Posted by Donald Lancon on 09/09/06 23:14

Bob replied to my question:

>> I just got an RCA model DRC247N DVD player, which is probably almost
>> identical to the DRC245N model. [...]
>> Now my problem: While fiddling around with the on-screen menu options, I
>> "accidentally" chose YUV progressive-scan video output instead of YUV
>> interlaced (another option is S-Video out, which I can use also). [...]
>> So, does anyone know:
>> 1. how to reset the player to its default video output setting; or
>> 2. the exact sequence of key presses needed to choose YUV interlaced as
>> the video output mode?
>
> Have you tried connecting the TV to the player using the S-video output
> instead of the component out ?

Thanks for the reply. That's the first thing I tried. But your
response got me to thinking: maybe I needed to power-up the machine with
the component video plugs _disconnected_ to make it switch to using the
S-Video (I had just plugged in the S-Video without disconnecting the
component video first). So I tried this and, nope, no picture. Then I
finally realized that the S-Video cord was going into a different input
on the TV! (I had just moved the "output" end from my 2nd VCR to the
DVD player!) D'oh!

So I switched the TV to the other input (Video-2) and for just a split
second I could see a barely legible, screwed up image of the on-screen
menu (OSD) before the TV gave up and went to blue again. Aha!

Not sure why it still wouldn't give me a proper picture, but by
repeatedly cycling back to the Video-2 input, I was able to navigate
through the menu options (barely) and change the video output setting.

So, in case anyone else has the same problem with an RCA DVD player
(most of which, I'm guessing, probably use the same OSD system)...

Q: The exact sequence of key presses needed to choose YUV interlaced as
the video output mode?
A: Set up > down > down > down > OK. Then repeatedly press "up" or
"down" to cycle through the video out options. The changes are made as
you cycle through the options; you don't need to press "OK" again.

And remember, if you do accidentally choose the wrong video setting,
don't panic! Just press the damn "up" or "down" button again and it
will go to the next output option! (I don't know why I wouldn't have
just done this when it first happened... but apparently I didn't.)

As for my first question, about resetting the machine to factory
defaults, I'm still waiting for RCA customer service to reply to my
e-mail about that.

Interestingly, all of this brings up the question: why was I able to see
the OSD in the first place using the component video connections and
component input on my TV if the "default" is to use S-Video? I don't
know, but I did notice that the colors on the image looked completely
screwed up (but otherwise clear) until I actually chose the
YUV-interlaced option. Weird.

Finally, I have two suggestions for the manufacturer (/doc writers)
which I'll post here even though they'll never see it:

1. The documentation doesn't actually explain the video output option at
all. It _shows_ the option in the illustration of that particular menu,
and it explains all the _other_ options, just not that one! This was
obviously an oversight.

2. The system really should have a "failsafe" mechanism for the video
output, seeing as how it's so crucial to operating the player. Like
most modern computer desktop systems, it should ask for verification
after a change in display mode is made, reverting back to the previous
mode if the user doesn't okay the change.

- dcljr

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