Zenith E44W46LCD & LG 44SZ81 service menu

[Neild]

Seems like a good place to start a thread on this service menu. Here's what I've found so far:

Entering the service menu - press Menu on TV and remote simultaneously for 5 seconds

Main Menu

1 - LCD Driver
2 - System Options
Brand - (Options = BB, CC, LG, def=BB)
Country (Options = CAN, USA, def=CAN)
Boost (Options = 0, 1, def=255
RFII NR (Options = 0, 1, def=0) - maybe an RF noise reduction, or option to turn NR menu on/off?


Controls in the service menu:
=======================
Up/down/left/right - changes the cursor position and in some cases the value
"1" key - sets the increment to 1 - this means when you change a value it goes up or down by 1
"2" key - sets the increment to 10 - this means when you change a value it goes up or down by 10
"3" key - sets the increment to 100 - this means when you change a value it goes up or down by 100



Changing the 'brand' of TV:
========================
1-Enter service menu
2-Pick Menu #2-System Options
3-Pick Brand - Options are BB, CC, LG (Best Buy=Zenith, Circuit City, LG)
4-Press menu to clear service menu

Main menu
========

Option XXXXXrf - changes picture settings for the RF signal (ie: cable TV)

Option XXXXXav - changes pictures settings for the A/V (ie: DVD, digital receiver) inputs. Seems to affect the 'main' signal, not the 2nd or 'sub' signal.

Load default - probably supposed to return the menu settings back to original, didn't seem to work for me but maybe I am not activating it correctly.

Change bulb - didn't try it, probably resets the hour counter?

Option Menu
=========

High temp - maybe the highest temp reached so far?
Warning temp - probably the temp at which the fan kicks in to cool the bulb
Strange though the current temp reading is always higher than the high or warning temp.

I'll add more info as it is uncovered here. I wouldn't be surprised if older LG models have similar service menus. It looks very much like last year's LG menu interface.

[Neild]

OK here's something for people to try if they are getting the vertical lines:

Service menu
1. LCD Driver --> M62352 --> VDMID

.. just changing the value of VMID by 1 or 2 might fix this for you.

Mine was default 181, changing to anything greater or less than 181, I got all kinds of vertical lines. If I set it more than a dozen or so off default I got nasty blocky cubes too.

So for those with the vertical lines and willing to fiddle in the service menu, you could try tweaking the VMID value a little to see if you can get rid of the lines.

[Indy-tv]

The 'Change Bulb' menu will tell you the number of hours on the bulb.

One question - I noticed that the option 'Boost' under the 'System options' menu has the options of 0 and 1, but it's default setting was 255. I can't get it back to 255. I don't think this is a problem since I am assuming that Boost is either off (0) or on (1). I just wonder why it was originally set to 255. Any thoguhts on this?

[Neild]

Originally Posted by Indy-tv

The 'Change Bulb' menu will tell you the number of hours on the bulb.

One question - I noticed that the option 'Boost' under the 'System options' menu has the options of 0 and 1, but it's default setting was 255. I can't get it back to 255. I don't think this is a problem since I am assuming that Boost is either off (0) or on (1). I just wonder why it was originally set to 255. Any thoguhts on this?

I noticed the exact same thing. Still haven't figured out how to:
- invoke the 'load default' option
- reverse to a previous menu

[Neild]

Service Menu keys - if you have a programmable remote, here are some alternate keys to invoke the special menus:

*-018 - invokes a shorter service menu, includes setting contrast of the main and sub PIP windows
*-019 - enters the service menu

[Neild]

Originally Posted by Indy-tv

The 'Change Bulb' menu will tell you the number of hours on the bulb.

One question - I noticed that the option 'Boost' under the 'System options' menu has the options of 0 and 1, but it's default setting was 255. I can't get it back to 255. I don't think this is a problem since I am assuming that Boost is either off (0) or on (1). I just wonder why it was originally set to 255. Any thoguhts on this?

Yes, I found that the 'booster' option simply sets whether or not the "Booster" feature will appear under the setup menu.
Boost: 0 --> the booster option won't appear
Boost: 1 --> the booster option will appear

Keep in mind changing 'Boost' under 'System Options' won't set or remove RF boosting, it just provides you the option of setting it under another menu.

[Neild]

Some interesting advanced codes:

012 - Black & White mode? (cont 0/bright 100/tint 50/color 0/sharp 50)
014 - off
015 - on
(? 013, 014, 015, 016 ?) - reset to factory defaults
018 - service menu A
019 - service menu B
054 - sleep settings
128 - toggles through various diagnostic screens

[Neild]

Service Menu A options
==================
RU44SZ80L

1. System option ->
2. AD9883 A-Set
3. Contrast (main PIP vs sub PIP)
4. M62352
5. Position
6. GAMMA
7. UNIFORMITY
8. RGB Alignment
9. VCOM Adjust
10. Lamp Replace

[Neild]

RU44SZ80L

1. LCD Driver -->
2. System option
3. uPD64011 RF
4. uPD64011 AV
5. AD9883A Main
6. VPC 3230
7. Main Win Size (left PIP)
8. Sub Win Size (right PIP)
9. Lamp Replace
10. Load Default

Version Info:
MAIN 03.24
SUB 03.00
LCD 03.00

[Neild]

In the service menus you can see that the PIP windows can be sized, shaped, and positioned any which way you please.

So if the little bottom right corner PIP window is too small or you want it in the top left, such a setting is possible.

It's probably too much to wish for, but it would be great if an improved LG firmware would take advantage of this ability and let you size and move the PIP window around with as much flexibility as the Sony PIP windows for example.

An entrepid hacker might write a lengthy remote macro to do it, but I'd sooner see it as a base feature.

I'd also like to be able to turn on/off the PIP frames but haven't found that yet.

[Neild]

If you are experiencing the overly strong green image, here's two changes that might help:

Service Menu-->LCD Driver -->GAMMA --> Increase B from 180 to 240
(final settings would be R 350 G 330 B 240)

Service Menu-->AD9883A-->Lower R-gain from 129 to 119

This is by no means a perfect picture but for me it's a quick shortcut until I can get it professionally set up.

[Neild]

Here are some additional advanced codes for the Zenith and LG TV's:

Here's some additional advanced codes:
003 --> discrete RGB-PC
009 --> aspect ratio
012 --> B&W mode
014 --> on
015 --> off (?)
018 --> service menu A
019 --> service menu B
034 --> discrete component
040 --> video key
053 --> off (?)
054 --> sleep timer
055 --> ant/cable
057 --> mute
059 --> TV/video key
103 --> EZ sound key
105 --> side video (?)
108 --> component 2 discrete
109 --> video 2 discrete
110 --> video
112 --> RGB-PC
113 --> side video
114 --> RGB-DTV
116 --> 4

116 --> 0
117 --> 6
118 --> 2
119 --> 5
120 --> 1
121 --> 7
122 --> 3

128 --> various diagnostic screens

133 --> PIP w/3 sub windows
135 --> PIP Channel down
137 --> PIP Channel up

164 --> select (enter) button
167 --> menu key (?)
171 --> menu (?)
174 --> select (?)
176 --> off (?)

181 --> tv/ant (?)
183 --> Volume Up
187 --> Volume Down
197 --> PIP key cycle
201 --> PIP Input cycle
231 --> Video 1
235 --> PIP off
245 --> 8
246 --> Surf
249 --> 9
253 --> RGB-TV

[Neild]

Originally Posted by Neild

If you are experiencing the overly strong green image, here's two changes that might help:

Service Menu-->LCD Driver -->GAMMA --> Increase B from 180 to 240
(final settings would be R 350 G 330 B 240)

Service Menu-->AD9883A-->Lower R-gain from 129 to 119

This is by no means a perfect picture but for me it's a quick shortcut until I can get it professionally set up.

A little more tweaking:

GAMMA
=====
R 360 G 330 B 240

AD9883A
=======
R-gain 124 G-gain 131 B-gain 129

Still not perfect by any means but much better than out of the box...

Still waiting for my salesman to put me in touch with the LG rep and the service center. He's dilly-dallying so many times I think he's trying to stretch it out past the date the set can be returned.

[Neild]

I must have had a finger slip or something because now the colours are crazy and I can’t get them back. I see on the setup menu that there is a 10 - restore defaults item. I was hoping that this would reset everything to a basic factory setting but nothing seems to happen when I select that option.
Would you know how to reset this set? I would like to resolve this before having to call service.

Yep I noticed the same thing. More than likely there is a save key function but without documentation I haven't been able to find it.

I think you can solve your color problem though - but you'll need a remote that can send 'advanced codes'. Any of the 'One-For-All' brand remotes will do it.

1 - Tell the remote your set is type 0056 (LG)

2 - Make sure the remote is indeed controlling your set by playing with volume, channel selection, etc.

3 - Press the star key (sometimes it is even shaped like a star)
then enter 013
You have to do this sequence reasonably quick, so it's the 4 keys "star"-"0"-"1"-"3" in quick succession.

4 - Then do the same with code 014

5 - Then do the same with code 015

6 - Then do the same with code 016

Wait a second then turn on the TV. It should be in factory new mode, it will have forgotten your channels and settings so you will be starting over from scratch.

Now keep in mind this method is overkill and some technician will be laughing because I don't think you need to do all the codes 013 thru 016. It's just that I don't remember which code(s) are required, but I do know if you do the 013, 014, 015, 016 sequence that the reset code or codes are within that series. It might be that only 1 or 2 of them are important. I sent my set back so I can't experiment, but maybe you can find the right one and let us know...

[plaplante]

Originally Posted by Neild

Yep I noticed the same thing. More than likely there is a save key function but without documentation I haven't been able to find it.

I think you can solve your color problem though - but you'll need a remote that can send 'advanced codes'. Any of the 'One-For-All' brand remotes will do it.

1 - Tell the remote your set is type 0056 (LG)

2 - Make sure the remote is indeed controlling your set by playing with volume, channel selection, etc.

3 - Press the star key (sometimes it is even shaped like a star)
then enter 013
You have to do this sequence reasonably quick, so it's the 4 keys "star"-"0"-"1"-"3" in quick succession.

4 - Then do the same with code 014

5 - Then do the same with code 015

6 - Then do the same with code 016

Wait a second then turn on the TV. It should be in factory new mode, it will have forgotten your channels and settings so you will be starting over from scratch.

Now keep in mind this method is overkill and some technician will be laughing because I don't think you need to do all the codes 013 thru 016. It's just that I don't remember which code(s) are required, but I do know if you do the 013, 014, 015, 016 sequence that the reset code or codes are within that series. It might be that only 1 or 2 of them are important. I sent my set back so I can't experiment, but maybe you can find the right one and let us know...

Thanks NeilD. I will try this out, hopefully it does the trick.
BTW - why did you get rid of this set?
Again, Many thanks for all the useful information.