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eazyb81
04-16-2008, 12:23 PM
:cuss::cuss::cuss:


So I get up this morning to watch some tv before heading to class, and I come back from brushing my teeth to find the screen black and the power button blinking green. I tried to turn it off and on and unplugging it, but nothing has worked. I read somewhere about unplugging it for 4-6 hours and then trying it, so I am doing that right now but I am not holding my breath.

Long story short, I have a decision to make: do I spend the money to get my current tv fixed or should I just buy a new one? It sounds like it will be cheaper to get this fixed, but it will still cost a couple hundred bucks ($50-150 just to diagnose, then probably a couple hundred to fix it). I bought the RCA tv in the summer of 2002 and it's one of those huge fuggers that were built just before flat screens and such became popular (it's not a HDTV or LCD, just a standard one).

Any thoughts on what I should do? I thought about getting this one fixed, but the more I think about it it seems like maybe I should just spend a few hundred more to move into the digital age with an HDTV flat screen. However, I'm a broke grad school student so money is tight.

Reerun_KC
04-16-2008, 12:24 PM
Antifreeze?

stlchiefs
04-16-2008, 12:31 PM
Go donate some fluids and then upgrade the tv. There's no reason to get the big old pieces fixed.

J Diddy
04-16-2008, 12:34 PM
turn it into a coat rack, spend more time on grad school studies, so you can afford to have a movie theater in your mansion after you graduate

stlchiefs
04-16-2008, 12:37 PM
turn it into a coat rack, spend more time on grad school studies, so you can afford to have a movie theater in your mansion after you graduate

Dad? Is that you?

Skip Towne
04-16-2008, 12:38 PM
You'll know you're a redneck if you set your new TV on your old TV.

Sure-Oz
04-16-2008, 12:38 PM
Buy a new one.....

J Diddy
04-16-2008, 12:40 PM
Dad? Is that you?

no
and i have no more money for child support

Chazno
04-16-2008, 12:40 PM
Is this a tube TV? You say its huge. If its projection, you may have just blown the lamp, which should be replaceable. Not necessarily cheap( 100-$300), but replaceable.

Ebolapox
04-16-2008, 12:42 PM
I'd buy a new one personally. less hassle, and lcd tvs are getting much cheaper of late.

Stewie
04-16-2008, 12:43 PM
Have you tried using component inputs to the TV? If the tuner is flaky you can bypass it. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't.

eazyb81
04-16-2008, 12:49 PM
Is this a tube TV? You say its huge. If its projection, you may have just blown the lamp, which should be replaceable. Not necessarily cheap( 100-$300), but replaceable.

Yes, it's a huge tube tv that weighs probably 100 pounds and I'm not exaggerating.

If it is the lamp, which I think is probabaly a good bet based on the internet searching I've done, is it even worth it to get fixed? I could probably get a HDTV for around $500, no?

eazyb81
04-16-2008, 12:50 PM
You'll know you're a redneck if you set your new TV on your old TV.

This fugger is heavy, it may just be my new coffee table. :)

Donger
04-16-2008, 12:51 PM
Bad power supply. Scrap it.

Chiefmanwillcatch
04-16-2008, 01:02 PM
buy a multimeter and fix it yourself!

Dartgod
04-16-2008, 01:09 PM
Yes, it's a huge tube tv that weighs probably 100 pounds and I'm not exaggerating.

If it is the lamp, which I think is probabaly a good bet based on the internet searching I've done, is it even worth it to get fixed? I could probably get a HDTV for around $500, no?
If it's a tube (cathode ray) TV, there is no bulb.

Chazno
04-16-2008, 01:21 PM
Does it look like this?
<img src="http://www.welectronics.com/tv/HITACHI-C-43FD5000.jpg" />

or like this?

<img src="http://blogs.families.com/media/12%20-%20Tube%20TV.jpg"/>


Maybe you could post a model number?

CrazyPhuD
04-16-2008, 01:24 PM
Use it to verify that gravity still works. That's what we used to do all the time. :)

The Franchise
04-16-2008, 01:28 PM
I'm pretty sure that I had the same TV as you. Mine went out and I said screw it and bought a flat screen. It's not worth the money it is to fix it. Depending on how much money you have to spend.....get an LCD and pay a bum to take your broken TV.

stlchiefs
04-16-2008, 01:31 PM
Here's an idear. For that ther old television of yors.

ottawa_chiefs_fan
04-16-2008, 01:32 PM
saws-all it....i did that with mine - LOTS of fun!!

eazyb81
04-16-2008, 01:37 PM
Does it look like this?


or like this?

http://blogs.families.com/media/12%20-%20Tube%20TV.jpg


Maybe you could post a model number?

This one.

RCA, model # F32650YX01

DaKCMan AP
04-16-2008, 01:42 PM
This one.

RCA, model # F32650YX01

Then it's not a projection and doesn't have the lamp.

Chazno
04-16-2008, 01:49 PM
yeah theres no lamp.

<a href="http://www.fixya.com/support/t125499-no_picture_power">Look at this.</a>

<a href="http://www.fixya.com/support/p210476-rca_f32650_32_tv">and this </a>

Sure-Oz
04-16-2008, 02:05 PM
Go to walmart and get one of their cheapy brands for the time being

stlchiefs
04-16-2008, 02:07 PM
Go to walmart and get one of their cheapy brands for the time being

Yeah you could "rent" one from a big box store until you had the cash to make a purchase. Just stay away from that Bomgaars, I've heard their diks about returns. :D

eazyb81
04-16-2008, 02:12 PM
So if it's not the tube, what the hell is it? Power supply?

Oh well, guess I'm going to be on the lookout for a TV sale over the next couple weeks. Maybe Walmart will have one soon.

Donger
04-16-2008, 02:13 PM
So if it's not the tube, what the hell is it? Power supply?

Oh well, guess I'm going to be on the lookout for a TV sale over the next couple weeks. Maybe Walmart will have one soon.

Does the TV make any noise when you press the power button? Kind of a clunk and then a click?

eazyb81
04-16-2008, 02:15 PM
Does the TV make any noise when you press the power button? Kind of a clunk and then a click?

Yes, it clicks like it's trying to turn on but the screen stays black.

bowener
04-16-2008, 02:25 PM
YOURE FREE!!! Dont replace or fix the TV, you have broken its spell!

The Franchise
04-16-2008, 02:37 PM
This one.

RCA, model # F32650YX01

I had the exact same TV. I fixed it once and it went out again 6 months later. Just take the money and get an LCD.

Donger
04-16-2008, 02:39 PM
Yes, it clicks like it's trying to turn on but the screen stays black.

I would guess that it's the power supply not being able to generate the high voltage for the tube.

cdcox
04-16-2008, 02:51 PM
Rent a upper-floor hotel room and chug it out the window, rock star.

Bob Dole
04-16-2008, 03:08 PM
WTF is this world coming to when college students have televisions?

Chiefmanwillcatch
04-16-2008, 03:21 PM
We once had a lot of TV repair guys in this country.

More reliable tv's now but harder to get repaired.

Chiefmanwillcatch
04-16-2008, 03:22 PM
This one.

RCA, model # F32650YX01

It could be anything.

Skip Towne
04-16-2008, 03:24 PM
It could be anything.

Probably the fly back transformer or the CRT itself. Both expensive.

Chiefmanwillcatch
04-16-2008, 03:25 PM
So many things can go wrong with those Rube goldberg Tv's.

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/crtfaq.htm
http://www.anatekcorp.com/faq/tv.htm

Find someone at your school who is an electrical engineer. Seriously. Let him hack it up.

eazyb81
04-16-2008, 04:20 PM
I had the exact same TV. I fixed it once and it went out again 6 months later. Just take the money and get an LCD.

Thanks for the info, I think I'm just going to replace the clunker.

chiefqueen
04-16-2008, 05:59 PM
Volunteer to observe National Turn Off Your TV week for the Planeteers next week. I would volunteer but I gots too much TV to watch.

KCinNY
04-16-2008, 06:43 PM
Upgrade.

Those older projection bigscreens are not worth the money to fix.

Rain Man
04-16-2008, 07:12 PM
I didn't even know that you could repair TV's now. I thought they were disposable.

Bwana
04-16-2008, 07:59 PM
Light it on fire and go get a new one.

Bugeater
04-16-2008, 08:23 PM
I can fix it. My dad's a television repairman, he's got this awesome set of tools...

Mojo Rising
04-16-2008, 08:26 PM
I had a 32" TV that I bought in '02. I sold it last year on Craigslist for $100 when I upgraded to a 46" LCD. If you are on a college budget just look for a used cheap one. With so many people upgrading you could probably get a good deal. Plus, the TV's are kind of a problem for the owner because most trash companies wont pick them up.

Skip Towne
04-16-2008, 08:28 PM
I can fix it. My dad's a television repairman, he got this awesome set of tools...

Is he still working part time at that buggy whip company?

Bugeater
04-16-2008, 08:32 PM
Is he still working part time at that buggy whip company?

I'm surprised an old fart like you hasn't seen Fast Times at Ridgemont High at some point in his life. And thanks for quoting me before I fixed my spelling error.:#

DaneMcCloud
04-16-2008, 08:37 PM
I agree with Mojo: Do the Craigslist thing. I'm sure you can find an adequate TV for less than the cost of the repair. I sold a 32" JVC via Craigslist last year for $75.00. I'm sure you can find a good deal.

eazyb81
04-16-2008, 08:39 PM
I had a 32" TV that I bought in '02. I sold it last year on Craigslist for $100 when I upgraded to a 46" LCD. If you are on a college budget just look for a used cheap one. With so many people upgrading you could probably get a good deal. Plus, the TV's are kind of a problem for the owner because most trash companies wont pick them up.

Good idea, I didn't even think of that. I'll take a look right now.

Skip Towne
04-16-2008, 08:40 PM
I'm surprised an old fart like you hasn't seen Fast Times at Ridgemont High at some point in his life. And thanks for quoting me before I fixed my spelling error.:#

I've seen it several times. I think it has some tit in it. What's your point?

BigChiefFan
04-16-2008, 08:45 PM
I've seen it several times. I think it has some tit in it. What's your point?That's ****ing cracking me up for some reason.:D

Bugeater
04-16-2008, 09:00 PM
I've seen it several times. I think it has some tit in it. What's your point?

Jefferson's Brother: My brother's gonna kill us! He's gonna kill us! He's gonna kill you and he's gonna kill me, he's gonna kill us!

Jeff Spicoli: Hey man, just be glad I had fast reflexes!

Jefferson's Brother: My brother's gonna shit!

Jeff Spicoli: Make up your mind, dude, is he gonna shit or is he gonna kill us?

Jefferson's Brother: First he's gonna shit, then he's gonna kill us!

Jeff Spicoli: Relax, alright? My old man is a television repairman, he's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it.

Buck
04-16-2008, 09:22 PM
You finally have a reason to buy a new TV, don't make the wrong decision.

Rausch
04-16-2008, 09:25 PM
IIRC RCA was also one of the worst for returns by consumer reports a few years ago.

I've had great luck with middle of the road Pioneer and Sony TV's...

DaneMcCloud
04-16-2008, 10:34 PM
IIRC RCA was also one of the worst for returns by consumer reports a few years ago.

I've had great luck with middle of the road Pioneer and Sony TV's...

I believe it.

I remember purchasing a new 20" RCA TV in 1994 for $199 at Circuit City. Within 18 months, that TV was dead.

No RCA products for DaneMcCloud since.

TinyEvel
04-16-2008, 10:42 PM
GARBAGE!

I had a 32" tube TV that I put on Craig's ist for $20 and NO TAKERS! I ended up giving it to our cleaning lady for free. (muchos Gracias Senor TinyEvel!)
Just get a new set.

Chief Wiggum
04-16-2008, 10:55 PM
Whatever you do, don't fix it. I agree with the guys about Craigslist. You can get HD tubes (480i) for really cheap if you're willing to pick it up from the seller. (I put my 50" HD tube on there and told people it was free if they'd just pick it up.)

You are going to have a far harder time getting rid of your old one - I recommend dumping it in a random university dumpster at night - milk the free trash bill while you can. :evil:

Miles
04-17-2008, 03:16 AM
I believe it.

I remember purchasing a new 20" RCA TV in 1994 for $199 at Circuit City. Within 18 months, that TV was dead.

No RCA products for DaneMcCloud since.

I am still surprised a bit when I hear about RCA and Zenith TV's that exist outside of mediocre hotel rooms.

Miles
04-17-2008, 03:18 AM
As most have already said throw that shit away and either use it as an excuse to upgrade or just buy something to hold you over on craigslist/ebay.

DaneMcCloud
04-17-2008, 03:46 AM
GARBAGE!

I had a 32" tube TV that I put on Craig's ist for $20 and NO TAKERS! I ended up giving it to our cleaning lady for free. (muchos Gracias Senor TinyEvel!)
Just get a new set.

I guess my cleaning lady is better than your cleaning lady because she's the one that paid $75 for my TV. :p

DaneMcCloud
04-17-2008, 03:50 AM
I am still surprised a bit when I hear about RCA and Zenith TV's that exist outside of mediocre hotel rooms.

If you read the fine print I mentioned this was 1994.

My, how times have changed.

Hotels now have flat-screens.

Lzen
04-17-2008, 09:16 AM
YOURE FREE!!! Dont replace or fix the TV, you have broken its spell!

But how will he watch the Chiefs or his MU Tigers basketball team next season?





Oh........nevemind.

Lzen
04-17-2008, 09:25 AM
You can get HD tubes (480i) for really cheap if you're willing to pick it up from the seller.

Ummmmm......isn't 480i standard definition, not HD (high definition)?

Rain Man
04-17-2008, 10:44 AM
GARBAGE!

I had a 32" tube TV that I put on Craig's ist for $20 and NO TAKERS! I ended up giving it to our cleaning lady for free. (muchos Gracias Senor TinyEvel!)
Just get a new set.


She's going to be ticked when she finds out it's an English-speaking television.