[jimtnc]

There is a small blue "audio" window that keeps popping up in the top right-hand corner that has Cable Analog, then Audio : Mono. The window keeps appearing when the audio flips from mono to stereo then back when it looses the stereo signal, I guess. Is there any way to either set this to stereo regardless of audio input, or something to keep this dadgum box from continually popping up? It's distracting as hell.

[jimtnc]

Never mind. I'm told it's a weak audio signal problem... no calibrations on the set to make.

[donf]

Jim,

That does not solve your problem it only explains what the TVs electronics are telling you.

First step I would take is to contact the signal source, e.g. Off Air (TV station) Cable company or satellite owner Direct TV or Dish.

If it's the satellite, then all that might be needed is to re=aim the dish, Cable may have to put a signal booster or a repeater to bring the correct level of signal.

Off Air, go to Radio Shack and tell them you need to boost your Audio signals.

[jimtnc]

Okay, thanks Don. I've got T-W cable coming tomorrow to check the signal. Guys around here are telling me they'll have to boost it if not putting our 8-10db. We'll see.

[jimtnc]

Weak signal update:

I had a cable tech come by yesterday to check my signal strength, and I just happen to get one of the more sharper tech's and got quite the education. First he established that my signal was near-perfect at -1 (the box will handle +10 to -10, but T/W would like to see +5 to -5 signal range; zero being perfect ). He then checked my HD box. Lo and behold, we find that the cable box isn't even SET to send out an HD signal.

For all of those of you out there like me that just purchased a new LCD/plasma the last 2 months and are new to hi-def, and picked up a new HD cable box from their cable provider... call them and get someone over to show you how to set up this box and use it, because it does NOT, I repeat, not come pre-set with HD defaults... the box has to be setup for hi-def and sound. You will not get hi-def without using component or HDMI cables. He said that the difference between component and HDMI cables is negligible, so you chose.

He then suggested to set the TV viewing to "dot by dot" setting, and here's why. With this TV setting the screen is always as it should be from that channel signal. To fill up the screen (stretch, zoom, etc) use the cable box remote (I have ScientificAtlanta box) and I press the # sign (under the 9) and then exit to do the same thing the TV remote does with one exception: what ever screen filler you use (stretch, etc) will not cut off the picture like using zoom x2 on your DVD. The whole picture is intact in whatever mode you choose. Nice!

There are a few other things that he showed me, but I can't remember now and will post later when it comes to mind. Hope this helps someone else.

[donf]

Jim,

LOL, Thanks for the update. By the way, you managed to forget that just changed cable boxes from your original posting. That would have been a red flag for me. :)