Samsung IDTV woes

I had a call today from 'an acquaintance' with a Samsung CRT IDTV, model
number WS-32A116D, the problem was Welsh and missing channels, after getting
into the rather peculiar menu I did a factory reset (strangely its memory
appeared to retain some frozen images making an appearance onscreen,
something it was doing before the reset) I then attempted a complete rescan
which resulted in a locked up menu, the only button on the remote left
working was standby, I unplugged the receiver from the mains and tried
again, with exactly the same results, I then went into a section called
software and found the original along with a version dated 2006, which I
installed, it then rescaned OK (with a C/D filter to block out Wenvoe) and
appeared to load stations normally, however after checking the channel
lineup it appeared that it was missing multiplex A? (no ITV3 on channel 10
etc) the signal appeared to be fine, perfect analogue pictures and digital
signal reading of around 80 per cent with no errors, this was borne out
after I reset and rescaned his Humax PVR 9300 which worked OK on every
multiplex (although it did lock up on three separate occasions when changing
channels, which required it having to be rebooted by being disconnected from
the mains!) I suspect some kind of software problem with the Samsung, but
can't seem to find any reference at all about this particular problem on the
net, however I departed by telling the chap that there are much more
knowledgeable people on Usenet than myself and would let him know if any
kind soul could offer up some advice, or whether I will have to break the
news that his telly is now obsolete and destined for the great landfill in
the sky.. any help would be most welcome, TIA Ivan.

Well a cheap set top box would surely suffice?

I'm a little suspicious at multiple lock ups on more than one receiver,
sounds like there might be a mains interference issue around.

Brian

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Note:- In order to reduce spam, any email without 'Brian Gaff'
in the display name may be lost.
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"Ivan" wrote in message
...
I had a call today from 'an acquaintance' with a Samsung CRT IDTV, model
number WS-32A116D, the problem was Welsh and missing channels, after
getting into the rather peculiar menu I did a factory reset (strangely its
memory appeared to retain some frozen images making an appearance
onscreen, something it was doing before the reset) I then attempted a
complete rescan which resulted in a locked up menu, the only button on the
remote left working was standby, I unplugged the receiver from the mains
and tried again, with exactly the same results, I then went into a section
called software and found the original along with a version dated 2006,
which I installed, it then rescaned OK (with a C/D filter to block out
Wenvoe) and appeared to load stations normally, however after checking the
channel lineup it appeared that it was missing multiplex A? (no ITV3 on
channel 10 etc) the signal appeared to be fine, perfect analogue pictures
and digital signal reading of around 80 per cent with no errors, this was
borne out after I reset and rescaned his Humax PVR 9300 which worked OK on
every multiplex (although it did lock up on three separate occasions when
changing channels, which required it having to be rebooted by being
disconnected from the mains!) I suspect some kind of software problem with
the Samsung, but can't seem to find any reference at all about this
particular problem on the net, however I departed by telling the chap that
there are much more knowledgeable people on Usenet than myself and would
let him know if any kind soul could offer up some advice, or whether I will
have to break the news that his telly is now obsolete and destined for the
great landfill in the sky.. any help would be most welcome, TIA Ivan.

"Brian Gaff" wrote in message
. ..
Well a cheap set top box would surely suffice?

Well he can and (will) use the PVR to watch programs that are in the missing
TV mux, I just thought that it would be nice to have the receiver working as
god originally intended, however I suspect that it could well join the list
of other IDTVs and set top boxes which have been poorly designed or have
flakey software that the manufacturer's are not really interested in
updating.

I'm a little suspicious at multiple lock ups on more than one receiver,
sounds like there might be a mains interference issue around.

It definitely appeared to be a software related issue, which hopefully will
sort itself out and settle down:0)

On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:51:10 GMT, "Brian Gaff"
wrote:

Well a cheap set top box would surely suffice?

I'm a little suspicious at multiple lock ups on more than one receiver,
sounds like there might be a mains interference issue around.

But surely consumers should not have to buy something extra to fix the
problem caused by a fault in another product?

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On Nov 6, 6:30*pm, "Ivan" wrote:
I had a call today from 'an acquaintance' with a Samsung CRT IDTV, model
number WS-32A116D, the problem was Welsh and missing channels, after getting
into the rather peculiar menu I did a factory reset (strangely its memory
appeared to retain some *frozen images making an appearance onscreen,
something it was doing before the reset) I then attempted a complete rescan
which resulted in a locked up menu, the only button on the remote left
working was standby, I unplugged the receiver from the mains and tried
again, with exactly the same results, I then went into a section called
software and found the original along with a version dated 2006, which I
installed, it then rescaned OK (with a C/D filter to block out Wenvoe) and
appeared to load stations normally, however after checking the channel
lineup it appeared that it was missing multiplex A? (no ITV3 on channel 10
etc) the signal appeared to be fine, perfect analogue pictures and digital
signal reading of around 80 per cent with no errors, this was borne out
after I reset and rescaned his Humax PVR 9300 which worked OK on every
multiplex (although it did lock up on three separate occasions when changing
channels, which required it having to be rebooted by being disconnected from
the mains!) I suspect some kind of software problem with the Samsung, but
can't seem to find any reference at all about this particular problem on the
net, however I departed by telling the chap that there are much more
knowledgeable people on Usenet than myself and would let him know if any
kind soul could offer up some advice, or whether I will have to break the
news that his telly is now obsolete and destined for the great landfill in
the sky.. any help would be most welcome, TIA Ivan.

I feel your pain! I think I have the 28" version of that TV (can't
remember the model number, but a google search for pictures looks
about right) - the firmware is a complete dogs breakfast. It's not
uncommon for the EPG to freeze completely and only turning the power
off/on will reset it grrrr. I have found that if you leave it in the
frozen state for a few minute sometimes it will automatically reboot
(blank screen followed by Samsung startup logo screen).

Not sure if it's a coincidence or not but, disabling the digital text
(I think it's: D-Menu on remote Features Digital text Enable|
Disable) seems to have made it a little more stable - or is that less
unstable?!

The last freeview retune was a complete PITA it took countless
attempts to get it to recognise BBC1/2 again - I've found the only way
to get this to work is a manual scan, select the correct UHF channel
and keep running a 'scan for services' until it reports the correct
number of services for the MUX. Seem to recall it need 12 attempts
before it worked.

I'm holding out for sensibly priced DVB-T2 TV's to be launched then
I'm going to get shot of this heap of @%!*. Needless to say I'm not
going to buy another Samsung!

"Simon" wrote in message
...

I feel your pain! I think I have the 28" version of that TV (can't
remember the model number, but a google search for pictures looks
about right) - the firmware is a complete dogs breakfast. It's not
uncommon for the EPG to freeze completely and only turning the power
off/on will reset it grrrr. I have found that if you leave it in the
frozen state for a few minute sometimes it will automatically reboot
(blank screen followed by Samsung startup logo screen).

Not sure if it's a coincidence or not but, disabling the digital text
(I think it's: D-Menu on remote Features Digital text Enable|
Disable) seems to have made it a little more stable - or is that less
unstable?!

The last freeview retune was a complete PITA it took countless
attempts to get it to recognise BBC1/2 again - I've found the only way
to get this to work is a manual scan, select the correct UHF channel
and keep running a 'scan for services' until it reports the correct
number of services for the MUX. Seem to recall it need 12 attempts
before it worked.!

I has similar problems with an aunt's Samsung IDTV after 30 September. It
was totally stuck on ITV2 and none of the Digital buttons on the remote did
anything, so no reset or retune possible.

Accessing the Service menu; from standby, Info-Menu-Mute-Power On (or maybe
it was Info-Mute-Menu-Power On - I'm writing this from memory) was the
answer.

Factory reset was the 12th (IIRC) item on the menu. select it and press the
right hand arrow on the remote. "Please wait" and after a few seconds it did
a complete resinstall just as it did when new. All the problems went away.

HTH
--
Malcolm

On 11 Nov, 17:11, "Malcolm Knight"
wrote:
"Simon" wrote in message

...





I feel your pain! I think I have the 28" version of that TV (can't
remember the model number, but a google search for pictures looks
about right) - the firmware is a complete dogs breakfast. It's not
uncommon for the EPG to freeze completely and only turning the power
off/on will reset it grrrr. I have found that if you leave it in the
frozen state for a few minute sometimes it will automatically reboot
(blank screen followed by Samsung startup logo screen).
Not sure if it's a coincidence or not but, disabling the digital text
(I think it's: D-Menu on remote Features Digital text Enable|
Disable) seems to have made it a little more stable - or is that less
unstable?!
The last freeview retune was a complete PITA it took countless
attempts to get it to recognise BBC1/2 again - I've found the only way
to get this to work is a manual scan, select the correct UHF channel
and keep running a 'scan for services' until it reports the correct
number of services for the MUX. Seem to recall it need 12 attempts
before it worked.!

I has similar problems with an aunt's Samsung IDTV after 30 September. It
was totally stuck on ITV2 and none of the Digital buttons on the remote did
anything, so no reset or retune possible.

Accessing the Service menu; from standby, Info-Menu-Mute-Power On (or maybe
it was Info-Mute-Menu-Power On - I'm writing this from memory) was the
answer.

Factory reset was the 12th (IIRC) item on the menu. select it and press the
right hand arrow on the remote. "Please wait" and after a few seconds it did
a complete resinstall just as it did when new. All the problems went away.

HTH
--
Malcolm- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I had the same problem but factory reset didnt work. The eeprom was
faulty, the memory being corrupted. New eeprom solved the problem.

wrote in message
...
On 11 Nov, 17:11, "Malcolm Knight"
wrote:
"Simon" wrote in message

...





I feel your pain! I think I have the 28" version of that TV (can't
remember the model number, but a google search for pictures looks
about right) - the firmware is a complete dogs breakfast. It's not
uncommon for the EPG to freeze completely and only turning the power
off/on will reset it grrrr. I have found that if you leave it in the
frozen state for a few minute sometimes it will automatically reboot
(blank screen followed by Samsung startup logo screen).
Not sure if it's a coincidence or not but, disabling the digital text
(I think it's: D-Menu on remote Features Digital text Enable|
Disable) seems to have made it a little more stable - or is that less
unstable?!
The last freeview retune was a complete PITA it took countless
attempts to get it to recognise BBC1/2 again - I've found the only way
to get this to work is a manual scan, select the correct UHF channel
and keep running a 'scan for services' until it reports the correct
number of services for the MUX. Seem to recall it need 12 attempts
before it worked.!

I has similar problems with an aunt's Samsung IDTV after 30 September. It
was totally stuck on ITV2 and none of the Digital buttons on the remote
did
anything, so no reset or retune possible.

Accessing the Service menu; from standby, Info-Menu-Mute-Power On (or
maybe
it was Info-Mute-Menu-Power On - I'm writing this from memory) was the
answer.

Factory reset was the 12th (IIRC) item on the menu. select it and press
the
right hand arrow on the remote. "Please wait" and after a few seconds it
did
a complete resinstall just as it did when new. All the problems went
away.

HTH
--
Malcolm- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I had the same problem but factory reset didnt work. The eeprom was
faulty, the memory being corrupted. New eeprom solved the problem.


Thanks to everyone for their replies, I told him that I would do my best to
find out if there was a straightforward solution to the problem, which I'm
increasingly convinced boils down to the TV requiring a more recent software
version, rather than become embroiled in any more hassle I think the best
thing that I can do is to point him in the direction of Simon's answer and
telling him that the tidiest solution would be to invest in a new flat
screen TV, especially since he can view his missing channels simply by using
the Samsung as a monitor in conjunction with the Humax PVR, also to maybe
hang on until next year to see the way the market is starting to pan out
price-wise with a new generation of HD DVB-T2 receivers.