Panasonic Plasma TV Help!

smally289 · 10-10-2009, 02:51 PM

Late last year I bought a 46" Panasonic plama TV after much deliberation, comparing plasma and LCD sets.
One of the biggest deciding factors to me was that for fast moving sports everyone was saying plasma was the go. So with motor racing being a popular choice at my house, I got a plasma. 46", full HD, best part of 3 grand. (http://www.panasonic.com.au/products...?objectID=4348).

Didnt really get much of a chance to watch much, with shift work and playing in the shed etc, so it all seemed ok to me. I had noticed the picture would do some strange things from time to time, but put this down to the quality of the broadcast. I live in a regional area with only SBS and ABC having HD and 7 , 9 and 10 in SD digital. If the cricket was on and the ball was travelling quickly across the screen, it would be jerky. Not the whole picture, just the ball. Same with AFL if the ball was moving quickly. I played around with the picture settings etc, but it didn't make much difference. I have another old 68cm dinosaur with a set top box (SD) in the family room and it doesn't have this problem.

The killer came today, watching the telecast from Bathurst. Watching the cars coming up and across the mountain thu Reid and Sulman Parks from the helicopter, the cars go behind the trees and then back out. As they come out from behind the trees they appear to jump / jitter / stutter or whatever you call it! They dont flow (uh, oh, thats Skaifeys term!) smoothly.

Am I expecting too much, or is this something normal for this type of TV?

TURBOTAXI · 10-10-2009, 02:58 PM

How strong is the signal? is the booster for HD switched on. Not normal if tuned well.

smally289 · 10-10-2009, 03:16 PM

Just had as look on the tuning menu, signal quality is 100%, signal strength on the SD channels is about 60%. The booster for HD, where or what is that?

Valid8 · 10-10-2009, 03:26 PM

If you have the IFC ( intelligent frame creation ) turned on, try turning it off.

TURBOTAXI · 10-10-2009, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smally351

Just had as look on the tuning menu, signal quality is 100%, signal strength on the SD channels is about 60%. The booster for HD, where or what is that?

On mine (it is an LG) its in the first menu screen. You should be able to find an online manual for your TV if you get stuck?

**cs123** · 11-10-2009, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smally351

Just had as look on the tuning menu, signal quality is 100%, signal strength on the SD channels is about 60%. The booster for HD, where or what is that?

If those figures are constant, then your antenna is good. Quality of 100% means no errors. Strength of 60% is OK if the quality is there. Using a masthead amp will increase signal strength sometimes to the detriment of quality.

No idea what the booster for HD is.

I'd suggest you post a question to dtvforum.info Lots of expertise there.

YOOT · 12-10-2009, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cs123

If those figures are constant, then your antenna is good. Quality of 100% means no errors. Strength of 60% is OK if the quality is there. Using a masthead amp will increase signal strength sometimes to the detriment of quality.

No idea what the booster for HD is.

I'd suggest you post a question to dtvforum.info Lots of expertise there.

Boosters are useless, all they do is amplify noise, which means more drop outs and error pixels not less. Digital should never need a booster unless you are running 100m of coax from the aerial.

If you have signal issues it will be with you fly lead, 90% of people by a cheap 1.5m coax from Big-W, you should use a quad shielded cable with F-Type connector (the same as Foxtel and the cable from the aerial to the wall).

Any other issues will be with the cable from the aerial to the wall, all antenna are digital ready, no such thing as analogue only, the spectrum is the same, its all a farce.

DTV Forum will clear all that up, so much so that most people on that forum make there own aerial out of stripped coax in a Christmas tree shape, wedged into the bricks and mortar!

**cs123** · 12-10-2009, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YOOT

Boosters are useless, all they do is amplify noise, which means more drop outs and error pixels not less. Digital should never need a booster unless you are running 100m of coax from the aerial.

That's not exactly true. A masthead amp is generally used when signal strength is marginal and you have a distribution system ie splitting the signal to multiple rooms. I'm about 50Km from the transmission towers and need a masthead amp with 4 tv points, even with quad shield and f-type connectors.

A lot of older antennas have the large elements used for low frequencies and are not needed these days. They just induct stray electrical noise. So if you are going to buy an antenna for just digital then you need only a antenna that has the correct elements for the bands that you need.

Agreed that there is no such thing as "digital" antennas.

YOOT · 12-10-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cs123

That's not exactly true. A masthead amp is generally used when signal strength is marginal and you have a distribution system ie splitting the signal to multiple rooms. I'm about 50Km from the transmission towers and need a masthead amp with 4 tv points, even with quad shield and f-type connectors.

A lot of older antennas have the large elements used for low frequencies and are not needed these days. They just induct stray electrical noise. So if you are going to buy an antenna for just digital then you need only a antenna that has the correct elements for the bands that you need.

Agreed that there is no such thing as "digital" antennas.

Thanks for clearing that up, although I personally found with my house that I got better reception once I pulled all the spaghetti and amplifiers out of the roof and rewired my own coax, but this was just my house. I got double signal strength after.

My neighbors have to use a Masthead amplifier to achieve the same result. Weird I know, but there is a lot to be said for quality and simple wiring.

smally289 · 10-10-2009, 03:51 PM

Cant find anything on the setup or picture menu's for an HD booster, maybe it doesn't have one?

I have just turned off the IFC (it was on), waiting for the V8 utes to come out now so maybe it will help.

Thanks for the responses so far guys!

fordOwner · 10-10-2009, 04:01 PM

Call an antenna guy out to install (or install yourself??) a booster to your roof arial -$50 or so? I had mine done as i live on a steep hill, makes a lot of differance.
This is the problem with the new "Fantastic" TV's of today.
If the digital signal is disturbed then it will cut out completely or mix up the picture or completley black out or jump and skip. WITH NO SOUND to add.
The old Box TV's would either snow or get static lines WITH the sound still coming through so at least you can hear whats said or going on while waiting for the picture to come back.
My plasma turns its inbuilt Booster off by it self or is accidentally switched which really annoys me when a truck or bus drives past and cuts the signal off.

**PepeLePew** · 10-10-2009, 04:11 PM

Check out also if you have other devices hooked up to the same antenna line....I have my amplifiers tuner and DVD recorder antennas hooked up....had issues with some channels. Disconnected and hey presto, all good.

Dont expect too much of 7's picture though, its nothing special.

smally289 · 10-10-2009, 04:11 PM

I would have thought if it was a signal issue that the whole picture would glitch and carry on. The issue I have is with just the object that is moving.

stavros68 · 10-10-2009, 04:50 PM

Try another HD box my bet the tuner in the panasonic or any inbuilt tuners are ordinary to say the least

Herrod Motorsport · 10-10-2009, 05:53 PM

I have a 60 inch panasonic plasma, the fast moving pictures are 100%, get onto panasonic service and talk to them .

smally289 · 10-10-2009, 05:53 PM

With the IFC turned off it seems good, I guess tomorrow will be the big test. Any excuse to sit and watch Bathurst all day!

The knowledge base of members on this place never ceases to amaze me, thanks!

YOOT · 10-10-2009, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smally351

With the IFC turned off it seems good, I guess tomorrow will be the big test. Any excuse to sit and watch Bathurst all day!

The knowledge base of members on this place never ceases to amaze me, thanks!

Thats all it was mate, I have the 50" Full HD (the Japanese one, not the China one like all the others) and that was the first thing I turned off. Try watching cricket, it makes the ball do some weird things!

Have fun tomorrow watching the craptacular SD bradcast that 7 offers for racing :(

csv8 · 11-10-2009, 01:11 AM

I have a Panasonic 42" Plasma, 18 months old. No problems.very happy with it
I have a Monster surge protector and gold cables from the wall to the tv.
But when anologue is switched off I will have to change the aerial and cable from aerial to tv. Get the store where you bought it too set it up.

robjh80 · 10-10-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smally351

I have another old 68cm dinosaur with a set top box (SD) in the family room and it doesn't have this problem.

Your old 68cm CRT TV will always be better for fast moving action like sports than any LCD or Plasma panel.

LCD and Plasma screens are simply not good enough yet, they can't refresh the image quick enough for normal TV viewing let alone fast moving action scenes like the Football or Car Racing.

This is why I personally still don't have a Plasma or LCD in the house and am still running 2 CRT TV's ... to me the picture is far superior on a CRT, ... I have a top end Panasonic CRT 68cm and the picture clarity, colour and definition is absolutely beautiful.

My parents have just spent nearly $4k on a large size High Def Sony LCD for the lounge room and the picture on it is rubbish, even in so called HD.

They also have a smaller sized brand new High Def Samsung LCD in the bedroom ... that is also rubbish!

I believe Laser Panel technology is on it's way, as one reviewer put it in a recent article ... "Laser Panels promise to deliver everything Plasma and LCD Panels should have done" ... says it all really doesn't it.

FPV GT40 · 12-10-2009, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robjh80

Your old 68cm CRT TV will always be better for fast moving action like sports than any LCD or Plasma panel.

LCD and Plasma screens are simply not good enough yet, they can't refresh the image quick enough for normal TV viewing let alone fast moving action scenes like the Football or Car Racing.

This is why I personally still don't have a Plasma or LCD in the house and am still running 2 CRT TV's ... to me the picture is far superior on a CRT, ... I have a top end Panasonic CRT 68cm and the picture clarity, colour and definition is absolutely beautiful.

My parents have just spent nearly $4k on a large size High Def Sony LCD for the lounge room and the picture on it is rubbish, even in so called HD.

They also have a smaller sized brand new High Def Samsung LCD in the bedroom ... that is also rubbish!

I believe Laser Panel technology is on it's way, as one reviewer put it in a recent article ... "Laser Panels promise to deliver everything Plasma and LCD Panels should have done" ... says it all really doesn't it.

You are kidding aren't you, I have a 42" Sony Bravia LCD in the kitchen/dining area, as well as a Samsung 56" LCD in the lounge, The pictures are brilliant and better than anything I have ever had or seen for that matter, the kids did not even want the old 68cm TV for their Wii in the rumpus room, so she went on e bay for $50 to some other person that believes that they are better than an LCD

:

Anyway Good luck with it...I will stick to my 56" LCD to watch Bathurst, never it had an issue....

:

YOOT · 12-10-2009, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FPV GT40

You are kidding aren't you, I have a 42" Sony Bravia LCD in the kitchen/dining area, as well as a Samsung 56" LCD in the lounge, The pictures are brilliant and better than anything I have ever had or seen for that matter, the kids did not even want the old 68cm TV for their Wii in the rumpus room, so she went on e bay for $50 to some other person that believes that they are better than an LCD

:

Anyway Good luck with it...I will stick to my 56" LCD to watch Bathurst, never it had an issue....

:

Technically Rob is right, but so are you in another way.

CRT is by far the best way to display colour and fast moving objects. If you could get one that has the same resolution as the current range of digital TV you would be blown away. But it would be so big you would have to crane it in to you house.

SED TV is supposedly the next generation to put LCD and Plasma to RIP, it is basically made up of millions of CRT tvs, each one displaying a pixel of RGB. These TVs are stunning but only available at techo shows in Japan at the moment. Don't hold your breath.

However, Plasma/LCD (I prefer Plasma) are much clearer and are basically non forgiving. Any compression, errors, or noise will be shown with all its glory (or horror). A CRT is like looking through an insect screen and a lot of the noise is not visible (but neither is the detail).

If you play a 1080i broad cast over Component to a decent CRT and play the same content on a 50"+ Plasma/LCD you'll suddenly realise what the CRT is leaving out, but put an SD 576i broadcast on both sets and you'll definitely like the CRT more, the Plasma/LCD will show you everything thats there 9and everything thats not!!).

FPV GT40 · 12-10-2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YOOT

Technically Rob is right, but so are you in another way.

CRT is by far the best way to display colour and fast moving objects. If you could get one that has the same resolution as the current range of digital TV you would be blown away. But it would be so big you would have to crane it in to you house.

SED TV is supposedly the next generation to put LCD and Plasma to RIP, it is basically made up of millions of CRT tvs, each one displaying a pixel of RGB. These TVs are stunning but only available at techo shows in Japan at the moment. Don't hold your breath.

However, Plasma/LCD (I prefer Plasma) are much clearer and are basically non forgiving. Any compression, errors, or noise will be shown with all its glory (or horror). A CRT is like looking through an insect screen and a lot of the noise is not visible (but neither is the detail).

If you play a 1080i broad cast over Component to a decent CRT and play the same content on a 50"+ Plasma/LCD you'll suddenly realise what the CRT is leaving out, but put an SD 576i broadcast on both sets and you'll definitely like the CRT more, the Plasma/LCD will show you everything thats there 9and everything thats not!!).

I agree as I think you are saying that if you have a bad quality signal the old style TV will not show up the errors as much??

I generally do not actually watch TV in the lounge, I usually use it for DVD and Bluray only, the Dining TV gets watched a lot more than the lounge one.

I peronally much prefer LCD over plasma, as it picture appears sharper and better quality to me, Also I have been led to believe the LCD lasts a lot longer than a plasma which only has a short life expectancy

YOOT · 12-10-2009, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FPV GT40

I agree as I think you are saying that if you have a bad quality signal the old style TV will not show up the errors as much??

I generally do not actually watch TV in the lounge, I usually use it for DVD and Bluray only, the Dining TV gets watched a lot more than the lounge one.

I peronally much prefer LCD over plasma, as it picture appears sharper and better quality to me, Also I have been led to believe the LCD lasts a lot longer than a plasma which only has a short life expectancy

My Pano has a 1/2 life expentancy of 100,000hours.

So if I watch it for 4 hours a day it will be half stuffed in 60 years.... I would have bought ten by then.

I like plasma as it looks more like CRT! SD looks REALLY bad to me kn most LCDs. But thats my opinion. LCD looks best for static and computer displays.

WAXBFAR · 10-10-2009, 08:26 PM

I have a big Panna Plasma as well and pictures are sensational.

**PepeLePew** · 10-10-2009, 08:30 PM

I think the days when the pics of CRT were far superior are somewhat behind plasma anyway. Mine isnt new but was a top end set some years ago, and it gets NO motion sickness

Current QUALITY plasmas are stunning. The LCD offerings never really lit my fire, but the new OLED LCD's are stunning.

tjb45 · 10-10-2009, 08:40 PM

If you still have the problem try moving the set top box from the CRT to the Plazma and see if there is still a problem. This will at least narrow the issue down a little.

Spudz27 · 10-10-2009, 08:37 PM

Prob a signal issue. I can't use my Samsung or my new Sony with boosted rabbit ears. They require much stronger signal for analogue. I moved the samsung to my room and I watched the V8's with interference yet my old CRT tele has no dramas. I live in a regional area and the landlords won't put a roof aerial on, so I have foxtel on one tele, and my other LCD is now useless as even in a different part of the house I can't get a good picture. My CRT is going back in the bedroom.

V3RSAC3 · 10-10-2009, 08:42 PM

I have the same TV in our movie room in a 50" and I have no motion blurr what so ever.

Try calling Panasonic because somethings not right. Sorry

CAMS290 · 11-10-2009, 09:28 PM

Just bought a Pana 50" S series full hd about 3 weeks ago, really happy with it , Bathurst was awesome today.

Lukeyson · 11-10-2009, 09:43 PM

the booster is a LG thing, Panasonic dont have it. As said it might be to do with IFC.
They are a beautiful TV those 46" pana's. i sold a ton of them when i was in that game until recently