Electronics Repair (sci.electronics.repair) Discussion of repairing electronic equipment. Topics include requests for assistance, where to obtain servicing information and parts, techniques for diagnosis and repair, and annecdotes about success, failures and problems.

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Posted to sci.electronics.repair
Mojo
 
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Default Experiencing problem with discontinued Gateway 56" DLP TV, Rant

Has anyone experienced a problem with their Gateway 56" DLP TV, where
Screen flickers almost like you are looking at a negative of a
photograph ?

Gateway 56" DLP TV, 26 months old...past the 1 year warranty....and
Gateway tech support is useless..They even tired to change my $45 to
tell me where I can get out of warranty repairs done on there own
discontinued 56" DLP................... @ss-holds


My TV was purchased by me in Dec 2003, warranty expired in Dec 2004.
TV started having intermittent picture problems " Screen flickers
almost like you are looking at a negative of a photograph" after an
2-3 housr or so of use in Nov 2005, and now finally flickers after
just 15 -20 minutes. After spending over $3500 on this TV, I figure

1. Figured I go and ordered a new bulb (can always send back) even
though original bulb & filament still looks fine. $400.00 later from
GTW, since no other place would guarantee a refund if did not work
....bulb definitely not the problem.

2. After talking with a couple of technicians, here is a breakdown of
what GTW will charge for out of warranty repairs. Only the parts are
refundable IF they turn out not to use them. GTW has contract with
company called D1 to handle their service work. Thus, GTW cannot sell
service parts to anyone else................I MEAN NO ONE. D1 is the
only company that can get parts to repair GW'S discontinued DLP tv's
$50 processing fee (read "paperwork fee")
$200 technician fee (read "site charge")
THAT'S RIGHT........... $250 JUST TO WALK IN MY DOOR

$250 labor charge (in addition to the technician fee)
parts:
$2400 optical engine (includes drive motor and wheel - cannot buy
wheel separate)
$170 tuner board
$370 control board
$130 AV board
$120 additional audio driver board

4. Obviously, I am not paying more than what I could buy a new DLP/LCD
TV for, just to get this hunk-a-junk fixed. So.....

Boy did I F@ck myself over in buying this DLP from Gateway. I was
warned not to buy a tv from a computer company,

unless any of you guys got any ideas.......................RANT OVER

thanks for sharing my pain..............LOL

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Posted to sci.electronics.repair
 
Posts: n/a
Default Experiencing problem with discontinued Gateway 56" DLP TV, Rant

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?

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Mojo
 
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Default Experiencing problem with discontinued Gateway 56" DLP TV, Rant

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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Posted to sci.electronics.repair
Leonard Caillouet
 
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Default Experiencing problem with discontinued Gateway 56" DLP TV, Rant

Decision One is likely to NOT bring the set in because they employ guys that
work strictly on the road in most places. They swap boards and that is it.
Many of them have no idea how a TV or monitor works, at least not in the way
most TV techs do.

Welcome to the reality of service on many products. I strongly urge anyone
considering buying any product to get to know the local servicers before
buying. People are getting screwed like this all the time by the likes of
Gateway, Dell, Infocus, BenQ, Optoma, Sceptre, NEC, JVC, and many others.

Leonard

wrote in message
oups.com...
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?



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Posted to sci.electronics.repair
James Sweet
 
Posts: n/a
Default Experiencing problem with discontinued Gateway 56" DLP TV,Rant

Mojo wrote:
Has anyone experienced a problem with their Gateway 56" DLP TV, where
Screen flickers almost like you are looking at a negative of a
photograph ?

Gateway 56" DLP TV, 26 months old...past the 1 year warranty....and
Gateway tech support is useless..They even tired to change my $45 to
tell me where I can get out of warranty repairs done on there own
discontinued 56" DLP................... @ss-holds


My TV was purchased by me in Dec 2003, warranty expired in Dec 2004.
TV started having intermittent picture problems " Screen flickers
almost like you are looking at a negative of a photograph" after an
2-3 housr or so of use in Nov 2005, and now finally flickers after
just 15 -20 minutes. After spending over $3500 on this TV, I figure

1. Figured I go and ordered a new bulb (can always send back) even
though original bulb & filament still looks fine. $400.00 later from
GTW, since no other place would guarantee a refund if did not work
...bulb definitely not the problem.

2. After talking with a couple of technicians, here is a breakdown of
what GTW will charge for out of warranty repairs. Only the parts are
refundable IF they turn out not to use them. GTW has contract with
company called D1 to handle their service work. Thus, GTW cannot sell
service parts to anyone else................I MEAN NO ONE. D1 is the
only company that can get parts to repair GW'S discontinued DLP tv's
$50 processing fee (read "paperwork fee")
$200 technician fee (read "site charge")
THAT'S RIGHT........... $250 JUST TO WALK IN MY DOOR

$250 labor charge (in addition to the technician fee)
parts:
$2400 optical engine (includes drive motor and wheel - cannot buy
wheel separate)
$170 tuner board
$370 control board
$130 AV board
$120 additional audio driver board

4. Obviously, I am not paying more than what I could buy a new DLP/LCD
TV for, just to get this hunk-a-junk fixed. So.....

Boy did I F@ck myself over in buying this DLP from Gateway. I was
warned not to buy a tv from a computer company,

unless any of you guys got any ideas.......................RANT OVER

thanks for sharing my pain..............LOL



First, there's no filament in the discharge lamps used in DLP
projectors, they don't generally "burn out" but are shut down by the
electronics at end of life otherwise they will explode and likely damage
the optical assembly.

As for the flicker problem, does it respond to gently tapping on the unit?


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Posted to sci.electronics.repair
 
Posts: n/a
Default Experiencing problem with discontinued Gateway 56" DLP TV, Rant


Mojo wrote:
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.

I just want you to know I share your pain. Mine's 24 months old and my colors won't stay stable. BTW you're looking at a $500 service call since labor is automatically added with no refund. You can try www.vinc.com they sold Visio but I haven't been able to get thru. At the very least I'm going to include your experience with mine when I write consumers affairs here in Michigan. What a racket.I have to believe there are many more out there. I didn't check out service cost either, I was dealing with Gateway, not White Van Discount. The service manager also told me I could go thru any third party repair service, yet they still refuse to sell to them too.---------------------------


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