[stevenoon]

Hi all,

I have an intermittent problem with my old-style Philips flat screen CRT television (I think it's a 20 inch screen using a 4:3 ratio) and it's a few years old.

I would have loved to replaced it with an LCD set but I've been on a low income for a few years due to health problems.

Anyway, I have an intermittent problem with the set and I was wondering if it might be serious and something I need to worry about.

At least once a day, usually whilst watching Sky, but I think it might have happened whilst watching a DVD the screen goes blank/black. There is no picture - not sure about the audio because sound comes from my amp which is connected directly to Sky.

The screen is either blank or sometimes there are several flickering horizontal green lines going across the screen and the screen appears to be flashing.

When the screen just goes blank the set appears to reset itself and the picture returns after about a second, but when the flickering lines appear I need to switch the set completely off at the mains and leave it for a few minutes before switching it back on, when it returns to normal.

For a few years I've had my surround speakers sitting on top of the set - I don't know if that's anything to do with the problem, but the set has been fine until now.

Has anyone got any ideas what might be happening - is my television about to fail?

Many thanks in advance for any advice.

Kind regards,

Steve.

[John Currie]

These are symptoms of a failing crt (tube)...very common on Philips models.
Not economical to repair if it is.

[clockworks999]

Next time it happens, try switching the TV to a different source (analogue TV or DVD). If the picture is OK, it could be a dodgy connection between the TV and the Sky box.

[John Currie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clockworks999

Next time it happens, try switching the TV to a different source (analogue TV or DVD). If the picture is OK, it could be a dodgy connection between the TV and the Sky box.

Most experienced TV repairmen when they here that...

"the screen just goes blank the set appears to reset itself and the picture returns after about a second, but when the flickering lines appear I need to switch the set completely off at the mains and leave it for a few minutes before switching it back on, when it returns to normal"

and that the set is a Philips...they will know those symptoms very well...it's a faulty crt.

[AlanO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Currie

These are symptoms of a failing crt (tube)...very common on Philips models.
Not economical to repair if it is.

Given the OP stated the set is 'a few years old' and the set is a 4:3 CRT it suggests it must be at least 5 years old, probably a bit more.

After 5 years use any set - Sony, Panasonic, Philips, JVC, Sanyo, even the cheapies can be susceptible to failure - and the tube on any of the above would render the set uneconomic to repair.

In this context, I don't think the fact it's a Philips makes it any the less reliable than any other set of a similar age. Most of the Philips complaints on here are about kit which fails after a couple of years. If the OPs had more than 5 years use then it's probably paid for itself.

I just think wheeling out the 'and it's a Philips' line in this particular case was a bit unnecessary.

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanO

I just think wheeling out the 'and it's a Philips' line in this particular case was a bit unnecessary.

Not at all, Philips have had MASSIVE failures of their CRT's over the last few years - not just in Philips sets, anything which used Philips tubes has had the same problem - the tubes were just crap!.

[AlanO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

Not at all, Philips have had MASSIVE failures of their CRT's over the last few years - not just in Philips sets, anything which used Philips tubes has had the same problem - the tubes were just crap!.

But if the OP were to respond that the set's actually 20 years old then you'd argue that it had lasted well beyond all reasonable expectation.

The point I was making was that it's not a newish set - the OP confirmed this in the first post - also given away by the fact it's a 20 / 21" 4:3 as most of the big brands phased these out about 4 years ago.

So let's assume the set is between 5 & 10 years old - that seems like a reasonable life for a regularly used CRT set to me and doesn't suggest a fundamental problem with the tube fitted, it's simply worn out - and that could have happened to a comparable Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba, JVC, Hitachi or any other brand.

Philips may have produced some duff products and components - but I'm not sure this is the case here. If a set is between 5 & 10 years old the chances are any failure would probably render a set uneconomic to repair, particularly given the cost of replacement which would provide a vastly better set.

[sirpipe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

Not at all, Philips have had MASSIVE failures of their CRT's over the last few years - not just in Philips sets, anything which used Philips tubes has had the same problem - the tubes were just crap!.

8 months ago I took a Philips TV to the tip. I bought it in 1984. The tube was still fine but the rest of the electronics were failing. I reckon that 23 years is hardly crap.

[John Currie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanO

I just think wheeling out the 'and it's a Philips' line in this particular case was a bit unnecessary.

The OP was asking if his set was about to fail...with the symptoms he described and the fact that the set is a Philips I diagnosed a faulty crt...that's all...I was stating my opinion of what was causing his fault.

My own set is a 11yr old Philips 28in Widescreen

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirpipe

8 months ago I took a Philips TV to the tip. I bought it in 1984. The tube was still fine but the rest of the electronics were failing. I reckon that 23 years is hardly crap.

We're obviously talking average life here, and not a 'one off' - and in any case, 23 years old is LONGGGGGG before their massive CRT problems - which 'possibly' happened after they became Philips/LG Displays?.

But I'm not sure about the timing of the faulty CRT's, only that they are all badged Philips/LG and not just Philips - but they may have been making Philps/LG tubes for years before that with no problems?. Until you have such massive reliability problems you have no need to notice.

[clockworks999]

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Currie

Most experienced TV repairmen when they here that...

"the screen just goes blank the set appears to reset itself and the picture returns after about a second, but when the flickering lines appear I need to switch the set completely off at the mains and leave it for a few minutes before switching it back on, when it returns to normal"

and that the set is a Philips...they will know those symptoms very well...it's a faulty crt.

Not disagreeing with you, just saying it's worth checking the simple things first.

[XVar]

This happened with an 8 year old Sony CRT I had, started off occasionally going blank, then got to the point where it was every minute or so, then completely died 6 months later.