Have a 2003 KP model Sony HDTV. I know how to enter service mode (PWR Disp ...) but can't figure out how to get to matrix to try and get rid of the shadows. I know you can get a grid on use the remote to move the shadow. Any one know how to get the matrix and then to save the settings once you adjust?
Had service guy in several weeks ago because of red shadow and after he left I know seem to have the blue. He replaced a blue tube and did some adjusting.

Greetings

Blue grid is always supposed to be fatter than the other two. That's the way it is. You might tighten it a bit with e-focus and m-focus. Nothing more. To really make the blue grid the same size as the other two ... which BTW are not the same size either ... is to turn down the blue Trimpot ... which will totally mess up the grayscale of the TV and possibly just shut the TV off.

Tread carefully

If the Blue is the same thickness, then the blue CRT would wear out faster than the other two guns.

Regards

How bad is it?

I don't disagree with Michael, but it might have left the impression that focus problems that shouldn't be acceptable are acceptable. A well setup CRT should show white lines and R, G, B parts of that line should be basically the same thickness. You shouldn't see a big fat colored line bleeding out from behind the white. Blue beam is usually defocused slightly, but not such that it is actually visibly larger than the other lines.

The thickness of the blue shadow is quite visible - it shows behind lots of images but it is most noticable behind words on the screen. You do notice the shadow more around the edges of the TV and when the TV is in wide zoom mode. Also note that I live in a small town and do not have access to Local channels with DirecTV because they are not available in this area. So I use my local small town cable to view these channels and the shadowing does not seem to show it as much as when I am viewing shows with DirecTV. So not sure if it is a digital problem.

Just curious...you say turning down the trimpot may result in the tv not turning on...yet in the srvice manual it clearly states that for the trimpots to be set properly you turn them down until you just barely see them(service mode)then just a wee bit more until they dissapear then you start greyscale adjustments.
At least thats the way hitachi states in their service manuals.In my case all 3 trimpots are no where near that condition...and thats from factory...thought having them in torch mode is not very good either...?

Greetings

A Sony is not a Hitachi .. is not a Mitsubishi ... is not a Toshiba. Some TVs are set to Pot voltage .. some are not.

Regards

Okay thank you...you just cleared that up for me....Cheers!

Greetings

A Sony is not a Hitachi .. is not a Mitsubishi ... is not a Toshiba. Some TVs are set to Pot voltage .. some are not.

Regards

The G2(aka screen) controls can be turned down on a Sony without causing shutdown. Turning it too high on many sets will cause shutdown. In general, the method of adjusting the G2 level to just below showing retrace on a blank screen is acceptable on most sony sets. This should not be done on a Mitsubishi which should be adjusted using a scope, according to the procedure in the SM.

Just to be clear, Michael was not suggesting that the screen control be used for improving focus. I am sure that he was just generally tryng to communicate that the only way to improve the spot size beyond the electrostatic and mechanical focusing and any beam shaping, is to reduce the beam current or apature. Lowering the peak output is the only practical way to do so. Lowering the screen level on any set may introduce beam deformation and always affects gray scale response. On most Sonys, other than the most recent, it is also likely to trigger IK blanking. On more recent sets IK errors are reported with a flashing timer LED but blanking does not occur.

In general, leave the screens alone if you don't specifically know what you are doing and how the specific model should be adjusted. If you have to adjust screens, you very likely have significant CRT aging or a service problem, assuming they came from the factory adjusted correctly. That might not be a good assumption, however.

You can tell the screens from the focus controls by noting the distance between them. Focus voltages are about 10 times larger than screen voltages and most focus/screen blocks have greater spacing for the focus controls.

In this case, the problem is likely just lousy mechanical focus.