Please Help, Samsung's top Plasma, Dark Patches Hockey

Please Help, Samsung's Best Plasma, Dark Patches when watching hockey. Tech says panel needs replacing, Samsung says normal.

Help.. I Bought a PN63C8000 Samsung's Flagship Plasma in November 2010.
I didn't want it for 3d but wanted their best availble at the time.

With light colored backgrounds like in hockey my Samsung PN63C8000 Plasma displays darker patches on the screen that were stationary when the screen panned.
This made it very noticable with a hockey game.

I called Samsung and they set up a work order for a certified Samsung repair shop to come over to look at the set. I was hoping they could make some internal adjustments to solve the problem

The tech had a remote that accessed internal test patterns on the screen Originally he thought the screen was fine because when he called up a white screen there was no blotching. But when he called up their Black and White checkered test pattern he almost looked surprised to see the redish beigh blotching formed by the small specs. This was the exact same pattern I was seeing with a hockey game.

He said they will have to replace the Panel. The blotches were very noticable on the grid and showed up in the exact locations when I was watching Hockey.

They had to take pictures of the set to send to Samsung for approval. They also mentioned the panel is very expensive.
The tech was having a hard time trying to take pictures of the set since he was trying to take it with just an Iphone. Of course the pictures didn't display how bad the blotches were.

Time of day there was quite a bit of light coming thru the patio doors which made the photos even harder to take.

I showed the tech a HD recording of a hockey game I recorded with my Point and shoot camera that I hoped they could send along with the pictures.
The tech noticed the blotching on the screen with the hockey game even thru my small 3inch camera screen and said that would be good to show but they would have to email it and required a jpg.

I also tried taking pictures of it but with a point and shoot but found it extremely difficult to take a picture that represented it acurately.

I tried taking pictures a hockey game paused but the blotches would just look as if there were shadows on the ice or look as if the ice was just darker in those areas. Of couse once the game is moving then it is obvious the darker spots were stationary on the screen. Kind of like that cluster of pixels were not lighting as well but showing redish beigh.

So I noticed I could duplicate the patches when I connect my Notebook to an HDMI port and call up something with a white background like Pbrush.

Here are some of the pictures I managed to take. Posted to the following location
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1315102

I circled the areas of concern. The actual image is in real life is darker than the picture but this is the best I managed with my Point and shoot.

The repair shop said to me they have to send the pictures to Samsung and request approval for and expensive part.
After the repair shop sent the pictures to Samsung.
The repair shop called us to say Samsung rejected the repair and Samsung said "As per QC this is normal."

I'm not concerned about how the tv looks with a test pattern or static image. But when watching a sports event Like hockey (which we watch alot of)
It's extremly disapointing to see Samsungs "Best" Plasma set with darker patches on the screen. It's also distracting seeing the patches when watching the game.

Reply 1 : Please Help, Samsung's top Plasma, Dark Patches Hockey

Be sure to add a reply to YOUR TOP POST with the Transaction number. This helps those that visit this forum to inquire about this issue.

Reply 2 : Please Help, Samsung's top Plasma, Dark Patches Hockey

My Samsung Transaction number was #4100733720.

Reply 3 : Please Help, Samsung's top Plasma, Dark Patches Hockey

I watched another game yesturday.

The patches are pretty distracting, since the patches stay on the screen and don't move with the ice.

Even saw the patch in a TV show that showed a light blue sky.

Reply 4 : Please Help, Samsung's top Plasma, Dark Patches Hockey

Any Samsumg Tech able to help at all?
Is there any Samsumg Tech able to help at all?

Is there at least somthing I can try to adjust in the picture settings to make it less noticable?

Thanks, Any input or suggestions would be appreciated.

Reply 5 : Please Help, Samsung's top Plasma, Dark Patches Hockey

Oops didn't mean to repeat the first line, was trying to cut and past it into the title. Can't find a way to edit it.

Reply 6 : Please Help, Samsung's top Plasma, Dark Patches Hockey

There will never be an edit feature except to one person who will remain nameless.
I've stuck your post to the top for today to spotlight it.
Bob

Reply 7 : Please Help, Samsung's top Plasma, Dark Patches Hockey

Samsung Staff or anyone..

Can anyone make any suggestions?
Are the patches going to improve over time?

Bob thanks for putting my message as a sticky for the day.

Reply 8 : Please Help, Samsung's top Plasma, Dark Patches Hockey

norm18T,

I'm sorry to hear that you're having a problem with your new television.

I've sent up a request this morning to request that one of the managers review your case. I have no indication if this can be fixed, but the situation can be reviewed and that is what I've requested. Keep me posted.

--HDTech

Reply 9 : Please Help, Samsung's top Plasma, Dark Patches Hockey

Please if viewing the pictures I took of the screen shown in the Avsforum link, view the pictures on a couple of different monitors if you do not see the reddish patch.
When I view the same picture I took on my HP notebook screen the reddish darker patch does not show very well, but on my dell monitors at work the reddish patch is fairly obvious and represents the patch on my TV a little closer.
Also my picture shows a little moir effect which blends into the patch making it less obvious in the picture.
The TV in real life, the area surrounding the patch is nice and even, so the patches are more noticeable than shown in the pictures.
I think when the screen background is a yellow it also shows a reddish patch, I can verify this and try to take a picture if it would help.

Also if it helps, the internal test screen the tech opened that showed the reddish patches/ pixels is the Black and white checkered pattern.
The one that has the black squares floating in the white background.

Ever since, I've been looking closely at plasmas in stores, at the gym whenever they are playing hockey, but have yet to see any with similar patches.
Even a lower model 63" Samsung plasma at a Costco (which I was watching quite closely) didn't have it during a hockey broadcast


Please let me know if there is anything at all I can do or try.

Thanks again for the reply

Norm

Reply 10 : Please Help, Samsung's top Plasma, Dark Patches Hockey

Hi Samsung HDtech

It's been a few weeks now (3 weeks), still have't heard anything.
Is someone supposed to contact me?

Can anything be done to fix my TV?

Thanks