Sony not saving service menu settings?

[notbillcosby]

I have a Sony KV-24FS120 that I'm working on setting up for my arcade build. I spent a lot of time getting resolutions just right, and adjusting things in the service menu to get it looking the best I could get it to look, in terms of geometry and color, brightness, etc.

I had finally gotten done with all of that and was working on getting Windows to be as hidden as possible when I remembered that I had been wanting to check if unplugging the TV would reset what input it was on upon power-up. My cabinet's power switch is wired into that of a power strip, which was going to have my TV, speakers, marquee, and computer all plugged into it, so each time I turned off the cabinet I'd effectively be unplugging the TV along with everything else. My test worked, and the TV fired back up on the component input like i wanted it to. HOWEVER, my picture was off center and weird looking. Starting up in the service menu confirmed my suspicions- all the settings in the service menu had reset to their factory default settings! AAAGH.

How do I get around this? Is there a battery inside this set that saves these settings? That seems like too easy of a fix, but I hope it's the case. Otherwise, I'll have to keep the TV portion of my cab plugged in all the time and reset a bunch of screen values each time I have to unplug the cab to move it somewhere. I don' wanna!

[lilshawn]

before you pull the AC you have to press mute then enter to save the settings.

...at least that's what the notes for my old KV20 was. the KV24 is probably the same chassis.

[rCadeGaming]

There could be a battery that this stuff is saved to, but looking at a diagram of the chassis in the service manual I'm not seeing one.  There is a chip marked memory, so that's probably a RAM chip and it probably saves this stuff there.  That chip may or may not need battery power to hold your settings when the AC is unplugged.  It's worth checking for watch batteries inside our TV's and replacing them, but that's probably not the cause of the problem here.  I say that because it is remembering what input you were on, so it's not losing everything when it's unplugged.

While looking through the service manual, I found that it does instruct to press mute then enter to save settings as Shawn suggests.  Specifically, you do this while still in the service menu, then press power to exit the service menu. 

I should have told you this before when I told you about the service menu, as I've done it before.  I guess I forget about it, as I haven't used the service menu for anything except minor adjustments in about a year.

So, it seems like the TV will remember whatever settings you choose after you turn it off, but it only remembers them after unplugging if you "save to memory."  Did you have your service menu settings written down?  If not, I suggest you get them set up and then save them somewhere in case this happens again.  Remember, you should write down all the default values as well, or you risk bricking the TV.

[rCadeGaming]

Edited my post in the TV walkthrough thread to include saving to memory.

[lilshawn]

the processor that controls the geometry and other settings has a small ROM area built into it where the values get stored. Kind of an all-in-one deal. (You used to need a separate ROM chip to store the info)

it needn't require a battery or other power supply. 

[notbillcosby]

I love you guys and this whole message board. I wrote down all the default settings (which is how I'm sure it went back to defaults...) but I foolishly didn't write down the settings I tweaked it to. Oh well, after doing it twice I should be able to hammer it out again a third time without much trouble, and i'll write down the settings like crazy. I plan on having nice tidy spots inside the cabinet to hang extra control panels, a notebook with cheat sheets for how to use MGalaxy, monitor settings, and whatever else.

Seriously love you guys. Thanks so much!

[rCadeGaming]

the processor that controls the geometry and other settings has a small ROM area built into it where the values get stored. Kind of an all-in-one deal. (You used to need a separate ROM chip to store the info)

it needn't require a battery or other power supply. 

Good to know, one less battery is one less PITA!

I wrote down all the default settings (which is how I'm sure it went back to defaults...) but I foolishly didn't write down the settings I tweaked it to.

Nice, I'm in the same boat.  I did save to memory way back when, back I've tweaked it a couple times since then.  Just unplugged the TV out fear of power surges during the hurricane too.  Oh well, was wanting to work on vertical linearity and related adjustments anyway.

This time I'll put my values in a column next to the defaults.  Excel is great.

I plan on having nice tidy spots inside the cabinet to hang extra control panels, a notebook with cheat sheets for how to use MGalaxy, monitor settings, and whatever else.

Yeah, I'll have a notebook with move lists for fighting games somewhere.  I'll be interested to see how you'll be able to fit control panels inside the cabinet.  I won't have nearly enough space.

[notbillcosby]

Oh, I didn't say I was far enough along to have any idea HOW i was going to store stuff in there It's all just a dream right now.

However, I got my geometry re-set last night and may have gotten it looking even better than before! Wrote down the values I changed, and saved them in the service menu.  Unplugged just to test, and all is well. Sweet! I'll tweak things a little more carefully tonight and then I should be "done" with this step. I use quotes because I'm sure this will be an ongoing battle now that I know I could possibly make it look a little better!

Anyway. Mission accomplished. Thanks!

[ita47]

I'm new to this and i got the same tv for my build. What kind of video card are you using and how are you connecting to you tv?  Did you find a service manual for these tv's online anywhere?

Thanks

[lilshawn]

SONY KV-20FS120 Chasis BA-6

[rCadeGaming]

Start reading here:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,121491.0.html

[ita47]

Thanks lilshawn, I really appreciate the link. I have been looking for that manual but hadn't found it.   

Start reading here:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,121491.0.html

RCadeGaming: I have read the newbie TV walk through but to be honest most of it was over my head. I would just like to hear what guys are using with these TVs. You know something like (The best setup I found was using xx video card connected through xx inputs running xx software.) I don't understand all the technical stuff of how it works. I need the dummies guide to using a Sony tv as an arcade monitor. 

Thanks Guys!

[notbillcosby]

That's the thing man... rCadeGaming has done a really great job of making it about as simple as he can. That Newbie TV Guide is about as 'for dummies' as its gonna get. I've spent the last couple of MONTHS getting it to work right and I'm finally there. If you just want to plug a TV into your computer, use the S-Video out from the video card and run it into the RCA ins on your TV. If you care about the way it looks, study that Newbie guide!!

[rCadeGaming]

Exactly.  Thank you.

Unfortunately, there is no way to get native resolutions working properly without thoroughly understanding that thread.  You just have to put in the work, there's no way around it.  Read through it slowly, and google anything you don't understand.

Also, half of it is learning by doing, and seeing how it works first hand; but you do need to know the theory behind it to completely know what you're looking at, and why things react to your changes the way they do.

It may seem like a lot at first, but it's doable.  I didn't know any of this stuff two years ago.  I figured things out through research and a lot of trial and error.  I was lucky to make friends with someone who's been the head engineer at a few tv stations to teach me the theory behind analog video.  I think I've passed on the necessary info that's required for this project in that thread.

As notbillcosby says, you can just use the common "TV out" s-video or composite if you just need it to work; but it won't be "proper" arcade graphics.

[notbillcosby]

Yup. That thread was started by me, because I asked some questions about doing it the simple way. Someone, probably rCadeGaming, pointed out that if I'm building a machine it'd be foolish to skimp on the video. I went into that Newbie Guide totally blind and made my way through it. My screen looks great now! Better in all the right ways when comparing to an old machine's monitor, or a TV pulling from the s-video out of the computer. That thread answers everything, as I think I asked every possible question along the way

[ita47]

Notbillcosby did the RCA VHDC300 transcoder work?

I see that rCadeGaming recommends the Crescendo transcoder but I can't spend that much on a transcoder right now. What about the Audio Authority 9a60 I saw mentioned in that thread too, has anyone used it? Any others I should look at or avoid?

[Dungeonsdeep]

Sorry for reviving a dead thread but it is relevant to my needs. I too have a KV-24FS120 and cannot get the settings to save after pulling the power.

The problem is that everyone mentions to hit MUTE and then ENTER to save, but my Sony brand remote made specifically for this TV has NO ENTER button!? Am I missing something?

Oh and for anyone curious, here is a link to the Service Manual.  http://www.manualslib.com/manual/683489/Sony-Trinitron-Kv-20fs120.html?page=16#manual

[lilshawn]

perhaps an "OK" button? maybe they've just renamed it on the remote (possibly a newer version)

I've seen remote controls where there is a pad on the circuit board for a button, but no button on the outside to press. perhaps the enter button is one of these blank buttons? find a picture of the remote and the location of the enter button...disassemble the remote and see if there is a pad on the circuit board for said button in that location.

if that's the case you may have to get creative with your remote to power it and get your settings all lined up and then use the silicone button membrane to push the button pad with one of the other buttons.

[Dungeonsdeep]

Here is a pic of the remote. Any idea? A "hidden" button sounds like a good idea to check out, but I feel like it might be far fetched.

[Dungeonsdeep]

I am an idiot. Lol. I see it now, next to the "0"

[lilshawn]

"ENT" it's next to the "0" button 

[Dungeonsdeep]

Yeah, I noticed that just before you replied. Funny how my eyes wouldn't let me see it in person, lol. Thank you!

[lilshawn]

yeah i was like "huh?" so i went back to the manual and checked out the pic of the remote and was like yeah that's the one alright.

by the time i typed up the post and hit submit you'd already found it 

meh, submit anyways