Samsung PN50A530 Shuts off and on...

WayneDean,

I would definitely call 800-SAMSUNG to get your unit serviced. It could be either the mainboard, or likely the power supply - without looking at it, it's difficult to properly diagnose based on one symptom. Hope that helps, and keep me posted.

--HDTech

My wife took the morning off work so that the Samsung techs could take a look at our Plasma and of course it wasn't turning off and on when they arrived. Luckily I recorded the problem on video so they didn't think we were crazy.

We were told that unless the TV was doing the problem when they arrived they couldn't fix it. They couldn't just keep changing parts until they figure out what the problem is. They could take the set into the shop but we would be without a TV for "2-3 weeks" with no loaner set. You'd think that since I can Google this problem Samsung would be aware of this issue and know what to change.

I was left with once the problem gets so bad that it's doing it all the time to give them a call. Frustrating....

I had a similar problem on a brand-new UN55B7000. I was within the 14-day return window with hhgreggs so I just returned it for a new unit that hasn't shown the problem.

However, I do believe that the problem that I saw was caused by a flakey network connection. Do you have the unit plugged into your home network (wired, not wireless)? Try unplugging it and see if the problem goes away. Either the internal network driver crashes the TV, forcing a reboot, or the Yahoo widget engine (which is pretty flakey) crashes every so often.

Also, update your firmware. My first unit was running the *_0003 release; the new unit is running *_0005. They may have tweaked the driver and/or engine in that release for my set.

My Sammy is connected via HDMI cable to my Sony HDMI switching Sound System that gets the signal from my PVR, also by HDMI connection. I don't run my TV as a monitor at all. I swapped PVRs with my upstairs unit and wonder if the Sony could be cutting the signal in and out?

I send an email to Samsung service detailing my complaint and got this reply, "We apologize for the inconvenience, actually we are very pertinent in our troubleshooting of all repairs. Some the questions they may be asking, might sound embarrassing. This is our standard procedure because we have to make sure that all the calls justified a service call."

How does this automated reply help to get my TV fixed? It's only 5 months old!!

Today I got an email telling me to call Samsung service to arrange another appointmnet. I explained the problem and was told once again that the tech must see the problem to fix it. The problem being that once it happens and I contact service by the time that they come out the problem may have stopped. And I've had to take another day off work. Unless we get a technician on 24hr call or he sleeps in the spare room, good luck on getting it fixed.

I was also told that even though the problem has been reported if they can't "experience it" before the warranty is over I'm out of luck. I wouldn't mind sending my Plasma in for repair but being without a TV for "2-3 weeks" doesn't sound like fun. I'm in the automotive business and if we told a customer 2-3 weeks without their new vehicle we'd be out of business.

I will try that. I noticed that when the TV flashes off/on you can see the amp decoding the incoming signal. Dolby 3.2...etc. I should try turning the TV off and on and see what happens with the amp. I guess since the TV signal is being fed through from cable to the PVR to the amp to the TV, if the amp when flickers the TV would go off for a sec. Make sense?