If you need to ask about safety precautions, you need to go to Sam
Goldwasser's FAQ:

http://www.repairfaq.org/

If the lights dim, the set is likely drawing too much current and going into
shutdown. Something may be shorted. I am not an expert on this chassis
nor on similar ones. I would be quizzing other techs who are after I
checked the obvious stuff.

Leonard

"Alex Tsiboulski" wrote in message
...
You lose me a little on the TCE acronym, not quite sure what it means.

I'm willing to accept the learning curve. If I find that I can't possibly
do this, then I'll just send it into a shop, at least by then I'll be
comforted by the fact I tried my best.

So I guess first off, I'd like to know if you know what this symptom
means.

Every time I plug it into the wall it immediately does the following:

- light in room dims for half of a second.
- 1 very rapid green blink, followed immediately by the green light coming
back on and staying on for nearly a second.
- green light goes away for around a second, at this point a tweet sound
happens.
- green light comes back on and stays for 6 seconds, near the beginning of
this it makes a staticy sounding startup noise.

I downloaded a demo of WinSTIPS and they didn't have any info on the
ATC221 chassis, I suppose that it may be in the paid version.

Would using a Chip Checker II allow me to restore factory defaults?

If not, and the problem is rooted deeper. Then could you provide me with
some safety precautions on opening the back, as that's my main fear right
now.

I was actually planning on getting rid of that garbage mirror, it's glare
is horrendous. Would it be safe to leave it as is afterwards if it's in a
safe environment? without adding that surface glass mirror. Thanks for the
other tips as well.

Also, apologies to Art if my reply sounded hostile. Utter frustration from
dealing with the techs around my area left me in a grumpy mood.


Alex


"Leonard Caillouet" wrote in message
news:y3Y%f.1378$pi6.293@dukeread12...
The techs here help people like you all the time. Most of them know that
trying to DIY a repair on a TCE product is usually a waste of time. The
learning curve can be steep, and the problems can be many. Just
negotiating the service literature is a chore if you are not familiar
with it. Getting info out of Thomson is nearly impossible if you are not
an ASC. I work on nearly all brands and have been servicing projection
television nearly since the earliest consumer products became available.
I have access to several hundred knowlegable techs on several forums and
listserves, and have access to all of the service literature. Still, I
find that if I don't work on a lot of a particular TCE chassis, it is
problematic and wasteful for me to attempt to service them. Art knows
this, as do others here who would tell you to take it to a tech who does
a lot of them. He has helped lots of folks here. Believe it or not, he
was helping you. If it was a simple problem like a convergence output or
PS problem, you would have received appropriate suggestions.

BTW, if you get it working, replace that cheesy mylar mirror with a first
surface glass mirror, do the mechanical and electrostatic focusing, turn
the contrast down to about 40% of what it is from the factory, adjust the
brightness and color appropriately, and you will improve the pix more
than anything you might do in the service menu.

Leonard

"Alex Tsiboulski" wrote in message
.. .
I agree with you that it's a POS. Especially for anything that isn't
being sent as an HD signal. I don't watch TV so until I got my 360 I was
disappointed with it. That's why I'm willing to risk fixing it myself,
cause if it breaks more, I'll have an incentive to go out and buy a
quality one.

This was my first HDTV, and it was an impulsive buy. As are most of my
major purchases.
Same thing happened with my first computer, and camera. Seeing as how
I'm now a photographer and can repair computers. I plan on going the
same route with this TV.

I'm sorry if it sounded like I was degrading all techs, I'm sure there
are the honest ones out there. I was simply venting because all the ones
I've called have been really condescending with me. Whenever I asked
them how much a certain service would cost, meaning I didn't need an
estimate. They would get very rude with me and insist I didn't know
anything.

I know the case is "Who's calling who". But It really sets me off when
any business treats their customers in a rude fashion.

As for the lousy picture, yup. That's why I'm in this mess to begin
with. That's what I was trying to adjust.


Alex



"Leonard Caillouet" wrote in message
...
While I think Art was a bit terse and condescending, you will get
little help if you go off generalizing that techs rip you off because
they charge $50 for an estimate. If you think you can figure it out,
buy the equipment, the manual and go about learning how to fix the POS
that you have. Frankly, I send them to the local TCE ASC because they
are more familiar with them and they can be a PITA to work on. I know
this because I have similar model that a client declined the estimate
on that I fixed as a learning experiment like you describe. I find the
sets to be less than worthy of my time and effort. It also has a lousy
pix.

Leonard

"Alex Tsiboulski" wrote in message
.. .
As if being permissive was such a bad thing.

I understand that I may be calling people for support, but that
doesn't mean they should be acting like assholes and treating me like
I am completely ignorant. Be it Thompson's customer service, or any
local repair shop, I've seriously had enough.

I'm better off buying a Chipper Check, some schematics, and maybe
WinSTIPS.
My time is better spent learning a new skill, than dealing with
assholes.

Much rather go that route than pay overcharging repairmen. $50 for
them to give me an estimate? It costs me the same amount to buy a
Chipper Check. Which might be all I need. Then from there they charge
me inflated labour and part replacement costs. No thanks. Why bother
when it might so happen that I need to send it back in. I rather know
how to fix it myself time and time again, if need be.

If my TV happens to break beyond repair during my attempts, then
boohoo. I'll buy a new one, and be happy with the fact that I picked
up some new skills and have a brand new TV.

My initial question was asking if anyone knew what the problem could
be.
I wouldn't have even bothered posting here if I wasn't considering
repairing it myself.


Alex



"Art" wrote in message
. ..

It is totally obvious that by your permissive actions you renedered
your product inoperable. Enough Said! Get the thing into a shop, pay
for the repair, and don't screw with it again. Clear enough
Alex??
"Alex Tsiboulski" wrote in message
...
Art,

though my knowledge in television electronics is not as far reaching
as it is in the PC realm, I'm far from an "average" consumer. I know
my hardware, and I knew the risk I was taking as soon as I went into
that menu. In my defense, curiosity did get the best of me when I
entered the geometry menu, but I did not save any settings, I barely
even moved a slider in any direction. So I'd love to know how the
same result wouldn't have happened to a professional.

I'd appreciate some useful input from you, or none at all. Your
opinion had nothing to do with the current situation.

"Art" wrote in message
...
Too bad the average consumer does not read that disclaimer before
playing with the "Serviceman Menu"!!IMHO. Seen too many that have
almost been relegated to the junk status by Tweaking by the
un-informed.
"kip" wrote in message
.. .
Alex best call a shop who has the chipper checker and tell them
what you have done.


"Alex Tsiboulski" wrote in message
...
I've had the RCA D52W20 for over 2 years now. It's served me
well, amongst all the bad ratings it's gotten. Today I found out
about the service menu, so I decided to play with that.
190+points of convergence was a blessing. I then decided to see
what was in geomatry, so I shifted my screen to the left a little
to compensate for my PS2. All I remember after that was I either
went up or down and moved the slider on another option and the TV
turned off.

Now all it does is the power blinks green and it makes the sound
like it's trying to startup.
Please any help would be greatly appreciated.

--
Alex Tsiboulski