D32D51/comcast problems

[Paulio]

Hello all,

I am a newbie here and to HD in general. I picked up the set for under $500 with a 2 year in home service plan. The set is a factory refurb. When I first set it up I noticed that the picture (regular comcast digital box) was pretty rough. Sort of blurred and/or exagerated. Comcast came and installed the HD box and while the HD channels are awesome the rest of the channels are still the same. There are some obvious adjustments that need to be made at the service level. There is a slight upward bow of the picture at the bottom and an inward bow at the left side. Could these adjustments being off cause the picture to distort as a whole? The next question is this... The company is out of this model. They offered me the C32V37 as a replacement if they cant get this one tuned right. Am I better off taking this replacement?

Thanks for the time!

Paulio

[raidbuck]

The fact that your HD picture is great and the SD picture is poor may not be an issue for your TV. Most people find that as the screen size gets bigger the SD picture gets worse, especially if you are watching analog through the cable box. Try splitting the cable before the cable box and sending one to your TV's analog tuner and the other to the cable box. The Comcast cable box doesn't do analog very well at all.

My advice, not knowing about your TVs, is to take a new vs an old TV. You should get better choices for inputs and at least have easier service.

Rich N.

[Splicer]

I would go for the replacement as long as it is new. And these tv's show all the imperfections even the grain (pixels) where our old tv's hid it pretty well. Channels 2-99 are the worst, the Digital channels should look at least as good as analog did on the 4:3 sets (minimum), and the HD should be crystal clear and damn near 3 dimensional. At least thats what I have found on my non-Zenith HD set. :smokin:

[Paulio]

Well..... exchanged the D32D51 for a C32V37. Cost an extra $100 but for $600 with 2 years in home I am a happy guy. Comcast came out and ran new cable since the in wall stuff in my condo is 20 years old. Fired it up and WOW!!!!! I get it now :rockon: Now I am off to get a progressive scan DVD player. Gonna retire my Toshiba 3205 to my music only set up.
Thanks to all for the info!

Paul

[Paulio]

:( Here we go again. Tis set overheats (at least that what I think the problem is. On all inputs and I did check them all the set starts by clipping the audio followed by clipping in and out of the picture. A few moments later I get a blue screen and even the TV's menu is too distorted to use. After an hour cool down it will run again fro a little while........ I think I am done with Zenith........ Its a bummer, I had a 32 Zinith that was problem free for about 8 years. Ah well....... gave it a shot.


Paul

[Splicer]

Sounds like a runaway circuit. Now try the Toshiba line! I'd bet you will be MOST pleased! :smokin:

[Paulio]

Right now BestBuy has the low end Sony 32" and Circuit City has the low end Sony 30" wide at $900.00 Have to see what happens with the return on this monster first. What does Toshiba offer in the $1k range?

Paul

[Splicer]

http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/televisions/colortelevisions.asp

As for who has what and for how much I have no clue. :smokin:

[Paulio]

Looks like the Toshiba stuff is pretty much in line with Sony product. I have to say that the Toshiba DVD player I have had for about 5 years has worked perfectly.

I am now being told that the problem I am having with this Zenith may be low power at the outlet. I think I am being stalled but who knows. Tech coming today.

[Ratman]

If you have a volt (multi) meter, you can easily check/confirm.
Set the meter to "AC Volts" and plug the probes into the outlet. The voltage should read appox. 120 volts.

[Splicer]

Smoke is being blown. I would wager your outlet is fine. Use another outlet from somewhere that you know is ok and run an extension cord if you have to.

I have been buying Toshiba products for the past 20 years with (knock on wood) since they 1st sold microwave ovens. That was the 1st time I had even heard of Toshiba. I am so glad I found them. Toshiba been bery, bery good to me! :smokin:

[Paulio]

I did both suggested things. Voltage checks out fine. Set runs the same form another outlet. I 'spose this is what I get for not dropping the extra $ in the first place. I should know better but my past experience with Zenith was good. This decline in quality, is this a pre or Post GE buy out issue? I had heard/read that since the GE buy out things were improving but that doesnt seem to be the case. I just hope that the place I bought it from does the right thing here. I mean even if it were repaired I dont want to mess around with this anymore and I could not in good mind sell it. Working or not. Keep your fingers crossed for me folks!

Paul

[dons459]

I think you mean LG and not GE, Goldstar bought zenith not GE. Thompson owns RCA and GE and they haven't been as good a product since. :(