How are RCA F38310 owners doing? - Page 14

Sounds great, so you have the DTV line coming into the receiver, then out of the receiver via Component to the tv? I dont think MPEG 2 going to 4 will be a problem. Was just wondering if this setup would work around the internal DTV receiver.

DyeLooper

I have the H20 connected via component through a cheap 4-way RCA switcher. Also have a Moto 6415 cable DVR, an LG LST-3410A DVR, and a Zenith DVB318 upconverting DVD player connected to the same switcher. These 4 devices work very well with the F38310. The H20 has its faults, but it's a big improvement over the built-in DCT-100, especially regarding the program guide.

AFAIK, anything with component outputs will work...unless it only outputs 720p.

Once I got my HR10-250, I deactivated the tuner in the F38310. It seemed a bit redundant. It's rare that I catch one show live, let alone the three at one time it would take to need the internal tuner as well as the two in the TiVo.

I also use a cheap RCA switcher (HR10-250, XBOX, XBOX 360) and just leave the TV on DVD (component) all the time. I run sound through the stereo so I just put the RCA remote away. It sucked anyway.

Not sure I'm following you here. The difference between Mpeg2 and 4 has to do with what Direct is sending to your dish and what receiver you have to receive that signal. Mpeg4 is the compression scheme that Directv is moving to for HDTV and is currently only used for you local channels depending upon your market and whether or not it's available yet to you.

Regardless of Mpeg2 or 4 you would need the appropriate dish and receiver to receive the HD signal from Directv. You then just hook up that receiver via component to your F38310 bypassing the internal Directv tuner. I also have an antenna to receive my local channels over the air and that is hooked up to my HR10-250 as well.

I too am using a cheap component switcher. Its a Philips that I purchased at Walmart for$20 and seems to work fine. I have an xbox and dvd player as well as the HR10-250 running through this.

Correct, I will be getting the new dish with the boxes. Just wasnt sure about the compatibility of not using the internal receiver. Thanks everyone else for their input. I looked at the back of the tv, did not know that their was only 1 component, will get the switcher also.

Thanks again to everyone

DyeLooper

Hello - new board member here - out of necessity. My JX4 will no longer respond to power on from either the remote or set top buttons. I can hear that fan still whirring so I know there is power. I left it unplugged overnight, then reconnected and still no go. The set is 5 yrs old, floor model from CC. I am in the Austin TX area, and you may have heard the past couple days have seen some *major* tstorm activity with lots of power flickering - so I have a suspicion as to the root cause. I found this forum via a google search and it looks to me like I may not be the first person to have this happen. Any obvious words of advice before I "take it out back and shoot it" ?

Thanks - Ron

Theres someone out there who will buy it for parts, not me though. Tuff Break, sorry.

DyeLooper

Right now, I'd be happy if it just disappeared from my front hall - I promise I won't call the cops. It IS trash day today - was thinking about putting it out there to see if anyone would haul it off for me .... any takers ?

If you are in South Jersey... I'll pick it up.

I certainly wouldnt trash the thing until you had an RCA tech have a look. Didnt DR Joe live in Austin?

I am hoping my 5-year-old JX5 lasts until the SED sets are available. Toshiba/Canon had a 36" prototype at CES, but I would like something in the 40-42" range to replace my F38310. If it becomes unrepairable before that, I would probably use my CC extended warranty to trade up to the Sony 50" SXRD.

How did the 36" SED look?

DyeLooper

I didn't attend CES 2006, but one reporter who was quoted in this forum said that after seeing the SED display the other TV's there all seemed lacking by comparison. It will be
interesting to see if they can sustain this performance level in mass production of the larger displays.

I have just gotten a Motorola digital cable box and I'm trying to program my remotes to control it.

I clear the AUX controls correctly and check that they are cleared. Then when I plug the correct Motorola Cable box code into it, the TV goes back into DirectTV mode. At this time the TV cannot be controlled.

Does anyone know how to either:
- Keep the TV from going into DirectTV mode?
- Possilbly control the Motorola CableBox without using a cablebox control sequence(this seems weird however). Something like a TV control sequence that would also control the cablebox.

????

With respect to the main question of this thread, I've had this model at least 5 years now, got it to watch DVDs only and have been very happy with it.

My only issues have been it's weight and the reflective nature of the tube.

Hello. I purchased my F38310 back in Jun02 and it worked great until two days ago. When I press the power button the green light comes on... but no picture. I took the back off to investigate and both fans (one to the tube... one on the bottom right, facing from behind) are trying and failing to move. There is a component in the middle of the board toward the bottom that makes a wind up noise and stops... I've read many things on other sites about bad power supplies and bad dm1 pic tubes. I purchased the TV w/stand for 2k... and I've read that the dm1 costs ~$1350... I thought I'd ask you who know. Thanx in advance!!! --- Bueler.

Have you ever had the original capacitors and diodes replaced? If not I would call an RCA tech out to do the fix first before worrying about the DM1 module. The cap and diode problem is a pretty straight forward fix and shouldnt cost that much.

The cap/diode problem shouldn't produce the symptoms that are presented in this case.

It sounds more like a power board issue...

I've never repaired or replaced anything on the TV... But after reading multiple blogs on the problems that are associated with the model... I don't want to attempt the process... know anyone that is in colorado and wants the beast for parts? Otherwise I'm going to give it to the local repair guy for the pleasure of never having to worry about it again... *g*... Unless you advise that it isn't that bad of a fix... And w/out being here I'm sure that is an implausible guess.

Where in CO r ya? I would have a tech have a look and tell you how much it would cost before you just toss it unless you itchin to get something new and bigger and better.

Dude 1394

I switched to HD cable a few months ago. I used the component inputs to the TV which use to be where my DVD player was plugged into. I relearned the on/off button on my universal remote from the DVD button on the RCA remote. Not sure how you have your cable box hooked to your TV.

Try that, good luck.

Don

ODO reads 32920. Only problem is dark bar (about 2 inches wide) between center and right (not too noticable). Was using built in DirectTV receiver. Now using HD DirectTivo bought from co-worker for $250. Great combo!

When it finally dies I guess I'll be looking at a plasma, LCD, DLP or whatever. In the meantime, the RCA is doing just fine!

My 5-year old F38310 JX5 has recently started exuding a slightly "sweet" odor when it has been running 1/2-hour or more. This spreads around the house and even causes clothing to pick up this smell. Anyone else run into this? I was wondering if it might be the start of leakage problems with the caps or diodes that have failed on some F38310's. Thanks.

No... but if it starts to exude a "smell" after it's warmed up, then there's probably something starting to fry.

Time to get it checked out.

Did anyone accidentally spill something into the set? Or an angry cat evacuate it's bladder?

Could possibly be a resistor cooking off...smell comes from the Shellac "cooking"..it will
fail at some point, sooner or later.

Everything looks normal, and actually quite clean when I look in through the vent openings. The odor source is very hard to localize. At one time or another, I have suspected 6 different video or audio components in my system. Yesterday, the problem seemed to stop when I moved my Moto 6412 Comcast DVR into another room. Its diagnostic menu shows an internal temp of 118 which seems a little suspicious since it used to be 108. I think I will request a replacement and see what happens.

I bought mine at NOBODY BEATS THE WIZ (remember them? YUCK!) way back in 2002?. It was a thing of beauty then, and still is, mostly. Slightly annoying vertical "ghost" line that scrolls from the bottom to the top, and the semi occaisional hi pitched whine when the screen image is very bright. Other than that, I love it. Gorgeous pq. It even survived me taking the back cover off to replace a fuse, and a voyage from NY to Maine and then to FL!

I have a CRT RCA bought in 1993!!!!! lol

I wanna use it to improve my knowledge of fixing TVs (not as a professional).
Any1 knows how to get SM?

Thank you

Hey, I guess I'll revive this thread. My trusty 38310 is acting up for the first time. I bought it new in Feb of 2001 and it's been great ever since. No service, no new caps. Umm, that is until last night.

I powered it up and found the interactive setup screen for some reason. I canceled it and all was well - I thought. I went to watch Stargate Atlantis and went to switch to 480i mode and the screen was dark, went to 480p same thing. I flipped back to 1080 and all was fine. I shrugged and watched TV for the evening. I tried to turn it off but it would not power down. I tried the power button several times and the remote , no go. Finally pulled the plug.

Since I did that it will not power up. Fans are running, but no power light, no high voltage.

Any suggestions - besides junk it -? I might call Sears where I bought it and see if they offer me a service contract and buy it.

Update: I pulled the back off and the only fan running is in the tuner, the two chassis fans are dead. Both spin freely so I doubt it's a bad bearing.

Mine went dead yesterday. Has sound, and a small pic band in the lower part of the screen which fades withing secs of powerup, to complete blackness with sound. Never smelled anything funny, fan sounds normal. Oh well. 6-7 years of use, very poor.

Odd, had something similar to this happen a couple months ago, 2-3 times, and didn't recur till now, now totally gone.

Any ideas?