Black bar flickering

[volcomsocal]

Here's what I own:
Panasonic 42" plasma TH-42PX60U
80 GB PS3
Direct TV HD reciever

Hey guys. I'm relatively new here, but I've owned my plasma for 3 years now.

The problem I'm having, and have been having for months now, is when I watch SD movies or Blu-ray movies that have vertical or horizontal black bars, those black bars flicker. If I watch tv, whether HD or SD, I never see any flickering whatsoever. I checked the 2 HDMI cords on the back of my tv (one going to my PS3, one going to my Direct TV HD reciever) to see if they were crimped due to the lack of space because my plasma is wall mounted. Both HDMI cables seem very short on space and crimped but especially the one connected to my PS3. But like I said, there is no flickering problem when I watch tv. So I thought the HDMI that's connected to my PS3 was worn out.

I bought a new HDMI that goes from my plasma to my PS3, plugged it in, popped in FRIENDS (vertical black bars), and still had the flickering problem. I also popped in a Blu-ray that has a 2.40:1 aspect ratio (horizontal black bars), and the flickering was there as well.

I'm completely stumped as to why this is happening. Is the problem my PS3? Has anyone ever come across this problem on their own setup? Help!

Thanks in advance.

[BluRoo98]

Originally Posted by volcomsocal

Here's what I own:
Panasonic 42" plasma TH-42PX60U
80 GB PS3
Direct TV HD reciever

Hey guys. I'm relatively new here, but I've owned my plasma for 3 years now.

The problem I'm having, and have been having for months now, is when I watch SD movies or Blu-ray movies that have vertical or horizontal black bars, those black bars flicker. If I watch tv, whether HD or SD, I never see any flickering whatsoever. I checked the 2 HDMI cords on the back of my tv (one going to my PS3, one going to my Direct TV HD reciever) to see if they were crimped due to the lack of space because my plasma is wall mounted. Both HDMI cables seem very short on space and crimped but especially the one connected to my PS3. But like I said, there is no flickering problem when I watch tv. So I thought the HDMI that's connected to my PS3 was worn out.

I bought a new HDMI that goes from my plasma to my PS3, plugged it in, popped in FRIENDS (vertical black bars), and still had the flickering problem. I also popped in a Blu-ray that has a 2.40:1 aspect ratio (horizontal black bars), and the flickering was there as well.

I'm completely stumped as to why this is happening. Is the problem my PS3? Has anyone ever come across this problem on their own setup? Help!

Thanks in advance.

I have the same TV but not a PS3 - dont have the same problem. Sounds like it is the PS3 because it is not happening with your cable TV.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by HD2Blu

I have the same TV but not a PS3 - dont have the same problem. Sounds like it is the PS3 because it is not happening with your cable TV.

That could be .
Might be something to look into . Do you know someone that has A PS3 or Blu-ray player that can hook it up to your system to see if it is still Happening .

[volcomsocal]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

That could be .
Might be something to look into . Do you know someone that has A PS3 or Blu-ray player that can hook it up to your system to see if it is still Happening .

Actually I do. My roomate. lol just never thought about that before. I'll hook it up and post what happens.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by volcomsocal

Actually I do. My roomate. lol just never thought about that before. I'll hook it up and post what happens.

Good ! If everything is normal than you know the problem !!

[volcomsocal]

I hooked his PS3 up and the problem wasn't as noticeable but the flickering was still there.

After I did that, I plugged my PS3 back up to my tv. Then just for the hell of it, I swapped the HDMI cords on the back on my plasma. So, now my PS3 HDMI is in the slot where the Direct TV HDMI used to be and vice versa.

I think I figured out my problem. My tv only has 2 HDMI slots. That shows you how old my plasma is. For all this time, I had the Direct TV HDMI plugged into "HDMI 1" and my PS3 plugged into "HDMI 2". I believe the problem is that the HDMI 2 slot is messed up somehow. The thing is, i went to check an SD tv station to see if the black bar flickering problem is there, and it's not. So I'm still confused, but I'm hoping that just by switching HDMI slots, the flickering will stop.

???

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by volcomsocal

I hooked his PS3 up and the problem wasn't as noticeable but the flickering was still there.

After I did that, I plugged my PS3 back up to my tv. Then just for the hell of it, I swapped the HDMI cords on the back on my plasma. So, now my PS3 HDMI is in the slot where the Direct TV HDMI used to be and vice versa.

I think I figured out my problem. My tv only has 2 HDMI slots. That shows you how old my plasma is. For all this time, I had the Direct TV HDMI plugged into "HDMI 1" and my PS3 plugged into "HDMI 2". I believe the problem is that the HDMI 2 slot is messed up somehow. The thing is, i went to check an SD tv station to see if the black bar flickering problem is there, and it's not. So I'm still confused, but I'm hoping that just by switching HDMI slots, the flickering will stop.

???

If one of the HDMI inputs is Bad you can look into getting a HDMI splitter so you are not changing them .

[volcomsocal]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

If one of the HDMI inputs is Bad you can look into getting a HDMI splitter so you are not changing them .

Good idea. Right now I'm going to see how things go for a while with the inputs switched and see if i can deal with it.