[Sanborn]

I'm trying to learn as much as I can before I buy my tv and start the HT frenzy. I see most of you refering to a service menu and i'm figuring this isnt a normal tv menu



what can you do in the service menu and why would you want to use it ?


thanks for helping me out and tolerating my newness


-Sanborn

 

[Waterbug]

think of service menu a much more complex adjustment/calibration than standard On screen Menu aka. GUI.


You know on screen Menu,


It usually have this:

Picture or contrast

brightness

color

tint/hue

sharpness

and sometimes color temperature

and depends on models/brand SVM, aka VM aka VSM and other marketing names...


But service Menu is much more complext:


it let you adjust the color decoder to be accurate such as from red push, green push, blue push to accurate color.


And color temperature to be accurate close to D6,500k which have a true 100% white and greyscale...


these two are very important on how the color looks on your tv set. Beside that, if your tv doesn't allow you to turn off the VSM, SVM, VM, etc. on the on screen menu. You usually can on the service menu.


And what's not, it let you adjust the geometry, overscan, and even more on the audio speakers adjustment that you can't perform on basic on screen menu.


But the biggest reason why its called Service Menu and requires some sort of combination of numbers on your remote control other tv or both is because if you don't know what you are doing, you can killed the tv.


That's why Service Menu is not easily accessible on your remote.


For beginner, buying the SoundandVision Tune Up Disc, DVE, or AVIa can guide you on how to adjust basic settings.

 

[Sanborn]

^^ thank you


which of those tuning discs is the best in your opinion

 

[Waterbug]

Hmmm...


I am not sure, actually. I only own Avia and it pretty good for basic adjustment on video/audio and professional adjustment. But the cost is $50, you can get it for $40...


I heard the newer DVE is pretty good and better price deal, only $20. Oh yeah. I think it have both basic and pro adjustment...


S&V Tune Up is pretty good but its only have basic adjustment. Cost $20.

 

[Joxer]

The Service Menu lets you adjust geometry, overscan, horizontal and vertical positioning - similar to what you can adjust on computer monitors. A good calibration DVD like AVIA with lots of geometry test patterns is needed to perform those adjustments. You need to get the set's service manual for details on how to access and use the service menu unless you can find the technical info online for certain models.

 

[Sanborn]

I think ill just stay away from the service menu hah

 

[STEELERSRULE]

Sanborn,


If you are going to just make adjustments using the user menu, then I would recommend the DVE Calibration DVD. It normally goes for $24.99 MSRP. Sometimes you can get it cheaper, usually from some online store(Amazon or one of those). But if you don't like doing things online(giving credit card #'s over the internet) then you can get this DVD at Border's Bookstores. They usually have ONE on hand and if not they can easily order it for you.


Also in the future if you decide to become adventurous and enter your service menu, this DVD is very good for this as well. People have argued that the Avia DVD is more user friendly for service menu adjustments as compared to the DVE.