CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

Kiteboarder · Joined: 11 Feb 2011 Posts: 6 Location: Peoria, IL

I have searched every possible forum that I belong to for the service menu codes and navigation guidelines for this TV (RCA 42PA30RQ) and have come up empty.

It's a plasma and it definitely needs a greyscale calibration. I've done as much as I can with the basics - brightness, contrast, color, tint, etc. But skin tones and everything else are not right. I've taken initial greyscale readings with my Eye1 LT but need to get in to the service menu to do the calibration.

For what its worth, I've calibrated 3 plasmas, three LCDs and a projector, and I'm fully aware of the dangers associated with modifying values in the service menu without recording/photographing factory values.

Any help getting the service menu codes would be greatly appreciated as the manufacturer is of no help whatsoever.

Thanks.[/b]

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 6966

You can try this to see if it gets you into factory mode.

Select PC input, adjust volume to zero. Then press 9-8-7-6. This should bring you to factory mode. If it does then press exit to leave factory mode and post back your results.

Kiteboarder · Joined: 11 Feb 2011 Posts: 6 Location: Peoria, IL

Thanks for the response!

I tried it but it didn't work. Does a PC have to be connected to the input for that to work? I did not have a PC connected.

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 6966

It shouldn't have to be. That procedure was for an earlier model RCA. Sometimes they keep the same procedure.

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 6966

You can try it while in TV mode.

Kiteboarder · Joined: 11 Feb 2011 Posts: 6 Location: Peoria, IL

Tried it on all of the inputs (TV, Component, HDMI 1, HDMI 2, HDMI 3, HDMI 4, Audio, PC). No luck.

For what it's worth, the plasma is a fairly new RCA model introduced in 2012 and it seems to have mostly Samsung circuit boards and Samsung glass.

I found this quote about the RCA 42PA30RQ on one of the AVS plasma forums:

"Very impressive. I took some time to open up the rear cover to see what the inside looks like, and all the major circuit boards are made by Samsung. Plasma screen, inverter board, power supply, second power supply, and third power supply are all made by Samsung. See attached pics. You can see the printed word "Samsung" stamped on every boards. Only the input/video processing board and front-panel buttons are made by the OEM TV maker, which is TongFang. OEM TV maker TongFang assembled this RCA plasma with all parts and components manufactured by Samsung."

Tried to ask the poster if he knew how to access the service menu but never got a response.

rcaguy · Joined: 23 Jan 2013 Posts: 2 Location: Turlock, CA

Hi! The Service Menu procedure for this model specifically is:

Hit the Menu button on the remote - Menu Pops up.
Enter Code 1147

This should get you into the service menu.

I also have updated color profiles, and a firmware update. I can email these.

Kiteboarder · Joined: 11 Feb 2011 Posts: 6 Location: Peoria, IL

Thank you for giving me the service menu entry code. You are correct. It is Menu, then 1147. Very, very much appreciated.

Generally, looking at the picture, before taking any gray scale measurements, the factory settings don't appear to be that far off. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to calibrate it tonight.

I would be very interested in receiving your color profiles and firmware update. I'll PM my Email address to you.

rcaguy · Joined: 23 Jan 2013 Posts: 2 Location: Turlock, CA

I emailed the the firmware and color/scaling profiles to the email in the PM! I can't send PM's, so hopefully it gets to you okay. If you find out how to optimize this tv set better, I'd love to know what settings you use! Very Happy

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 5:56 am Post subject:

Post 3 more times in the test area of the forum, and you're good to go for PMs.

bizzy651 · Joined: 07 Feb 2013 Posts: 1 Location: SD

can you email me that firmware bryank651@gmail.com

Kiteboarder · Joined: 11 Feb 2011 Posts: 6 Location: Peoria, IL

@rcaguy

Sorry I haven't gotten back to you sooner. Last night, I calibrated my RCA 42PA30RQ using an eye1 and Color HCFR.

With the caveat that each set is different, so you results may not be similar to mine, here are the final settings:

Color temperature - Warm
Brightness - 49
Contrast - 75
Color - 22
Tint - 0
Sharpness - 0

Adjustment made in Service menu:
WB Mode - HDMI
For Color Temp Warm

All of the Drives and Cutoffs were factory set to Zero before my calibration changes

R Drive - from Zero to minus 2
G Drive - Zero
B Drive - from Zero to plus 5

R Cutoff - Zero
G Cutoff - Zero
B Cutoff - from zero to minus 2

The Color HCFR measurements I took after the adjustments in the service menu, were really right on. It was the closest I've ever com to an ideal calibration. However, as I mentioned at the start of this post, the adjustments I made for my set, may, or may not, work for yours.

If there is a way for me to post the graphs from Color HCFR in this forum, I will do that.