Official Panasonic VT50 owners thread - Page 245

I use this one: http://www.amazon.com/DBTech-Mini-Wireless-Bluetooth-Keyboard/dp/B0043AV8ZE/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1351108170&sr=8-10&keywords=ps3+bluetooth+keyboard

Works fine.

It's called data compression . All the pixels are just one color. There could be 4000x4000 pixels and the size wouldn't be much bigger.

I think it loops by default. If not, just change repeat playback to on. hit option button when slide is playing, you can even have music play.

I think there's no harm in running 24x7 for a few days. Make sure your set is ventilated. It'll get hot. It's good to torture test If it's going to die on you, you rather it dies during your 30 day return period. You can also watch your tv normally, by the way. Just don't use vivid (it is ugly anyway) and avoid watching the same channels with logos, bars, tickers, and other static images.

Thanks, but despite the name, that's a micro keyboard (6" wide with much of that used by the touchpad). I'm looking for something that has closer to full-sized keys.

Ha ! Yea, I am familiar with Data Compression, I just didn't know the files were so small to begin with before compression. But the "all pixels are one color" statement made it all make sense to me. I get it now.

Thats for the great info and advice and instructions and files, etc... You've really helped me. Sorry to have asked so many layman questions, but I just want to make sure I do this TV and my mom justice by doing it all the best way possible. (Its actually my moms TV).

Again, thanks for everything !

I have not seen any 55 vs. 65 comparisons. I have not heard of any downsides mentioned for the 65". In the TV shootouts, it is almost always the 65" that gets used, so I would assume the picture is as good as the 55".

Michael

Whoohooo! That's good news.

I think you just got a fluke with the bad sealing. I sincerely doubt you will have the problem with the new one.

Enjoy the TV and get well.

Michael

Hey Barth2k, just reporting I have plugged in the TV for its first time, did the "set up" screen thing - and then instantly put on the slides.

2 questions for you and anyone else here who is interested.

1 - The slides seem to be pretty "noisy". Looks pretty pixelated, not really a solid looking HD Color. Is this normal, or ok ? Is it the slides ? Or possibly the setting I got the TV on ? (which is not even been set to anything other than how it comes out of the box), Or even worse, is this how I can expect the TV to look ?

2 - While running the slides I notice a ever so slight looking black streak/bar running down the right side towards the edge of the screen. The other side seems to have one too (maybe) but it is so slight I am unsure. Also, I seem to se a few of them in the center as well. Is this normal for now and will go away ? Or is this something I should worry about ? Is anyone else experiencing this ?

Oh, and 3 - Should I be running these slides on 50% brightness ? Or 100% ? Etc.. where exactly is good for these slides break in ? Or does it matter ? Where is the brightness set out of the box ? Cause thats what it is set to now, and its running. Plan on leaving it on from here on out until 200hrs is up, so just want to be sure

It could be settings if you have changed anything from the default, but I followed the instructions given by D-Nice and saw some similar lack of smoothness, and it disappeared over the course of the 100 hours. Part of the goal of the slides is to even out any differences in brightness between pixels by aging them all a lot (relatively) in a short period of time.

Plasma panels have a steep initial drop in brightness for the first 500 hours or so, and then it turns into more linear decline towards the 50% brightness level 12 years down the road (or longer without 24/7 use). Note that "steep initial drop" isn't really anything to worry about. What it means is that instead of the 0.25% drop you'd expect to see in the first 500 hours if it was completely linear, you'll see maybe a 1% drop. This is similar to a pixel that should be RGB of (200,200,200) being (198,198,198).
I never saw anything like this, but if you did not disable the pixel orbiter, that might be the cause.

Here's the instructions I used:

Turn the pixel orbiter off: Menu-->Setup-->Anti image retention-->Off
Also be sure in the Main menu Setup settings under one of the categories
to prevent the auto turnoff of the set after 3 hours with no remote
activity, or else the set will power off after 3 hours of unattended
running of the slides.

Plug your USB stick (or SD card) with the photos on it into the side of the TV

Press 'VIERA TOOLS' -> Media-Player -> Photos
This will show thumbnails of all the pictures on your USB stick

Press 'MENU' on your remote

Choose 'Picture' ->
Picture Mode: Custom
***Leave all settings at their default***

This will apply the settings to the photos in your slideshow
When done press the 'RETURN' button on your remote

Now press the red rectangular button under the 'R' on your remote

Slideshow Settings

Frame: Off
Photo Effect: Off
Transition Effect: Off
Photo Size: Normal
Burst Playback: Off
Display Interval: Slow
Repeat Playback: On

Choose the top menu item here and press it to 'start slideshow'

Thanks for the instructions nabsltd, you've helped me greatly. I will follow them to a tee.

As far as my settings, I have set nothing up at all. Whatever the "out of box" settings are, is what I am running. So I have the "Pixel Orbiter" set to whatever default is. So I will go back and redo this as per the instructions.

I am really hoping these blackish bars/streaks go away. They are stationary. And never move. And are in the same place from all angles (so I am not imaging this) - But they are extremely faint. There is one to the right side that is the most visually prominent though. My 64 year old mom can see them all though as well.

I called Viera concierge about the noise. They contacted a repair service. Service guy called to confirm appointment. He said it is a common problem and easy to fix. They just need to tighten some screws on the inside (Not the outside screws). I don't think it's that simple, but I said ok. We will see. I'll report back on Tuesday,

I'd have to say that there are a lot of people on here with a few screws loose.

Only difference I know of is slightly better black levels on the 65".

So I'm having an issue with my settings menu. I was trying to use Topper's settings as a baseline, but I can't adjust 1080p pure direct. It's set to off and it's grayed out so I can't set it to on. All other adjustments are available and I've been able to use the rest of his settings (which are looking good, btw). I updated the firmware to the most recent version so I can't see why the 1080p pure direct would be grayed out. I tried the settings on both HDMI 1 and 2 and the option isn't available on either. Any thoughts?

I think it is only available when the input is YCrCb 4:4:4 and 1080p.

Honestly I haven't seen any difference when it is enabled. It just turns off certain video processing by the set, nothing earth shattering.

Do these look like faint image of something that you've been watching? Like you've been watching 4:3 shows and now there's a faint trace of the side bars (this is the dreaded image retention, IR for short). Or a ticker from sports or news channel?

Or does it look more like this

http://www.avforums.com/forums/attachments/plasma-tvs/115901d1239225991-colour-banding-bandingqp5.jpg

1080p pure direct: On
Black level: Light
3:2 pulldown: On
24p Direct in

Hi guys. Trying to make adjustments per recommendation on forum and these 4 are greyed out in the menu. How do I access them? Thanks for your help.

I'm having pretty big buzzing issues with the TC-P65VT50 I purchased a couple weeks ago. It buzzes loud enough to hear from 20+ feet away for the first 15 minutes every time it turns on. It is pretty annoying and I've already had a guy from Panasonic came out and tried to tighten some screws but it did nothing. Anyone have this same experience, and if so what did you do about it?

Really appreciate the help.
AI

Turn up the volume on the show or movie you're watching.

20+ feet away! Do you have bionic hearing? Seriously if it's that loud there is something wrong. I can only hear minor buzz on my GT50 if I place my head right behind the plasma and mainly on full white screens not when I turn it on. They are pretty much the same TV BTW.

We haven't watched anything on the TV yet. I'm being so anal about "Break In", that I had all the slides ready on a USB thumbdrive, and then had the needed setting navigation in the menus all thought out ahead of time (by studying the manual). Took the TV out of the box for its first time, assembled it, turned on the set, and quickly did the "initial Set Up" routine, then went VERY quickly to start the slides. Been on ever since (30hrs so far).

The things I was seeing looked DEAD ON like what is in the link you linked me to. The thing they are calling "banding" I guess.

BUT I want to report that I followed nabsltd's instructions on the settings to have the TV on while running these slides... I stopped them and tuned in the settings, and BAM !! The images look way better, clearer and brighter AND the "banding" started to look more and more faint. Then, by about the 20th hour, they are gone !

We are very happy, and the screen is looking promising. Seems to look better and better every 5 hours or so ! Just in case it helps someone else - The settings that I had wrong (because I left the whole TV in default "out of box" settings, and the slides recommend something slightly different than default) was:

1 - Pixel Orbiter - I had it "Enabled". Instructions say to turn it off ("Disabled").

2 - Picture Mode - I had it in "Standard", Instructions say to turn it to "Custom" (then leave it in those defaults).

3 - Display Interval - I had it on "Normal/Medium", Instructions say to put it on "Slow".

After making those little changes, man, the TV came to life. THOUGH I admit, I am only viewing solid color screens so far LOL

So exactly what is this banding issue ?

Ditto but I ran my set for 200+ hours with no burn in. Played with 3d yesterday at 100 contrast for a few hours and to my suprise the word MENU seems to have stuck. Been running slides overnight, its not huge but annoying. Seems like running 3d makes the plasma more prone to it. I did not even leave the menu on for long. Few seconds at a time changing settings for calibration.

Ironically enough, I have watched plenty of sports and the pixel orbiter seems to have done a fine job and this has not been a case until now. Will see if this is temporary or something to worry about. Its not that hard edged but dissapointing nonetheless.

JoelxD: I echo Topper and suggest you start watching tv normally. Set picture to THX Cinema which will give you a nice picture and keep contrast reasonable.

Here is the thing about slides. They don't prevent IR, which can happen at any time, though maybe more for new sets. The slides are to age the pixels quickly so you can start calibrating the set. I run the slides on vivid to stress test it and make sure it doesnt suffer from early death. Also, the slides let you see certain problems with tv you may not notice itherwise. You can watch tv and run the slides when you're not watching, if you like. Show your mom how to start the slides.

The reason you should watch tv is 1/ it's what you bought it for 2/ you have 30 days to decide, right? How will you if you like the set from just watching slides. 3/ some sets seem more susceptible to IR than others. If yours is prone to IR, it's better that you find out now.

As for the banding, sounds like yours is fading already. If you don't see it when watching tv normally, and when you look at the slides, the banding is just one line on the right side and isn't looking worse, then don't worry about it. Do check the slides occasionally for any IR. Also, check for any bad pixel if you have not already, eg on a blue slide you see one or more pixel that is white or something.
Edited by barth2k - 10/26/12 at 9:22am

You gave Panny a shot to fix it, I think at this point you call your dealer and ask for a new set or refund.

That's really interesting. If you can, try to get a sense of which screws they tighten.

If this proves to work for you, it would go a long way toward explaining the apparent variability in noise experienced by many people here. It might make me want to try to get my quiet set to the "near silent" range.

loving my vt50, a near perfect set, i was curious tho, i have an oppo bdp 93, should i output in Source Direct Mode, or the 1080p setting to get the best picture? thanks

Yeah, I read these forums for hours and thought for sure the buzzing would be a non issue before I purchased. My set is crazy loud. I'll see if I can post a video today. I have ok hearing, but I can hear it from two rooms away when it comes on... then it dies down to a small unnoticeable buzz after 15 minutes.

Reposting this in the hopes someone knows the answer to it...

With this TV being Internet capable, if I were to connect an ethernet cable to it, would I be able to watch a Slingbox like I do through a PC or my Smartphone's Slingbox app? Specifically, what I'm wondering is possible is if I can log in to my Slingbox account from this TV like I'm logging in to it via a computer, by typing in my user name and password, then being able to watch the Slingbox on my TV full screen as if I was watching that channel right through my DirecTV DVR and this TV. I hope I've been clear in what I am asking. If not, let me know and I'll try and reword it. I guess in a nutshell my main curiosity is this--does this TV have the ability to input characters like when you use a keyboard on a PC, thereby letting me log in to my Slingbox and watch it on the TV itself?

Well the web browser has an on screen keyboard so that's not the problem. The problem is streaming the video. The web browser supposedly has flash but I don't know how well it works. That's assuming sling box uses flash.

There's no sling box app in viera connect. They have netflix, Hulu, amazon video, YouTube, vimeo, plus more obscure services.

You're probably better off hooking up a laptop or desktop.

I wish these companies would just use google tv instead of trying to roll their own store.

I guess I can give it a try. I already use my PC to watch the Slingbox. I was just wondering if it can be done directly through the TV itself.

I doubt it. There would have to be a Slingbox app.

Michael