"Karyudo" <karyudo_use***@yahoo.com.remove.me> wrote in message
news:q2au611gtstr30a416ltqbh8ersntu3d3j@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 03:27:08 -0400, "JANA" <j***@ca.inter.net> wrote:
>
>>I would [...] invest in the service manual.
>
> Sounds good. Where can I find one? I've heard something like Thomson
> something-or-other, but that's not quite enough detail. Any more
> hints?
>
>>In some models of sets, they use some resistors with jumpers that are
>>soldered to them to set the width. Some sets have a connector that is
>>selectable for the width. Another way of doing this, is that there may be
>>a
>>pot or width coil on the main chassis in the horizontal output area.
>
> All three of these are strategies I would pursue. Changing out a
> jumper -- or even a resistor -- is within my cautious capabilities, I
> think. If I were to take the back of the set off, what would I be
> looking for, and where would I look for it? Any hints on what sort of
> label (e.g. printed on the PCB?) I'd see? (Oh, and don't worry: I'm
> not going to touch anything metal until it's been off for the better
> part of a day, lest I fry myself or something else).
>
> Thanks for your help!

"Karyudo" <karyudo_use***@yahoo.com.remove.me> wrote in message
news:q2au611gtstr30a416ltqbh8ersntu3d3j@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 03:27:08 -0400, "JANA" <j***@ca.inter.net> wrote:
>
> >I would [...] invest in the service manual.
>
> Sounds good. Where can I find one? I've heard something like Thomson
> something-or-other, but that's not quite enough detail. Any more
> hints?
>
> >In some models of sets, they use some resistors with jumpers that are
> >soldered to them to set the width. Some sets have a connector that is
> >selectable for the width. Another way of doing this, is that there may be
a
> >pot or width coil on the main chassis in the horizontal output area.
>
> All three of these are strategies I would pursue. Changing out a
> jumper -- or even a resistor -- is within my cautious capabilities, I
> think. If I were to take the back of the set off, what would I be
> looking for, and where would I look for it? Any hints on what sort of
> label (e.g. printed on the PCB?) I'd see? (Oh, and don't worry: I'm
> not going to touch anything metal until it's been off for the better
> part of a day, lest I fry myself or something else).
>
> Thanks for your help!

"Karyudo" <karyudo_use***@yahoo.com.remove.me> wrote in message
news:5t4v61ls3ofo17vsthmqk7glg2c3ddd3td@4ax.com...
> >You obviously do not
> >understand the operation or design of the circuits enough to do so
without a
> >high probability of damage to the set.
>
> You misunderestimate me. *Of course* I don't understand the circuits
> enough -- yet. I'm not going to do a damn thing until I do, and until
> there's a much lower probability of damage to the set (preferably
> hovering around 'nil').
>
> What I really need now is not dire warnings, but more information
> about either the circuits themselves, or where to find the
> information. I know service manuals exist; I'd like to know how to get
> one. I'm educated, bright (enough), and cautious. I'm not going to
> mess anything up, because I won't touch anything until I'm pretty
> positive I'm touching the right thing.
>
> One observation: TVs suck. Computer monitors (and I mean *all of
> them*) have allowed the end user to adjust just about every damn thing
> -- including horizontal width, of course -- for at least about a dozen
> years. This is not rocket science, it's just crappy engineering. The
> fact that I've even got to consider some dangerous hardware mod just
> to get the whole picture on the screen is ludicrous.

"Karyudo" <karyudo_use***@yahoo.com.remove.me> wrote in message
news:45or61t1eat3sdjn2pjlnfklmagsf96ivf@4ax.com...
> I've got an RCA F27689, built in 2001. Not the world's best 27" TV,
> but decent enough for me right now.
>
> I'm a bit of a tweaker, so I've already found out how to get into the
> service mode of my TV. I'm also a fairly cautious type, so I also
> wrote down all the default values for my set before attempting to mess
> with anything. I've also read some horror stories that suggest if
> you're going to be fiddling with things in the service menu, you'd
> best be prepared for the consequences of messing something up
> permanently (or at least enough to require a visit to a service
> technician). You may consider me a fool, but the potential benefits of
> tweaking make that a risk I'm willing to take.
>
> Using a Digital Video Essentials test pattern as a guide, I can see
> that some parameters make visible changes: I've found vertical
> position, vertical size, and horizontal position, for example.
>
> However, the one thing I really want to change -- horizontal size, to
> correct for what I feel is an awful lot of horizontal overscan -- has
> thus far eluded me. I'm beginning to think maybe it can't be adjusted
> at all (!), but I don't really want to believe that just yet. I'm
> hoping maybe there's another password to set, and further parameters
> to adjust. Or that one of the parameters I don't see doing anything
> can be made to do something, somehow. I don't know -- I'm grasping at
> theoretical straws here.
>
> Could somebody with a little (or a lot) more experience than I've got
> give me a couple of pointers? Thanks kindly...
>
> [crossposted to sci.electronics.repair and rec.video]

"kip" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:newscache$ouyjfi$j2o$1@newsfeed.niagara.com...
> If it needs to be adjusted you will need Chipper Checker
> and if its really got overscan then the set needs to be repaired.
>
> kip
> "Karyudo" <karyudo_use***@yahoo.com.remove.me> wrote in message
> news:45or61t1eat3sdjn2pjlnfklmagsf96ivf@4ax.com...
> > I've got an RCA F27689, built in 2001. Not the world's best 27" TV,
> > but decent enough for me right now.
> >
> > I'm a bit of a tweaker, so I've already found out how to get into the
> > service mode of my TV. I'm also a fairly cautious type, so I also
> > wrote down all the default values for my set before attempting to mess
> > with anything. I've also read some horror stories that suggest if
> > you're going to be fiddling with things in the service menu, you'd
> > best be prepared for the consequences of messing something up
> > permanently (or at least enough to require a visit to a service
> > technician). You may consider me a fool, but the potential benefits of
> > tweaking make that a risk I'm willing to take.
> >
> > Using a Digital Video Essentials test pattern as a guide, I can see
> > that some parameters make visible changes: I've found vertical
> > position, vertical size, and horizontal position, for example.
> >
> > However, the one thing I really want to change -- horizontal size, to
> > correct for what I feel is an awful lot of horizontal overscan -- has
> > thus far eluded me. I'm beginning to think maybe it can't be adjusted
> > at all (!), but I don't really want to believe that just yet. I'm
> > hoping maybe there's another password to set, and further parameters
> > to adjust. Or that one of the parameters I don't see doing anything
> > can be made to do something, somehow. I don't know -- I'm grasping at
> > theoretical straws here.
> >
> > Could somebody with a little (or a lot) more experience than I've got
> > give me a couple of pointers? Thanks kindly...
> >
> > [crossposted to sci.electronics.repair and rec.video]
>
>

"RonKZ650" <RonKZ***@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1114522237.964578.152590@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> I don't have the exact CTC197A8 scematic, but other 27" CTC197 use
> parameter 5 as horiz size adjustment in the service menu.
>

"Leonard Caillouet" <nospam@noway.com> wrote in message
news:UPsbe.130540$vK6.26397@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
> This is correct.  The set does have horizontal size adjustment, parameter
> 5.
>
> Leonard
>
> "RonKZ650" <RonKZ***@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:1114522237.964578.152590@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>> I don't have the exact CTC197A8 scematic, but other 27" CTC197 use
>> parameter 5 as horiz size adjustment in the service menu.
>>
>
>

"Karyudo" <karyudo_use***@yahoo.com.remove.me> wrote in message
news:o4ot615ea9frlho8f3i3mn4tmq670vcbhq@4ax.com...
> I've done a bit more searching, based on the fact that I now know the
> chassis number can also tell me a lot!
>
> I've found the complete set of service codes for the CTC197:
>
> Parameter #   Description:
> 0             Security Pass
> 1             Error code
> 2             Error code
> 3             Error code
> 4             Horiz Phase
> 5             EW DC (Horiz size)
> 6             Pin Cush Amplitude
> 7             Pincush Tilt
> 8             Pin Top Corner Correction
> 9             Pin Bottom Corner Correction
> 10            Vert Centering
> 11            Vert Size
> 12            Vert Countdown Mode
> 13            Red Bias
> 14            Green Bias
> 15            Blue Bias
> 16            Red Drive
> 17            Green Drive
> 18            Blue Drive
> 19            Gemstar OSD Horizontal
> 20            Gemstar OSD Vertical
> 21            Gemstar Horiz. PIP
> 22            Gemstar Vert. PIP
> 23            Gemstar PIP Window Vertical
>
> ...and sure enough, this matches what I've been able to figure out on
> my own thus far.
>
> However, I also found a forum conversation that goes thusly:
>
> Q: "I've located the proper parameter in service mode to adjust the
> horizontal width of my RCA TV, however, it doesn't affect the display
> when altered. The vertical sizing and centering parameters do work. I
> was using P5 which was indicated in the Service Manual for a CTC197
> chassis. Any thoughts?"
>
> A: "Your set may not have the option to adjust the pin or horizontal
> size depending on the size of the TV and feature level it was built
> with. I can guarantee that if it is smaller than a 27" it does not
> have any horizontal adjustments available."
>
> Sadly, this also matches what I've been able to figure out. So I guess
> if the horizontal size can be changed, it won't be through the service
> menu. Damn.
>
>>But did the set develop a fault that now gives excessive
>>scan or not, or does he want to reduce what is normal
>>on those TVs. Has the TV always been like [that]?
>
> Yeah, it's always been like that, and no, there's no fault per se. But
> I still feel that there's too much stuff being cut off. Titles on some
> movies or TV shows, for example, are butted right up against the edge
> of the screen -- and sometimes they're even cut off a bit. So I'm
> guessing I'm missing part of the 'TV title safe' area?
>
> I can change the horizontal position adjustment (P:04) from one
> extreme to another, and still not see the very edge of the picture on
> either side. I mean, this is *acceptable*, but it's not *optimal*.
> It's disappointing to learn that this is likely not an easy tweak to
> make. But I'm a persistent geek if nothing else, so I'd still be
> interested to hear what I might have to do "under the hood" to have a
> shot at reducing the overscan on my set.
>
> Any further ideas?? (Thanks, everyone!)

"Karyudo" <karyudo_use***@yahoo.com.remove.me> wrote in message
news:j6e07193fem9aj9947iqeef84o417aslfc@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 27 Apr 2005 13:07:34 -0400, "Art" <plotsl***@comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
>>> Any further ideas??
>
>>YES, go out and by an APEX TV!!
>
> Dude, if I had money enough to go out and buy a new TV, I probably
> would. Actually, no, I wouldn't: I have a TV that works just fine. I
> just want it to work a little *better* than 'fine'. Part of the fun is
> to figure out what to tweak and how to tweak it.
>
> And if I did decide to buy a new TV, I doubt I'd start with Apex, even
> though I'm in that minority that has had excellent results and a long
> -- continuing -- life out of his AD-600A.
>
> What's so hot about the Apex TVs, may I ask?