PICTURE, QUALITY AND ISSUES

Hello folks! This is the last part of second issue for Sony Plasma television inquiries on pictures and quality category. Read through the article and check if you have the following concerns.

Gray bars or black bars are displayed on the left and right side of the screen.

• This occurrence is known as the pillar box event. It will occur on a high-definition (16:9) TV if the video you are watching is recorded or being broadcast in standard definition (4:3). Since a standard definition signal is only transmitted in a box shaped 4:3 aspect ratio, the picture cannot properly fill the entire wide screen of a 16:9 television. This is normal operation.
• Some 16:9 TVs have a Zoom or Wide mode that will allow you to fill the entire screen. However, depending on the mode selected, the picture may appear stretched or parts of the picture may be cut off. Refer to your TV instruction manual for more information.
• IMPORTANT: Some cable and satellite set-top boxes can also control the size of the picture by pressing the Pound (#) , ENTER , or FORMAT buttons on the set-top box remote control. If you are using a set-top box, refer to the manufacturer of the set-box for more information.
• NOTE: The color of the bars is controlled by the signal broadcaster and cannot be changed by the viewer.

There is no signal reception on some or any of the channels.

• This solution is designed to assist when all or some of the available channels are not stored or are missing when trying to change the channels directly on a TV. If using a cable set top box or satellite receiver, refer to the manual supplied with the device or contact the manufacturer for further assistance.
• NOTE: If model-specific information is required to complete any of the steps in this solution, refer to the operating instructions supplied with the product.

1. Verify that the cable or antenna wire is connected to the VHF/UHF input on the television.

IMPORTANT: The use of signal splitters can diminish reception. If signal splitters are being used to send the signal to multiple televisions throughout the home, then the signal strength may be too degraded to provide good enough reception and a blue screen or snowy picture may be displayed.

2. If a VCR is connected to the television, turn off the VCR.

3. If using an antenna, try adjusting its position.

IMPORTANT: The type of antenna being used and how far away a particular station is helps determine what type of reception you will receive; the reception of certain stations may be better than others.

NOTE: Televisions with digital tuners require a signal strength of at least 25% before a digital broadcast will be displayed on the screen. A low digital broadcast signal may also cause intermittent loss in signal. The Federal Communications Committee has set up a support center for customers who are experiencing transmission issues with specific DTV stations.

Verify the television tuner is set for the correct signal type.

NOTES:

1. • Set the tuner to Antenna or Cable:Off for receiving over-the-air broadcasts.
   • Set the tuner to Cable or Cable: On when receiving cable TV broadcasts.

4. Auto Program the television.

5. If the problem persists, manually program the channel into the television.

NOTE: Not all Sony® TVs have the capability to manually add digital channels to the memory. Please refer to the manual for your model. If some digital channels are not being stored, but can be viewed by entering them directly with the remote then the signal for that channel would require further improvement.

6. If the issue is still not resolved, test the antenna or cable by connecting it to a different television.

NOTE: If the issue is present with a different television, the antenna or cable service is faulty.

The troubleshooting steps listed above should resolve your issue. If you have completed all of the steps and the issue is not resolved, service may be required.