2007 Samsung LED Owner's Thread (HLT XX87/89S) - Page 431

The one I had used for the phillips was Magnolia Hi-Fi, which is where I bought the tv originally. It then became Magnolia AV, and then got acquired by Best Buy. The replacement is covered by Best Buy. Haven't had any issues to have a reason for service yet, but the coverages costs Best Buy offers are not unreasonable. I hope if I need it, they are as good as the old magnolia was, but I would prefer to not find out.

Stay away from Best Buy...... google "Best Buy Warranty" and you'll read all you need to know about how wishy-washy they are.

I have a friend who's light engine in his 2.25 year old 42" Zenith crapped out and here we are a year later and he's yet to get his set fixed. It's been with the repair shop since last August. Calls to the repair company, Best Buy, and even LG (aka Zenith) have yet to get him a resolution. He ended up purchasing a new TV on black friday of last year, from all places, Best Buy.

I wouldnt have wanted to have been the sales toad that asked him if he wanted to buy the protection plan.

I think thats part of the misfortune of being the largest retailer, due to the sheer numbers, and the fact that noone goes online to comment on good service, you will find a lot of bad experiences. The service I received on the phillips set was all done by Best Buy Service, as it was after the merger, and I had moved out of the Magnolia service area, and I had no complaints with how they serviced the set, other than the fact that phillips stopped making the replacement parts.

I have a HL-T5687SAX with firmware 1008. I see new firmware available for HL-T5687S that fixes an intermittent audio dropout problem with HDMI which I have. But I don't see any firmware compatible with my set. Where can I get firmware to fix my problem?

rzx300:
I believe that the firmware for the Hl-T5687S would work fine for you. You can give Samsung Technical Service a call to verify this.

But that firmware doesn't work for mine. I downloaded the firmware for HL-T5687S and the TV didn't recognize anything on the USB and Samsung sent me a USB stick with the same HL-T5687S firmware on it and the TV didn't recognize anything on that either. I gave the tech my serial number and they still sent me the firmware for HL-T5687S.

I don't think my TV is looking for a folder on the USB that is named T-LAURAUS0, which is what I was sent. I think mine is looking for something similar to T-LAU1AUS. The HL-T5689S looks for T-LAU2AUS. I am basing this on what displays when I check the info on my TV for the currently installed firmware.

rzx300:
Well, the file name is going to change from one version to another. "T-LAURAUS" is the firmware update file name... I also have a "...SAX" and the "...S" firmware has always worked for me. The Samsung techs are sending you that firmware too...

My last suggestion is to get the EXACT procedure for updating your firmware from the Samsung techs and to follow it precisely. One surprising thing is how long it takes to do the firmware update - a looooooonnnnnnggggg time. Patience is necessary. What MAY be happening is that you are stopping the update process too early, BEFORE the update has actually been completed and then when you check your firmware on the set, it is indicating that it hasn't changed.

Good luck.

During the beginning of the update process, the display says it is scanning the USB and that it may take 30 seconds. After that the display shows another window with a title of Software Upgrade. In that window, it says "No file available to upgrade. Please check it and retry." So the upgrade never even starts.

It does this with the file I downloaded and also with the USB device that Samsung sent me with the firmware on it. I don't think I am stopping anything, I don't think it even starts.

rzx300:
Well it looks like your only option is to get Samsung Customer Service to help you out. They try to be helpful but they have demonstrated themselves to be pretty incompetent in the past. I don't know any other way for you to proceed at this point... Sorry, man. Good luck.

I haven't followed this thread for awhile, but I do remember a lot of discussion that SAX firmware is different than S firmware. One guy bricked his set putting S firmware on a SAX. The last firmware for an S was 1026 and it took about 5 min to update from 1024. I *think* the last SAX firmware is 1008. Download this thread (click on thread tools) and search in notepad or editor of choice.

I currently have 1008 on my TV, but that doesn't have the fix for intermittent audio over the HDMI that was in the firmware released in April 2008. The firmware released then is listed only for HL-Txx87S and HL-Txx89S.

mnilan, since you said you have a HL-Txx87SAX, what firmware does your TV show that it has installed?

I went ahead and went through all of the messages. No one has claimed anything but 1008 for the HL-Txx87SAX. I have had the digital board replaced twice in my 6187SAX in the last few months. In all cases the firmware was 1008.

I have an external antennae connected to the TV with the audio fed by HDMI to my receiver. The audio randomly cuts off even though the picture is still visible. Every once in a while the picture also freezes or cuts out, but that doesn't happen very often.

Did you ever notice anything similar to that? Reading about the firmware on the Samsung site, it sounds like the latest firmware version fixes that, but I am not sure that they made that fix for the firmware for the HL-Txx87SAX. Why would they leave that TV without the fix?

rzx300:
I too have 1008... so it looks like I was mistaken about using ...S firmware. Sorry for the confusion. Samsung customer service looks like you only avenue...

Hello all! I have owned a Samsung HLT-6187S since November of 2007. It is an awesome set for movies, but I have had many problems with it. When the set was literally 1 day out of warranty the screen was always green. Called Samsung and they extended my warranty for 3 months. It was much appreciated. Tech replaced some parts and as I was standing there talking to him another color went out. So he had to take the TV back to his shop. I've had the TV back for about 3 1/2 months and now the color is flashing again and now the screen goes totally blank; no video at all, but there is audio. I called Samsung again and this time they extended my warranty for one month, but for parts only - I have to pay labor. I am very grateful that they extended my warranty twice, but I am not pleased to say the least. I feel like I got a lemon. I payed way too much for a TV that needs service every couple of months. Samsung told me before that 3 occurences of the same issue warrants a replacement model. I am not hearing that now. Is that because I am out of warranty? Has anybody had any similar issues with this TV? Does anybody have any advice dealing with Samsung? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I have a hlt6189sx/xaa version reo1. If I turn my sound up it cuts out. I dont have any external speakers hooked up. Samsung sent out a repairman 3 times. They replaced the main board, speakers and the power supply. The set is only 6 months old. Samsung now offered to replace it with a ln52b550. I reluctantly accepted the exchange. I went to bb but they didnt have the ln52b550.I looked at the ln40b550 and the ln52a550 and the pictures were terrible in comparison to the hlt6189. Does any one know how to fix the hlt6189? Has anyone seen both the hlt6189 and the ln52b550? I dont like losing 9 inches especially if the picture is going to be worse!!! I can always refuse the exchange. The 550 series of lcds is the low end (60hz no bells and whistles). I don't know if it's gonna have a bunch of motion blur. If any one knows how to repair the hlt6189 or has seen the ln52b550 please let me know. Sorry this is so long as I said this is the 1st time Ive ever posted anything anywhere. Thanks in advance.

Samsung may "upgrade" to a better model if you pay the difference if that is an option you can tell them your impression of the 550 series and ask. I had a HLS5087 (bulb) replaced and they wanted to swap for a HLT bulb unit. I paid $300 to get the LED version.

If you can't find someone to fix your sound situation, consider buying a separate home theater sound system. There are lots of options. I would bet you could get a fairly inexpensive package that would give better sound than what the TV provides. I have the 6189 and I love it. I wouldn't give it up until OLED (or something better) is available in large sizes at a reasonable price which is going to be awhile.

Anyone know of a way to remove the unused antenna input from my source list so I don't have to flip through it when switching from HDMI2 to HDMI1?

Exactly a year and a day after i purchased this set, the RED led appears to have dropped. I called Samsung, and luckily I registered online within 30 days of purchase, so I got a 90 day warranty extension. I am so disappointed that the led's are dying after only a year of use (probably less than 2000 hours on the set). I'll follow up on how the repair goes.

Has anybody with basic repair skills ever replaced a single led (not the whole engine)? I'm think about stocking up on a few standby's while they are still available.

Hey, I figured since we seem to be having some LED failure after a year or so of use on these sets, I was interested in seeing how many hours I have put on my set so off to the service menu (for the first time) I went.

At this point, my 6187SAX is still stroking after 15 months and 3400+ hrs of use.

Anyone else got a success story to post?

How do you check hours of usage?

you'll have to enter the service menu.... which I've read will RESET ALL OF YOUR CONFIGURATION SETTINGS! I wasnt too worried about mine so I said "Heck with it" and did it.... from the looks of the video (much brighter than prior to the check), I'm guessing it did.

So be forewarned.....

To enter the service menu-
With the power off, use the remote and press the following buttons with about a half-second delay between presses: MUTE-1-8-2-POWER. (press them one at a time, separately, not together). The TV will power on and you'll have this nice and pretty menu to move around in.... I think the hours are under the "Service" option.

Something tells me if I go into my service menu I will be tempted to play around in there. I've had my set for a year and 3 months, and it is still running strong. I hate even typing that sentence being a little superstitious, especially since I am out of the warranty period. I was one of the lucky ones that got a set with perfect geometry. I have also tweaked the setting with Avia and DVE so I don't want to lose those settings. My guess is that the set has under 2,000 hours of viewing time so far.

Does anyone have a service manual for an HLT5687sax ? I need the part # of the LED Driver board. Thanks!

After over a year of use, my HLT5689SX just started having problems. The TV works just fine otherwise, however it's responding to IR signals from remotes by shutting off the TV. It could be the original Samsung remote, a TiVo remote, etc. For example, if I change channels using the TiVo remote, about 50% of the time the TV shuts off. If I press the source button on the Samsung remote, half the time it turns off the TV. I can watch TV all day long as long as I don't have to touch a remote.

Of course, I'm outside of the warranty and the Samsung service in my area wants $100 just to look at it, plus more to fix it. I've searched this thread and can't seem to find anyone with the same problem.

I have three options:
1. The low tech approach is to find the IR receiver and cover it. If I want to turn on the TV or change source, I'd just use the buttons on the TV. Where is the IR receiver located? I think I saw a post where it's near the on/off button in the front.
2. Fix it myself. Anyone out there replaced the IR receiver on the TV?
3. Have it serviced.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Glenn

I guarantee this problem is much deeper than just the IR receiver. Have you tried a software upgrade, if one is available?

Although the service manual includes instructions on how to remove and replace the LED Driver board, it doesn't give an individual part number for it.
It is included as part of the entire light engine assembly:
Code Number: BP96-01729E
Description: ASSY ENGINE P-DLP
Specification: K880(56K8),LED DLP,RUM

Nisi (Samsung service in NJ) came on Fri. Guy looks at the set, does not open it, just brings up test patterns. He tells me the LED Driver board needs to be replaced. Parts are on "national backorder". He tells me he has another customer that has been waiting over 3 weeks for the same part. I call Samsung, and explain the situation... they give me a new case number with "Executive level customer support" or some such thing. I'm waiting for a call back in 24-48 hours.

What options will they give me if the part is discontinued? I really don't want to replace a 56" TV with a 42" lcd. Has anybody been through this process? If they replace with a 61" set (which will probably not happen since they are gone in the stores) will I get a full warranty? Ugh.

Sean