wrote:

It sounds like there is some circuitry which is shared by all
of the "external" sources that is not common to the internal
signal generator which shows up as your menus. For an
experienced troubleshooter, that's a *great* starting point.
(read: makes it easier to diagnose.)

That's what I was thinking. The three guns are probab;y ok but
whatever switches the video to the screen is screwed up.

Exactly. Anybody telling you to fix the "display" portion has
totally ignored what you wrote about the menus. The display is
capable of projecting a good picture of the menu, which means the
problem is "up front" somewhere.

Maybe not so much in the switching, but maybe an inter-stage video
amplifier that is somewhere in the path. YOu might want to try
and order schematics and turn your techs loose on it. Even though
it's a TV, it's still basic troubleshooting, isolate the problem.

Any suggestions? My 5 year extended warramty has run out and
it's the middle of football season !!!

Uhhh, service call? You, me, or just about anybody reading
here (unless they happen to be a veteran TV repairman and/or
Hitachi- trained service tech) can't really see it from here,
and even if somebody told you that you have a bad
"frimjammer" or "hoozitz", would you be competent enough to
open it up, find a replacement part, and fix it?

Guess I'm just hoping someone has experianced it, fixed it, or
had someone fix it for them. I manage a service department
(two-way police radios), and I do have a BS in Elect Eng. Just
hoping...

Well, there you go! You DO fit the "competent enough to fix it"
profile, unlike about 90% of the people who would typically
step up and ask this question. I stand semi-corrected g.

I had some good advice from these groups before in fixing my hot
water heater and my stove.

You never know.

That's true, it never hurts to ask.

--
The real Tom Pendergast [ So if you meet me, have some courtesy,
aka I-zheet M'drurz [ have some sympathy, and some taste.
Accept no substitutes! [ Use all your well-learned politesse,
$1 to Mick for the .sig ---[ or I'll lay your soul to waste.