Official Toshiba Cinema Series REGZA -LX177 Thread, PART II with updated first post - Page 54

So, my 42lx177 arrived today. There is a problem though. The box had a shock sensor on it, which was tripped. The sensor is rated at 50G's, so it appears that something happened to the TV in shipment. I showed the delivery driver and he said they all do that. He wasn't worried about it at all. The box is in good shape with no obvious damage. Should I return the TV, or just proceed with installation and hope for the best?

I assume that the delivery man is not still standing there, which means you have signed for it and accepted the delivery. Hopefully, you noted the tripped shock sensor on the ticket. At this point, in my opinion, there's no point in trying to return it without knowing it is actually damaged. A shock sensor could be tripped by a direct strike without damaging the set; likewise the set could be damaged and the sensor would not show it. With Crutchfield, you are at no risk at all to open the carton, install, and run it to your heart's content for a reasonable period of time. Crutchfiled will accept an exchange or return, for whatever reason you may be unsatisfied, function related of course, so you have no reason to refrain from checking it out. Good luck.

Well, I went ahead and got it setup. It seems to have avoided any damage, but it looks like I have a backlight bleed problem. In dark scenes or when there is no signal, I am getting very uneven brightness. I have large blotchy areas that are lighter than the rest of the screen. I tried to take a couple pics, but my crappy camera didn't do too well in the low light.

Is there anything I can do about this, or will I need to do a return?

Is it still in torch/dynamic mode? If so, try changing the picture setting to see if the backlight is still blotchy.

Oh, and let me know how the picture looks and if you have any pics of the TV once it's set up. I'm thinking about buying the 42" myself.

When there is no signal my 52LX177 also does the similar thing but since a never watch black screens I don't care at all about this.

The trouble is I can see the blotches in any dark scene, or if there is material that leaves bars on the top and bottom of the screen. Its very noticeable. Otherwise, the picture is great.

I've got the brightness turned down to 40 (I am using basic settings from the calibration spreadsheet for now.)

I also ran into a HDMI handshake issue lastnight. I was watching cable and suddenly lost picture and audio for no apparent reason. For the life of me I couldn't get it back. I finally ended up having to run a component connection from the box to get the signal back again.

A little variation in brightness of a blank screen is to be expected, but you should not notice any during normal viewing, even in low light level scenes, so you may indeed have a problem.

The HDMI problem should not exist at all. I have had several Toshiba sets and never had a handshake problem with any cable on any source ever, regardless of which componet was started first or if it was switched on and off and on again.
There are four possibilities.

It could be that particular HDMI input of the tv.
It could be all HDMI inputs to the tv
It could be the cable.
It could be the HDMI output of the cable box.

I have actually encountered the last three problems. Unfortunately for you, the most likely scenario is one of the first two, which for a new set would mean an immediate call for replacement. Unplug it and start over. I must warn you though, that these circuitry gremlims, once they rear their ugly heads, usually don't go away and stay away; they usually get worse.

The HDMI problem has really become an issue. I got a BSOD on the TV yesterday that said "The HD Content protection on your display has been comprimised, please use the component input." This was VERY strange. After the blue screen, it just went solid green, though you could see the picture on the edges of the green screen.

Basically, when I lose one HDMI source, I lose all of them. 3 sources, 3 different cables, 3 different inputs....all gone. The only way to get picture back is to turn off the TV for awhile and try again. Once one input works, they all magically start working again. Its like the TV is deciding not to accept any HDMI source once it determines one is bad. this happens everyday now. Its highly irritating.

Because of all these problems, I am returning the TV for another one. Crutchfield customer service was great and they sent out another one without question. Hopefully I will have better luck with the second set. I am also swapping my cable box out since it seems to be triggering the HDMI handshake issue.

Just an update for anyone that cares. The new TV arrived today. Its a completely different animal as compared to the first one. Brightness is very even and so far its responding to HDMI normally. I don't know what was wrong with the old one...it was basically broken out of the box. All appears to be well now though.

Does the software upgrade menu function work? I'm connected to the internet (TIVO on the same switch works fine). LX reports that it is checking the version then tries for a short while to download new firmware then reports a "down load error" try again later.

I believe the only way to upgrade is still to have customer service send you an SD card, which you insert in the back of the unit. I also have not yet heard anyone report that it does anything difinitive, except enable typing of @ in the e-address.
Maybe it does, I just haven't read any confimations of such.

Thanks, I saw that but the thread is so long I did not know if I had missed something. I was hoping that the closed captions on OTA HD signals might be less flaky with a software upgrade.

Hi Everyone,

I've tried searching the thread for more information on this issue, but I can;t find anything, could someone lend me some advice? I have an HD DVD player (A30) hooked up to a 46LX177 via HDMI straight to the TV. I don't have a picture to upload at the moment, but when I watch HD-DVD's, I notice some intermittent flashing when dark scenes are playing. It's particularly prevalent in V for Vendetta, but I've noticed in other HD-DVD's as well. An aura also appears around the subject of the dark scene as well, it's hard to describe, but picture a face in the middle of a very dark scene, the face sort of glows. It's less consistent with cable, but I have noticed it once on Lost (I have Verizon FiOS with HDMI going straight into the TV) with a glow around a face, not the flashing.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

I am considering the 57LX177 due to price cut and size. No one in Chicagoland that I know has one on display. Can a current owner tell me if the screen has a lot of glare? I saw the step down series at Best Buy last night. It's glare is minimal. The new 46" has plasma like glare. Also looking for any advice on why to or not to purchase this to replace my 65" Rear Projection.

I have the 57LX177 too, and it has a great ani glare coating. On my previous TV I had reflection of a lamp behind me, and a skylight during the day, with this panel, I have none of these issues.

This line supposedly has built in discrete IR codes. Where are they? I have searched remote central and found none. Are they in the original remote under a hidden door or something?

CALL AN EXORCIST!

Just kidding-- I think. Seriously, that's a new one to me. If it were just the A-30 giving you the problem, I'd say take a look at that machine with other tvs. The flashing is a bit like intermittent HDMI problems, but a constant glow makes that less likely. You might first try component inputs for all your problem sources just as a test. And a few pics might help. Even if they don't help, they would sure be interesting to look at.

It's possible, the update instructions mentioned to reset the closed caption properties in the menu when the update was finished.

Hi, thanks for the input. I'll take a few pictures tonight (I doubt I can capture the flashing effect, but definitely the glowing aura) then I'll try to switch the HDMI input on the TV as well as the HDMI cable....Interestingly, I watched a standard definition DVD and I got the flashing again....more soon...thanks!

Overall, I have been extremely happy with my 57LX177. The one little problem that occurs occasionally is some pixalization watching HD-TV. It only occurs for about a quarter of a second during really quick scene changes.

Anyone else experiencing this problem or better yet, can anyone suggest a fix??

George

Are you sure that the pixelization isn't in the source?
This is not uncommon for cable/satellite. Less common OTA. Less common still on Blu-ray/HD-DVD.

Good question. I'll have to check it out when I get home tonight.

Read several of the many pages regarding the Toshiba LX177 series and would like to receive some advise. Is the "green push" still an issue with later production dates?

I have seen the Toshiba recall notice regarding the 46LX177's and was interested in knowing if any one out there has had this issue. And if so how did it work out...?

I live in Oregon and have purchased many items from my local retailer named Video Only. My sales rep. at the store has advised me that they have received a "buy back" from Toshiba and now have both the 52LX177's and
46LX177's in stock. He stated that they are not "refurbs" or "repacks", they are factory "new". Thinking of buy one of each...are they good or great products?? THX!!!!

I notice it on satellite, hardly ever on blu-ray or hd-dvd.

I would say my 52lx177 is great. No problems in almost 2 months of ownership, Mostly gaming with some hi-def via blu-ray,hd-dvd. a small amount of satellite.This is the first tv that i have owned where i haven't been worried about what the next great tv is gonna have.

Hi folks,

I'm a lurker from the Toshiba XF550 series thread.

I need information on the remote control you use with the LX177 series. Would one of the owners of this Toshiba series please indicate what color or colors of lighting you see in the remote control when it is activated. I expect that the Mode Select buttons are yellow. Do all the other buttons get illuminated with the same color yellow light, too? Or are some buttons illuminated with amber, green, blue, orange, or red light?

Inquiring minds want to know!

Also...when does the remote illuminate? Only when you press the Light button? What happens when the Light button has not been depressed but any other button is activated? Does the entire remote light up then, too, or does only the currently active Mode Select button blink on momentarily?

I read Teepanen's update to the LX177 FAQs about the SD card used to install new firmware in the LX177 series. Can someone confirm that the SD card fits into a slot on the back of the set (perhaps after an "L" shaped panel next to the HDMI and THINC RJ45 ports is removed)? This Service Port is identified on page 13 of the LX177 manual, but no specifics are given.

On the Toshiba XF550 series there are two openings covered by a panel next to the HDMI ports. One is a small round opening and the other is a slot. Both openings are somewhat difficult to see unless you're looking upward from below the backside of the set. The XF550 does not have the RJ45 connector for the Ethernet THINC system, so the round opening may be a remnant of the THINC RJ45 connector on the LX177 series. But the slotted opening might be the same as on the LX177. Would someone describe the "service port" connection appearance on the back of their LX177?

I assume Toshiba uses the same service procedure for both of these sets. Any help I receive in this regard will be posted on the XF550 series calibration thread.

Purchased a new 46LX177 ($1.5K)today at my local Video Only and might go back a get a 52LX177 ($2K). They have a deal on both sizes that beat the online sources.

Does anyone have information as to what the latest firmware version for the 46 / 52 should be? Located my build date: December 2007. Anyone with problems?
How do you receive a SD firmware update from Toshiba?