mike0221

I recently purchased this set - and I'm very happy with it.
But I have a few questions:

1) Does the protective screen that Panasonic offers, do anything to improve the picture, or does it just protect from scratches?

2) What's the deal with the line doubler? The manual makes it seem like this option is selectable for a video games settings - but it looks like it darkens the image. Is this normal? Is the set not line doubling normal images?

Thanks for the help.

-Mike

PannyMan

The screen protector does just that, protect from scratches, but does not enhance the picture viewing and during daylight hours, light shinning onto the screen can make it difficult to get good clarity.

As far as the line doubler goes, all broadcasts are automativcally up-converted to 480p via the line double, but game console are not always so the option is there for you to set it up to improve pivture quality. if you have an xbox these games usually run at 480p, i leave my line doubler off and think that looks fine.

hope this helps, mail me if you'd like more information.

mbonsaver

In January I purchased my Panasonic set. Today I had a service guy out to repair it. First off, he said that when the set is used in 4:3 mode, the silver bars and the right and left get burned into the screen. As a result, Panasonic is eating the cost of new picture tubes. So these are now on order. I'll let you know how this ends up.
Secondly, does anyone know how to get rid of the black "bars" at the top and bottom of the screen in 16:9 mode. When I watch shows presented in "widescreen format" such as Enterprise or ER, I still have those bars. And when I watch a DVD, such as "Star Trek:Insurrection" I also get the bars. I have a Sony DVD player set to 16:9 mode. My output from the DVD player is composite video directly from the DVD player to the HDTV unit. (Audio is run through my 5:1 receiver)

The only way I can get rid of these is to put the TV into "ZOOM" mode, but then the actors heads are cut off.

PannyMan

The silver bars on either side in 4x3 mode were "designed" as a better improvement over the black which caused initial burn in problems. Personally I never watch anything on 4x3, I have adjusted to the distorted heads and now think its normal.

For your black bar problem here is some info. When watching shows like ER and Star Trek although they are in widescreen they are not handled correctly by the Panasonic TV nor for that matter by any HDTV (I think), so the only way to overcome this is use the zoom function but as you said this can cut the headoff. No easy answer there and it does not make sense.

When watching DVD's you will always have black bars IF the movie is filmed at a ratio of 2:23.1. If the movie s filmed at 1:85.1 then you will not have the black bars. When buying DVD's the lables on the back will let you know where you stand, always buy Anamorphic or enhanced for 16x9 TV DVD's these usually fill the screen. There is a great 101 here .. http://www.thedigitalbits.com/artic...ic/welcome.html

Let me know if you'd like more help or info.

mbonsaver

Furious at Pansonic's Lack of Service!

On 12/31/2001 I purchased a Panasonic PT-47WX49 High Definition Television from Best Buy in Mesa. (Store #254)

This is a 16:9 wide format HDTV with several viewing modes.
a) 16:9 Full screen for viewing DVD movies
b) 4:3 screen for viewing regular television broadcasts
c) 16:9 Zoom mode
d) 16:9 JUST mode
e) Split Image mode for viewing two channels at the same time
f) Split image mode for viewing one channel while seeing what is showing a numerous other channels.

Of the six modes described above, 3 have gray bars either on the sides of the image, or on the top of the image. This appears to be a normal mode of operation for the TV. In fact, you must put the picture in 4:3 mode, even when switching the TV to wide screen mode.

When I was choosing which TV to purchase, I was trying to decide between wide screen format and standard format screens. The salesman, Ryan, stated that if I watched DVD, the best option was a wide screen TV. However, when we viewed a standard TV signal in wide screen format, the image was stretched out, causing the people and objects to look “fat”. Ryan said that pushing a button on the remote and changing the display to 4:3 easily solved this. He then demonstrated this feature. Based on this feature, I decided to buy the TV.

Since this was an expensive purchase, Ryan also suggested that I purchase the Best Buy service plan, so that if anything went wrong in a 4-year period, Best Buy would repair or replace the TV. He instructed me that Best Buy would even come out to my home every 6 months and adjust the TV to make sure the image quality was adjusted.

The TV was delivered to my home a few days later and set up by the Best Buy deliverymen.

On May 12, 2002, I noticed that there were faint “bars” on the right and left side of the screen. I contacted Best Buy, and they sent a man out from Bob’s TV. They came out and said there was a problem and that they had to get parts from Panasonic. However, later that day, they called back and said neither Panasonic or Best Buy would authorize the repair.

I contacted Panasonic, and they said that viewing the TV in 4:3 format caused this, and they would not repair it. Panasonic said that it was clearly stated in their manual that this was not covered and that the TV should not be used in 4:3 mode.

I had read the manual and the section they refer to is listed under the heading “Important Information regarding the use of Video Games, Computers or other fixed image displays”. Since I was not using any of these items with the TV, I concluded this did not apply to this TV. The rest of the manual discusses:

a) Care and Cleaning
b) Installation
c) Split Screen operation
d) Set Up of Audio and Video

The manual does not discuss normal operation, which is covered in the Remote Control Guide. In the remote control guide, it clearly states that the ASPECT button is used to “select the picture size (ratio) to match the programming format”. From this description, since the standard television broadcast is in 4:3 format, it is obviously meant to be used in this mode.

After Panasonic told me this was not covered, I re-read the section. This section clearly states that the intent is to use the TV for viewing moving images. It does not state that the use of 4:3 is forbidden. It does not state that the gray bars are considered a fixed image. Since I have been viewing only moving images on the screen, I was convinced I was operating the TV properly.

I contacted Best Buy, and they also said they would not repair it under their service plan, even though the plan clearly states that they will repair or replace the unit.

My points of contention are as follows:
1) Panasonic knowingly has a feature in the TV that will result in damage to the screen. However, they failed to disable this feature at the factory and failed to properly inform me prior to and after the sale.
2) Panasonic deliberately mis-lead me in the way the information was written in their manual, considering it was under the heading “Video Games, Computers and other fixed image displays”.
3) Panasonic is in breach of the warranty agreement.
4) Best Buy knowingly sold me an extended 4-year warranty plan, yet failed to honor the warranty. The problem arose after only 5 months of use.
5) Best Buy’s sales person did not inform me of this potential problem with the set prior to the purchase. In fact, I was mislead by the sales person to purchasing this set because of the very feature used to put the picture into 4:3 format.

At this point I have filed a complaint with the Arizona Corporation Commission and am Taking both Panasonic and Best Buy to court.

PannyMan

Please keep us updated on your progress. Just as a side note, how much TV do you watch at 4x3 mode, burn-in is very rare in truth .... I play my X-Box all the time and have had no problem. I do not however watch any TV in 4x3 mode, I just got used to the distorted images. But that is not an excuse.

As I said please keep us updated on how you get on.

mbonsaver

Here is the really interesting point. I seldom used the TV in 4:3 mode. I watch ER and Enterprise, which are projected in wide screen. The other shows I didn't care what mode, and since the gray bars are rather annoying, I preferred to watch in wide mode.
I usually watch DVDs, all in wide mode. This is one of the items that has me furious at both Best Buy and Panasonic, for their immediate assumption is that I caused the damage. Even though the set is less than 6 months old, and I seldomn used it in 4:3.

Spelsh

The best buy warranty card states it will not cover 'burn in'. They are very specific about it. A 'fixed image' would also include the black bars that do not move. Not to flame, but I wouldn't cover the service either.