Official Panasonic GT30 Series Discussion Thread [No Price Talk] - Page 123

I would like to add, even though that's a bit off topic, that I prefer an external players like WDTV because they don't really need to do any transcoding since the support for various codecs and containers is baked in to hardware (Sigma chip). All my WDTV player actually does is "mounts" the network shared drive/folder from the PC and just plays pretty much anything under the sun. I don't even need to run DLNA server on the PC. The players like WDTV a very inexpensive, small and work very, very well. My plasma is mainly used to watch content, I do not use it as a media rendering device but that my take on it. Someone else can try to do DLNA to the plasma from the PC.

First, as someone else has pointed out, you need to properly configure the wireless settings to get the GT30 recognized in the network. SSID and security protocol key, etc. I use a wired gigabit network - wireless is too slow for media IMHO. Assuming you've got the network going...

Second you need to be connecting to a DLNA server PC. Windows 7 is DLNA right out of the box. If you are not on Windows 7 then you can use Windows Media Player (v11 or 12) or Windows Media Center as your DLNA server.

There is a tutorial on your GT30 that walks you through all of this with pictures. Just go to Viera Tools on your remote > Viera Connect > Enter > select MORE > go to PAGE 3 > select PRODUCT SUPPORT CENTER > select HOW TO > navigate down to PC ON TV > follow the prompts.

There are also Video Guides in Product Support Center that deal with setting up the network and using Media Center, but I have not watched those. Don't know if they will be of help.

I agree. I played some of my .mpg content over DNLA and although the picture was no better or worse than through my DSM-520 media player I was unable to use the Format button to get Full or Zoom screens. My GT30 is only a week old and I am trying to avoid the black bars for a while so I did not play with it long. Maybe another day.

I did after I sent my question.
Thx.

hello,

I just received 65GT30 from Amazon and trying to read through all these posts to understand how to get the best settings. My set's build date is December 2011. Do I need to change Firmware to 2.1 in order to apply Dave O's settings?
I got the website link to the FW2.1. Once I get the FW to a SD card, how to load the FW to the set? Please instruct.
Thank you!

Well I just received my 60GT30 from Amazon and I think I've got a dud. I power the set on to do the initial setup and there are 2 4" vertical bands on the left side of the screen. There is also some kind of pixilation in the top left corner that lessens as it goes down the screen. Do these symptoms ring a bell? I know I've got 30 days to return it but I'm afraid Amazon won't have any in stock, especially at the price I paid, $1600. There was a price drop for about 12 hours last week and I jumped on it.

A real bummer.

After the it's done go back in and verify the new additional "Pro-Settings". You then can go ahead and do the 2.2 Firmware update. It does not have an effect on the Pro-Settings.

Are these really faint, dark or colored? And how is the TV connected to other devices....one HDMI, thru a AVR? It's the way on all ports?

I'd first try different connections (and cables). Try turning off for 10 minutes and then on again a few times. And what about your power....surge protector and outlet ok?

Vertical Bars are related to the X,Y &Z boards and Buffer Boards. Not sure about the pixelation you're refering to. If you just got it you could run it for several hours with normal programing (no tickers, banners or logos) for a day or so and see. But like you said the pickins might be getting slim if you decide to send it back now. Wouldn't hurt to let Amazon know the situation and your fear there are no more of these on hand. Just to cya and not be stuck with a potential lemon.

I haven't connected a source. I was just going through the setup when I saw this. Now when I try to power on the set just buzzes with no picture.

No picture of any kind...menu included? At least try a source, even a SD card. If still nothing then call Amazon and tell them you've got a dud and symthons.

Bought one of these from Best Buy. I think it is a great TV for my needs.

Some comments:

1. Best Buy ship to store does not operate as I would expect. I would expect them to fill the order from some warehouse somewhere in the country if the unit was not available in the store I picked. But...

I ordered on a Sunday via the internet. The unit was available in the store I picked according to the web site. Monday I received an e-mail stating unit was not in store. I called the number provided and they said: "There are no units in that store or its warehouse, or on their way to a store near the one you picked. Sorry. The order will automatically cancel in a few days or you can cancel it now."

I was online and saw a unit "available" at a store 40 miles away. They said: "Sorry, but that is too far away for us to transfer to the store you picked."

I asked what constituted "too far away." They could not answer. I complained, and finally they agreed to contact that store 40 miles away, verify inventory and get them to hold for pick up. They promised $50 for my trouble (80 mile round trip). I forced them to price match a super low price I found on line as I was very upset.

After all the trouble, next time I will buy through my college friend who is chairman of board for CEDIA, and have his company do the install.

2. The unit I bought was built in June of 2011. It has fluctuating brightness. No question. I called Panasonic and they sent someone out from their local service network. Woman was experienced and on time and installed the replacement board. I checked the eeprom rev level before and it matched what I found on line. A few days have gone by and I saw fluctuating brightness again. I checked the eeprom rev level again and it is the same. So my guess is she installed an old board somehow. Another service call. Surprised they don't have better inventory control.

Now a question:

Can anyone comment about the merits of BB extra warranty versus Costco/Square Trade? I think there is a big price difference. I want to know if they deliver similar benefits in real-life scenarios. I have the T's and C's so I will look at those.

Thanks.

@mahler

Best Buy offered me a 2yr warranty for $189.00 and thanks to some of the posters here at avs they recommended that I purchase a 3yr for $99 warranty from costco/square trade,so I jumped on that in a flash.

So I recommend you do the same ,just go and order from costco's website or in store they warranty items even though you did not purchase it from them..

Nothing, not even with SD card. Just a loud buzz coming from the front of the unit. I called Amazon and, as I suspected, they do not have any in inventory and don't know when they will get any more. I called Panasonic and they're sending out a technician Thursday to look at it. But there is something else that I hadn't noticed. There are cracks behind the screen that you can't see unless you're right next to it. It's not on the outside because the screen is smooth to the touch. I didn't see them when I inspected it upon delivery. Very dissapointed because it was a Dec build.

I just bought a 65" GT30 from Best Buy. Told them that I would buy it today if they gave me 36 mo no interest, they just asked a manager and they did it. The 65" was at least $200 cheaper than the 60" GT30. I asked why the difference and he said that they have a lot more of the 65" and they need to make room the the 2012 models.
I'm not complaining.
They are supposed to deliver it Tuesday. I won't even be ready for it by then. I have to get a wall mount 1st. I was thinking about getting one at monoprice, does anyone have any suggestions for a wall mount?

Well if anything the Tech will probably find the cause and also point out what you just found though he should go over the whole set. If you're saying you can see fine cracks behind the glass then it sounds like the front layer panel that holds the display electrodes and cells between a rear glass panel. Not Good....you didn't notice anything on the backside; dings, cracks or anything?

Hi all,

I just got my 65GT30 last week and have been through the 100 hours of slides and started using it a bit in the last few days. I ordered from Amazon* and received a unit that was built in June of 2011, so I don't have the fix for the fluctuating brightness. As I've been watching shows, I've been trying to notice brightness issues, but I haven't noticed anything that jumps out and says "Ahhh! My brightness is fluctuating!"

Does anyone have any advice for inspiring it to show it's hand with respect to the brightness issue? I'm hoping for something like certain settings that will make it more apparent. (I'm using D-Nice's THX settings at the moment.) I'd like to be able to make the call to Panasonic with confidence that I can reproduce the issue and confirm that whatever fix they put in place does resolve it.

Beyond that, I'm really happy with the set so far. It's a huge step up from the 2006 Sony 40" LCD we had and the picture is (unsurprisingly) noticeably better.

Thanks,
J

* I will say that ordering and delivery from Amazon was a pretty slick process. No problems at all with delivery (other than they showed up 6 hours early) and no problems with the panel.

I have a may build 60gt30 that doesn't show any signs of any issues. I'm going to leave it alone. I've looked for problems, but I haven't found any so i just enjoy it now.

Same here. I have a July build 50GT30 and don't see any FB issues. If they are there I wish they would show up so I can get the fix ASAP.

I just wonder if you can call and get the fix regardless of if you see the issue or not? I would hate for the FB issues to show up after the warranty expires.

I went with the 8587 mount from Monoprice. The Monoprice information states that it's for up to 60", but there are other companies selling the same mount that have slightly different specs and state that it can do 65". It appears to be the same mount as these from Amazon: B004E2XB2O (Mount-It!) and B004E2Z0KU (Lumi). There are a lot of sellers on Amazon who seem to sell the Mount-It! version of this mount at a variety of price points.

I've got the mount on the wall already, but haven't put the TV onto it yet as I'm waiting to get the fluctuating brightness issue fixed before I put it on there. The mount does seem to be very sturdy and I can put a lot of my own weight on it and I don't notice any flexing or other signs of impending disaster.

It will probably be another week or two before we put the TV on the mount, so I'll report back then how it fares.

J

Is it safe to have the plasma sitting on its panel? It will be wedged into a cabinet which has a frame slightly smaller than the width of the panel. There is extra room behind the frame, so the panel will be sitting on a shelf behind the frame but without the stand or a wall mount holding the weight. I will use a safety strap or some other mechanism to secure the panel.

Are there any issues with doing this?

Well after looking at tons of information, I finally bit the bullet and ordered a 55 GT30 from Value Electronics and also having them calibrate the set as well, can't wait until it's done and shipped out, feels like I'm a kid again waiting for christmas day. This is my first purchase since buying a 42 PZ77U I believe about 4-5 years ago I can't remember now.

Congrats!! Are they going to do the inital break in also? I've always read it's best to get a few 100 hours on the sets before calibration. Don't know if they really matters, just what I have read.

Yes, they break it in for 150 hrs do the QA on it make sure you don't have a bad set and do all the updates.

When I had my firmware update for the FB, I explained to customer service that I was seeing it and they scheduled an appt. The night before I was scheduled, I received a call from the Panny regional tech/supervisor who asked me if I have seen it or just read about it online. I told him both but he didn't seem to care if I just read about it and wanted the firmware update. He was going to come either way. The update was night and day. I can't see it(FB) anymore and it was pretty obvious on a lot of content except for like news channels and shows that look like video. It was mostly on movies and film. Not sure if that makes any sense. Either way, to me this set is perfect now.

Thanks.

I havn't really noticed any FB on my July build so far but I am worried it might creep up sometime. Did your FB show up from the start or did it take a while?

Is there any way to tell if your TV has the patch already? With mine being a July build it could be possible I already have the patch but I don't know.

I was thinking on getting this wall mount. It is an ultra slim one. I am worried that I may not be giving myself enough room for the connections and the power cord. Any insight from you that have wall mounted tvs?
I don't want tilt or swing, just hold the tv in place.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

jlb,
I think I noticed it pretty soon after I got it and then it got harder to ignore. I waited a few months to make the call just because of the usual experience I have with any service co but my experience with Panasonic service was excellent. It was obvious when I made the call that they acknowledged the problem and don't try and make you prove there's a problem. I'm not sure on how to see the firmware version other than getting into the service menu. I'm sure someone will chime in and tell us.

You know, the FBr issue is much less annoying than the false contouring I'm seeing on my GT30. It's so bad in dark scenes (especially faces) that I couldn't possibly keep this set while maintaining my sanity.

Hooray for Amazon's return policy or I might be stuck with this. My 2009 PZ80U was so better in every way except for black level and light output. Is this just a NeoPDP issue or was my PZ80U not bright enough to bring out the false contouring?

Strange. While watching TV yesterday, my 65” turned itself off and back on twice, all within 10 minutes of each other. All of my other electronic equipment stayed on. We were having a snowstorm so maybe the voltage fluctuated just enough that only the TV (could it be that sensitive?) was affected.

This is what I have from Monoprice for my 55" GT30 http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2. And you can see how it is mounted here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/adukhon/6436590977/

and

http://www.flickr.com/photos/adukhon/6436590977/

and

http://www.flickr.com/photos/adukhon/6436590125/

I also highly recommend you get this kit: http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2.

Hope this helps.