On 1 Feb 2006 08:12:28 -0800, "
wrote:

You did not check on the repair availability before buying it? I
remember the ads at the time, it was the cheapest DLP 56" tv available
at the time. Someone else actually made it for Gateway, might be worth
trying to find out who made it.

I would like to know what filament you were talking about in the lamp.


Given the cost of keeping a trained technician on the truck and the
test equipment required, $250 US is a little high in the Midwest, but
is pretty much the break even cost in some States, Like CA, to get a
tech to the door. Especially if you live more than 10 miles away from
the servicer. You could always take the set into the servicer. It
will probably be required to go in due to the nature of the
intermittent failure.

BTW a bad component video cable or s-video cable can both cause the
same symptom you described...... I would assume you have the problem
with the built in tuner as well as the external video sources?


1)"You did not check on the repair availability before buying it? "

Nope. I have Two 30" tube sets that are 10 and 11 years old and never
a problem,they still used everyday. I never thought about researching
repair availability. In the past 35 years I would just look in the
Phone book and call one of 30 or 40 repair shops. (I live in a big
city) if I needed anything fix.. I never seen a company before having
a contract with only one company to do in warranty or out of
warranty repair/parts.. The consumer is at the mercy of this shop
that can charge whatever they want, because you have no where else to
go. I had literally called 8 electronic repair shops in a try to run
down cheaper cost...ultimately it was the same answer, we don't do
repairs on the GW DLP becuase we can not get parts for it. Just the
original retailer/manufacturer repair contractor can get parts for
this discontinued Gateway DLP.


2 "I would assume you have the problem
with the built in tuner as well as the external video sources?"

The Flashing are on all video sources


3) "I would like to know what filament you were talking about in the
lamp"

Just eye-balling the lamp. It's not that anyway, the New $400 lamp did
not fix the problem.


" Someone else actually made it for Gateway, might be worth
trying to find out who made it"

Company called Delta.. They will not take calls or deal with the
end-user


" it was the cheapest DLP 56" tv available
at the time".

yep. Sold at Gateway, Costco under the name VIZIO for as low as 2.5K.
I guess you get what you pay for.


I was aways a BIG anti-Extended warranties guy........ until now.
With these DLP/LCD Rear Projection Units, get a good LONG Extended
warrantie

I learned my lesson.


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