Hi AVS Community,
I am having troubles with my Panasonic 50" Plasma (50PX50U). It appears to have these blue vertical bars displayed on the screen whenever the tv is on now. It started out intermittently, but is now stationary on the screen. I've had the Plasma since August of 2005, so a little over 3 years old. I don't use it that often, but do occasionally play the Wii on it. It is definitely out of warranty and i'm not sure if I should sell it for parts or get it fixed. Please give me your recommendations as to what the problem is. Panel? Circuit Board? Fuse? Wires?

Look at the enclosed picture

if you have already tried the power reset (unplug for a minute and re-plug), the problem most likely is one or more boards.....very unlikely that is a simple fuse issue.

hope you have extended warranty.


Hi AVS Community,
I am having troubles with my Panasonic 50" Plasma (50PX50U). It appears to have these blue vertical bars displayed on the screen whenever the tv is on now. It started out intermittently, but is now stationary on the screen. I've had the Plasma since August of 2005, so a little over 3 years old. I don't use it that often, but do occasionally play the Wii on it. It is definitely out of warranty and i'm not sure if I should sell it for parts or get it fixed. Please give me your recommendations as to what the problem is. Panel? Circuit Board? Fuse? Wires?

Look at the enclosed picture

Thanks for the response drgkja,
I have tried the power reset and it still doesn't work. I have noticed that if I watched regular over the air channels, the vertical bars disappear. It is only when I watch digital channels that the bars appear. The tv has a built in digital tuner, so I wasn't sure if it was that or not. I did try to test it out by plugging in a digital converter box, and the bars were gone. If anyone has any recommendations on how to test it or a solution please let me know.
Thanks!

so there is some encouraging news..ok so now you got to do more tests to isolate the problem

1. how are you watching digital channels? if you have a cablecard, shut the main power, remove the cablecard, connect the coax cable directly to tv and see if you are still getting the problem on ALL digital channels, then likely you have digital tuner problem. if thepic is ok, then you tv is ok so let us got to step 2.

2. if you are using a set-top box, change the input type (from HDMI to Compo or vice versa) and change the input on the tv where this is connected. if changing the input type work, try changing the cable. if changing the input port on the tv works, most likely you have an input pcb problem

good luck and post the results


Thanks for the response drgkja,
I have tried the power reset and it still doesn't work. I have noticed that if I watched regular over the air channels, the vertical bars disappear. It is only when I watch digital channels that the bars appear. The tv has a built in digital tuner, so I wasn't sure if it was that or not. I did try to test it out by plugging in a digital converter box, and the bars were gone. If anyone has any recommendations on how to test it or a solution please let me know.
Thanks!

Thanks for the reply again.
The tv is only getting over the air channels, no satellite or cable, just regular channels you get from an antenna. The plasma has a built in digital tuner that allows me to pick up digital channels via the antenna. As far as the input goes, I did try it with a digital converter box via input 1, and picture was good, no bars. I did some more tests however and the vertical bars do appear randomly while I watch dvds via the hdmi input and while I play the wii. drgkja, can you briefly explain to me what these panels that maybe the problem are?

not sure what exactly these bars are (i think this what you are asking). there are many posts about bars and don't recall seeing anything like yours... they could be due to hardware defect or bad signal/cable..that is why i was suggesting to eliminate one variable at a time to possibly narrow down the problem.

it is not clear from your post when do the bars re-appear. so i understand--

1. digital box to input 1 (good picture) right? since you don''t seem to have cable, what box are you using

2. try a dvd player and connect it to one the "composite" inputs using an rca cable

my suspecting you have a problem in the hd processing.




Thanks for the reply again.
The tv is only getting over the air channels, no satellite or cable, just regular channels you get from an antenna. The plasma has a built in digital tuner that allows me to pick up digital channels via the antenna. As far as the input goes, I did try it with a digital converter box via input 1, and picture was good, no bars. I did some more tests however and the vertical bars do appear randomly while I watch dvds via the hdmi input and while I play the wii. drgkja, can you briefly explain to me what these panels that maybe the problem are?