My 6-year-old Sony KWP-65HD1 RPTV has been working flawlessly, save for the blue gun being replaced by Sony after about a year.

For many months, though, the black level on the RPTV has been horrendous -- lightening from a dark blue-gray when the TV is first turned on, to a medium blue-gray after the set is on a few minutes (necessitating the "vivid" setting in order to see ANYTHING in dark scenes).

In addition, the image displays faint light-blue curved lines. Below is a photo showing what I mean (note, this picture also demonstrates the poor black level):

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o219/NickEspo/tv.jpg

These effects are visible on all inputs, although I only use the HD input (Video 5).

Are these symptoms of the blue gun going bad, or is it likely to be something worse, like the light engine? (I doubt it's something as simple as bad calibration).

If there is something I can do in the service menu to localize the problem -- e.g., turn off the blue gun with some setting to see if the glow goes away -- let me know.

One local repair tech I contacted saw the photo and suggested that I simply "buy a new TV," because he thinks "all three guns need to be replaced, at a cost of $1,000 plus labor."

There seems to be no lack (or surfeit) of blue in the regular picture, which appears fine save for the bad black-level (in bright images, you don't notice anything wrong).

Thanks for any help you can offer, guys. I got my new Blade Runner high-def DVDs the other day, and I'd fogotten how dark most of the movie is...

-- Nick

A quick update: Turning off the blue gun via the service menu did nothing; in fact, with all THREE guns turned off, the glow and curved lines remain. So does this mean that it may not be the blue gun needing to be replaced?

What you are seeing is called retrace. You could have a short in the CRT, a shorted component in the crt drive circuit,a bad g2/focus assembly, an open resistor, a bad video processor IC, or a bad component in the IK feedback circuit.

Well glad you posted the shot. I still get all my channels, just have that horrible hue and lines just as your picture shows.

Were you able to find out what the issue is? It seems the tv repair places are very willing to come out for a extensive cost, but have no idea what the issue is.

I have a Hitachi 52" HDTV Rear Projection model.

Feel free to contact me if you or anyone else reading this who has the answer for what causes this. The image from the original poster is dead on.

Thanks in advance!
Truly Blue,:confused:
-Mandi

L2Cycle@hotmail.com

take off the front speaker cover and turn down the blue "screen" dial until the blue lines go away, no lower though.

OK to help assist everyone having the BLUE HUE and CURVED LINES Issue on their Rear Projection HDTV no matter their model. Here are the steps to take. The first thing to check is the FOCUS BLOCK or G2 Focus Transformer or CRX F-Pack. I have replaced mine, however it didn't resolve the issue. I am onto the next item the CRT Board for Blue (Which is the board under one of the three color lamps inside your tv) Please see photo below (if photo is not large enough below go to link to review notes as well) If the CRT Board is not it, then the next step will be the Signal Board which is a larger board in the back. In a week I will have a picture of both.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Remove the outside cover
Remove the wood plank/panel
In the front is the G2 Focus Block/Transformer, while set is on turn the top 3 knobs till the screen goes black/dark grey.
adjusting the colors till you receive the desired or normal color/picture.
Once you have received the proper color/picture tap the side of the Focus Block.
IF The colors go out of wack again and the blue comes back strong then this "CAN BE" the Focus Block.


Replace the G2 Focus Block aka Focus Transformer, if Hitachi it's called a CRX F-Pack. This item will cost about $50. Not expensive. You will likely need a soldiering iron. DO TURN OFF & UNPLUG THE TV WHEN INSERTING ANY METAL OBJECTS INTO THE TV!!

FOLLOW THE PHOTOS/DIAGRAM Below for assistance in the above instructions. I will post my next process since it was not my Focus Block that was an issue.

ONE SOLID PHOTO Go to URL shown below, click on that image to enlarge. Hope this helps you all out!
http://a110.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/83/l_d699e137e2afb776d46dc0e1a77764d5.jpg

Before you change the focus block, tap on the the side of the CRTs gently and see if arcing occurs. If it does you have a bad CRT, which seems to be common on many of the Sonys recently.

Hi thanks for trying.

I will let you know what happens next week when I have the Blue CRT and the Signal Board. I will also take pictures to help assist others in the resolution process.

The post I did above includes a step by step with photo's to assist others in repair if they no longer fall under warranty. Thank you for your input, I will let you know what happens.

:p