PSxxC7000

The PSxxC7000 is Samsung's series 7 3D Plasma. It comes in 50, 58 or 63 inch sizes (PS50C7000, PS58C7000, and PS63C7000).

If you are thinking of buying this TV, downsides you need to be aware of are that the TV always makes a low buzzing sound while the screen is on, and it gets quite hot, and wastes lots of electricity (so make sure you are using 100% green electricity if you don't want to destroy the planet). If you stand close you can also see the pixels flashing, which is how all Plasma TVs work. Also 3D only works over HDMI cables or digital 3D broadcasts, not VGA, component, or AV cables. There is no S-VIDEO input. There is some ghosting in 3D high contrast scenes. Other than that, it's a good, cheap, 3D TV.

You can install SamyGO on this TV, but there are no games, emulators, web-browsers, or other applications written for this TV yet (as of February 2011). Installing the SamyGO extensions will let you watch movies on your PC's shared network drives though.

Firmware Versions

Do NOT upgrade to firmware 3006 or above yet, or you won't be able to hack your TV and install SamyGO the easy way.

There are several different firmware versions for this TV. You can check what firmware version you have from the menu:

• Turn the TV ON

• Press MENU on the remote control

• Go down to the (?) icon (Support) at the bottom of the list by pressing down on the remote a few times

• Press either right or enter on the remote to access the submenu

• Go down to the "Contact Samsung" option at the bottom of the submenu by pressing down on the remote a few times

• Press either right or enter on the remote to see the "Contact Samsung" screen

• Press down on the remote to view page 2/2 of the "Contact Samsung" screen

• Make a note of the "Model Code" and "Software Version"

• Optional: If you are curious and want to see a list of all the Open Source software used on your TV, press the red A button on your remote. You don't need to write any of that down. Just notice how your TV is basically a linux computer.

• Press EXIT

The Model should say PS50C7000, PS58C7000, or PS63C7000. If not, you are on the wrong Wiki page.

The Firmware should always be T-VALDEUC- followed by a version number. Any version up to 3005 should be OK for installing SamyGO. Versions 3006 and above disable the Internet@TV hack, and need to use the Hotel@USB hack instead.

The Service Menu

Before we hack our TV, we need to make sure we can fix it again if something goes wrong. For that, we need to change a setting in the service menu, and take photos of, or write down, some of the service menu options. This whole section is just to protect us if something goes wrong.

Warning! The Service Menu is dangerous, and can brick your TV. Be very careful about what you change. Some settings can't be undone easily.

Your TV has a secret service menu for TV technicians to fix your TV. To access this menu:

• Switch your TV OFF

• Press INFO on the remote

• Press MENU on the remote

• Press MUTE on the remote

• Turn your TV ON

You are now in the service menu. If you want to get out of the service menu, just turn your TV off.

You should take a picture of the information it displays, or if you don't have a camera, write it down, just in case.

On the right is some information about your TV, and on your left is a menu.

Warning: The only safe buttons on the remote control here are up, down, and RETURN. Pressing left or right will change settings.

We need to change a setting to enable the serial (aka COM or RS232) port on the back of the TV. Actually it's the VGA port, but in an emergency you will later be able to get or make a special adapter to convert it to a serial port.

• Press down on the remote to go to the "Control" menu.

• Press enter or right on the remote.

• In the Control menu, press down on the remote to go to the "Sub Option" menu.

• press enter or right on the remote.

• Take a photo of the "Sub Option" menu, or write down the settings if you don't have a camera.

• The first option on this menu is "RS-232 Jack". Press left twice on the remote to change it to "Debug" (instead of the default UART).

• Press RETURN on the remote

Another setting some SamyGO pages recommend is turning "Watchdog" off. The Watchdog is a feature that automatically restarts the TV's main exeDSP program whenever exeDSP is terminated or interfered with. I don't know whether it's good to change this setting or not, but I switched it off. You can always switch it back on again later.

• Press down on the remote to go to the second option "Watchdog"

• Press right twice on the remote to change it to "OFF"

• Press RETURN on the remote

Now we just need to take photos of a few more settings, just in case!

• Press RETURN on the remote to go back to the "Control" menu.

• Go down to the "SOUND" menu, press right, take a photo, press RETURN

• Go down to the "Config Option" menu, press right, take a photo, press RETURN

• Press RETURN on the remote to go back to the main menu.

• Go up to the "Option" menu, press right, take a photo, press RETURN

• Go down to the "SVC" menu, press right, take a photo, press RETURN

Leave the other menu options alone.

• Switch your TV OFF again.

When you turn your TV back on again, you will not be in the service menu any more.