GE 20" won't turn on

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wajeaf
GE 20" won't turn on

I have a GE 20". Sorry, I don't have the model # available right now. Problems started when the tv wouldn't turn on using the remote (I had to use the button on the tv itself.) Volume, channels, "power off" all still work via remote; batteries are fresh. Then it wouldn't even turn on using the button on the tv, no click or anything. If I unplug from the power outlet and plug it back in, it will turn on, at the tv, for maybe 4-5 uses. It still turns off via the remote (but not on). However, after it is turned off, it comes back on (by itself) in about 10 minutes and the picture is solid snow, as in no signal. If I manually turn it off using the tv button, it will stay off. Also, sometimes when I turn it on (using the button on the tv) it scrolls through channels rather than stay on the 03 cable channel. I fix that each time by using the step up/down button. I believe this tv is about 10-15 years old. Is is worth taking to a repair shop? Picture and sound are fine once the tv is on. Remote works fine for volume and channel changing. I know new tv's are relatively inexpensive, but it has to fit inside a cabinet, so can't be more than 18" tall and 16.5" deep, so has been difficult to find. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Matt Whitlock
Welcome to the TechLore

Welcome to the TechLore Community. I hope you're enjoying the site, and are going to recommend it to your friends and family.

The best advice I can give you is that it's in your best interest to try and find a replacement, despite the difficulties faced in finding one that's the right size. Even if this TV could be fixed (meaning that parts may not be available), the risk is very high that it will fail sooner than later.

In fact, if this is your main TV, this may be a good time to reconsider the value of the cabinet, especially as TV makes the transition from square to rectangular. A square 20" TV today will end up with black bars top and bottom in the future, making it a 14-15" widescreen set, which is not very big.

If this is a secondary TV, you may be able to find something that fits. There are many flat screen options around the 20" size, and there may be some tubes out there that will fit (though you'll probably have to look at the off-off brands).

We wish you the best of luck, and please keep us up to date with what you decide to do.

wajeaf
Thanks for your quick reply.

Thanks for your quick reply. I sort of figured it was a lost cause, but guess I had to hear it from a knowledgeable person. This is a secondary tv, used just an hour or so a night. The cabinet is part of the bedroom furniture set, so I will take my tape measure, go shopping this weekend, and hope to find one that fits! I have plenty of width (36")in the cabinet, so maybe that will help. Any brands to recommend or avoid? Thanks again.

wajeaf
I was told at several places

I was told at several places this weekend that ALL newer tube tvs are at least 19" deep. This did seem to be the case in the stores in which I shopped, but that could be because the only ones they had were that deep. Is that an accurate statement that ALL tube tvs are now 19" deep? If so, because of my 16.5" depth limitation, then my only option is an LCD?

Matt Whitlock
The store was not exactly

The store was not exactly lying to you, most tubes are at least 19" deep. However, this rule usually applies to flat tubes. Samsung has recentely revealed their SlimFit TVs, which have a total depth of 16.3 inches. Unfortunately, the smallest size made right now is 27".

Tubes that are not flat tend to be a bit slimmer in the back, and there's a decent chance you'll be able to find one of those that will fit. As I mentioned above, it'll probably be an off-brand like Symphonic, Sylvania, Durabrand, etc.

For fun I decided to look around a bit myself, and other than the 27" SlimFit, the skinniest tube TV in 19"-20" size the I found was 17 7/8"... a Symphonic and a Sylvania. Magnavox has a mystery 19" that I couldn't get the overall dimensions of. Keep looking, you may find something.

If not, you'll have no choice but to get an LCD TV, or try to get your old one fixed. Another thought would be to cut out a small section of the cabinet back to accomodate a slightly deeper TV. You wouldn't have to cut out the whole back, just enough to let the deepest part of the TV poke through.

wajeaf
Wow ! Thank you for all your

Wow ! Thank you for all your efforts and the added info. I really appreciate it. You have a good idea of just cutting a small hole in the back of the cabinet. I will keep looking though for awhile for something that might fit. The lowest price LCD I found was an Emerson EWL2005 at Walmart for $335, marked down from $397. I'm not sure of the quality, though, as all the others I saw were $499. If I'm going to spend that much, I probably should buy a better brand. As luck would have it, my old one has worked fine the last two nights, so maybe I can hold out for holiday specials. Thanks again for all your help. Are there any advantages to an LCD over the old style?

Matt Whitlock
You're going to feel like the

You're going to feel like the luckiest person in the world. TechLore just so happens to have a multi-page article series that goes through all of the different kinds of TVs, and gives advice about how to compare them and pick one out. It's a bit long, but it's chock full of great information that would give you a great overview of the current television technologies.

The first in the series is called "How To Find the TV that is Right for You". Follow the links at the bottom of each article to take you to the next in the series. Post any comments or follow-up questions in this thread.

wajeaf
How cool ! I will study it.

How cool ! I will study it. By the way, this is really a great web site!

 

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