I have a roughly two year old 42" Samsung CRT RPTV. It seems to be having problems with convergence and geometry as of yesterday morning (see pictures below). The only thing I can think of that may have made this happen was I was adjusting the deflection in the service menu since the screen was off center both vertically and horizontally. Making a bad setting in this menu cause such a problem? More importantly, is this something either I could fix in the service menu or a repair technician could repair for a relatively low price? If I can fix it free/inexpensively, I'll likely do that. If not, I think I'll just sell the TV as is and shell out 8-900 dollars for a smaller LCD Any info is appreciated.

Picture 1 is a letterboxed program showing the green discoloration along the top letterbox bar. Linked because there are large files

http://home.comcast.net/~dfbennett1216/1.jpg

Picture 2 is the TV's on screen menu showing the green and a geometry issue
http://home.comcast.net/~dfbennett1216/2.jpg
Picture 3 shows some odd V shaped lines seen during the TV's "Self Focus" routine, as soon as Self Focus finished the display looks like picture 1.
http://home.comcast.net/~dfbennett1216/3.jpg

Well if it appeared right after you were in the service menu then it's fair to assume that's what messed it up. Did you write down the original values? In the service menu on my Toshiba i can do a service menu convergence(including the green gun) and i'm pretty sure i could move my green gun far enough to straighten that top line out in mine. And then line the others up to it. Probably easier to do in the menu that it got messed up in if you knew how though.

Please post a picture of the convergence mode grid (mute 183). Don't zoom into one portion of the Tv screen, take a picture of the entire screen, and resize your posted pic to something smaller than 800x600.

Hammer

I was stupid and didn't write down the settings in the service menu. The good news is I've fixed the convergence so everything looks normal. The geometry for 1080i is fine as well and I think 480p is too. I'm only having trouble with 480i the image is off center and bends vertically (imagine someone bending a pipe with one end in each hand like an upside down u). I can take more pics (smaller) if that may help. If I can't get it corrected, would this be something a technician could fix relatively inexpensively since it seems just to be a service menu change?

Hi,
Here's a picture of the convergence grid in 480i. 1080i looks ok and 480p is not as good as 1080i but not as bad as 480i. I can post pics of those too if that'll help.
Not only is the convergence off but the geometry seems to be messed up regardless of what I try in the deflection menu or in here. I ordered the service manual so that I can try and get this remedied. I think the problem can be fixed, I'm just not sure I'll be able to do it even with the service manual.
http://home.comcast.net/~dfbennett1216/480iconvergence.jpg

From the picture-

Can't you simply adjust the green to "square", then adjust the red & blue to match and your done?

Hammer

i guess i'm just not understanding what a proper convergence grid should look like as I keep trying to get everything to look square and it seems like the convergence is still off and the geometry still bends quite a bit in an inverse U shape. Perhaps the service manual will help me figure it out. either way, I've learned a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing and I don't plan on hitting up the service menu of any future TV's I buy :)