Official Panasonic GT50 Series Discussion Thread [No Street Price Talk] - Page 78

Originally Posted by hotsho111 

Ya, I'm not really worried about it. I don't notice it during normal viewing I was just checking to see if it was 'normal' or a symptom of some worse problem

Originally Posted by sheshechic 

North Dakota in the winter. Whites!

Originally Posted by wattheF 

I hear alot of people raving about their harmony remotes, but i noticed most of them are $100 or more. Are there any in the $50 range that are worth buying or is best to get one of the good ones?

Originally Posted by ATC7 

I have the Harmony 600. It's cheap (under $50) and works great with the GT50. It handles up to 5 devices. But I think it's been replaced by the 650 which adds a colour screen instead of the B/W screen on the 600.

Originally Posted by HLdan 

Ah I see. Haven't seen the movie yet but I already know my GT50 buzzes on white screens. Personally I don't care especially since I know it's nothing actually "wrong" with the TV.

Originally Posted by HLdan 

Ah I see. Haven't seen the movie yet but I already know my GT50 buzzes on white screens. Personally I don't care especially since I know it's nothing actually "wrong" with the TV.

Originally Posted by ATC7 

I have the Harmony 600. It's cheap (under $50) and works great with the GT50. It handles up to 5 devices. But I think it's been replaced by the 650 which adds a colour screen instead of the B/W screen on the 600.

Originally Posted by wattheF 

I hear alot of people raving about their harmony remotes, but i noticed most of them are $100 or more. Are there any in the $50 range that are worth buying or is best to get one of the good ones?

Originally Posted by RandyWalters 

Your TV is defective. You should not be able to hear any buzzing beyond maybe 4 feet, much less 15 feet. Is the buzzing coming from the screen when you sit dead center? Or is it coming from the back of the TV (like the upper right corner when viewing from the rear)?
Can you have the TV replaced? If not, call Panasonic and get it repaired.

Originally Posted by LDBecker 

I had some grief programming my Harmony One with my 55GT50 unitl I ignored Harmony's software that asked if the input button cycled through the inputs or if it had direct buttons for each. It DOES cycle through the inputs, but there are descrete codes in the Harmony data base for accessing the inputs directly. Works like a charm... I have "activities" for watching Blu-Ray (Panasonic DMP BDT 500 through Multi-channel inputs on my Pioneer Elite 59TXi), Satellite (Dish 922), DVDs, SACD and DVD-Audio (PIoneer Elite 79AVi through i-Link sound and HDMI video), and 3rd Gen Apple TV for AirPlay of iTunes stuff AND YouTube videos onto the GT50. The Harmony One pulls it all together, one button for each activity.
One activity I still have to program - which I didn't realize I needed - is Skype. My son is in the Peace Corps in Jordan and we're enjoying seeing him on the big screen. Right now when he tries to Skype us we get a message on the screen, but then I have to select the call, go into the menu and turn the TV sound to on (it's normally off, running everything through the receiver), and then turn the sound off again when I'm done with the call. Kind of cumbersome, even knowing what to do. My wife wouldn't be able to do it. Has anyone done something like this with the GT50/Harmony One? I'm having trouble getting my head around it.
BTW, the Panasonic camera works well - it SHOULD be built into the set rather than be another $100 or so. The microphones work well, and the camera gives a good WIDE shot (no zooming that I can see) if the light is ok.
Larry

Originally Posted by LDBecker 

I had some grief programming my Harmony One with my 55GT50 unitl I ignored Harmony's software that asked if the input button cycled through the inputs or if it had direct buttons for each. It DOES cycle through the inputs, but there are descrete codes in the Harmony data base for accessing the inputs directly. Works like a charm... I have "activities" for watching Blu-Ray (Panasonic DMP BDT 500 through Multi-channel inputs on my Pioneer Elite 59TXi), Satellite (Dish 922), DVDs, SACD and DVD-Audio (PIoneer Elite 79AVi through i-Link sound and HDMI video), and 3rd Gen Apple TV for AirPlay of iTunes stuff AND YouTube videos onto the GT50. The Harmony One pulls it all together, one button for each activity.
One activity I still have to program - which I didn't realize I needed - is Skype. My son is in the Peace Corps in Jordan and we're enjoying seeing him on the big screen. Right now when he tries to Skype us we get a message on the screen, but then I have to select the call, go into the menu and turn the TV sound to on (it's normally off, running everything through the receiver), and then turn the sound off again when I'm done with the call. Kind of cumbersome, even knowing what to do. My wife wouldn't be able to do it. Has anyone done something like this with the GT50/Harmony One? I'm having trouble getting my head around it.
BTW, the Panasonic camera works well - it SHOULD be built into the set rather than be another $100 or so. The microphones work well, and the camera gives a good WIDE shot (no zooming that I can see) if the light is ok.
Larry

Originally Posted by sheshechic 

At what distance do you no longer hear buzz?

Originally Posted by RandyWalters 

I wouldn't call Harmonys excellent, they're not built very well and i've had problems getting them to do what i need them to do. Lotsa complaints about em here.
I prefer the URC remotes:
URC R40 Thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1384297/official-urc-r40-thread
URC R50 Thread (older model):
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1084473/urc-r50

Originally Posted by RandyWalters 

I wouldn't call Harmonys excellent, they're not built very well and i've had problems getting them to do what i need them to do. Lotsa complaints about em here.
I prefer the URC remotes:
URC R40 Thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1384297/official-urc-r40-thread
URC R50 Thread (older model):
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1084473/urc-r50

Originally Posted by TIME2PLAYDAGAME 

I've posted this already but here goes...This is all I do when playing X360/PS3. I set both systems to 1080p & use Game mode on the TV. Only settings on the TV I changed were turn off color management & turned on 1080p direct. And this was only due to over saturation while playing MW3, all other games seemed fine. I have had no issues at all with PS3 but again, I use the same settings from X360 just to be safe.

Originally Posted by lance7 

I am thinking about picking up the 60inch version and I wanted to see if the TV is bright enough? I know the blacks are great but, when I look at the set in the store, it seems a bit dark. I know the LED's are cranked up way too bright but, the GT50 seems a bit dark. Can it be adjusted? I also wanted to see if anyone could shed some light on if they think the GT50 is as good as the VT50? I am contemplating the GT50 because I have room for a 60inch model and the VT50 only comes in 55 or 65 so I would have to go with the 55 if I stay with the VT model.
Any light shed would be great. My wife kind of likes the "soap opera" look that the Samsung LED has but, I am thinking that the plasma is the way to go. Please let me know what recommendations you can offer.
Thanks in advance for any advice!

Originally Posted by Chappy-2 

I am in the market for a new TV now that I am finishing my basement. I have been driving myself crazy researching for the right one & have narrowed it down for the most part to a 65GT50. But, one thing has had me very nervous.....I have also been reading several reports of bad IR issues with this year's Pannys. I have never owned a plasma (only have owned LCDs & LEDs) & do not want to constantly worry about IR issues. I know that sometimes what is a minor / rare issue overall can be exaggerated in the forums because people post to get assistance on fixing an issue. While the vast majority maybe fine & we just don't see a postings like "everything is great, not IR issues here."
I am interested in hearing from those people that have owned the GT50 for a while (or even the ST50 & VT50).....should I be worried / concerned? That is currently the only thing that is holding me back & potentially going down the route of a Samsung ES8000.

Originally Posted by sheshechic 

If you will display a lot of static images on the screen then plasma is not for you. If you only watch ESPN or MSNBC or material that has bars all the time then you will encounter IR at some point. Many of the people who have reported terrible IR may have done the same and did not adjust their viewing or much else to help the IR dissipate. I believe that many of those who reported it on Amazon and here used the slides to hunt for it and when found tripped out. Some of them really freaked out when it did not go away within a certain time frame. IMO, most did not see it with normal content. Of those that did, few reported that it didn't fade and/or go away all together. There are some that I cannot draw real information from because they did not provide enough information.
If, as one wise member said, you feed your tv a well balanced diet of a variety of material you should have no problem. One other very wise member said that hunting for IR with the slides is the equivalent of self abuse, and I couldn't agree more. I had the GTs for 3 weeks each, I did not run slides, I did turn on the orbiter, lowered contrast and brightness a bit and I saw no IR at all. I did run a lot of HD full screen, bug free and banner-less material the first 24 or so hours but that was so that it could settle in- brights got brighter and darks got a little deeper and they continued to do that during the time that I had them.

Originally Posted by Chappy-2 


Thanks for the response. I think I can get used to stretching non-HD channels to full screen. I do play MW3 on my PS3 occansionally, but 1-2 hours at most in a single streatch. If the GT50 can handle that without IR problems, then I feel good about purchasing it. Right now ST50 & GT50 seem like the most bang for the buck along with fewer reported issues,

Originally Posted by Chappy-2 


Thanks for the response. I think I can get used to stretching non-HD channels to full screen. I do play MW3 on my PS3 occansionally, but 1-2 hours at most in a single streatch. If the GT50 can handle that without IR problems, then I feel good about purchasing it. Right now ST50 & GT50 seem like the most bang for the buck along with fewer reported issues,

Originally Posted by tom1996 

I use a cable box DVR via HDMI but also connect the RF cable to the antenna input. That allows me to record two programs and watch live TV from one of the major channels (only the major channels, other cable channels must use a cable box). Can the remote be set up to "Watch TV via STB" as well as "Watch TV via Antenna?"
Thanks

Originally Posted by tom1996 

If "...stretching non-HD channels to full screen" means using Menu/Picture/Aspect adjustments HD=Size 2, I believe one posting indicated that it turned off pixel orbiter, which is used to prevent Image Retention. Check it out.

Originally Posted by Chappy-2 

Originally Posted by Chappy-2 


Thanks for the response. I think I can get used to stretching non-HD channels to full screen. I do play MW3 on my PS3 occansionally, but 1-2 hours at most in a single streatch. If the GT50 can handle that without IR problems, then I feel good about purchasing it. Right now ST50 & GT50 seem like the most bang for the buck along with fewer reported issues,