TV "hidden" service menus
Adrian Huck
by holding dowon the + & - buttons on the front facia whilst power on
ozbattler_RE...@bigfoot.com wrote in message
<3605ba67....@news.ozemail.com.au>...
>I keep hearing about these on the Net. Do all new colour TV's have these
>"hidden" service menus that allow somebody (presumably a TV technician) to
tweak
>and modify certain settings?
>
>I'd be interested to hear from somebody who knows the keypress combination
to
>access it on my Samsung 70cm "World's Best TV Plus" (CS-721A) television.
>
>Specifically I'd like to modify the pre-set sound and picture settings for
their
>various "Standard, Dynamic, Movie, Mild" modes. These are way too dark and
too
>much colour - they are useless. I'd also like to see if I can make
available
>more onscreen setup languages. There are currently only 2 (English and an
Asian
>language - probably Korean?). Other Samsung models I've seen have had up to
6
>languages however I really only want the Spanish version. I doubt Samsung
would
>make a whole bunch of different ROMS for their TVs depending on where they
are
>going? More likely I'd say they disable certain things in the service
menus.
>
>
>Can anybody offer any help with this?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Garf.
>
Sam Goldwasser
> As far as I know only sony televisions have this feature which is activated
> by holding dowon the + & - buttons on the front facia whilst power on
Many/most/all modern TVs have them but the method of entry differs between
makes and model lines.
Here are a few:
Setup adjustments lost - TV service codes:
-----------------------------------------
Many modern TVs have RAM, somewhat like the CMOS SETUP memory in your PC,
that store all factory adjustments. When power is lost, there is power
surge, lightning strike nearby, nuclear detonation or EMP, it may
have put bad information into the ram and thrown it out of adjustment. There
is a way to get into the service mode (depress and hold a secret button
down and turn set on, special combination of buttons on the remote, etc.)
and then use the remote to reinitialize and adjust the problems out.
HOWEVER, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DOING YOU COULD GIVE YOURSELF WORSE
PROBLEMS. YOU COULD EVEN BLOW VERY EXPENSIVE PARTS WITH SOME SETS!
Try not to make any unnecessary changes and document every change you make!!!
That way you can go back if you do anything wrong (hopefully). However, some
changes - even if nothing fails - will result in an unviewable picture thus
making it extremely difficult to see what you are doing.
The Sams' Photofact manual for your set should describe this process - you may
be able to get Photofacts from a local library, or you can buy them from Radio
Shack or a place like MCM Electronics or an electronics distributor. The
June, 1998, issue of "Electronic Servicing and Technology" (ES&T) had an
article on service mode if you have access to this publication (it won't be
in your public library).
Some examples follow. You would need to check the service information for
your specific model to be sure. However, trying the procedures described
below probably will not hurt. The TV will just ignore you if it doesn't
like your codes! However, if you do get in, make sure you know what you are
doing or your original problem may be inconsequential compared to your new
ones!
* Ferguson/Thomson Technology T49F television (TX91 chassis and probably
others as well).
(From: Peter Radlberger (peter.ra...@blackbox.at)).
- Unplug SCART cable.
- Switch to Standby, then switch mains off.
- Hold blue button on remote, power up.
- Repress blue button, service screen appears.
- Select function with blue, adjust with Vol+/-, store new value with
highlighted Memo and Vol+. Restore jumps to original value, ROM are
production defaults.
- Leave with Standby.
* Some JVC models (JA chassis):
(From: Roger Dowling (rog...@globalnet.co.uk)).
Press the DISPLAY key and the CINEMA/GAME key of the remote control
simultaneously.
* Some JVC models:
(From: Andy Cuffe (balt...@psu.edu)).
I have used this on JVCs from 1995:
- Set the clock to 3:21 AM.
- Start the clock as you normally would but press MUTE while "Thank you" is
flashing.
- Press menu up or down just after MUTE.
- Use up/down to select options and left/right to adjust. The settings are
automatically saved when you exit.
(From: P. White (pwh...@aol.com)).
On the new line of JVC sets, hold the "Display" and "Video Status" buttons
on the remote simultaneously. The set will bring up a service menu.
Good luck trying to navigate the service menus with out a manual.
* Some Magnavox models: Enter 062596 then MENU. The channels will change but
when MENU is pressed, the TV will enter the service menu.
(From: Gscivi (gsc...@aol.com)).
Hit MENU on the remote, while the menu is still up press the numbers 061596
or 061597. One of these will bring up the service menu. Now, your right/left
arrows on remote will switch between the numbers across the bottom of the
screen, highlight the number set right after the 'setup or service' option.
The arrow up/down will change to the next service position.
* Some Mitsubishi models: Use your remote and press MENU then 2357 use VIDEO
to select service menu and ADJUST to set values.
* Some Nokia (ITT) models:
(From: Stefan Huebner (Stefan....@rookie.antar.com)).
Press mono/stereo - Channel C - Hypersonic <H> within 1 second, The display
now shows SE. Leave the service mode with the standby button.
* Nokia model 6363:
(From: Ian Abel G3ZHI (be...@skypilot.demon.co.uk)).
Nokia model 6363 (and probably other late model TVs) - On the remote press
-/-- then menu then TV all within 1 second. When in setup mode you use
channel up or down buttons on the TV set to change to whatever you need to
set up. Adjustments are made with volume + and - buttons on the remote
control. My advice is to make a note of all the settings before making
changes then you can always go back to them.
* Some Panasonic models: A very detailed document on Panasonic Service(man)
mode for some models in the GL10C family (may apply to others as well) is
provided at:
- http://www.colpetzer.com/calanan/Panasonic/
Includes entering/saving/leaving, register contents and range, etc.
* Panasonic TX-W28R3 (and similar models):
(From: Arpad Kothai (arp...@EUnet.yu)).
The remote control is used for entering and storing adjustments, with the
exception of cut-off adjustments which must always be done prior to service
adjustment. Perform adjustments in accordance with screen display. The
display on the screen also specifies the CCU variants as well as the
approximate setting values. The adjustment sequence for the service mode is
indicated below.
1. Set the Bass to maximum position, set the Treble to minimum position,
press the Reveal on the remote control and at the same time press the
Volume on the customer controls at the front of the TV, this will place
the TV into the Service mode.
2. Press the RED/GREEN buttons to step down / up through the functions.
3. Press the YELLOW/BLUE buttons to alter the function values.
4. Press the STORE button on the preset panel after each adjustment has been
made to store the required values.
5. To exit the Service Mode press the Normalization button.
* Philips 29PT8303 and other similar models:
Using the remote control, press 062596, then the MENU key.
* Some RCA models: The codes can be found pasted to the inside of the
back cover. To get into the SETUP MENU, "Press and hold MENU, hit POWER and
then VOL+. DO NOT set H Freq too low or you will wipe the EEPROM. Bummer.
For more information, see the document: "RCA/GE TV (CTC175/176/177) Solder
Connection and EEPROM Problems"
* Some Samsung models:
(From: Livio Belac (lbe...@efpu.hr)).
- CHASSIS: SCT51A: PICTURE OFF (ST. BY) -> SLEEP -> P.STD -> MUTE -> PICTURE
ON (PWR ON).
- CHASSIS: SCT11A, SCT11B, SCV11A, SCV11B ST. BY -> P.STD -> MENU -> SLEEP ->
POWER ON.
Perform adjustments with VOL +/-
Select between adjustments with CH +/-
* Some Sharp models (including 19J-M100 and 20J-M100):
Press the 'vol up' and 'channel up' at the same time and then plug in the
set to AC line. Use the 'channel up/down' buttons to select the register;
use the 'vol up/down' buttons to select the values. To exit this mode,
depress the 'power' button.
* Various Sony models: Service mode adjustments can be found at:
- http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_Sony_setup.html.
* Another Sony:
(From: Trygve Pedersen (tryg...@netpower.no)).
To enter service mode turn off power push both + and - buttons on front of
TV while you powers up you get TT on screen, and then you enter 34 (TT34 on
screen), press the left arrow twice on remote, and you are in service mode.
* Some Sony UK models: Fast text buttons operate service mode.
* Sony KV-X2571 and similar models:
(From: Peter & Jolanda Faber (pfa...@worldonline.nl)).
Switch TV off. Press and hold two switches (center & right) under front
panel. Switch set on with main switch. Wait a few seconds. Release two
switches again.
* Some Toshibas:
(From: Bill A. (Luc...@ix.netcom.com)).:
1. Press the mute button on your remote and release (put unit in mute).
2. Press and hold mute button on remote.
3. At the same time while holding mute button on remote, press the menu
button on the TV itself.
If done correctly an "s" should show up on the screen to determine that you
have successfully entered the service mode.
5. Now, I believe if you press the menu button again on the unit some
microprocessor data should be showing up on screen i.e. current micro
part# etc.
6. Press #9 on remote to enter various modes of operation. Here is where you
really need the service manual, too much info to show here.
Once in Service mode be very careful!!!
* Zenith System 3:
(From: Raymond Carlsen (rr...@u.washington.edu) and joll...@mc.net).
Hold the MENU button down for about 5 seconds... until the currently
displayed menu disappears. Then press 9 8 7 6, then ENTER. There are two
menus in the service mode. Use the MENU to toggle between them. Press
SELect until the item you want is highlighted, then the ADJ button (left
or right) for the submenu or the adjustment. Press SELect for the next item
and MENU for the alternate menu. Press ENTer to exit the service mode.
Service menu caution:
--------------------
Even changing a parameter which results in the loss of the picture could
require replacing the EEPROM if you cannot get the set to come on and view
the service menu to reset!
However, it may be possible to drive the HOT with an external source
so you can see the menus for setup.
CAUTION: there is some risk. Should drive the HOT with too low a frequency,
it may blow due to flyback core saturation. Use a series light bulb to
minimize this possibility.
--- sam : Note: Temporary problem with www.repairfaq.org, go to:
Repair | ITALY http://ftp.unina.it/pub/electronics/serfit1.html
+Lasers | USA http://www.pacwest.net/byron13/sam/faqsam.htm
| UK http://www.jasper.demon.co.uk/repairfaq/
| GERMANY http://repairfaq.physik.tu-berlin.de/repairfaq/