Problem when TV starts up

When I turn on the TV I get about 30 seconds of snow and pixilation on the screen and then it goes away and the picture is fine. This started a couple of weeks ago. It's not getting worse, but it won't go away either. Anyone else having this problem? Have no idea what is causing it or what to start checking. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Accepted answers

armond_in_nj1

@dkw197 wrote:
... When I turn on the TV, the screen is snowy, pixilating, and has weird colors, shows part of the picture, etc. In about 20 seconds it corrects itself to a regular picture ... Not sure why it starting doing this and can't seem to find the fix. Any other thoughts?

Here are some additional thoughts, although frankly I'm doing a lot of guessing.

From your description and the additional comments in this thread, it sounds like the issue is not related to your network or any device other than the TV set itself. There is some sort of startup issue that is peculiar to the display device (forgive the obvious) that is preventing a normal start, and either the device is suffering an electronic malfunction, or there are incorrect device settings preventing a normal start. If there is an electronic malfunction, then a repair shop must be called in. Otherwise ...

1. How long has this effect been occurring? I.e., was there a time, using all of the current equipment wired exactly as it is now, when this problem did not exist? It is very important to make certain that no changes in equipment or wiring have been made or have occurred since that period when the TV started properly. Please advise.

2. Your TV may be trying to start using an unsupported video source. For example, if the set is trying to start using a DVD source, OTA antenna, etc., it will initially display either no signal or some sort of snow or similar. It may then automatically seek a viable input. This is by no means certain, but it is indeed possible with some display devices.. This means you should try a total reset on the TV, reverting to the initial factory settings for all settings (color, hue, sound, and so on down the entire list). There are many instances where changes in factory settings later lead to errant behavior, and this may be one of them.

3. Related to Point 2, have you made changes in the TV setup screens using any hidden menu options, etc. This is a long shot, but I have encountered instances where such changes have even "bricked" the display device, rendering it useless (or at least a candidate for major surgery).

4. What happens when you try the set using only an OTA source? You should be able to do this even without an elaborate outdoor antenna. Most sets will pick up OTA signals with even a length of simple wire attached to the OTA terminals. Please try this and advise.

5. Again related to Point 4, try the same sequence with another source such as a Blu-Ray or DVD player. Steps 4 and 5 will definitely indicate that it's the display device that is malfunctioning.

I could continue to stretch my imagination, and I promise you that I will do so. In the meantime, please consider some of these possibilities and let us know what happens. Good luck.

All comments

lacticacidtrip1

Do you see the channel numbers changing on the TV screen while it is displaying snow? Outside chance that you're plugging your TV into a switched outlet, and it is doing a channel search when it is powered on. If this is the case, plug TV into an outlet that is not switched (wall outlet, standard six-pack).

What is the front panel of the STB reading while this is happening?

dkw197

Nothing is happening to the STB or the TV screen when this is happening. When I turn on the TV, the screen is snowy, pixilating, and has weird colors, shows part of the picture, etc. In about 20 seconds it corrects itself to a regular picture. The set top box is relatively new--about a year old. It is a DVR box for HD. It doesn't appear to be getting any worse, it just won't stop. I've done the "upplug the router" thing and had the In Home Agent check the box itself and it didn't find anything. Not sure why it starting doing this and can't seem to find the fix. Any other thoughts?

armond_in_nj1

@dkw197 wrote:
... When I turn on the TV, the screen is snowy, pixilating, and has weird colors, shows part of the picture, etc. In about 20 seconds it corrects itself to a regular picture ... Not sure why it starting doing this and can't seem to find the fix. Any other thoughts?

Here are some additional thoughts, although frankly I'm doing a lot of guessing.

5. Again related to Point 4, try the same sequence with another source such as a Blu-Ray or DVD player. Steps 4 and 5 will definitely indicate that it's the display device that is malfunctioning.

I could continue to stretch my imagination, and I promise you that I will do so. In the meantime, please consider some of these possibilities and let us know what happens. Good luck.

lacticacidtrip1

It's not impossible that it's the DVR. I just haven't heard of it acting quite like this. I'm assuming you've already done an STB Auto Correct? I'm definitely in over my head here. But two more things to try are:

If you have another HD box in your house. Swap it and see if the problem follows the box or the TV.
If you are using HDMI, switch over to Component cables (Red,Blue,Green) and audio cables (red,white). This will help you to determine if the DVR and TV are having a digital handshake issue. If this is the case, there may be an update that can be installed on your TV to fix the issue.

dkw197

Wow--thanks so much for all the possible solutions. I never even considered that it was possibly a TV problem and not a network one, so will look into that.

To answer one of your main questions--nothing had been changed or added when this began happening. It just started one day a few weeks ago out of the blue. The settings for everything and equipment being used are exactly the same as they have been for well over a year. I haven't worried too much about it, because it does correct itself, but would really like to find the root of the problem so I can fix it.

In #4--I don't know what OTA source means--duh--so can you tell me what I should do to check that?

Thanks so much again for taking the time to offer me help and solutions.