Samsung forum: "Not Available" message on LN46A650

Ran HDMI from PVR directly to TV and ran optical from PVR directly to reciever for the audio. I still got the not available error message. Any more ideas? I have no other HDMI cables going in to the TV at present. The TV is muted.

As an aside I am not trying to get closed captioning but had just read some things on the net that suggested that might be part of the problem.

Just to be clear, I can watch TV without any issues. The message pops up unexpectedly during watching. It doesn't seem to have any rhyme or reason. For instance, I managed to watch the entire 4 hour Super Bowl without it occurring. Sometimes I have to unplug my TV 1 to 2 times while watching a show to clear off the "Not Available" message. While the message is on the screen the TV program continues to play in the background. I am absolutely positive that the PVR (Motorola DCT3416) is outputing a signal of at least 720p. What is the message even telling me - what's not available??

As a recap: I have tried inputing HDMI from PVR to the reciever and then HDMI from the reciever to the TV. I have also tried HDMI directly from PVR to the TV with optical audio from the PVR to the reciever. In both cases I can watch and hear just fine but in both cases the Not Available message appears. The message is not No Signal Detected as you had mentioned in your last email.

At this point I do not even know what component to blame for this issue. Is it my PVR or is it my TV?

yakiwchk,

Are you by chance using a Harmony or other programmable remote?

The message that appears suggests that a remote functionality code is trying to tell the television to perform a feature that isn't available for that mode (such as a television channel change on HDMI).

It could be that a remote button is stuck on one of your remotes. If you have several remotes, you might try taking the batteries out of each of them until that message doesn't appear - and you'll be able to isolate the problem remote if that's the issue.

I wish I had a more pointed approach, but keep me posted.

--HDTech

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yakiwchk,

First to answer a question prior that I didn't address. The error is stating that a feature or command that is being received by the television is unable to complete that function because it's a redundant function.

For instance, if I'm watching a Blu-Ray signal through HDMI and I press "Channel Up" on the remote, that would be a redundant function because there's no tuner function on the HDMI port. So the ability to execute that command is "not available". I'm confident that it's the television giving you that prompt, and not the cable box.

The question I can't figure out is: "why". What function is happening for no reason that happens intermittently that would include sending a redundant command to your television.

Logic would have suggested that perhaps the Harmony was sending out a redundant code and you were getting that message as a response while trying to perform another function. That could point to a bad set of codes loaded in the Harmony, for example, sending "channel up" instead of "fast forward" while watching an HDMI input. But you say that's not the case and that it just happens at random times (and I believe you!).

I'll send this to one of our guys in the morning and see what he can make of it. I'm completely stumped, and now I *really* want to know what the cause is.

Can you confirm all my assumptions in this post are accurate to your descriptions, just so we're on the same page?

--HDTech

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yakiwchk,

I can't say definitively, but I think what's happening is that the bezel is making contact with either the "Channel up" or "channel down" button while you're watching another source.

The fix is probably going to require service, but that's my guess of what's happening here.

Keep me posted.

--HDTech

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yakiwchk,

It could be. I simply have no idea, and I'm trying to help pinpoint some troubleshooting. I guess if it was on the AIR setting, and the television started changing channels, that would probably be a good indication that my theory was right.

The idea was that some contacts in the bezel are causing the button to be pushed, even though it's not being pushed - it's still somehow making a connection.

It might be time to get the unit serviced. I don't want to speculate too far, but I was hoping that a quick troubleshooting idea might give you an idea of explaining the symptom to the techs.

--HDTech

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gearhead79,

Probably the same response as I gave above.

I think what is happening is that the up/down button is contacting, and may require service. I know that this isn't particularly great news, but I hope it at least explains what's happening.

The good news, if there is any with a service issue, is that it's likely not an expensive board, but hopefully an inexpensive minor fix.

--HDTech

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So the tech called and said this issue is due to a bad board in the TV.
The cost of the main board is $250-$330. The labor is another $250.
So this would cost atleast $500 to fix.
or I can sell this for parts and use the money to buy a new TV...

I have exactly the same problem on a LN-T4061 as described by others and it is driving me crazy. Shortly after turn-on, watching HDMI input off my cable box, the message "Not Available" comes up in the center of the screen and the volume control starts running up/down by itself. No remote controls are involved with this error. I made sure by removing the batteries. If you wait about 10 mins the problem clears by itself. I've tried everything I can think of, even running component input from the cable box. Switched HDMI inputs and HDMI cables. If you select HDMI input from the DVD Player the message does not show up at all. Others have suggested that closed captioning from the cable box is the problem, but I have this turned off. Any help would be appreciated or else this TV will be tossed out the window (i.e. never buying another Samsung TV)

It got to where it was popping up 8-10 times a minute. I recently (Tuesday 25th) had it serviced under warranty. They replaced the internal touch board for the front panel buttons (which is what I was suspecting), and another board that it was cabled to, including replacing the cable, which was crimped and had a bare spot.

The TV had also started powering itself on and off at random times, changing the volume up and down on its own, and popping up the settings menu, even changing settings by itself!

It's only been a day, but I have not seen any issues since the parts were replaced. I have decided however, to purchase the extended warranty!

Hello. I have a Samsung TV (model HLT5087SX/XAA) and have had the "Not Available" box for a few years now. It will be gone for months and then show up for a few weeks only to disappear again. I'm cheap so I haven't bought a new tv.

Tonight, I got frustrated with the box and decided to take the back casing of the tv off. I cut the two wires from the manual controls on the side of the tv, put everything back together and turned the tv on. So far, the box is gone and the tv works fine. Granted we can only use the remote now, but that is a small price to pay versus buying a new tv when our tv works fine (other than that dang box!).

Might be something to look in to if you still own the tv.