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Sceptre 37" LCD HDTV. Any Common!!!
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canon
Newbie
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1. March 2006 @ 09:38 |
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My Sceptre 37" just died--after 5 months. High hissing, pops, electrical smell, dead. Back to Costco it goes. (I suspect power supply problem...) I'm still trying to determine whether to get another, get the 42" or 32" version, or go in a different direction. Reasonably pleased with the picture-per-cost ratio. Suggestions?
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indiprod
Junior Member
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1. March 2006 @ 10:13 |
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The backlight on my Sceptre 37" started flickering when I turned it on. It made the entire screen flicker rapidly and made no difference what the input was. Turning it off and then on again fixed the problem. This happened two days ago, and it hasn't done this since then. But it makes me think there is something going wrong with the monitor. Other than that, I have been extremely happy with the picture quality and hope I won't have to take it back.
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jbren
Newbie
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1. March 2006 @ 11:01 |
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Capt2278 said:
"Say you have a SD input (over-air or crappy-cable), can you have the tv show at 360 or 480? Instead of trying to force it into HD resolution of 1080p?"
No, the image will show in whatever resolution it is fed to monitor at (640 x 480 for SD?), but you can choose between 4 different "Aspect" modes. None of them look real good to me for SD since they are mainly based around stretching and widescreen. They do work pretty well for DVDs, tho...
FYI all: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=573173&page=1&pp=30 is the AVS Forum thread on this TV. Its > 60 pages long
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WebGuy
Newbie
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2. March 2006 @ 16:03 |
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We are coming close to March 6th which is of course the first day the Sceptre 42" goes on sale. I was wondering where I could get a compatible wall mount to hang this crazy large LCD. I emailed Sceptre and they recommended www.ergotron.com. I found that Ergotron had a great selection, affordable prices and Sceptre is listed as a compatible manufacturer. This website might come in handy for current 37" owners and future 42" owners.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Web Guy.
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capt2278
Junior Member
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2. March 2006 @ 17:29 |
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Thanks Jbren,
I appreciate the reply. So, you think your SD image is crappy? Is it just crappy because you are viewing it on a larger screen? Or do you think that it has more to do with the monitor itself?
Hmmm... a tv blowout and another with a problem with the light. Speaking of which... "backlight"?? what does that mean? Is there a light that shines on the wall behind the tv for an aestetic appeal? Guess I need further training. What is this backlight?
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indiprod
Junior Member
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3. March 2006 @ 10:04 |
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capt2278,
My understanding is the lcd screen has a layer of liquid crystals and behind that, a layer that is the white light source which illuminates the crystals. That layer is called the "backlight". In current lcd monitors the backlight is flourescent, and in future ones it may well be led (NEC already makes one with an led backlight, but the monitors are currently very expensive to manufacture).
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ajaslan
Newbie
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3. March 2006 @ 11:12 |
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I just unpacked my 37 in. Sceptre. Have no complaints yet, but then again I haven't really done much with it.
There is one HDMI input for this TV. I want to connect DirecTV's HD receiver to it as well as a PC (which I will use for web surfing as well as playing music). Any suggestions of the best way to do this with one HDMI input?
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canon
Newbie
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3. March 2006 @ 11:24 |
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I will probably not get another Sceptre--my 37" lasted only 5 months. Returned it to Costco. I need reliability as much as quality image. On the other hand, I just don't see much out there that can compete with Sceptre's price. Any suggstions?
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capt2278
Junior Member
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3. March 2006 @ 11:27 |
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This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 3. March 2006 @ 11:42
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capt2278
Junior Member
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3. March 2006 @ 11:31 |
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Quote:
canon (Newbie) 3. March 2006 @ 16:24
I will probably not get another Sceptre--my 37" lasted only 5 months. Returned it to Costco. I need reliability as much as quality image. On the other hand, I just don't see much out there that can compete with Sceptre's price. Any suggstions?
I feel your pain and I understand. One way of looking at this is... look how cooperative C***co has been. Where else have people found a company this willing to take units back. Can't do this with the cheap online purchases. You are right, the price is very hard to pass up for what you get.
I really hope your situation is unique in that maybe your unit was produced on Monday morning or something.
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chuck5395
Newbie
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3. March 2006 @ 11:58 |
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A number of people (including myself) have reported on in the avsforum that they are getting delivered V1 sets with updated firmware. These are not the latest versions of the TV and do NOT include the QAM tuner function. When I called de-Sceptre about it, they said I should return it and order another one. Maybe that one would be a newer version. I took mine back the day after I recived it and came home with a Philips. More money but I have no regrets.
-Chuck
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bjkimb
Newbie
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3. March 2006 @ 12:16 |
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Good for you Chuck!! Maybe Septre will finally get the message. CAPPY CUSTOMER SERVICE,JUST DON'T GET IT! I fully intended to buy one but after following this thread for months,I have backed out.
One thing I would like to see is, posts from those that have purchased and are happy with 37"Septre and had no major problems that required or needed a return to Mfg. or Costco. Right now it looks like it would be very few!
bjkimb
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indiprod
Junior Member
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3. March 2006 @ 12:47 |
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ajaslan, and others looking for a cheap HDMI/DVI switcher, centronics.com has one that I got for under $60. Model # HDAS-100G. It is a manual switcher, but it works fine for those on a budget.
bjkimb, I am very happy with my 37" (v1, purchased last August) which I use with a Dish HD 811 receiver and a Denon 2910 upconverting DVD player. I am a video professional, and tend to be picky about video display quality. I used the Avia DVD to calibrate the levels and color, and my Sceptre 37" is excellent. HD satellite is outstanding. The 1080p rendering of detail is very realistic, like looking through a window -- better than my RCA 34" CRT. The fast refresh rate is great for action, such as basketball games. You feel like you are really there. The colors are accurate. A few days ago the backlight was flickering, but the problem disappeared when I turned the set on and off and has not returned. If the set ever fails, Costco gives a full refund. Overall I am very pleased.
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bluemax50
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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4. March 2006 @ 03:03 |
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My Sceptre is due to be delivered Monday. I purchased it via Costco's and after reading info in this thead and other forums I'm wondering if Sceptre is dumping returned units by drop shipping them to Costco's customers. I hope it isn't true but if I receive a version 1 unit, I won't even bother finishing unpacking it, I'll return it to Costco's and by something else and it certainly won't be another Sceptre!!!!
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canon
Newbie
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4. March 2006 @ 05:14 |
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I agree that Cos*tco is a great company--it seems Seattle-based companies (other than MS) all learned from Nords**om how to do business-with-customers. But Cos*tco will not take a beating on Sceptre and will dump it in a NY second if problems continue. "Branding" is critical to this company, and if Sceptre is sending old or refurbished equipment out--and it's detected--I think the gig is up. Would some one out there run through the protocol for how to detect that folks are getting a new, upgraded Sceptre 37" rather than version-1? Hard for me to pick out of this thread. Thanks!
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bluemax50
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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4. March 2006 @ 05:30 |
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There is a chart of sort that was started in the Sceptre thread in one of the avs forums I belive its in the Plasma/LCD forum.
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pilgrimj
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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4. March 2006 @ 05:46 |
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New to this group. Interested in wall mount information for
42" Sceptre. Saw earlier informaion about ergoton - I am not so sure that they have a bracket that will match 500 x 200mm hole configuration. Please advise.
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indiprod
Junior Member
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4. March 2006 @ 10:26 |
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I own a Sceptre 37". How do I locate the version number and the software update information that is in this set? Is there a keypad code to access this information?
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Member
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4. March 2006 @ 20:34 |
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Question: I am not yet a Costco member(i see on their website membership costs $45 correct?) but i was curious as to how much shipping would be for me if i ordered this. I can't seem figure out how to add the Sceptre 42" to the shopping cart so i can view it and check the shipping so i was wondering if someone with a Costco membership could please check shipping for me. Just make up and address in Martin, TN 38237. Thanks in advance.
*´¨)
¸.·´¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·´*Egomaniacal1*
Venni, Vetti, Vecci
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capt2278
Junior Member
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4. March 2006 @ 22:13 |
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dont need a C membership to add it to your cart. Dont even need a membership to order it online. Just add it to your cart and procede to the checkout process. It will give you the shipping before you finalize and purchase the TV. Shipping should be less than $200. Mine was shown to be @$100
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Member
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4. March 2006 @ 23:43 |
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Uhmmmm how exactly did you get the shipping for yours when there is no way to even add the 42 inch Spectre TV to the shopping cart on Costco's website?
*´¨)
¸.·´¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·´*Egomaniacal1*
Venni, Vetti, Vecci
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wooly59
Newbie
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5. March 2006 @ 05:59 |
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I too was planning on signing up at Costco simply to purchase the Sceptre 42" HDTV. Previous post said you don't need a membership to buy online. Is this true? If you are not a member will you have a problem returning to Costco? When you have a problem, do you simply return to store or do they make you ship it somewhere? How about extended warranties? Are they offered? If so, by Costco or Sceptre? After reading this forum, I am a little nervous about spending over $2,000 for a tv that may last 5-6 months. I don't normally purchase extended warraties, but would consider it with this purchase particularly if it was offered by Costco.
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canon
Newbie
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5. March 2006 @ 09:25 |
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I seriously doubt this is true: You need to join Co**co. But why not? One of America's best-run companies with great values and products across the board.
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jbren
Newbie
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5. March 2006 @ 17:42 |
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Capt2278 said:
"So, you think your SD image is crappy? Is it just crappy because you are viewing it on a larger screen? Or do you think that it has more to do with the monitor itself"
I think its just crappy, Cappy. Always has been, always will be. I get a very poor SD signal via Comcast, run it through a Replay TV and <now> push it out on a big HD screen. Don't get me wrong, its watchable, but I'm sure any true videophile (which I don't claim to be) would not be satisfied. BUT, it doesn't have anything to do with the X37 as far as I can tell. It was never anything to write home about before when I was using a CRT, and its no better or worse.
To answer a couple folks questions on getting version info on your X37. Here's the process (using remote):
Turn on unit and select the DTV input (via Source PC button)
Click the Menu button
Scroll to DTV on right and click CRLF (enter) to enter the sub-menu...
This takes you to the "cooler" digital menu system.
Scroll over to Setup and down to About. CRLF
This will bring up System Information in Right Frame
Here's what mine reports:
System Information
H/W: R0.2
S/W: M4.70c
Loader: PMON 1.3.8.0
Lib: HAL 7.2.3.0 MW v1.21
I have a question:
1- People are talking about QAM on many of the threads re: this TV. What is it and how do I tell if my unit supports it/has it, etc?
My experiences so far have been quite nice, and I mostly use this unit as TV, not HTPC, so count me as one of the people who is satisfied and does not plan to return unit, unless something goes very wrong...
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zootster
Newbie
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6. March 2006 @ 00:33 |
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Long-awaited March 6 arrived, and Costco site now advises that the 42" Sceptre is not available. Anyone have any information on why, and if it will eventually show up?
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