The software situation is critical for al in any electronics repair field.

I'm fed up too. Even if the grey scale is off on a new TV will anyone tell you the secret to enter the service mode? Nope, then these piece of complete scum HDTV. Need a SAMS? no coverage, Need a factory scematic? 1 month special order, need *any* part? buy the scematic, wait one month, then wait one month for any part unless generic and none are. This is the wave of the future for HDTV repair, 2-3 months to repair? I'm no newcomer to the biz, after 26 yrs I've never seen it this bad, Sony, Sanyo, Zenith, Panasonic, Daewoo, it doesn't matter, all are the same situation.

We bought a washing machine a year ago. I made sure it had no electronics of any kind. I don't like mechanical equipment especially, that would work perfectly if it wasn't for some microcircuit that costs big bucks to replace, one that wasn't needed anyway. Whiz bang electronics touch panels, controls and timers are all very well - until they stuff up.

Henry.

The consumers are demanding the options at an affordable price. Also, if the sets were not microcomputer operated, they would not be able to do the sophisticated operations that they can do.

If you go back to the TV sets of the 1960's, you would see that there is no way that their performance can match of what there is today.

The economy is geared in such a way that when something breaks, it has to be replaced. If it an expensive device, then the parts are replaced in modules. Manual labour to fix something is too expensive, since we are geared as a service industry world.

Even at the manufacture level, if something doesn't work off the assembly line, they don't spend time to fix it. The defective device is binned, and the assembly line keeps going.

As for servicing even at the modular level, if it is worth it, there is software involved, because of the nature of the design. Being software designed, the proper tools, education, and interfacing is required. In many of the new generations of TV's and devices, the internal service menu is disappearing. They are now going to the need of an external interface with a PC running a software package for the application. This lowers their assembly and design cost, because there will be no maintenance software internal to the appliance or device.

You have to take in consideration that the life cycle for anything you buy today, is engineered for about 5 years, if it is medium to high priced unit. For the low priced units, the life cycle design is for about 2 years. The warranty policy will have a strong reflection on how long you should expect it to last.

my thought was that the internet and newsgoups like this can buck the trend.

as soon as 1 person finds out the "secret software handshake" needed to enter service mode, then we can all share it via the internet.

Mark

Are you talking about consumer electronics or computer drivers specifically. If the former, email me at

first letter of my first name followed by first 6 letters of my last name at devoy followed by net dot com

Leonard

Thanks for your new email, I see it has changed. You sold me some yokes awhile back and I might need something else. Also I'll send you one of my active email addys so if you need anything I'll do what I can.

I would like comprehensive info on service menus and such. I suspect you work for an ASC so I wouldn't be able to reciprocate. Maybe one of these days you'll have something you've never seen before and I have, I would jump at the chance to help you out. You saved a $500 job and I got a bonus out of it.

JURB