Panasonic VT30 green blob fault

[Anonymous]

I have also read a lot on the issue diminishing as the screen beds in, hence testing mine for a bit longer. So far, I have clocked up around 50 hours on mine and as yet the green blobs appear similar to what they were when I first noticed after about 5 hours.

What irrates me is one of my old 42" Panasonic Plasmas is now around 8 years old and doesnt exhibit any sort of strange fault or glitch like all the current manufacturers screens and while I appreciate its not the same resolution, same sort of black levels etc, technology has moved a long way in that phones can now display 640x960 well, yet a TV manufacturer creating TVs for 10+ years cant!

Very frustrating and I am hoping the green blob fades as there isn't much out there in the fault free TVs that I want! I have a lot of time off in the coming weeks so will leave the TV on most of the time to get some hours on it and will update on the progress.

 

[ukdavej]

Well thats how the markets have shaped up over the last couple of years or think of it this way take 2006 as an example sony kdl40w2000 a 40" full hd tv that won various awards and was given fantastic reviews on this very site no problems with any componets no back light bleed and so on People were more then happy to part with the best part of two grand......2011 try getting the public to part with two grand now for a 40" tv.So yes if people are more blatent in there attitudes now with the "im not paying that" then the big players will churn out tvs using cheaper components will hold off qc to save money and try and make any profit and we all know thats not happerning at the minute.

What we're talking about here is a flagship model that doesn't work correctly because seemingly it is made and tested on the cheap.

So basically, thats my fault (as a consumer) because I want a flagship model that is bigger, better and half as much as five years ago?

I'm sorry, but that statement, IMHO, is completely wrong. If I was prepared to pay 2 grand five years ago, you can bet you're sweet bippy I am still prepared to pay 2 grand now. I'll readilly admit that there may well not be as many folks around today with that kind of money to spend but everyone knows "you get what you pay for".

What the manufacturers have actually done is con the consumer into thinking they are getting much better value by selling so called top of the range TV's for a very competative price. However in reality what they are actually doing is simply selling the perception.

 

[sometimesuk]

I'm glad, I've come accross this post, as I was about to buy thew 46" GT30 model.

Just out of curiousity, if its a power issue, I dont want to start a cable debate, but has anyone tried replacing the mains cable with a hifi one? or running the t.v through a mains conditioner?

I bought some cheap mains cables off ebay, and they made a noticable difference to the Hifi. Cant see why you wouldnt notice any change with the t.v either.

 

[bigboss]

I'm glad, I've come accross this post, as I was about to buy thew 46" GT30 model.

Just out of curiousity, if its a power issue, I dont want to start a cable debate, but has anyone tried replacing the mains cable with a hifi one? or running the t.v through a mains conditioner?

I bought some cheap mains cables off ebay, and they made a noticable difference to the Hifi. Cant see why you wouldnt notice any change with the t.v either.

It's not a power issue, as some users in the US are also reporting it.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm glad, I've come accross this post, as I was about to buy thew 46" GT30 model.

Just out of curiousity, if its a power issue, I dont want to start a cable debate, but has anyone tried replacing the mains cable with a hifi one? or running the t.v through a mains conditioner?

I bought some cheap mains cables off ebay, and they made a noticable difference to the Hifi. Cant see why you wouldnt notice any change with the t.v either.

It's not a power issue, as some users in the US are also reporting it.

But Panasonic uk are ignoring that fact!

 

[Oldboy]

Indeed...still no answers from panasonic despite users from other countries now exeriencing the issue, it's quite clearly not related to the power in the UK but there still seems to be no answers forthcoming from Panasonic. I run my GT30 through a mains conditioner but i seriously doubt that it's making any difference to the tinge, i'm of the opinion that if it's there then you can't do anything to improve it other than giving the screen time to run in...i'm just thankful that i'm not affected tbh.

 

[audiowizard]

I have had my 50GT30 for a week now, and touch wood, have no green tinge at all, and after reading the forums on this, it was the first thing i checked when i bought it.

 

[audiowizard]

I have had my 50GT30 for a week now, and touch wood, have no green tinge at all, and after reading the forums on this, it was the first thing i checked when i bought it.

 

[Anonymous]

I have had my 50GT30 for a week now, and touch wood, have no green tinge at all, and after reading the forums on this, it was the first thing i checked when i bought it.

Thats what is most annoying, for those of us that have the green blob. As Panasonic have told me that all sets are affected and there is nothing they can do!

 

[Anonymous]

Apparently panasonic have found a fix for this fault. Some sort of software update. Too late for me has I have returned the TV!!

 

[Oldboy]

Apparently panasonic have found a fix for this fault. Some sort of software update. Too late for me has I have returned the TV!!

Interesting...where did you come by that information? Seems strange that suddenly an update will solve the issue as i'm sure the Panasonic rep who posts on here was of the opinion that an update wouldn't solve the issue, i could be mistaken of course. If a software update does solve the issue then that is great news, the only question now is how long it will be until the update is released?

 

[micks_address]

Apparently panasonic have found a fix for this fault. Some sort of software update. Too late for me has I have returned the TV!!

Interesting...where did you come by that information? Seems strange that suddenly an update will solve the issue as i'm sure the Panasonic rep who posts on here was of the opinion that an update wouldn't solve the issue, i could be mistaken of course. If a software update does solve the issue then that is great news, the only question now is how long it will be until the update is released?

there's a a thread on another av related forum about it

 

[zientific]

That thread has now been closed as Panasonic are contacting owners with the update details.

 

[Oldboy]

That thread has now been closed as Panasonic are contacting owners with the update details.

Indeed. And from what info i can gather it seems the update has to be carried out by an engineer so it's not the sort of update that is accessed via the update option on the tv...unless anyone knows different of course??

 

[micks_address]

great news if its being fixed all the same.. for all the panasonic bashing - they do seem to be taking faults with the VT/GT 30s seriously.. first there was a 'fix' for flucuating brightness and now the green blobs.. the green blobs never appeared on my VT30.. so i cant really comment on them.. (thankfully)

 

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone, took a little longer than intended to post this, but here is the latest information regarding this topic.

As you may already be aware, we are currently in the process of contacting customers that have been in touch with us abut the phenomenon described as ‘green tinge/magenta noise’. Where applicable, we will arrange for a software update to be carried out on the television by a Panasonic Approved engineer.

We would like to thank you for continuing to provide feedback with regards to this, both directly to us and on the forums. As a result of this, we have been able to work very closely with our factories to secure a panel update which significantly improves the ‘green tinge/magenta noise’ that some of you are seeing.

Whilst only a small number of you are affected by this, we have been working tirelessly to obtain this improvement for you. It is also though, of paramount importance to us that any update we provide does not impact on the performance of the TV in any other way, so we have also, as is normal practice, carried out rigorous testing of the update.

Please note, this software is not available for customer download. It must be installed by a Panasonic Approved engineer. If the software is not installed correctly, the set may become inoperable.

If you are experiencing the ‘green tinge’ phenomenon and have not already contacted us, please do so using this webform: www.panasonic.co.uk/email ensuring that green tinge is in the message.

Adam


 

[Oldboy]

Very many thanks for the update Adam.

It's great to hear that Panasonic were listening and you were able to provide a solution to the problem, it fills me with confidence to know that if my GT30 suffers from the issue it will be repairable. Personally i would just like to thank everyone at Panasonic for listening and providing a fix for the issue :cheers:

 

[StanleyAV]

@Oldboy, from what I read about this engineer update, it is a patch to lessen the problem : it is not a 100% fix.
All 2011 models are affected, not just the VT30. The panel drive firmware is being modified by
reflashing the "A" Boards, inside these sets.
This is a global issue, not restricted to the UK, US owners have encountered similar problems
- so previous explanations relating to EU power restrictions are extremely misleading.

Each indivdual set is not identical with respect to this problem, so it may or may not improve matters.
This is work in progress....

What I find puzzling is why the What Hifi review samples never showed up this or the floating
brightness problems?? :?

What gremlins will surface in 2012?? :O

 

[micks_address]

its not on every set.. i cant or never have seen it on my 42VT30.. believe me i see faults all to easily!

 

[Oldboy]

its not on every set.. i cant or never have seen it on my 42VT30.. believe me i see faults all to easily!

Ditto for my GT30 and i'm very picky too. The fact that the 'fix' isn't as much of a fix is troubling though...if my set was affected and the fix didn't provide a solution i would be wanting a full refund as from the images and videos i have seen of it i just couldn't live with it, for once it seems i have been very fortunate in getting a set that doesn't suffer from an inherent issue.

What is puzzling though is why not all sets are affected? Some i have seen are shocking with a green tinge to the entire screen, some with only a portion of the screen affected and some like mine that simply show no signs of the issue, there seems to be no consistency to the issue atall...not that i'm complaining as it means i've got a good example.

Thanks to stanleyAV for the info, much appreciated. As was pointed to earlier in this thread it became obvious quite early on that the issue was not as panasonic first thought and a UK power issue as owners the world over started to report the issue but the news that it's something more serious is no surprise.

As for the WHF samples that were reviewed i would have thought that if they could have found the fault it would have been reported in the review and counted against the tvs in the awards issue, they can only review what is infront of them and has been shown by this thread not all tvs seem to be affected.

 

[Andy Clough]

its not on every set.. i cant or never have seen it on my 42VT30.. believe me i see faults all to easily!

As for the WHF samples that were reviewed i would have thought that if they could have found the fault it would have been reported in the review and counted against the tvs in the awards issue, they can only review what is infront of them and has been shown by this thread not all tvs seem to be affected.

Exactly.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi

Does anyone think it is safe to by a new VT30 now as all the problems should be fixed in the shops before selling them the the public.

I am thinking of getting one this weekend as there are some realy good deals at the moment and a free 5 year warranty.

Thanks

 

[Oldboy]

Thats difficult to answer in all honesty.

I would seriously doubt that all tvs bought from now on won't have the issue simply because that would mean engineers opening, testing and then if needed updating any tvs in stock at retailers that are affected which as you can imagine is highly unlikely to happen.

What is more likely to be the scenario is that if you buy a VT30 that shows the tinge then you will get an engineer sent out to you to update the tv and this should see an end to the issue but it's not guaranteed as far as i'm aware and may not solve the issue entirely.

You would be well within your rights to return the tv if after the update is carried out the green tinge continued but only you can judge if it's something you are willing to go through, the best idea would be to talk to your retailer before you purchase and get a guarantee that if the tv shows the tinge and isn't solved by the update that you can return it with no questions asked for a refund or alternative tv.

You may be worrying about nothing of course as not all tvs seem to be affected, it could be the case that you get it home and everything is fine...unfortunatley it's just one of those things that can't be predicted so it's up to you to decide what you do.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi

Thanks for the advice, I will go in to local seven oaks, they have one on display so I will have a good look at it and check for any green ting, I will also make sure if the problem appears later I can get a repair or refund.

After 7 years of having different models of Panasonic plasmas I never had a problem with them at all, I still have a PZ800 for my sons xbox and still going strong, so wish me luck.

 

[3937edwards]

hi oldboy beleive it or not my gt30 developed the green tinge and fluctuating brightness i read on these forums panasonic had a software update for this problem so i contacted panasonic and within 4 days a service engineer came out and performed the upgrade and touch wood has fixed both problems:cheer: