The Home Improvement Thread

[Silverback]

I called the old TV "Lazarus" today.. wife didn't think it was as funny as I did.

 

[tx_shooter]

Lmao it would be a shame if it had another surge.

 

[CowboyTaco]

Speaking of TVs...I bought a 50" Hitachi 4k Roku TV about 7 months ago. I figured it was a big enough name brand that I would get a quality TV without splurging for the name (Samsung, LG, Sony...)

Just outside of the 30day return policy, it it started randomly restarting. Sometimes the whole thing would power cycle, sometimes just the app that was running. Tried to return it. Nope. Tried to call support. Nope. Did a factory reset and the problem went away for a while. Then it would reboot infrequently. Last week, I couldn't get more than 10 minutes into a show and it would do it. Tried performing a factory reset and couldn't get the damn thing to stay on long enough to even register it. Apparently, you have to register Roku TVs in order to even use them. By register, I mean "Sync to account."

Tried calling Hitachi support again and couldn't even get a person. Just an automated system telling me that I was out of luck. I couldn't even lie to the automated system to get a real person.

Since that bad experience, I've been able to get it re-synced with my account and it has only rebooted twice. Better, but still not good. At this point, I can't even sell it on Craigslist in good conscience. So now I'm looking at getting a new TV to replace one that "works."

 

[Anathollo]

Speaking of TVs...I bought a 50" Hitachi 4k Roku TV about 7 months ago. I figured it was a big enough name brand that I would get a quality TV without splurging for the name (Samsung, LG, Sony...)

Just outside of the 30day return policy, it it started randomly restarting. Sometimes the whole thing would power cycle, sometimes just the app that was running. Tried to return it. Nope. Tried to call support. Nope. Did a factory reset and the problem went away for a while. Then it would reboot infrequently. Last week, I couldn't get more than 10 minutes into a show and it would do it. Tried performing a factory reset and couldn't get the damn thing to stay on long enough to even register it. Apparently, you have to register Roku TVs in order to even use them. By register, I mean "Sync to account."

Tried calling Hitachi support again and couldn't even get a person. Just an automated system telling me that I was out of luck. I couldn't even lie to the automated system to get a real person.

Since that bad experience, I've been able to get it re-synced with my account and it has only rebooted twice. Better, but still not good. At this point, I can't even sell it on Craigslist in good conscience. So now I'm looking at getting a new TV to replace one that "works."

I typically recommend Samsung or LG at this point. That being said, my guys install at least one or two TV's a week and the LG's have the highest return rate due to being broken in the box on delivery. They also have a goofy setup screen.

I have an 82" UHD Samsung TV sitting behind me in my office. Too bad it's for a customer

 

[CowboyTaco]

I know they haven't done anything revolutionary in a long time, but I still think Sony is where it's at. I think Samsung is probably the next best choice, but I feel like they are riding a wave of being the top dog and quality has suffered over the last few years. Even still....way better than my SHitachi...

 

[balakay]

Speaking of TVs...I bought a 50" Hitachi 4k Roku TV about 7 months ago. I figured it was a big enough name brand that I would get a quality TV without splurging for the name (Samsung, LG, Sony...)

Just outside of the 30day return policy, it it started randomly restarting. Sometimes the whole thing would power cycle, sometimes just the app that was running. Tried to return it. Nope. Tried to call support. Nope. Did a factory reset and the problem went away for a while. Then it would reboot infrequently. Last week, I couldn't get more than 10 minutes into a show and it would do it. Tried performing a factory reset and couldn't get the damn thing to stay on long enough to even register it. Apparently, you have to register Roku TVs in order to even use them. By register, I mean "Sync to account."

Tried calling Hitachi support again and couldn't even get a person. Just an automated system telling me that I was out of luck. I couldn't even lie to the automated system to get a real person.

Since that bad experience, I've been able to get it re-synced with my account and it has only rebooted twice. Better, but still not good. At this point, I can't even sell it on Craigslist in good conscience. So now I'm looking at getting a new TV to replace one that "works."

Wonder if it has something to do with the Roku program. I have a Sharp Roku TV that is absolute garbage. Similar problems to what you mentioned as well as audio that only works when it wants to and can only be fixed by a reset of the TV. Really disappointing as my family has always had Sharp TVs and never had a problem with them. Hell, my dad bought a Sharp Aquos LCD TV probably 20 years ago. When he bought it you couldn't even get them in America. He ordered it and had it shipped straight from Japan. The biggest they offered was 42" (and I think it was biggest on the market at the time) and it was like $5-6k. Still has that TV in his den and it works like a champ. His 55" Sharp he bought after that only got replaced because my mom knocked it off the entertainment center. Nobody I know has issues with Sharp except me. And now you're having problems with a Hitachi with Roku. Makes me wonder if it's not due to the Roku program somehow.

 

[Silverback]

My daughter has a TCL Roku TV and its been awesome.

 

[CowboyTaco]

Wonder if it has something to do with the Roku program. I have a Sharp Roku TV that is absolute garbage. Similar problems to what you mentioned as well as audio that only works when it wants to and can only be fixed by a reset of the TV. Really disappointing as my family has always had Sharp TVs and never had a problem with them. Hell, my dad bought a Sharp Aquos LCD TV probably 20 years ago. When he bought it you couldn't even get them in America. He ordered it and had it shipped straight from Japan. The biggest they offered was 42" (and I think it was biggest on the market at the time) and it was like $5-6k. Still has that TV in his den and it works like a champ. His 55" Sharp he bought after that only got replaced because my mom knocked it off the entertainment center. Nobody I know has issues with Sharp except me. And now you're having problems with a Hitachi with Roku. Makes me wonder if it's not due to the Roku program somehow.

My daughter has a TCL Roku TV and its been awesome.

I found a pretty decent amount of info online that suggests Roku apps (like Sling, Netflix, Vudu, etc.) are the culprit. My next step is going to be using it as just a monitor and going back to using the PS3 as the video source. I guess time will tell if that resolves the issues.

I have been particularly disappointed in their tech support...or lack thereof. I will not buy another Hitachi, as they have Zero customer service.

 

[Anathollo]

I know they haven't done anything revolutionary in a long time, but I still think Sony is where it's at. I think Samsung is probably the next best choice, but I feel like they are riding a wave of being the top dog and quality has suffered over the last few years. Even still....way better than my SHitachi...

Go to Best Buy and compare a Samsung screen to a Sony screen. Night and day difference.

 

[CowboyTaco]

I did that about a year ago when I was in the market. The Sony was the best hands down. Maybe I should go look again, but that'll just make me want one....no room in the budget right now.

 

[Taco Loco]

I did that about a year ago when I was in the market. The Sony was the best hands down. Maybe I should go look again, but that'll just make me want one....no room in the budget right now.

Sony has specific DVD promo video played through a Sony DVD player for that customer sale of awesome picture/screen. Put that Sony TV on HD satellite/cable and the Sony picture sucks compared to Samsung.

 

[Oswego]

Well... well.. fuck. TV.. turned it off 2 days ago. Went to turn it back on maybe 30 minutes later and nothing. Unplugged, let it sit... plugged back in and nothing. Tried a different outlet... nothing. Tried this again yesterday and this morning. Nothing. Thought TV was dead. So I went and bought the new one. Now.. tonight, me the the neighbor are in the garage drinking a few beers (no TV as I didn't want to fuck with hanging the new one just yet) and the wife and little one come out to talk to us. Well the power went out for about 4 seconds... came back on and I'll be damned .. the TV turned on!! Unfucking real. I would have sworn it was dead. I'm sure the old one is on its last leg. Its spent almost 5 years in a garage. Wife was like "great you can take the new one back!".. no no.. I don't think so. Gonna keep. I think I'll look into mounting the old garage TV on the patio for now. Just not sure.. it is not meant for outdoors by anymeans. Plus its on its last leg I do believe. So to put it outside would just mean I have a dead TV on the patio by end of Summer. Wife is really not happy I'm keeping it since I have one that works. But you know damn good and well I would take it back. Then Memorial Day sales are over and it would really die.

Mount it to the wall, throw wood perimeter frame around it with vent holes top & bottom then insert a pc of Home Depot sourced plexiglass on the front. "Should" keep itself dry from humidity under it's own heat.

 

[Silverback]

I was thinking about that but I want to mount it on a swingarm so I can turn it toward the pool and watch from there.

 

[Silverback]

NewTV is mounted. Need to clean up wiring next.

 

[Silverback]

So a few weeks ago the Denon receiver in the garage started acting up, no video passthrough, sound worked fine. While I had the old TV down I swapped out all new HDMI cables with the new TV. Same issue, so time for a new receiver. Was going to go Denon again (I have 3 and one is 11 years old) as I've had good luck. Well seems for what I wanted to get and for what I wanted to pay the model I was looking at had very mixed reviews. Overall it was a 4 but it had like 17% 1 star reviews. Not good. So I went with Yamaha. Should work fine, if not then back it goes and maybe I'll spend a little more $$. But for a garage receiver all I wanted was 4k passthrough, 5.1 or better, bluetooth, HDMI inputs and outputs... nothing crazy. Best part of course is that it was Amazon Prime and its out for delivery.

 

[Silverback]

Receiver is installed, sounds great. Still need to bring out the XBox One and hook it up.

 

[Silverback]

FUCK... my house has LOST 12 million dollars in value over the last 30 days!! Damn!

 

[Silverback]

Ok... I'll sell it for 1.5 million. I'll throw in the shed and mower.

 

[tx_shooter]

Dan. You were saying the new house next door would hurt your value but even that much surprises me.

 

[CowboyTaco]

Speaking of TVs...I bought a 50" Hitachi 4k Roku TV about 7 months ago. I figured it was a big enough name brand that I would get a quality TV without splurging for the name (Samsung, LG, Sony...)

Just outside of the 30day return policy, it it started randomly restarting. Sometimes the whole thing would power cycle, sometimes just the app that was running. Tried to return it. Nope. Tried to call support. Nope. Did a factory reset and the problem went away for a while. Then it would reboot infrequently. Last week, I couldn't get more than 10 minutes into a show and it would do it. Tried performing a factory reset and couldn't get the damn thing to stay on long enough to even register it. Apparently, you have to register Roku TVs in order to even use them. By register, I mean "Sync to account."

Tried calling Hitachi support again and couldn't even get a person. Just an automated system telling me that I was out of luck. I couldn't even lie to the automated system to get a real person.

Since that bad experience, I've been able to get it re-synced with my account and it has only rebooted twice. Better, but still not good. At this point, I can't even sell it on Craigslist in good conscience. So now I'm looking at getting a new TV to replace one that "works."

I found a pretty decent amount of info online that suggests Roku apps (like Sling, Netflix, Vudu, etc.) are the culprit. My next step is going to be using it as just a monitor and going back to using the PS3 as the video source. I guess time will tell if that resolves the issues.

I have been particularly disappointed in their tech support...or lack thereof. I will not buy another Hitachi, as they have Zero customer service.

Just an update here:

Apps are not the culprit. Even using it as just a monitor, it still restarts apps and/or completely power cycles.

Turns out the Serial Number in the Home>Settings>System>About is not the same as the Serial number on the back of the unit. Per the SN on the back, I'm still under warranty. The other Serial Numbers is apparently the SN of the software....whatever. They are sending a repair tech out to perform an in-home repair. Fingers crossed.