Zenith E44w46lcd Problem With Sap Button On Remote

[crash324]

I just got this TV for Christmas and it seems to be great so far, but I noticed that evey chanel is in mono sound. The manual says to press the SAP button onthe remote to toggle between stereo, mono and sap, but when I press the button nothing happens it only displays mono. Does anyone know anything about this problem or am I doing something wrong?

[Ratman]

How are you receiving the 'channels'?

Antenna? Cable (with or without cable box)?
If using a cable box, how is it connected to the TV? (coax, A/V cables, digital coax?)

[crash324]

I am connected through a digital cable box using only the coax. I do see audio out (balck, white and red) on the back of the cable box and also a video out (yellow). If I need to plug these into my TV, which inputs do I use? I have an older stereo (not surround sound) hooked up from the receiver to the the TV now, which is going from TV audio out to the receiver audio in.

[Ratman]

Here's a test....

Plug the coax from the wall directly into the TV. See if the SAP button works. If it does, then that eliminates the TV and/or the remote as the problem.

Report back.

BTW... not all programming may be 'stereo' or have SAP programming. Maybe the 'feed' is mono and no switching takes place? Make sure...

[crash324]

OK, I plugged the cable directly from the wall to the TV and now I have options for mono, stereo and sap. What now?

[Ratman]

Then it's possibly a setting or limitation of your cable box.

You're not running through a VCR also, are you?

You may consider calling your cable provider to get an HD cable box and getting things connected properly.

[crash324]

I am running through a VCR, why? I am also planning on getting an HDTV box through my cable provider within a week. Do you recommed going through my provider or do you know about anything that Best Buy offers as that's where my wife bought the TV? While we're here, I have been noticing that the picture occasionally fades for a few seconds and gets darker, then back to normal. Is this normal?

[Ratman]

The VCR is probably blocking the stereo signal between the cable box and TV.

When the 'cable guy' comes out... hopefully he'll set things up properly an explain things. If not... ask!

When you get all the new hardware setup. Check with the cable guy to see if it still happens.

[crash324]

Thanks for all your assistance. You've been a great help as I am new to all this.