Samsung LE37A686 picture problem

Lopez · 04-02-2009, 22:43

Alright pop pickers?

As some of you will know part of our work bonus is a gift incentive which we can spend on a consumer durable. From the range available I decided to go for an HD LCD TV and it arrived yesterday.

I've set it up and there appear to be a few issues but I'm not sure if they indicate a problem with the TV or something else.

Here are some example pics I've just taken

Example 1
ITV playing through NTL digital box via SCART lead. Crisp picture, good colour. I know not to expect miracles as it's just standard Virgin (not V+) and obviously no HDMI lead so I'm perfectly happy with this:

Example 2
This is where the trouble starts. BBC3 Starsky and Hutch
This is the unedited picture

What I'm highlighting is this section here:

That shadow at the top of the wall behind him is not supposed to be there, it moves down all the time. This is a full-screen "bar" that scrolls from the top of the screen downwards as shown by the arrows. So depending on your point of view it looks like you have a light patch scrolling down or a shadow scrolling down

This is sometimes (not always) accompanied by bright colour (usually blue, yellow or lime green) "bleeding" from the very bottom of the screen. Like the effect when you put speakers too close to a monitor. I couldn't get a pic of this at the time so I have faked it in MS Paint

but when I was watching Waterloo Road on BBC1 it was awful - I had the scrolling and the bleeding throughout the entire programme.

Example 3
DVD player through SCART lead - a bit grainy (but that's the DVD not the TV) but again, the picture is more than satisfactory.

Example 4

PS2 through the normal "ANT IN" ariel socket, absolutely fine again, no scrolling etc.

So I'm a bit perplexed. Worst channels seem to be C4, E4, BBC.... ITV far less affected. The scrolling ranges from mildly noticable to almost unwatchable depending on what colour combination/intensity is on the screen at any one time.
I thought about sending the set back for exchange but seeing as it's only problematic when watching actual TV I can't see that the set itself is at fault.

Any views?

Belmit · 04-02-2009, 22:48

It's only on certain channels? Seems odd. If it was all channels I'd expect a dodgy lead. Got another?

Burble · 04-02-2009, 22:50

So it's only certain channels and only through the scart interface? What about if you use the normal ANT-IN output from the V Box and watch BBC3?

It could be a number of things but it's hard to pinpoint.

Lopez · 04-02-2009, 22:55

I know, it's weird isn't it. It's only really noticeable on certain channels, though if I look very very hard it could be there on all of them I suppose.

The SCART leads are old and cheap which I don't think helps so I may change those first. Will do some swapping over tomorrow to check it's not just one of the SCART inputs causing trouble.

Not tried watching telly through the ANT because if I remember rightly our normal coax aeriel for terrestrial TV is knackered.

Mark · 04-02-2009, 23:25

Poorly shielded SCART lead would be my guess too. You can usually tell by how thick the cable is whether or not it'll be a good one - generally, the thicker, the better.

Were you given a SCART with the V-box? I'd try that one first but even that's no guarantee as it's an obvious target for cost-cutting.

Lopez · 08-02-2009, 11:58

2 new gold plate SCART leads and picture is now crisp as a new fiver on all channels. Love it! DVD in particular looks lovely, even in non-HD.

Now I just have to convince Kate that we "need" V+

Burble · 08-02-2009, 12:15

Awesome. I like simple solutions

04-02-2009, 22:43	#1
Lopez Bad Cat Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 808	Samsung LE37A686 picture problem Alright pop pickers? As some of you will know part of our work bonus is a gift incentive which we can spend on a consumer durable. From the range available I decided to go for an HD LCD TV and it arrived yesterday. I've set it up and there appear to be a few issues but I'm not sure if they indicate a problem with the TV or something else. Here are some example pics I've just taken Example 1 ITV playing through NTL digital box via SCART lead. Crisp picture, good colour. I know not to expect miracles as it's just standard Virgin (not V+) and obviously no HDMI lead so I'm perfectly happy with this: Example 2 This is where the trouble starts. BBC3 Starsky and Hutch This is the unedited picture What I'm highlighting is this section here: That shadow at the top of the wall behind him is not supposed to be there, it moves down all the time. This is a full-screen "bar" that scrolls from the top of the screen downwards as shown by the arrows. So depending on your point of view it looks like you have a light patch scrolling down or a shadow scrolling down This is sometimes (not always) accompanied by bright colour (usually blue, yellow or lime green) "bleeding" from the very bottom of the screen. Like the effect when you put speakers too close to a monitor. I couldn't get a pic of this at the time so I have faked it in MS Paint but when I was watching Waterloo Road on BBC1 it was awful - I had the scrolling and the bleeding throughout the entire programme. Example 3 DVD player through SCART lead - a bit grainy (but that's the DVD not the TV) but again, the picture is more than satisfactory. Example 4 PS2 through the normal "ANT IN" ariel socket, absolutely fine again, no scrolling etc. So I'm a bit perplexed. Worst channels seem to be C4, E4, BBC.... ITV far less affected. The scrolling ranges from mildly noticable to almost unwatchable depending on what colour combination/intensity is on the screen at any one time. I thought about sending the set back for exchange but seeing as it's only problematic when watching actual TV I can't see that the set itself is at fault. Any views? __________________ NO

04-02-2009, 22:48	#2
Belmit The Mouse King of Denmark Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The Winchester Posts: 6,476	It's only on certain channels? Seems odd. If it was all channels I'd expect a dodgy lead. Got another? __________________

04-02-2009, 22:55	#4
Lopez Bad Cat Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 808	I know, it's weird isn't it. It's only really noticeable on certain channels, though if I look very very hard it could be there on all of them I suppose. The SCART leads are old and cheap which I don't think helps so I may change those first. Will do some swapping over tomorrow to check it's not just one of the SCART inputs causing trouble. Not tried watching telly through the ANT because if I remember rightly our normal coax aeriel for terrestrial TV is knackered. __________________ NO

08-02-2009, 11:58	#6
Lopez Bad Cat Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 808	2 new gold plate SCART leads and picture is now crisp as a new fiver on all channels. Love it! DVD in particular looks lovely, even in non-HD. Now I just have to convince Kate that we "need" V+ __________________ NO

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04-02-2009, 22:50	#3
Burble Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,826	So it's only certain channels and only through the scart interface? What about if you use the normal ANT-IN output from the V Box and watch BBC3? It could be a number of things but it's hard to pinpoint.

04-02-2009, 23:25	#5
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Poorly shielded SCART lead would be my guess too. You can usually tell by how thick the cable is whether or not it'll be a good one - generally, the thicker, the better. Were you given a SCART with the V-box? I'd try that one first but even that's no guarantee as it's an obvious target for cost-cutting.

08-02-2009, 12:15	#7
Burble Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,826	Awesome. I like simple solutions