Samsung Service Menu Successes

As many here know, the Samsung line of HD sets have suffered from "geometry" problems for quite some time. There have been many, many posts explaining how these problems have been fixed in the SM or otherwise.

I'm asking all of you who've had success in Samsung's SM solving geometry and other problems. Another issue I read about often is "blobs" of color in an upper corner of the picture.

Please try to keep this thread dedicated specifically to SM successes, and keep a lid on complaints and such.

I look forward to what's certain to be a long list of helpful tips for us Samsung owners.

I'll start.

I bought my Samsung set about 4 years ago. At the time I was frequenting another forum, the Home Theater Spot. At the time, the Samsung section in that forum was super active with a wealth of good information.

What follows are the SM adjustments that I found gave the biggest bang for the buck. I posted this a long time ago but I don't recall which thread it was for. Please keep in mind that on older Samsung sets there were more sub-menus than now. The setting names sould still be the same but you may find them in different locations than where I've indicated - I see now that many of the adjustments are at the "root" level, so look there too.

In Video Adjust 1:
-Change COL AXIS from "2" to "1" (resolves the infamous red push-1 is more neutral)
-Change CTI Level from "1" to "0" (removes excessive chrominance enhancements)
-Change LTI Level from "1" to "0" (removes excessive luminance enhancements)

In Video Adjust 2:
-Change Gamma to "0" (more accurate blacks)
-Change DC Trans to "1" or "0" (holds black level)
-Change VM Level from "2" to "1" or "0" (removes artificial edge enhancement)
-*Change DPIC Level from "3" to "0"
-*Change SHP CD from "1" to "0"

*These proved to be good adjustments but for the life of me I can't recall the function of the setting.

As always, please record the default value of any setting you decide to adjust or change, before doing so.

Thanks so much for the kind words.

I look forward to hearing more about your experience, and any successes you have tuning your set.

Cheers!

For those unfamiliar with service menus:

These Service Menus (SM) were not intended for consumers. They were intended for trained service technicians to use when servicing these sets.

Obviously, the access code has been discovered and the crown jewels are available to all.


But no one should assume that playing in the SM is safe. Because it is not. One can damage their set to the point that it's ruined at worst.

Please do not enter the SM unless you intend to "follow the rules." The most important of which is "document the default values" before making any adjustments. There are a boatload of settings to adjust in the SM, and one does not need to record every value for every setting. But, it's critical that one records the value of any setting they intend to adjust or change. Failure to do so has caused many owners lots of heartache.

Let me explain why - our crt sets are analog devices. Even if your set is exactly the same as your neighbor's that doesn't mean both sets have the same values in their respective SMs. Each tv is adjusted at the factory during final test against a set of test patterns. The manufacturer's don't follow a script whereby each set gets the same settings. As analog devices, each set may align differently geometrically. Each set can meet the color standards at different settings then the next set. This results in sets within the same model line with different SM values.

Bottom Line:
The result is that if you hose your set in the SM, you can have no reason to expect that someone else's settings will save you.

Please record the default values of any SM settings you intend to adjust or change.

The second rule:
Before venturing into the SM, properly calibrate your tv. It's critical that your set conform to NTSC standards before making SM adjustments. The settings in the user manu achieved through the use of a calibration dvd give you a "benchmark" from which to start. If you make adjustments in the SM first and then calibrate the user menus, you have no reason to expect that any of the settings will behave properly. I use Avia, DVE and the Home Theater Tuneup by Sound & Vision magazine. They all do the job well. DVE is the hardest core disc, and can be intimidating to newbies. Avia is a bit easier to navigate and has all the tools necessary. Home Theater Tuneup is geared towards those unexperienced with calibration. The introduction is outstanding and it is very easy to follow. And, it has all the test patterns necessary for when you decide to venture into the SM. Just do it! Buy one and start on your way to incredible image, and audio, fidelity.

Final Rule:
The final rule is HAVE FUN. Many of us have seen incredible improvements in picture quality after calibrating our sets in both the user menu and the service menu.

Cheers!

And lets hear from others who've made positive changes in their SMs.

The Samsung does not have an "Enter" and "Write" mode like the Sony sets. If you change a value and exit the SM then the value has been changed.

Kinda scary, eh?

I congratulate you for the gutsy move to go with Home Theater Tuneup. It's a little known and used dvd when compared to Avia and DVE. I sincerely believe you'll be fully satisfied. The package should come with red, blue and green color filters (I'm pretty sure this one comes with all three - at least the blue one for sure - I'm tto lazy to go look right now). Sometimes when these dvds are purchased from non-retailers, or rented, the filters are missing. The blue filter is critical for calibrating color, so be sure your seller is including this.

Basic Calibration - This is as much art as it is science. And some of these settings are interdependent with others. Contrast and Brightness for example. It will take time and much practice before you feel comfortable with this. So take it slow and very easy. These sets, being analog, require follow-up sessions to account for the settings drifting over time. I calibrate my sets at least once every six months. When I first got my calibration dvd(s) I did it numerous times to get used to how it all worked. As you practice calibrating you will get better and better at identifying how the controls affect the test patterns. In the beginning it may even seem that your adjustments don't seem to affect the test patterns they way the dvd tells you it should. I found this with Contrast on my Sony set. No matter how high I set it, the pattern just didn't seem to bloom they way I thought it should. It just took practice and patience on my part. You'll also find that when you adjust contrast, and then brightness, if you go back to contrast the new value may seem wrong. You may have to go back and forth with those two until you're satisfied with the results. Again, just be patient and take your time. It'll come easier to you as you practice.

Your planned adjustments are plenty for starters. The overall calibration will affect the user menu for Contrast, Brightness, Color, Hue and Sharpness. Also Color temp.

Once this is done it's best to tackle SM settings one at a time. Otherwise it gets very hard to know which ones made the difference. Make the adjustment and then spend some time watching the tv. See how it looks in high and low light conditions. Then either keep the change, make another adjustment or return it to default. Then move to your next planned adjustment. Try not to adjust two at once.

Again - be sure to have FUN. If you're not having fun you're working too hard.

Did you make the changes one at a time? Also, did you observe the settings in both low and high light conditions? When this is done the changes can be more apparent.

However, if the adjustments make no real difference just leave them at the default values. It could just be that Samsung has gotten better with these settings since I got my set in '02.

That's great stuff with H-PAR! This is the kind of thing I'm hoping for with this thread. If you get a definitive fix with your experiments that's even better. But knowing what these settings affect on screen is critical.

Thanks!

Your english is just fine.

Thanks for contributing.

And welcome to AVS!

I've read a number of posts having to do with HDMI, optical out and muting issues. Try doing a search on the Official SlimFit thread and see what you find. If you find the fix please post it back here.

Good Luck.