Help: Panasonic P55VT30 - Flashes Blue

[Marine Mike]

All,

I just recently purchased a new Panasonic P55VT30 and I am loving it! It has awesome picture quality, a huge upgrade from my 37" LG LCD. Well, everything works fine when I am watching movies on my PS3 or stream through my PC via HDMI.

My issue is when viewing cable TV, particularly live television in HD, sometimes the image 'jitters' and flashes blue and then its all white snow, then it goes back to the normal image. I experienced something similar to this before with my other TV, however, when the image 'jittered' the screen just had major tearing to it for a couple seconds.

So my question is, is this normal for newer televisions when theres signal issues with content on the cable box?

[My_Two_Cents]

Sounds like a connection and/or cable problem between your cable box and TV. Have you tried a different HDMI cable? If that doesn't help, try connecting with component cables and see if the problem goes away (assuming you are connected via HDMI now).

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

Sounds like a connection and/or cable problem between your cable box and TV. Have you tried a different HDMI cable? If that doesn't help, try connecting with component cables and see if the problem goes away (assuming you are connected via HDMI now).

Yeah, I was actually thinking that too! The reason for this is that I've notice if I rewind during the 'jitter' it does not occur again, so there was really nothing wrong with the recorded show. At first I was thinking it could of been the cable box being bad, so I had that replaced, but it still occurs.

After work I'll stop by Microcenter and pick up a new cable. My current cables are over 5 years old. Now that prices are so low, I may just pick up a few and replace them.

I'll try that out and let everyone know when I get home, thank you.

[Marine Mike]

I know this sounds really really stupid, but since I upgraded to a 3D TV, I saw that I needed 4.1a HDMI. So, does it matter what HDMI cables that I get? I know now that I do not need Monster cables that cost $50+.

[McBain]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

I know this sounds really really stupid, but since I upgraded to a 3D TV, I saw that I needed 4.1a HDMI. So, does it matter what HDMI cables that I get? I know now that I do not need Monster cables that cost $50+.

Just look for a "high speed" HDMI cable.

[My_Two_Cents]

All you need is a good quality CAT1 or CAT2 cable. "High speed" is really not needed, though most cables these days are CAT2, so no need to worry about it.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

All you need is a good quality CAT1 or CAT2 cable. "High speed" is really not needed, though most cables these days are CAT2, so no need to worry about it.

Well crossing my fingers so far so good, thanks again for the suggestion!

[kris achar]

Hi,
Mike till the time you buy new hdmi cables,can't you just unplug the existing hdmi cable from your PC or PS3 and connect it to your set top box and test it ?

good luck

love,
kris.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by kris achar

Hi,
Mike till the time you buy new hdmi cables,can't you just unplug the existing hdmi cable from your PC or PS3 and connect it to your set top box and test it ?

good luck

love,
kris.

Oh, I already bought the new HDMI cables and am using them now. So far there has only been 2 'jitters' over 3 hours of TV watching and they have only lasted less than a second and the screen did not go completely blue nor white snow. When I said that so far so good, its really hard to say when it'll happen as its pretty random unfortunately.

[Wingman1977]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

Oh, I already bought the new HDMI cables and am using them now. So far there has only been 2 'jitters' over 3 hours of TV watching and they have only lasted less than a second and the screen did not go completely blue nor white snow. When I said that so far so good, its really hard to say when it'll happen as its pretty random unfortunately.

Honestly, I would exchange the set (if you can that is).

[kris achar]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

Oh, I already bought the new HDMI cables and am using them now. So far there has only been 2 'jitters' over 3 hours of TV watching and they have only lasted less than a second and the screen did not go completely blue nor white snow. When I said that so far so good, its really hard to say when it'll happen as its pretty random unfortunately.

Dear Mike,
Assuming that yours is a HD Set top box,Can you tell me in what settings its working at the moment ? i.e 1080i/50Hz or 1080i/60Hz.Since when i bought my HD Set top box its default resolution was 1080i/50hz(Pal Transmission).But i changed it to 1080i/60Hz by doing so all the HD channels started to jitter gently when the program used to zoom a object or image.But the clarity was far better than a regular BD movie.Then i once again shifted it to its default value of 1080i/50Hz and there is no flicker.but the soap opera smooth picture effect disappeared but still HD content looks great but not to BD quality.
So check for these settings if you have them.If not i think you must change the HD service provider.Is your set top box a cable one or is it DTH HD like the one i have.
If yours is a cable then you should call your cable man or operator to bring the db meter and check for the cable feed fault.

Love,
kris.

[Marine Mike]

Well it no longer flashes blue, but it does go straight to all white snow picture every 15-20 minutes for a 1-2 sec period when watching cable TV. One thing to note is that I recently started to use a surge protector with coaxial cable in/output.

I disconnected it from the surge protector and is going straight to the wall again. So hopefully it will make a difference.

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

Well it no longer flashes blue, but it does go straight to all white snow picture every 15-20 minutes for a 1-2 sec period when watching cable TV. One thing to note is that I recently started to use a surge protector with coaxial cable in/output.

I disconnected it from the surge protector and is going straight to the wall again. So hopefully it will make a difference.

You might want to also swap your connections on your TV to rule-out the set (if the problem persists). Just plug the cable box HDMI into the connection that the PS3 was in, and vice-verse. If you still have problems, then it's either in the cable box connector or upstream from that. If the problems go away, then you have a bad HDMI connector on your set that needs to be fixed under warranty.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

You might want to also swap your connections on your TV to rule-out the set (if the problem persists). Just plug the cable box HDMI into the connection that the PS3 was in, and vice-verse. If you still have problems, then it's either in the cable box connector or upstream from that. If the problems go away, then you have a bad HDMI connector on your set that needs to be fixed under warranty.

I swapped the connections and I still have the issue. Its still within 30 days of me ordering it through Amazon. Do you think its worth the hassle of shipping it back and getting a new one or go the easy way and utilizing the warranty to get a technician come fix it?

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

I swapped the connections and I still have the issue. Its still within 30 days of me ordering it through Amazon. Do you think its worth the hassle of shipping it back and getting a new one or go the easy way and utilizing the warranty to get a technician come fix it?

If you swapped the connections like I described, then it's probably NOT your TV and is something in your cable box. Are you saying the problem is still there with your cable box plugged into the PS3 input on your TV?

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

If you swapped the connections like I described, then it's probably NOT your TV and is something in your cable box. Are you saying the problem is still there with your cable box plugged into the PS3 input on your TV?

Yes, even after switching the inputs of the cable box and PS3. Its so weird too because I just swapped out the cable because of this problem. I have a cable technician coming out this Thursday to investigate. Do you have any advice on what I should have to check for?

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

Yes, even after switching the inputs of the cable box and PS3. Its so weird too because I just swapped out the cable because of this problem. I have a cable technician coming out this Thursday to investigate. Do you have any advice on what I should have to check for?

Well, I'd say there is most likely a problem with the box, maybe just the HDMI connector/outlet. A simply box-swap should do the trick (assuming they do that). Good luck.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

Well, I'd say there is most likely a problem with the box, maybe just the HDMI connector/outlet. A simply box-swap should do the trick (assuming they do that). Good luck.

I've already swapped out the cable box and I get the same problem. So I think that I'll schedule an appt with Panasonic warranty guys to investigate. Thanks for all the suggestions.

[Wingman1977]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

I've already swapped out the cable box and I get the same problem. So I think that I'll schedule an appt with Panasonic warranty guys to investigate. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Perhaps the HDMI input/s are bad? Honestly, I would call amazon and do a exchange. With that said, good luck with whatever you decide to do and hopefully it gets resolved because that's a great set.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by Wingman1977

Perhaps the HDMI input/s are bad? Honestly, I would call amazon and do a exchange. With that said, good luck with whatever you decide to do and hopefully it gets resolved because that's a great set.

Thanks for everyone's input on this. I'm on the phone with Amazon right now scheduling to have this replaced. I'll definitely keep everyone posted once the replacement arrives.