2008-08-18 01:59:09 TV goes black intermittently

A few months ago, my roommate bought a 52" Sharp Aquos. It looks phenomenal and all that jazz, but the picture goes black intermittently for periods of about a second or two. This may happen once in an hour or 5 times within 2 minutes. It tends to happen less while watching standard def tv and happens most while playing the 360, watching movies, or watching high def tv channels.

He's gotten the tv replaced something like 4 times now, and each one does it. We thought it might be an issue with our outlet or the wiring in our apartment, but we've tried uber-expensive surge protectors that double as power sources, and we still get the black screen.

Any ideas? Anybody experience the same thing?

We haven't really been able to find any info online which baffles us because we don't get how it's happened wth 4-5 different tvs.

---
"If we can hit that bull's-eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards...Checkmate." - Zapp Brannigan

"Just because it'll fit doesn't mean it should go there" - Kyle
"That's what she said." - Me

2008-08-18 02:13:15

Have you guys tried different inputs?
Or maybe there's an update online that solves it?

I know that sounds rediculous but other than switching to a different model I don't know what to tell ya.

I almost bought me an Aquos too.
(ultimately went with a Samsung, but the Bravias were a close second)

2008-08-18 02:49:52

Yeah, we have, but to no avail unfortunately.

---
"If we can hit that bull's-eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards...Checkmate." - Zapp Brannigan

"Just because it'll fit doesn't mean it should go there" - Kyle
"That's what she said." - Me

2008-08-18 03:00:50

If you guys end up getting a new TV you should get one of those Scarlets.
Supposedly they are super badass, if you can afford them.

2008-08-18 03:04:32

Have you tried different cables? Do you use a switcher?

---
Don't you know who I am? I'm the goddamned Banman.

2008-08-18 03:49:29

We've tried different cables and have tried just plugging everything directly into the tv. We didn't have any of these problems with his older 1080i tv and the same general set-up.

---
"If we can hit that bull's-eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards...Checkmate." - Zapp Brannigan

"Just because it'll fit doesn't mean it should go there" - Kyle
"That's what she said." - Me

2008-08-18 07:02:34

Are you sure you are not blinking?



Now as a serious question. Do you still have sound while the screen is black?

---
Mods, stop changing my SIG! I'm going to end up banning you!

2008-08-18 13:21:06

lol.. Yeah, the sound is still there.

Actually, most of the time, the screen will go black for about a second and the sound will still be on. Other times, the screen will go black for a little longer(maybe 2 seconds), the sound will cut out, and when the picture comes back, there is some display status message as if the tv just detected a new input.

---
"If we can hit that bull's-eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards...Checkmate." - Zapp Brannigan

"Just because it'll fit doesn't mean it should go there" - Kyle
"That's what she said." - Me

2008-08-19 02:36:17

Weird, my Philips does it very rarely, but because I get over the air HD, when the signal is not too great it'll lose it for a second but then it's back and it doesn't happen very often at all--sound always there. Needless to say, it never ever happens when watching movies or playing the 360, etc etc.

---
Mods, stop changing my SIG! I'm going to end up banning you!

2008-08-19 03:47:49

It sounds like a HDCP problem, however if you are getting this on SDTV and non HDMI/DVI sources I guess it isn't.

Are you viewing SDTV through HDMI by any chance, for example a HD cable or satellite reciever?

If yes then I would suggest checking the quality of your cables. (HDCP can be a pain for those who opt for lower quality HDMI cables, although it depends on the set)

Are you passing the video and audio through an AV amplifer which could be causing the problem ?

That about all I can think of.

---
Marumaro for the WIN !!

2008-08-21 14:09:48 In reply to LEBATO (2008-08-19 02:36:17)