LCD TV Problem - Vertical Line - HELP!

snipped-for-privacy@shaw.ca wrote: : I've had my 27" LCD TV for about 6 months now and I am already : experiencing a picture problem. Granted, it's not a Sharp or Sony, so : I guess that serves me right. The TV is Norcent - but I've heard good : things about them from a friend that has had one for a while. I guess : we got the bad apple in the bunch.

: The problem has just started. It's not a noise/interference problem - : I've turned everything off in my house and the problem still exists. : It appears to be a pixel-type problem with the monitor. There is a : green, dotted vertical line running down the side of the picture (about

: an inch away from the edge). You can only see it in brighter colours : (orange, yellows, whites) since the line itself is a dark colour.

From your description, it sounds like a defect in the lcd panel itself. It would be best to send it in for repair. Look on the bright side, at least it was still under warranty when it failed.

: I called the company and the product is still under warranty - BUT - we

: have to SHIP the TV to the U.S. for service at our own expense (this is

: when perhaps the extended warranties that we all laugh about at the : electronics stores could've come in handy!) and my TV will be out of my

: house for probably 6 - 8 weeks (2 weeks to ship cheaply each way and 2 : weeks for service - but I guess I could pay the BIG bucks to ship it in

: under a week).

: Just wondering if anyone out there has experienced a similar problem : and knows if perhaps it would be cheaper for us just to pay for : servicing ourselves locally and save the shipping costs (which I would : assume would be over a hundred bucks anyway). A lot of local services : places give you a 'loaner' TV, too, so there is value in that.

: Let me know if you have any advice (besides ditching this TV and buying

: a Sharp LCD - I've learned my lesson well).

: Thanks! : Paula

Definitely send it back for repair. This is almost certainly caused by the LCD panel (would cost as much as a new TV to replace).

There's only a few companies making LCD panels, so it really doesn't matter which brand you buy. For all I know, your TV might have a Sharp LCD panel. Other parts like the power supply do vary in quality. Andy Cuffe

snipped-for-privacy@psu.edu

Would the manufacturer likely replace the TV rather than repair it if the cost of the LCD panel is comparable?

That's interesting....there seems to be so many varying degrees of quality out there for LCD TVs, so if they likely have the same panel, how can they have different ratings/reviews?

He didn't say they have the same panel. There are only a few manufacturers, not many though, making LCD panels to fit into TVs or monitors. Each manufacturer may manufacture a small range of panels which will vary from very cheap ones with dubious colour and greyscale performance, and poor response times which may be churned out for low end use, up to the best of the best for more demanding applications.

The only ways IMO to judge a good LCD TV or monitor are to either read independent reviews or look at them in the store and use one's own judgement. There are some cheaper makes with rather good panels, expensive is by no means always better.

Dave