1989 Sony Trinitron Help!

[Bartsfam]

I know this is a classic gaming forum, but all my systems are connected to my 1989 Sony Trinitron, so hopefully this is an acceptable place to ask for technical help!

I am an orginal owner of a 1989 Sony Trinitron, Model KV-27HFR. The color and sound are beautiful for my classic game systems, and I still watch TV on it. But, in the last few months the "VIDEO 1" or whatever input I am using flashes in the upper right corner of the screen approximately once every minute, for about 5-7 seconds, and then disappears. A minute later the "VIDEO 1" or whatever the input is, flashes again. This cycle then repeats.

Again, no matter what input I am using, it will flash in the upper right hand corner. At first it drove me crazy, but now I hardly notice it, accept when I am playing a game, it can intefere with the game play. I know I can go out and get a cheap TV at the Goodwill, but I am trying to keep this one to the bitter end. The color is still amazing, and the thing does weigh about 3,000 pounds!

I tried unplugging it for awhile, but it still comes back. I fooled around with the "DISPLAY" button on the remote, but it still comes back. Is a board going? Is there a way to reset something to make it go away? Any ideas?

Should I stop being cheap and call it a day with this beast??

[mbd30]

It might be a glitch with your TV, but a lot of tube TVs will actually continually display "Video" or channel number in the upper corner. I'm not sure why they're set to do this.

[kool kitty89]

It might be a glitch with your TV, but a lot of tube TVs will actually continually display "Video" or channel number in the upper corner. I'm not sure why they're set to do this.

 

I've never, ever seen one do that... unless "display" has been pressed on the remote, but not by default. (only show the display for a second or so otherwise -except on old sets with separate digital LED displays)

[+wood_jl]

I have had many Trinitrons over the years.

 

I've seen them do that when the "think they are losing the signal." That is, if I put it on VIDEO1 and have NOTHING plugged in (or turned on) then it "senses" that there's nothing there and automatically puts up the display - I guess to let you know it's on, since there's no tv snow to alert you. I had one a few years ago that had an annoying habit of doing that when the videogame cut to a black screen - that is like when a Playstation game is loading in between scenes. Could be that it's losing its ability/sensitivity to detect a video signal or something.

 

Not very helpful, I know.

[mbd30]

It might be a glitch with your TV, but a lot of tube TVs will actually continually display "Video" or channel number in the upper corner. I'm not sure why they're set to do this.

 

I've never, ever seen one do that... unless "display" has been pressed on the remote, but not by default. (only show the display for a second or so otherwise -except on old sets with separate digital LED displays)

 

We have a Sanyo 27" tube in the living room that does. I've seen others that do.

[kool kitty89]

That seems very wrong to intentionally display all the time...

 

Either it's a glitch (as with weak signals/black screens), or something else, like it being set and not turned off by remote. That goes for all the TVs I've seen. (mostly Sanyo and Sony sets as well as a few Zenith and a jumble of others I've seen -some just tinkering with at thrift stores)

 

In cases I remember (in the half dozen or so trinitrons I've seen) the "video" sign only appears for a little while and then disappears, even with no signal. (but comes back whenever the signal is lost or video input is switched)

Note that most of those sony sets I've seen are from the late 80s/early 90s, though I've also seen a few new ones (under 5 years old).

I've got to give it to sony though, they tend to keep most of the features available on the front control pannel, not requiring a remote for key functions. (especially tv/video or input select, but a good bit more than that too)

 

 

It seems totally wrong for a TV to constantly display the channel, and the cases I have seen it are with missing remotes (though unplugging the TV sometimes resets that) or with people who don't know how to use the remote properly...

[jaybird3rd]

It sounds almost as if there's something wrong with the input signal. My guess is that there's an intermittent connection somewhere, or that the signal is weak. I would try disconnecting everything except the game (plug the game directly into the TV) to see if this solves the problem, and if it doesn't, reseat or replace the cables or take a look at the connector on the TV to make sure it isn't coming loose; there might be a loose wire inside the TV. You might also plug the game (or whatever else you currently have connected to the TV) into another TV to see if you notice any problems with the signal.

[Bartsfam]

Just to update:

I followed everyone's advise and took off all of the games, and directly connected each system via RCA cables to the rear, and it still flashes the video input in the upper right every minute or so....

 

However, I think something inside must be going because I tried to connect basic cable tv directly to the back, and that doesn't work at all! The picture looks like it has radio active inteference, with moving honey combs, and very loud static and popping sounds. I think whatever controls the input connections is starting to go......

[jaybird3rd]

How do the jacks on the TV look? Are they loose or corroded? You might want to try giving them a quick cleaning with some cotton swabs and rubbing alcohol. If that doesn't help, my next suggestion would be to open the TV (I know, I don't like doing it either) to see if any of the wires going to the jacks are loose. If the jacks are mounted in a separate removable panel, as they sometimes are, you can open that up instead of taking apart the whole TV. I've got an '89 Trinitron TV set also, and while it's never had this problem, I've seen other TV sets of about the same age that did. In those cases, some solder and/or new connectors was all it took to fix it.