RCA Scenium M50WH187 User manual

rca.com/television
Changing Entertainment. Again.
Find Inside:
•The DLP Experience... page 1
•Connections................. page 5
•Remote.......................... page 19
•Features ........................ page 29
•Menus............................ page 37
•FAQs............................... page 49
•Troubleshooting......... page 50
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 Denition 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. There are
three main things about HDTV that bring you a superior viewing experience: (1) resolution, (2)
aspect ratio, and (3) digital signal and sound.
Resolution
The crisp, lifelike picture that people rave about when experiencing true HDTV is due to the
resolution this technology provides. 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).
As TVs dropped in price and people prospered in the 1950s, the movie industry
created the 16 x 9 aspect ratio (also called widescreen format) to get people
back to seeing movies. 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 is much closer to the way we see and the pictures are
crisper and cleaner with more detail in the close-up and panoramic views.
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. 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.
DLP® is a trademark of Texas Instruments
16 x 9 Aspect Ratio
4 x 3 Aspect Ratio

2
Introduction
Other Key Features of Owning an RCA HDTV
RCA HDTV has been designed with features that will enhance your TV viewing experience, and
features that provide exibility 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 rst 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.
User-friendly Features Help You Personalize Your TV
• You can customize your TV to t 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
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.
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.

3
Table of Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................... 1
Chapter 1: Connections & Setup
Things to Consider Before You Connect ......................................................................... 5
Protect Against Power Surges.................................................................................... 5
Protect Components from Overheating.................................................................... 5
Position Cables Properly to Avoid Audio Interference............................................. 5
Use Indirect Light........................................................................................................ 5
FCC Statement ........................................................................................................... 5
Get the Picture .................................................................................................................. 6
Getting Cable Channels.............................................................................................. 6
Getting Digital Channels............................................................................................6
Using the CableCARD Slot.......................................................................................... 7
Setting Up Digital Cable Television Service............................................................... 7
Choose Your Connection .................................................................................................. 8
Y Pb Pr (Component Video) Connection...................................................................9
Audio/Video Connection.......................................................................................... 10
HDMI Connection ..................................................................................................... 11
Advanced Audio Connection Information..............................................................12
Setting Up Your TV ......................................................................................................... 13
Remote Control Buttons Used for the Assisted Setup ................................................. 13
Complete the Assisted Setup ................................................................................... 13
Set the Menu Language...........................................................................................14
Complete the Channel Search .................................................................................14
Choose Setup Options .............................................................................................. 14
What to Expect................................................................................................................ 15
Watching TV.............................................................................................................. 15
Changing Channels................................................................................................... 15
Next Steps ....................................................................................................................... 15
Explanation of Jacks .......................................................................................................16
The Front of Your TV....................................................................................................... 18
Front/Side Input Jacks............................................................................................... 18
Front Panel................................................................................................................ 18
Chapter 2: Using the Remote Control
The Buttons on the Remote Control.............................................................................. 19
Programming the Remote to Operate Other Devices .................................................. 21
Find Out If You Need to Program the Remote ...................................................... 21
Programming the Remote .......................................................................................21
How to Use the Remote After You’ve Programmed It................................................. 22
Modes of Operation ................................................................................................. 23
Volume Punchthrough Feature ......................................................................................23
Deleting ALL Volume Punchthrough Commands ...................................................24
Using the INPUT Button.................................................................................................. 24
Remote Code List ............................................................................................................24
Chapter 3: Using the TV’s Features
About the Channel Banner............................................................................................. 29
Digital or Analog TV Channels.......................................................................................30
Direct Tuning to a Channel ...................................................................................... 30
Getting a Program Description................................................................................30

4
Table of Contents
Parental Controls ............................................................................................................ 31
Lock/Unlock TV ......................................................................................................... 31
How V-Chip Works for the USA and Canada ................................................................ 31
USA V-Chip TV Ratings ............................................................................................. 32
Canada V-Chip .......................................................................................................... 34
Channel Lists ................................................................................................................... 35
Auto Tuning Feature ...................................................................................................... 35
Future Downloadable Ratings ...................................................................................... 36
Chapter 4: Using the TV’s Menu System
Menus, On-screen Help, and Control Panels................................................................. 38
Navigating the Menu System................................................................................... 38
On-Screen Help ......................................................................................................... 38
Controls ..................................................................................................................... 38
Picture Menu ................................................................................................................... 40
Picture Preset Mode .................................................................................................40
Picture Settings ......................................................................................................... 40
Screen Format ........................................................................................................... 41
Advanced Picture Menu ........................................................................................... 41
Screen Adjust Menu .................................................................................................42
Audio Menu..................................................................................................................... 43
Sound Preset Mode ..................................................................................................43
Sound Logic............................................................................................................... 43
Balance ...................................................................................................................... 43
Advanced Audio ....................................................................................................... 43
Channel Setup Menu ......................................................................................................45
Channel Search ......................................................................................................... 46
Advanced Settings .................................................................................................... 46
Setup Options Menu....................................................................................................... 47
Closed Captioning .................................................................................................... 47
Quick Startup ............................................................................................................ 47
Time Menu ................................................................................................................ 49
Assisted Setup ........................................................................................................... 49
Menu Preferences..................................................................................................... 49
Advanced Options .................................................................................................... 49
Chapter 5: Other Information
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) .............................................................................. 50
Troubleshooting.............................................................................................................. 51
Lamp Replacement Information .................................................................................... 55
HDTV Specifications........................................................................................................ 56
Limited Warranty ............................................................................................................ 57
Care and Cleaning...........................................................................................................58
FCC Information .............................................................................................................. 58

Graphics contained within this publication are for representation only. 5
Chapter 1: Connections & Setup
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 from Overheating
• 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 amplier, place it on the top shelf so the heated air from
it won’t ow around other components.
Position Cables Properly to Avoid Audio Interference
Insert each cable rmly 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.

Connections & Setup
6 Chapter 1
SVGA INPUT
AUDIO VGA/SVGA/XGA
WIRED
REMOTE
CONTROL
(IR)
INPUT 2
COMPOSITE
VIDEO
L
R
INPUT 1
COMPONENT/COMPOSITE
Y/VIDEO
PB
PR
L
R
S-VIDEO
L
R
DIGITAL
AUDIO
OUTPUT
VIDEO
L
R
Y/VIDEO
PB
PR
L
R
S-VIDEO
INPUT 3
COMPONENT/COMPOSITE
INPUT 4
COMPOSITE
FIXED/VARIABLE
AUDIO OUTPUT
HDMI 1 INPUT HDMI 2 INPUT For Factory
use only
CABLE
INPUT
ANTENNA
INPUT
Get the Picture
The rst part of connecting your TV is to get the picture, also known as a signal. The back
panel of your TV allows you to receive cable channels by using the CABLE INPUT; receive local
off-air digital and analog channels by using the ANTENNA INPUT; and a digital cable by using
the CableCARD slot (with CABLE INPUT). See below for these locations.
Coaxial cable
CableCARD Slot CABLE INPUT ANTENNA INPUT
Getting Cable Channels
Connect a coaxial cable from the cable TV wall outlet to the CABLE INPUT on the back of the TV to
receive cable channels.
What You Need
Coaxial cable
What You Need To Know
• When you get to the Channel Search screen in the Assisted Setup, place a check mark in the box
next to Cable Input. To complete a channel search now, go to page 14.
• When you are ready to watch channels, make sure you are tuned to the Cable Input. Press the
ANT•CABLE button to tune to the Cable Input. Look for Cable Input to appear on the channel
banner. Go to page 15 for more information.
Getting Digital Channels
Connect a coaxial cable from an off-air antenna to the ANTENNA INPUT to receive free local off-air
digital and analog channels.
What You Need
Indoor or outdoor antenna
What you Need to Know
• Visit www.antennaweb.org to get help deciding what type of antenna to use to receive the local
digital channels available to you. By entering where you live, this mapping program tells you what
local analog and digital stations are available using a certain antenna. Once you determine what
type of antenna you need, go to rca.com.
• When you get to the Channel Search screen in the Assisted Setup, place a check mark in the box
next to Antenna Input. To complete a channel search now, go to page 14.
• When you are ready to watch channels, make sure you are tuned to the Antenna Input. Press
the ANT•CABLE button to tune to the Antenna Input. Look for Antenna Input to appear on the
channel banner. Go to page 15 for more information.
Outdoor antenna
Indoor antenna
Note: This back panel graphic is for
representation only. Your back panel
might be different.

Connections & Setup
Chapter 1 7
Using the CableCARD Slot
The CableCARD slot (with CABLE INPUT) allows you to use a digital cable card to receive digital
cable services, including premium and HDTV cable channels, without the need for a set-top box.
Please contact your local cable company to obtain a digital cable card. Depending on your cable
company, an installer might come to your home to install the digital cable card for you, or they’ll
simply send you the digital cable card.
Important Note: CableCARD service details, availability, restrictions, and pricing are
determined by your cable company.
When you receive the digital cable card, make sure you connect your coaxial cable to the CABLE
INPUT jack. Then, turn on your TV. Insert the digital cable card into the slot on the back of the
TV labeled CableCARD. Push rmly on the card until almost the entire card is inserted. Wait
to receive information on-screen regarding your digital cable television services. See below for
information on setting up digital cable television services for your TV.
Digital Cable
Card
What You Need
• Coaxial cable
• Digital cable service subscription
• Digital cable card
What You Need to Know
• The coaxial cable from your cable outlet needs to be connected to the CABLE INPUT jack so the
digital cable card can get a signal and receive channel information.
• Once the digital cable card is authorized for a particular TV, the card can’t be used with any other
TV, unless it is re-authorized to it.
• You won’t receive digital cable channels if you connect your cable to the ANTENNA INPUT. Make
sure you connect your cable to the CABLE INPUT.
• Once inserted, it is not recommended you remove the digital cable card. In the case it needs to
be removed, grasp rmly, and pull the card straight out.
Setting Up Digital Cable Television Service
Once you have completed the directions for using the CableCARD slot (explained above), you
are ready to receive digital cable channels. Wait approximately 30 seconds for the status screen to
appear. Write down the information you see and call your cable company to provide them with the
information on-screen.
If you experience problems with your digital cable after your digital cable card is set up, try resetting
your card. Go to page 46 for more information. If problems persist, contact your cable company.
Notes: If your information screen disappears before you have a chance to write down the
information, press MENU on the remote to access the menu system. Then press 9, 9, 9, and
the information screen appears. Go to page 46 for more information on the CableCARD Tools
menu.
You can’t order video-on-demand through your digital cable card.
Coaxial cable

Connections & Setup
8 Chapter 1
Jacks Used Cables Needed Go to...
Component video page 9
page 10
Audio/Video
S-Video
pages 11-12
HDMI
OR
HDMI
Y Pb Pr
Audio R and L
Video
Audio R and L
HDMI 1 INPUT HDMI 2 INPUT
HDMI™
INPUT 1
COMPONENT/COMPOSITE
Y/VIDEO
PB
PR
L
R
INPUT 2
COMPOSITE
VIDEO
L
R
S-VIDEO
HDMI, the HDMI logo, and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.
HDMI/DVI™
adapter
Audio
Audio
Choose Your Connection
There are several ways to connect your HDTV, depending on the components you want to connect and the quality of the
signal you want to achieve. The HDMI and component jacks are considered excellent; S-Video is very good; composite jacks
are good, while connecting components to the Antenna or Cable input is fair.
Please use the following chart to determine which connection is best for you. Proceed to the appropriate page and connect
your TV.
Connecting an optional audio receiver:
After you connect your TV (choose an option above), go to page 12 for general information
about connecting an audio/video receiver.