RCA HDLP50 User manual

rca.com/television
Changing Entertainment. Again.
Find Inside:
•The DLP Experience...page 1
•Connections.................page 7
•Remote.......................... page 27
•Features........................ page 37
•Menus............................page 47
•FAQs............................... page 62
•Troubleshooting......... page 63
HDTV User’s Guide

This symbol indicates
"dangerous voltage" inside
the product that presents
a risk of electric shock or
personal injury.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of fire
or electric shock, do not
expose this product to rain or
moisture. The apparatus shall
not be exposed to dripping or
splashing and no objects filled
with liquids, such as vases, shall
be placed on the apparatus.
Caution: To reduce the risk of electric shock, do
not remove cover (or back). With the exception of
the lamp, no user serviceable parts inside. Refer
servicing to qualified service personnel.
This symbol indicates
important instructions
accompanying the product.
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
Product Registration
Please fill out the product registration card (packed separately) and return it immediately. For U.S. customers: Your
RCA Consumer Electronics product may also be registered at www.rca.com/television. Returning the card allows us
to contact you if needed.
Product Information
Keep your sales receipt to obtain warranty parts and service and for proof of purchase. Attach it here and record
the serial and model numbers in case you need them. These numbers are located on the product.
Model No. ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Serial No ._______________________________________________________________________________________________
Purchase Date: __________________________________________________________________________________________
Dealer/Address/Phone: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Important Information
Refer to the identification/rating label located on the back panel of your product for its proper operating voltage.
FCC Regulations state that unauthorized changes or modifications to this equipment may void the user’s authority
to operate it.
Cable TV Installer: This reminder is provided to call your attention to Article 820-40 of the National Electrical
Code (Section 54 of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part 1) which provides guidelines for proper grounding and, in
particular, specifies that the cable ground shall be connected to the grounding system of the building as close to
the point of cable entry as practical.
Important: This television is a table model and is designed to sit on a firm, flat, surface. Don't place the TV on
soft carpeting or similar surface because the ventilation slots on the bottom of the unit will be blocked resulting in
reduced lifetime from overheating. To assure adequate ventilation for this product, maintain a spacing of 4 inches
from the top and sides of the TV receiver and 2 inches from the rear of the TV receiver and other surfaces.
Also, make sure the stand, cabinet, or base you use is of adequate size and strength to prevent the TV from being
accidentally tipped over, pushed off, or pulled off. This could cause personal injury and/or damage the TV. Refer to
the Important Safety Instructions packed separately.
This symbol indicates that the lamp in the HDTV contains mercury.
Special disposal of the lamp for environmental reasons may be
required under the laws applicable to your jurisdiction. For disposal
or recycling information, please contact your local authorities or the
Electronic Industries Alliance: www.eiae.org, or call 1-800-338-0376
for more details.

1
Introduction
Thank you for choosing RCA
Congratulations on purchasing this RCA High Definition Television (HDTV) featuring Texas Instruments
Digital Light Processing® technology–a true viewing experience. Your purchase decision represents an
investment in a new generation of technology–DLP and HDTV. Even though this is a technologically
advanced HDTV, it is the most user-friendly of its kind–with comprehensive on-screen instructions that
guide you through all of the TV’s features.
This introduction has three parts that describe why an RCA HDTV featuring DLP technology is an
excellent choice:
Part 1: DLP technology–brilliance in color and design
Part 2: Why RCA DLP HDTV is better
Part 3: Other Key Features of owning an RCA HDTV
Part 1: DLP technology–brilliance in color and design
RCA brings you pictures with DLP system–a brilliantly choreographed, engineering marvel that combines
microscopic mirrors, light, and color to bring you the best and brightest pictures possible.
How DLP Technology Works
In general, DLP technology combines microscopic mirrors, a specially
designed semiconductor, and a color wheel to adjust light to display the
most brilliant, accurate images! Your DLP HDTV doesn’t use Cathode
Ray Tubes (CRTs), which means you don’t have to worry about screen
burn (fixed video images burning onto the screen permanently) or
convergence (realigning the CRTs). The diagram on the left illustrates the
complex system.
Thin and Light
The efficiency of DLP technology enabled our design team to create a
high-performance HDTV that is about 16 inches thin and weighs less
than 100 pounds.
Lamp Replacement
DLP technology uses a special lamp. Eventually, you’ll need to replace this
lamp, which you can do yourself by following the instructions that come
packed with the new lamp. To order the correct lamp, you’ll need to know
your TV’s model number, serial number, and lamp type–this information
is listed on the Service Model Number sticker (example of the sticker is
shown on the left). Face the back of the TV. The sticker is located on the
left side of the TV. For future reference, write down the information in the
space provided at the left.
DMD
Projection Optics
Illumination Relay Optics
Lamp
Screen
Common Field Lens
Integrating Light Pipe
Color Wheel
DLP® is a trademark of Texas Instruments
Model No.____________________________________
Lamp Type___________________________________
Date_________________________________________
Service Model Number Numéro de Modéle-Service
SERIAL SERIE LAMP
HDLP50XXXXXX
000000000 X
EXAMPLE: Service Model Number sticker
with lamp type listed.

2
Introduction
Part 2: Why RCA HDTV is better
DLP technology is just part of the story. You have chosen to embark on the next generation of TV viewing–HDTV. There are many
technological advancements that make HDTV better than analog TV, but there are basically three things about HDTV that bring you a
superior viewing experience: (1) resolution, (2) aspect ratio, and (3) digital signal and sound.
Resolution (it’s math...that works for you)
The crisp, lifelike picture that people rave about when experiencing true HDTV is due to the resolution this technology provides. The
resolution is measured by calculating the number of pixels. A pixel (which stands for picture element) is a small dot. The picture you see on
your TV is composed of these dots.
A regular, analog television only has a resolution of about 200,000 pixels (480 vertical pixels x 440 horizontal pixels = 211,200 pixels). The
HDTV format is capable of more than 2 million pixels (1,920 x 1,080 = 2,073,600).
More pixels equal more detail. In summary, HDTV is capable of resolution that is up to almost 10 times the resolution of the picture on a
regular, analog TV!
Aspect Ratio
Aspect ratio is simply the width and height of the picture. Regular TVs use a 4 x 3
aspect ratio, which means the picture is a little wider than it is tall (a screen that is 20
inches wide is about 15 inches tall).
When the standards were being developed for television broadcasting in 1941 by the
NTSC (the National Television Standards Committee), it made sense to adopt the
4 x 3 aspect ratio the film industry was using at that time.
As TVs dropped in price and people prospered in the 1950s, the movie industry had
to find a way to get people out of their living rooms and back to the movie theatres.
That’s when they created the 16 x 9 aspect ratio (also called widescreen format). When
the standards for HDTV were being developed by the ATSC (Advanced Television
Standards Committee), the 16 x 9 aspect ratio was chosen as the format for HDTV.
This widescreen format makes sense because it’s much closer to the way we see. Our
field of vision is actually much wider than tall because of our peripheral vision. Not
only is it closer to the way we see, but the pictures are crisper and cleaner with more
detail in the close-up and panoramic views.
Feature Analog (NTSC) HD Digital (ATSC)
Total Scan Lines 525 1125
Effective Scan Lines 480 1080
Aspect Ratio 4 x 3 (Standard) 16 x 9 (Widescreen)
Max Resolution 720 x 480 1920 x 1080
Sound 2-ch Stereo 5.1 ch Surround
16 x 9 Aspect Ratio
4 x 3 Aspect Ratio

3
Introduction
Digital Signal and Sound
The analog television broadcast system that has been used in the United States for the past 50 years transmits signals as electronic waves.
These waves can suffer degradation as the signal travels to your home. Additionally, the analog waves are susceptible to interference from
planes passing overhead, weather, and household appliances.
Digital signals, in contrast to analog signals, can be reproduced precisely because the images are transmitted and received using the
computer language of 1s and 0s. Such precision yields a signal that is capable of displaying studio-quality picture and Dolby Digital 5.1
channel sound.
Part 3: Other Key Features of owning an RCA HDTV
There are other HDTV’s on the market–even some that use DLP technology. But your RCA HDTV has been designed with features that
will enhance your TV viewing experience, and features that provide flexibility to build on the digital revolution that is taking place. A
summary of your TV’s most unique features follows. Go to Chapter 3 for more details on these and additional features.
Integrated HDTV Tuner with Digital Cable Ready QAM
RCA was the first to offer an integrated tuner with its HDTVs, which means there is no need for another box to receive digital
programming. Now, we’ve gone one better–your HDTV’s tuner is digital cable ready, which means there is no need for a cable box to view
unscrambled digital cable programming. The CableCARD™ slot on your HDTV allows you to use a digital cable card to access digital
cable. The tuner is able to decode all formats of digital television broadcasts, and it can interpret unscrambled digital cable signals because it
includes QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation).
Note: A digital cable card may be necessary to view scrambled (encrypted) channels. Contact your cable provider for more information.
Go to page 10 for more information.
TruScan Digital Reality
The intelligent signal processing of TruScan Digital Reality recognizes incoming video signals and progressively converts them to achieve
optimum digital picture performance. It also recognizes when original film sources have been modified and can automatically convert the
analog frame rate back to its original format to bring out the detail–a process commonly referred to as reverse 3:2 pulldown.
User-friendly Features Help You Personalize Your TV
• You can customize your TV to fit your viewing taste and match the lighting where
you watch TV by using Personal Presets and/or the picture preset settings: Vibrant
(Day), Natural, Cinematic (Night), and Sports. You can adjust each input jack to a
different setting and the TV will automatically adjust the picture when you change
inputs.
• Help Text: The on-screen help text describes your TV’s features and explains how to
use them.
Picture Settings
Picture Preset Mode
Go Back
1
2
0
Screen Adjust
Advanced Picture
Screen Format
5
4
3
Press 5or 6to point to an option, then press OK to select it.
Press 3to return to the menu.
A change in this screen is applied to Input 3.
Vibrant (Day)
Natural
Cinematic (Night)
Sports
Personal
Contrast 65%
Color 70%
Tint 55%
Brightness 60%
Sharpness 55%
Auto Flesh Tone On
Color Temperature Cool
Video Noise Filter Frame Comb
Green Enhance On
Detail Enhance On
Contrast Enhance On
Main Menu4Picture Menu
CableCARD™ is a trademark of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc.
Help text

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5
Table of Contents
Introduction.......................................................................................................................1
Chapter 1: Connections & Setup
Things to Consider Before You Connect .........................................................................8
Protect Against Power Surges....................................................................................8
Protect Components from Overheating....................................................................8
Position Cables Properly to Avoid Audio Interference.............................................8
Use Indirect Light........................................................................................................8
FCC Statement ...........................................................................................................8
Get the Picture ..................................................................................................................9
Getting Cable Channels..............................................................................................9
Getting Digital Channels............................................................................................9
Using the CableCARD Slot........................................................................................10
Setting Up Digital Cable Television Service.............................................................10
Choose Your Connection................................................................................................11
Y Pb Pr (Component Video) Connection.................................................................12
Audio/Video Connection..........................................................................................14
HDMI Connection.....................................................................................................16
Advanced Audio Connection Information..............................................................18
Plug in the TV..................................................................................................................19
Put Batteries in the Remote...........................................................................................19
Turn on the TV.................................................................................................................19
Use the Remote Control to Complete the Assisted Setup...........................................19
Complete the Assisted Setup.........................................................................................19
Set the Menu Language...........................................................................................20
Complete the Channel Search .................................................................................20
Choose Setup Options..............................................................................................20
What to Expect................................................................................................................21
Watching TV..............................................................................................................21
Changing Channels...................................................................................................21
Next Steps .......................................................................................................................21
Explanation of Jacks.......................................................................................................22
The Front of Your TV.......................................................................................................25
Front/Side Input Jacks...............................................................................................25
Front Panel................................................................................................................25
Chapter 2: Using the Remote Control
The Buttons on the Remote Control..............................................................................28
Programming the Remote to Operate Other Devices..................................................30
Find Out If You Need to Program the Remote ......................................................30
Programming the Remote .......................................................................................30
How to Use the Remote After You’ve Programmed It.................................................31
Modes of Operation.................................................................................................32
Volume Punchthrough Feature......................................................................................32
Deleting ALL Volume Punchthrough Commands...................................................33
Using the INPUT Button..................................................................................................33
Remote Code List............................................................................................................33
Chapter 3: Using the TV’s Features
About the Channel Banner.............................................................................................38
Digital or Analog TV Channels.......................................................................................39

6
Table of Contents
Direct Tuning to a Channel......................................................................................39
Getting a Program Description................................................................................39
Parental Controls ............................................................................................................40
Lock/Unlock TV .........................................................................................................40
How V-Chip Works for the USA and Canada................................................................40
USA V-Chip TV Ratings.............................................................................................41
Canada V-Chip ..........................................................................................................41
Channel Lists ...................................................................................................................45
Auto Tuning Feature ......................................................................................................45
Future Downloadable Ratings ......................................................................................46
Chapter 4: Using the TV’s Menu System
Menus, On-screen Help, and Control Panels.................................................................48
Navigating the Menu System...................................................................................48
On-Screen Help.........................................................................................................48
Controls.....................................................................................................................48
Picture Menu...................................................................................................................50
Picture Preset Mode .................................................................................................50
Picture Settings.........................................................................................................50
Screen Format...........................................................................................................51
Advanced Picture Menu...........................................................................................51
Screen Adjust Menu .................................................................................................52
Audio Menu.....................................................................................................................53
Sound Preset Mode ..................................................................................................53
Sound Logic...............................................................................................................53
Balance......................................................................................................................53
Advanced Audio.......................................................................................................54
Channel Setup Menu......................................................................................................56
Channel Search.........................................................................................................56
Advanced Settings....................................................................................................56
Setup Options Menu.......................................................................................................57
Closed Captioning ....................................................................................................57
Quick Startup............................................................................................................57
Time Menu................................................................................................................59
Assisted Setup...........................................................................................................60
Menu Preferences.....................................................................................................60
Advanced Options....................................................................................................60
Chapter 5: Other Information
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)..............................................................................62
Troubleshooting..............................................................................................................63
Lamp Replacement Information ....................................................................................67
V-Chip Rating Explanations............................................................................................68
US V-Chip Rating System..........................................................................................68
Canadian V-Chip Rating System...............................................................................68
HDTV Specifications........................................................................................................................70
Limited Warranty............................................................................................................72
Care and Cleaning...........................................................................................................73
FCC Information..............................................................................................................73
Index................................................................................................................................74

Graphics contained within this publication are for representation only. 7
rca.com/television
Changing Entertainment. Again.
Chapter 1: Connections & Setup
Chapter Overview:
• Things to Consider Before You Connect
• Choose Your Signal
• Get the Picture
• Plug in the TV
• Put Batteries in the Remote
• Turn on the TV
• Use the Remote Control to Complete
the Assisted Setup
• Complete the Assisted Setup
• What To Expect
• Next Steps
• Explanation of Jacks
• The Front of Your TV

Connections & Setup
8 Chapter 1
Things to Consider Before You Connect
Protect Against Power Surges
• Connect all components before you plug any of their power cords into the wall outlet or power strip.
NEVER plug your TV into an outlet that is controlled by a wall switch.
• Turn off the TV and/or device(s) before you connect or disconnect any cables.
• Make sure all antennas and cables are properly grounded. Refer to the Important Safety Instructions
sheet packed with your TV.
Protect Components fromOverheating
• Don’t block ventilation holes on any of the components. Arrange the components so that air can
circulate freely.
• Don’t stack components.
• If you place components in a stand, make sure you allow adequate ventilation.
• If you connect an audio receiver or amplifier, place it on the top shelf so the heated air from it won’t flow
around other components.
Position Cables Properly to Avoid Audio Interference
Insert each cable firmly into the designated jack.
Use Indirect Light
Don’t place the TV where sunlight or room lighting will be directed toward the screen. Use soft or indirect
lighting.
FCC Statement
This digital television is capable of receiving analog basic, digital basic and digital premium cable television
programming by direct connection to a cable system providing such programming. A security card provided
by your cable operator is required to view encrypted digital programming. Certain advanced and interactive
digital cable services such as video-on-demand, a cable operator’s enhanced program guide and data-enhanced
television services may require the use of a set-top box. For more information, call your local cable operator.