Hello all,<br /><br />I'm considering purchasing a new widescreen TV for the home. I have my eye on a 76cm LG Flatron widescreen TV with PIP teletext etc....<br /><br />But for about the same price, I can get a 99cm rear projection TV with similar features.<br /><br />I just wanted to know what other peoples opinions are on the rear-projection. Are they worth it? What are commons problems? Cost of service, etc....<br /><br />I have read some reports of colour fade. Is it true?<br /><br />Thanks for the advice!<br /><br /><br />Cheers,<br />Col.

Colin <br />long time no see<br /><br />TV's hummmmmmm I have become an expert on rear projection Tv's, put it this way,no TV service man in is cost effective mind will touch the convergence settings on a rear projection Tv.<br />why? it takes mega time to adjust the convergence of the three Tubes (RGB)Now I know what you are going to say ,,,,,the New rear projection Tv's have auto convergence adjustment,,,,,,,what a pile off crap,, it won't pass my quality, put it on a pattern generator and you still have section of your pattern that either red or blue are off line.<br />Example: Most rear projection have a basic Conversion adjustment, either a single point or a nine point adjustment,or a pissy Auto adjustment that still is not to what I think is passable.<br />Now my 135CM Sony made in the land Of USA has the standard nine point software Plus a hardware adjustment hiding behind the front door.<br />You have approximately 70 trim-pots to adjust IN ORDER to get the best picture possible<br />Example<br />Hor RED---Size-lin-shift-height-elin-krys-skew-bow-sub bow-subskew-vlin- and the rest<br />Hor green--- same as above<br />Hor blue---same as above<br /><br />Vert red---same as above<br />Vert green---same as above<br />Vert blue---same sa above<br /><br />Now my picture convergence is about 98% perfect and took me about 20 hrs of work to get it that way.+ (service manual I bought)<br />If you buy a cheap rear projection like LG or Samsung you will get what you pay for, but the same goes for a CRT type to.<br />Another thing to get a perfect picture on any rear projection TV the MIRROR,REAR LENS,THE THREE GUNS MUST BE CLEANED ANNUALLY, the dust effects the Contrast big time.<br />I have a few people coming over and they tell me how crystal clear my pictures are but I don't tell them how much Of an effort I go to to keep it that way<br />Eg the Sony is 5 years old now so I replaces All capacitors in the Power supply and all are + or - 1% caps not 5% ones like in the Shit cheaper brands TV's<br />in all critical areas of the My TV all components are rated at + or - 1%, the TV's with + or - 5% well when the TV warms up ,,,guess what the convergence get out of alignment,,,,,,(shit to much to type),<br />TAKE A PATTERN GENERATOR WITH YOU and check all models, you will get a shock how bad ALL TV's are today.<br />Also My model Sony 135Cm rear Projection is made in 3 countries, USA,JAPAN, and MALAYSIA,,,,,,Don't touch the Malasian model, there all identical to look at except for the country of manufacturer, but in the inside they are not,the 3 CRT tubes are the same (MADE IN THE USA) for my model the the PCB's are local products of each country.<br />Sony is the best but more $$$$$$,<br />If you want ring me col and I tell you other things to watch out for,FUCK Cabramatta Hi Fi thought I was mad when I asked them to plug in the Pattern gen, in.<br />Phil <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/default/grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/default/grin.gif" /> <br />Phil

Colour<br />Mine has to much colour, its set on around 38% out of 100$, another thing important thing is adjusting the Three Focus's, Don't overdrive the tubes, I adjust mine once a year when doing my own service,My missus tells me I am to fussy, so does my friend who is the Local TV repair man, HE WON"T TOUCH them and if he does 5 minutes on the Convergence is enough. <br />To me if the convergence on this big TV of mine is out more that 1 mm on the Full 135 CM its out to much, but thats me, older I get the fussier I get, or better still the missus calls me Mr Perfect.<br />(manuals at "High country data" in NSW for all rear projection models)<br />Phil <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/default/grin.gif" />

Thanks for that Phil. Yeah, it has been LITTLE while since I've been on.<br /><br />I was aware of the convergence setup but I didn't think it would have to be done so regularly. I managed to bet the salesman into doing a good price on a LG Flatron widescreen <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/default/shocked.gif" /> and Digital Set top box <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/default/grin.gif" /> .<br /><br />I'm happy with it.<br /><br />Cheers,<br />Col.