Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - Convergence Drift problem with my RCA 60"

I was told to come here for help with a problem I have with my RCA 60" projection TV.

I have learned that the problem I have is called "convergence drift". Pretty much everytime I turn my TV on, the Red and Blue convergence lines are out of wack. I have to use the remote to manually go into the menu and fix it myself. They will also drift off during normal TV viewing also.

As you can imagine this is a real pain in the ass and if anyone has any ideas or suggestions to help me I would greatly appreciate it!!!

Edit - Sorry, it's Model # P607520EB

Thanks!
Scott

Good Afternoon, SBrooks1:

I've seen this one a couple of times. Frustrating, isn't it?

I would bet you have a bad deflection yoke on one of the projection tubes. Chances are that it is on the green tube.

I've seen this symptom in Barco, Sony, and Electrohome projectors and it was always the same thing.


Smokey ;)

Thanks for the heads up Smokey. Do you have any idea how much I'm looking at to get this fixed?

I just called a high end Home Theater place here in town and they said it would be $99 to pick up and bring back the guts inside my TV and $17.50 for an estimate. Of course if they do fix it there is no estimate charge. Is that reasonable?

For a projection TV this old (5+ years) should I get anything else done to it at the same time like a professional calibration? What else could I get done to this TV to get it back in tip top shape?

Thanks again!
Scott

Good Morning, SBrooks1:

The price is fair providing they know what they are doing. That I cannot predict.

As for the adjustment, it is a foregone conclusion that replacing a deflection yoke on a projection tube will cause you to need a full convergence (dynamic and static) on the set. You will see some prices in the three figure range.

But, the set is only 5 years old and at half-life. I would make the plunge and make the repair. There are a few good years left in this box.


Smokey ;)

Damn Smokey you know your stuff!! You've helped me out a lot man. Thanks!

Also, another thing that bugs me about my TV is this.....

When viewing DVD's with S-Video, like when there are 2 people on the screen in the foreground and a bright sky in the background, the background sky overpowers the people in the foreground making them look really dark. Any ideas on what this might be? Could it be related to my current problem with convergence?

Scott

Good Morning again, SBrooks1:

No, your problem with S-Video is a different animal. When you use S-Video, the picture is broken down into two major components: Y (luminance) and C (Chroma--or color). Sounds like the Y-C amplifier is running too hot on the Y component. This is adjustable on the inside of the set usually.

In short, your luminance (picture level) is too high and causing oscillations or echoes in the amplifier. Doesn't sound too bad.

Have it checked while the set in in the shop.

Smokey ;)