just a bad coax or video cable.

Either it forgot its convergence information, you have a fault in the convergence circuits, or a convergence yoke has failed. In theory you could have a problem with the main horizontal + vertical deflection circuits but I think that's less likely.

Quote

Of course I'd like to know anyone's thoughts - is this a typical sort of problem when a particular component fails and whether that is super expensive, whether it is a do-it-yourself part replacement project, or if a pro is appropriate, advise on how to find a good pro.

The Dallas non-volatile memory chips used on some (G90) Sony projectors have a 10 year lifetime after being activated. If you're not measuring from the build date you could be within that time window.

Look at the convergence settings in Service Man mode. If they've been reset to 128 I'd blame the non-volatile memory.

Otherwise you can probably isolate it to a specific board with a little help (try avsforum.com with the CRT board, or curtpalme's site) and swap it with a known working board from some one who does (Curt Palme?) does board level Sony repairs.

If you're electronically inclined, the Sony service manuals are good as far as what the wave forms should look like at various points and you can probably isolate the failed chip with an oscilloscope + differential probe.

I used to own a Sony 1292 9" projector which had color filtered C-elements and would resolve 1080p. The plasma now hanging in my bedroom isn't in the same league.

Or maybe you mean a one-piece rear projection TV? That's not quite the same thing and I haven't a clue on what the settings should be or whether boards are easy to find.

[sundevil777 102]

It is a Sony model KP-57HW40

Thanks everyone for your input. I'll be looking for a user's manual online and looking through the on-screen menus

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[quade 4]

Manual here; http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-documents.pl?mdl=KP57HW40

Start on page 33.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[sundevil777 102]

I've found instructions on how to enter "service" mode and adjust the convergance.

http://www.agoraquest.com/viewtopic.php?topic=4360&forum=25&keyword2=electronics

It is really a weird set of steps you have to do to get it into service mode, like entering cheat codes or opening easter eggs.

The 3 color lines appear, that is encouraging, but the joystick on the remote won't make anything move, so it looks like there is likely an IC board bad, and perhaps some fuses (from looking at some other posts on techi forums. Looks like a job for a pro, but at least the projectors themselves seem to be OK, I think that is really the expensive part.

Thanks everyone.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[Krip 2]

Quote

I've found instructions on how to enter "service" mode and adjust the convergance.

http://www.agoraquest.com/viewtopic.php?topic=4360&forum=25&keyword2=electronics

It is really a weird set of steps you have to do to get it into service mode, like entering cheat codes or opening easter eggs.

The 3 color lines appear, that is encouraging, but the joystick on the remote won't make anything move, so it looks like there is likely an IC board bad, and perhaps some fuses (from looking at some other posts on techi forums. Looks like a job for a pro, but at least the projectors themselves seem to be OK, I think that is really the expensive part.

Thanks everyone.

Hi Sundevil


Befor you go with the pro, try aluminum foil on the rabbit ears.

One Jump Wonder