If the 'tubes' in my TV are gone, repair or replace?

Xenomorhic

I'm not positive but I suspect the tubes in my large, widescreen tv are going.. 2 days ago, after switch on there was a broad, vertical black line to the right of the screen which would go away after a while, and was on all channels including video, and when it was there I could not get teletext. Now we've progressed to no picture at all when I turn on, a buzzing noise, and when the picture finally swims into focus the vertical line is a permanent feature.

TV is 3 or 4 years old.

I really can't afford this right now! My car tax is due next month. My work colleagues have implied that this may not be worth fixing.

Is repairing going to be so expensive that it may be worth hoping for an interest free credit deal in January on a new telly instead?

Amba_Gambla

Go and ask in a TV repair shop... try and find one that just does repairs, and not sales (if possible - then they're not just trying to flog you a new TV)

When I took my TV in (portable, paid about £50/60 for it new) he told me he'll have a look, and if it'll cost more than £25 to repair, then it's not worth fixing....

Go and ask, you might as well, and if it's bust, say hello to more mse time!

Mutton_Geoff

There are no "tubes" in your TV (that was the old nickname for valves, last used in the 1950's). The only single tube in a regular TV is the cathode ray tube (or CRT). It's very unlikely to go causing the symptoms you mention. Most makes of TV often display common faults due to design problems or component failure. You should speak to a technician experienced with the particular brand so you are paying for his knowledge of exactly which part to change rather than a random TV guy (if they still exist) to swap parts at your expenses until it works again.

If your set is a budget brand, personally I would throw it away and buy nearly new from the local paper. There are plenty of people "upgrading" to flat screen technology at the moment and a second hand CRT TV sells for next to nothing.

gooismeid

in Levenshulme in Manchester, there's a big shop called "Repo TV" which sells secondhand and reconditioned ex-rental tellies, they also do repairs, but we've found that every TV we've bought from them has lasted way longer than we expected and it's worked out far cheaper than buying new. The last one we got cost about £90 for a 28", lasted well over 2 years and got donated to a student friend when we bought a new one. If you're not bothered about having a brand-new superduper TV then maybe you could see if there's a place near you that does the same kind of thing.

Xenomorhic

Thanks everyone, lots of options there!
I know nothing about tvs but the ladies at work said it sounded like the tubes..
Just got off the phone and a friend of my dads who actually got it working after my ex bust it is going to have another look at it tomorrow.
Everyone fingers crossed that miraculously it's a quick poke around and a 25 quid job, but knowing my luck it'll not be!