Spectre X46BV-1080p, Vertical lines in the picture

[branpowell606]

My issue is, yesterday, when I turned on my TV to play some Xbox, there was a slight distortion throughout the whole picture, it was subtle, but irritating just the same. You notice it on bright colors(xbox green, red, etc) more then black and white, it's like faint static, like a slightly bad signal. I reconnected and checked all my cables, switched them over to another input, no change. Then(for shame), I sharply smacked the side. The mild static instantly turned into fine white lines through my entire picture. From that point on, my picture looked pinstriped. As I started looking online for someone else with a similar issue, I left my TV on. ~two hours later, the thin white lines had graduated to multi-colored lines, still running vertical, in a repeating pattern. Almost reminding me of a projection TV if you get way too close.

Today, when I turned it on, it was fine for ~20 minutes, and now has the faint static again. The really odd thing to me, is the distortion only effects the picture input, and the menus, NOT the blue screen when there is no input, nor the floating white words on it "No Signal!". That screen is clear and crisp as it was the first day, leading me to believe that the issue lies in one of the boards or the processing instead of the LCD panel itself.

I will attach the pictures I have if it will help. I really want to figure out what is wrong, or at least get pointed in a direction of where to start looking. I am by no means an electronic specialist, but I have repaired a few LCD monitors and radios before, modded some controllers and peripherals , and am no stranger to a soldering iron.


I have seen many pictures of random and messed up lines through broken LCD TVs and monitors, mine is not like that. I can still see the picture and the issue affects the whole panel equally. I spoke with Spectre Customer service, they told me to buy a new one. I figure it is because my warranty is out of date and they don't want to help me.

The picture of the white lines:

The unaffected blue screen:

A close up of the colored lines:

Full TV with the colored lines:


Thanks!

[branpowell606]

Hm, No ideas anyone? Main Board? Controller Board? Pc Board? Power Supply? I am more then happy to replace the whole board if there is any indicators that one of them is faulty. I am willing to replace every capacitor, resistor and diode on every board, but that would be a last ditch effort. Please, any ideas at all could help. I really appreciate it.

[branpowell606]

Bump. The Spectre Customer service is telling me that the LCD panel is going bad, but it just does not logically seem to be the case. I am a full time student and have a budget to match. I simply cannot afford to purchase another TV. It's not real bad yet, but seems to be getting worse. Any ideas at all, please.

[vtech]

It does look like it may be the pannel. I am not specifically familiar with the set but it sure looks like it. There is always a possibility of bad connection(s) within the unit (ribbons/solder etc). But you would have to take it apart and check for that. The part about"smacking the side" could indicate a connection issue and at the same time it may be internal to the panel?

I worked with consumer electronics for years on end until the "planned obsolence" simply drove me away.

[branpowell606]

Hm, I see. Thank you. Now the TV pretty much is never clear, and has the static on ever time I turn it on. It does clear to the repeating colors every time I smack it. Obviously, I planned on taking it apart anyway, so I will be checking everything. I guess I might get an in circuit ESR meter, because I really, really do not want to remove every capacitor to check it. Worst case, I end up with a new TV, and some good troubleshooting equipment for later.

[vtech]

Wait a sec, you do NOT need an esr meter as it is not going to be of any help in this case. I can assure you that it is not a capacitor problem. You use an esr meter to check for faulty(old) capacitors that develope problems internally over time and stay that way---no reaction to tapping whatsoever.

If anything, it is a connection issue (from point A to point B) Either inside the panel? Or somewhere along the printed circuit board?

[branpowell606]

Yeah, I figured. But if I am opening it up, then I should check everything. I need an excuse to buy one anyway for a LCD monitor I need to repair. From what I understand, I do need to take it all apart, check every single cable, connection, wire, etc.

Can I disassemble the panel? or is that impossible?

[vtech]

You can disassemble anything but with a panel, you'd never get it back together. So, the short answer is NO and I would not even attempt that.

[branpowell606]

Yeah, I kinda figured. I guess I just need to get the TV apart, check everything, and hope I find the problem. Thanks for all the help.