Hitachi 57F59A - Page 13

The F59 models do not use a protective screen, so glare is not really an issue that I've seen.

Well, I went to two different chain stores to see the 51". Good Lord, really bad picture. They tried to steer me over to the 3000.00 TVs. Funny how they have the brightness turned up on some sets. The 57F59 I saw both looked way out of convergence. Can they really be that sneaky? I guess so. Thieves

Yep they can. Its rare nowadays you will see a CRT RP look well in the store.

I'm new to the forum and in need of help. I Just bought a the new Hitachi 57F59A CRT. At the same time Dish Network installed a new VIP 211 receiver. I'm having problems and not sure if it's the TV or the Dish 211 receiver. The HDMI cable is connected to the TV and 211. I'm using component videos to connect my DVD player. Here are the symptoms I'm experiencing. Please chime in if you are having similar problems with your 59 series Hitachi.

1.) All of a sudden the picture will pixelate and all you can see are extreme colors with image outlines.

2.) The picture will roll like the old tv sets of the 50's to70's both horizontally and vertically

3.) All of a sudden the faces will turn blue

4.) Sometimes the screen will go solid green or solid orange

5.) The screen will go black with no picture but audio remains

6.) The TV will turn off by itself (red power light goes out and picture is black)

I've had the 57F59A since July 17, 06

LASTLY, a close friend bought the same Hitachi set and had a full Dish Network install which included the VIP 211 receiver and the Dish 1000 dish. He is experiencing all of the same problems.

I also posted this same thread on a sattelite TV forum and got one response. This individual had just purchased the same identical Hitachi 57F59A and was having all of the same issues as well. He had a Dish Network 622 receiver/DVR

Please help!!!!!!!

Rick
One of the 57 brothers

Rick, I have DirecTV and have had the same EXACT problems. HH Gregg replaced the TV, and the problems persisted. I had a technician come out and the problems persisted. DirecTV replaced the box and same problems. I now connect to my DirecTV receiver via component, and I have no problems. I cannot see a difference between HDMI and component (I am using $20 RCA cables), so I am willing to give up on HDMI. I have my DVD player connected via HDMI and I occaisonally have issues with the screen going gray (maybe once every four movies), but again, I'm willing to live with it given the excellent PQ and price I paid.

I would like to know if there is anyone out there hooked up via HDMI to satellite that DOESN'T have these issues. Had I known there really is no sacrifice in PQ from HDMI to component, I never would have bought the HDMI cables.

I know this doesn't help, but I have been trying to find a solution for a couple of months now and have found no solution other than giving up on HDMI.

Ricky,

Just curious, what brand of HDMI cables are you and your friend using?

This sounds like a firmware issue either with the Dish box, or the Hitachi, with the HDCP portion of HDMI. You should call Hitachi tech support, and hopefully have them look into it. HDMI would have been much better if the companies involved were more worried about picture quality than content control(copying their images). They keep on coming out with new versions, which will have new bugs, instead of fixing what's already out there.

To BlackKnightInNC & Lee Bailey:

I'm using the HDMI cable that DishNetwork provided with my VIP 211 receiver. The gentleman that answered this original post on a sattelite forum did purchase an HDMI cable, but all of the same issues persisted.

I have talked to Dish and they admit to known software issues involving the HDMI. In layman terms, they say that the tv's HDMI port and the DishNetwork HDMI port, aren't talking to each other like they should. There is suppose to be a software download fix from Dish on 10/06/06 that will address issues with several of there HD receivers (211 & 622). I've talked to some folks from the Dish executive team and unofficially. one guy told me that he didn't think the HDMI issues on the 211 would be rectified.

As for Lee Bailey's comment, I have talked to Hitachi at least 4 times now, and they deny having any problems with the 57F59A at this time They were interested in knowing if the DishNetwork receiver was HDCP compatible, which I learned was the case. They suggested having a tech come out but the problems are all intermittent and short lived and I can't see the tech spending the day waiting for something to happen.

I'm going to wait for the software download in October to see if it helps. I too love the price and picture quality of the 57F59A and will put up with the problems if they don't get worse. I like the better clarity of SD using HDMI but would go to component video cables if the problems get worse. I bought a 3 year in home extended warranty from Mack Camera for $120, so if the set developes serious problems, I'm covered for 4 years. Anybody else having problems with the 59 series and/or DishNetwork HD/receivers?

Rick
One of the 57 brothers

What up fellow buckeye?

I've had my 57F59 for a little over a month. AWESOME.
I am holding off on HD and Bluray. I picked up an open item LG 511 and tried it for 30 days. I liked it a lot, but decided I would play the return game for now and try a few players. Best Buy Reynoldsburg has 2 open item ones again if you want to try one. Just set it to 1080i and you are set. I just wanted to try that awesome vertical Insignia with 1080i what is under $60. Happy so far. BBY doesn't carry it in our town instore. Just go in and ask for a "Customer Fullfillment". Then they ship it UPS 2 day for free.

Try it, if you don't like it, return it. See the couple Insignia threads, it plays DIVX too although manual does not say. It passes BTB and WTW. Sweet deal to hold you off on HD DVD. It works well on our TV. I am also considering an Oppo. I figured this will hold me off for now. I am amazed!!!!

I picked up the Mack EW: http://tapeworkstexas.com/mack_warranty_tv_only_.html

I plan to have Chad come out in a couples months.
Any other Ohioians want in on the group discount? http://www.hdtvbychadb.com/ I am using Lee Bailey's settings. I trust his opinions and I used my AVIA and DVE and confirmed them.

I really like this TV, although I am noticing very slight video to audio sync on HD chans. As example, Windfall in HDTV. Not enought to bother me though and I am easily bothered. (I am using Insight through their HD DVR Moto DCT6412, local HD is free through it no charge! I asked them to give me the HD chan package for free this month so I can try it out too.)

I got mine at CC. Use the monthly 10% discount coupon on one of the many "bargains" sites and order from the web to get the free shipping/delivery. I am not allowed to state how cheap I (and BlackKnightinNC) got ours for. :>
Am I allowed to state I got it for well under $1100 out the door? ehehehehhe

I did the optical focus today. Is it just me, or is the blue CRT just inherently more blurry than the red and green? Even after doing both electronic and optical focus, I just can't get the blue image looking quite as sharp as the other two colors. Is this normal?

Well in any case, I'm not too worried about it, as I've now got the image looking even more fantastic than before. If anyone cares here's my settings:

1) Optical & electronic focus to tighten up the blue, followed by 117pt manual convergence

2) Service menu tweaks (changes made under "TA1360"):
STATG20 = 02
STATG10 = 07
ColorG = 01

3) Video settings:
Contrast: 38
Brightness: 53
Color: 55
Tint: middle
Sharpness: 50
Color Temperature: Medium
Black Enhancement: Off
Edge Enhancement: Off
Noise Reduction: Off

I'm sure I'll be doing more tweaking but these settings will definitely get you to where you've got a nice image. BTW thanks to Lee Bailey, ssj2, and the others who've contributed so much great info on these sets.

your settings are about the same as mine. only a couple of differences. color on mine is 43, sharpness is 15 and color temp is standard,only medium and high or whatever the other color setting is to me they are to blue. i find standard is as close to natural color as possible,but every tv is different. as far as your blue still being blurry i think someone said your eyes see blue different then other colors and that is why ,maybe someone can correct me. either way glad to see your tv is looking good!

his color is high because its supposed to be, I don't know if you did his service menu tweaks but one fixes red push allowing you to turn color up to and leave it at what calibration discs tell you(My case Avia, and my color is at 55)

Hi guys,
In responce to the people that have had problems with screen turning green, orange, pixilated ect. i am having the same issues. I live in Canada so i dont have the same sat recv but i do have a Bell HD recv hooked up through hdmi with the above mentioned problems but i also am having the same problem with my DVD player hooked up through component, it happens at least once on every movie i watch. I have had it only 3 weeks and it is becomming annoying. I will contact Hitachi and tell them about the problem. i have a 5 year warranty and if they have to repair the TV more than 3 times they wil replace it. i guess service call no. 1 is in the near future.

Who else has had these problems? If you have these types of problems please contact Hitachi so they will hopefully admit that it is a bigger problem than they think.

BMD Creations

I have read in several places that over the air local HD channels are better than through a box. I went out and bought an antenna and found that the PQ needed tweaked. I am using Lee Bailey's settings, but I found that changing the edge enhancement to Low or Medium dramatically improved the OTA PQ.

Also, does messing with the service menu make much of a difference? How do you get into it?

In my area at least, I have always found HD-OTA picture quality to be inferior to my cable box (Scientific Atlanta 8300HD). This is true of the 57F59 and was also the case on the three LCD TV's I tried and returned before settling on this set. However, I do notice that PBS-HD looks really good over the air, while all the other stations are lousy. So I can't blame the tuner; the problem is the source.

To get into service menu, hold down menu key on TV, then with the remote press menu, 8, select.

Hey guys just giving a little feedback on the Dish 211 HDMI issues.

IMO it is a problem with the Dish HDMI. When I had the DIsh 211 HD reciever I too would get the green screen . Seemed like it happened every other day. I would be watching a program and then all the sudden the entire screen would kind of "explode" into all green . I would have to turn the set off for a few minutes to correct the issue.

Funny thing is I didnt even have to be watching something through the HDMI for this to happen. For instance even if I was playing the XBOX360 (component) the problem would occur. Seems like as long as the HDMI is hooked up to the Dish reciever it will make the TV act goofy weather your watching something via HDMI or not. I also had way too many lip synch issues with the dish. The lip synch issues were the reason I ditched the Dish. I didnt even think at first the Dish was causing my green screen issues.

I have had HD cable now(Comcast) ever since and everything has been PERFECT. Picture is better. ZERO lip synch issues, and no green screen or any other HDMI issues at all. There were more HD channels with Dish, but the lip synch issues were just too much.


On another note. Can someone recommend the best way to clean the screen ? Im afraid to mess it up and would like to know what you guys use for cleaning?

Hi everyone,

Just to add to the HDMI issues discussion, I too have the same issues when using my sony DVPNS75H upconverting DVD player.

Its the only component that I have hooked to my tv-set via hdmi. Over 30 hours of intense xbox360 playtime via component cables didn't give me any problem.

The two issues that I got with HDMI was the tv-set would shutdown itself. After that, when I would open it again, it would make 3 clickering sound and would take a longer time then normally to fully start.
The other issue would be that the tv-screen would turn all shades of green. Like only 1 canon would fire its color. This issue would last around 15-30 seconds before it would get back to full color.


Now my question for expert.

Is it possible that those kind of issues would be harmfull for my tv-set. I don't mind them because they happen maybe once every 4 hours of hdmi use. But if there is any chance that those issue would harm my set, I will instantly get back to component.

Is it possible that Hitachi or Sony would provide a firmware upgrade to iron out the problems ? If so, how are we supposed to upgrade those firmwares ? I have never before upgraded any firmware for my living room devices. Only for my computer parts.

Thanks

"Is it possible that Hitachi or Sony would provide a firmware upgrade to iron out the problems ? If so, how are we supposed to upgrade those firmwares ? I have never before upgraded any firmware for my living room devices. Only for my computer parts."

Thanks yes hitachi f59 tv's have a card slot for firmware updates they send you a card and you put it in the slot which is like a cable card. slot in the back of the tv, when they will have a firmware update is a total different story could be a long time.

How does RCA's 52" HD monitor compare to the 51f59 or 57f59. I'm going to purchase the 51" but I just seen the RCA on sale too. I have a feeling that the rca isn't even close to the hitachi in comparison. I'm going with the 51 over the 57 because of my room size. Do you guys think that bailey's settings would be okay for the 51" or will they be slightly different?

RCA is junk, they use lower quality parts than Hitachi. Stay away from RCA. Many years ago they used to have quality but ever since about the 1990's they've just been relying on their old rep and name to get people to buy.

Just got the 51 inc today, god it's awesome.

I called Hitachi. No upgrade yet. I can live with it, given the phenomenal PQ and the price!!

Hi,
I am having the same probs as everyone else. Screen sometimes goes green, sometimes pink, and sometimes the tv turns itself off automatically.
I have Comcast and am hooked up to the cable box using HDMI. Interestingly, I also had the same problem occur once while I was watching a DVD movie over Component. So, I dont think its an issue with ANY cable/satellite box or ANY dvd player. Its an issue with the TV, which I will either live with, or return the TV. This is my 3rd 57F59, and the 1st two were returned for the same problem!!!!!!
Anyone have any ideas?

Mehulkapadia.. Look at post #376 above.. It seems the issue may even happen on component if you have the HDMI input hooked up. Hopefully HDMI is the cause and Hitachi will release a firmware update.

It appears there is a problem with the set. The set is the common denominator here - different DVD players, different cable boxes and satellite providers. I am sending Hitachi this link and hopefully they will get on it.

i think the hdmi is causing all the problems. i have only seen a couple of times while watching dvd's at 4+ hours i have had strange colors appear in the movies (57f59). like i said it only happened a couple of times and only after watching movies for a long period of time. i also saw this on my other rptv a panasonic pt-47x54j. on that the whole screen turned red. i am 99% sure it has to do with hdmi. i have never seen anything like it through componet. hopefully they (hitachi) will have a firmware upgrade soon.

While we're on the subject of HDMI issues, one problem I noticed when I first got my 57F59 was that everything was red. My SA8300HD cable box was hooked up to the TV via component. At that point I finished hooking up my audio connections and realized I wasn't getting Dolby Digital to my receiver. So I went into the cable box menu and noticed "Audio Output" was set to "HDMI". I changed that to "Dolby Digital" and the red image problem went away.

My point is HDMI is flaky as hell. Some little innocuous setting, not neccesarily even video related, can screw up your image even if you're not using the HDMI connection itself. In my case, the cable box's HDMI audio setting was screwing up its component video output.

So when you get weird audio or video issues, always look at all your HDMI-related settings on all your devices.

I use an HDMI connection with both my Dish HD receiver and Panasonic S97 DVD player. No problems at all.

What do you have your settings at? Where did you get your and was it on sale?

Anybody, Will bailey's settings work for the 51f59 too???

Yeah . I posted earlier that even if your watching something through component you can get the "green screen" problem a long as your HDMI is hooked up regardless if you are currently wathcing that input or not. I assume its because even if your not watching the HDMI input the signal is still beintg sent to the TV.

It is starting to seem like the tv's HDMI is the culprit. As people are getting the issue with different devices. I assumed it was the Dish HDMI because Dish has acknowledged "problems" with their HDMI ports on the Dish 211 reciever.

Also I was getting this green screen every other day when I had Dish. Since hooking cable back up I havent seen it since. Its been a few weeks and everything is perfect with cable.