Zenith A32B84R, A27B41, A36B41W, A36B41D, A32B41D OPERATING GUIDE

machine numbers A27B41 A32B41 A32B84 A36B41

operating guide / warranty

Thanks for

choosing Zenith!

hookup directory

index

your on-screen menus

page

47

page

16

page

3

WARNING:

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence
of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a
risk of electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating
and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.

WARNING:

TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK HAZARDS, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS PRODUCT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

POWER CORD POLARIZATION:

CAUTION: To Prevent Electric Shock, Match wide blade of plug to wide slot, fully insert.
ATTENTION: Pour éviter les chocs électriques, introduire la lame la plus large de la fiche dans la borne

correspondante de la prise et pousser jusqu’au fond.

NOTE TO CABLE/TV INSTALLER:

This reminder is provided to call the cable TV system installer’s attention to Article 820-40 of the National Electric Code
(U.S.A.). The code 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 the cable entry as practical.

REGULATORY INFORMATION:

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15
of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the
equipment is operated in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this
equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning
the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the

receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

CAUTION:

Do not attempt to modify this product in any way without written authorization from Zenith Electronics Corporation.
Unauthorized modification could void the user’s authority to operate this product.

RECORD YOUR MODEL NUMBER
(Now, while you can see it)

The model and serial number of your new TV are located
on the back of the TV cabinet. For your future convenience,
we suggest that your record these numbers here:

MODEL NO.____________________________________
SERIAL NO.____________________________________

WARNING

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN

3374-O

INSTALLATION GETTING STARTED PAGE 3

This page will
direct you to
which page
to go to for
proper hook­up of your
Entertainment
Machine.

Hook-Up Directory

IMPORTANT!!

Use this page to decide where you need to begin your setup. First, find the line
below that best describes what you want to do, then go to that page number.
Note: Design and specifications are subject to change without prior notification.

Cable TV
wall jack

Cable box

In
Out

Cable TV
wall jack

Cable box

In
Out

If you are using an antenna and no other equipment, go to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4

If you have cable and no other equipment, go to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 5

If you are using an antenna and have a VCR, go to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 6

If you have cable and a VCR, go to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 7

Antenna only

Cable only

Antenna with VCR

Cable and VCR

Other

If you have a Super VHS VCR, a DVD Player, or Audio equipment, go to . . . . . . . . . . .pages 8-9

Hook up your Entertainment
Machine, see diagrams at right.

Remove the back of the remote
and put in two AAA batteries.

Plug in your TV. Do not plug it
into a switched outlet.

Go to page 10 to Auto Program
your Entertainment Machine.

3374-O

INSTALLATION STANDARDPAGE 4

Connect an

antenna

to your

Entertainment

Machine.

Hook Up Your Antenna to the TV

Mini glossary

75 OHM RF CABLE The wire that comes from an off-air antenna or cable service provider. Each end looks like a hex shaped nut with a wire

sticking through the middle, and it screws onto the threaded jack on the back of your TV.

300 TO 75 OHM ADAPTER A small device that connects a two-wire 300 ohm antenna to a 75 ohm RF jack. They are usually about an

inch long with two screws on one end and a round opening with a wire sticking out on the other end.

RF coaxial wire
(75ohm)

Antenna

TV back

TV back panel
(expanded view)

Antenna
/ Cable

TV back

Flat wire
(300 ohm)

Antenna

300/75 ohm
Adapter

TV back panel
(expanded view)

Antenna
/ Cable

If you have a 75 ohm RF cable,
then you don’t need any adapters!

Remember, when screwing RF
cables onto jacks, clockwise tight­ens, and counterclockwise loosens.

A 300 to 75 ohm adapter is not
included with your Zenith
Entertainment Machine.

back of
remote

1

2

3

4

Hook up your Entertainment
Machine, see diagrams at right.

Remove the back of the remote
and put in two AAA batteries.

Plug in your TV. Do not plug it
into a switched outlet.

Go to page 10 to Auto Program
your Entertainment Machine.

3374-O

INSTALLATION STANDARD PAGE 5

Connect
cable to your
Entertainment
Machine.

Mini glossary

CABLE SERVICE The wire that supplies all your cable TV (CATV) stations.

Hook Up Your Cable (CATV) to the TV

Cable TV
wall jack

Cable TV
wall jack

Cable box

In

Out

RF coaxial wire (75ohm)

RF coaxial wire (75ohm)

3 4

output

switch

TV back panel
(expanded view)

Antenna
/ Cable

TV back

TV back panel
(expanded view)

Antenna
/ Cable

TV back

If you’re using a cable box, leave your
TV on channel 3 or 4 and use your
cable box to change channels.

Remember, when screwing RF cables
onto jacks, clockwise tightens, and
counterclockwise loosens.

If you’re using a cable box, Auto­Program (page 10) might only find the
channel your cable service is on
(usually channel 3 or 4). Don’t worry,
that’s all you need!

back of
remote

1
2

3

4

Without Cable Box

With Cable Box

3374-O

INSTALLATION STANDARDPAGE 6

Connect your

off-air

antenna and

VCR to your

Entertainment

Machine.

Hook Up Antenna and VCR to the TV

TV back panel
(expanded view)

TV back

RF coaxial wire
(75ohm)
not included
with TV

In

Out

Audio

R-L Out

Video

Out

3 4

VCR back

VCR back AV panel

In

Out

3 4

VCR back

VCR back AV panel

Flat wire
(300 ohm)

Antenna

300/75 ohm
Adapter

Round wire (75ohm)

Antenna

output

switch

output

switch

A/V cables
not included
with TV

A/V cables

not included
with TV

TV back panel
(expanded view)

TV back

RF coaxial wire
(75ohm)
not included
with TV

Audio

R-L Out

Video

Out

back of

remote

Remember, when screwing
RF cables onto jacks, clockwise
tightens, and counterclockwise
loosens.

Use Video sources for better
picture and sound.

Without A/V cables, VCRs will not
play videocassettes in stereo
sound.

Hook up your Entertainment
Machine, see diagrams at right.

Remove the back of the remote
and put in two AAA batteries.

Plug in your TV. Do not plug it
into a switched outlet.

Go to page 10 to Auto Program
your Entertainment Machine.

1

2

3

4

(VCR with Round Antenna Wire)

(VCR with Flat Wire Antenna Adapter)

3374-O

INSTALLATION STANDARD PAGE 7

Connect
your VCR and
Cable to your
Entertainment
Machine.

Hook Up Your Cable (CATV) and VCR

Leave your VCR and your television
tuned to channel three and use
the cable box to change channels.

Remember, when screwing in RF
cables onto jacks, clockwise tight­ens, and counterclockwise loosens.

Use Video sources for better
picture and sound.

No A/V cables are included with
your Zenith Entertainment
Machine. Without A/V cables, VCRs
will not play videocassettes in
stereo sound.

TV back panel
(expanded view)

TV back

RF coaxial wire
(75ohm)
not included
with TV

TV back panel
(expanded view)

TV back

RF coaxial wire
(75ohm)
not included
with TV

Cable TV
wall jack

Cable TV
wall jack

Round wire (75ohm)

Round wire (75ohm)

Cable box

In

Out

In

Out

3 4

VCR back

VCR back AV panel

In

Out

3 4

VCR back

VCR back AV panel

A/V cables
not included
with TV

output
switch

output
switch

3 4

output
switch

A/V cables
not included
with TV

Audio

R-L Out

Video

Out

Audio

R-L Out

Video

Out

back of

remote

Hook up your Entertainment
Machine, see diagrams at right.

Remove the back of the remote
and put in two AAA batteries.

Plug in your TV. Do not plug it
into a switched outlet.

Go to page 10 to Auto Program
your Entertainment Machine.

1

2

3

4

With Cable Box

Without Cable Box

3375-O

INSTALLATION S-VHS VCR/DVD PLAYERPAGE 8

Connecting a

S-VHS VCR

or DVD Player

to your

Entertainment

Machine.

Super VHS VCR/DVD Player

3374-O

Locate the Ant In jack on the
back of your S-VHS VCR.
Connect the cable line coming
from your wall directly to
this jack.

Now locate the Out to TV
jack. Connect a cable from
the Out to TV jack to the
Antenna/Cable jack on
the back of your TV.

Find the audio and S-Video
jacks on the back of your
S-VHS VCR, and connect them
following the instructions pro­vided with your equipment.

1

2

3

Use Video sources for better
picture and sound.

To use with PIP: go to the
Source Menu (page 30) and
choose the jack you’ve connected
your S-VHS (S-VHS 1,-2) as the
Main or PIP source.

TV back

In

Out

3 4

Super VHS VCR

Back AV panel

Cables
not included
with TV

Audio

R-L Out

S-Video

Out

Attach to
cable wall jack,
cable box, or
antenna

Super VHS VCR

DVD* Player

Simply connect the S-Video/Audio out on
the DVD to the S-VHS 1, R-L Audio or
S-VHS 2, R-L Audio In on the TV.

DVD Player
Jacks

* Digital Video Disk Player

3375-O

INSTALLATION STEREO SYSTEM PAGE 9

Get the
best sound
possible
from your
Entertainment
Machine.

Audio Hook-ups

A/V cables

not included
with TV

TV back

R-L Audio

Input

Stereo

System

Locate the jacks marked
Variable Out. These are for the
stereo system. Connect the
stereo system’s cables, accord­ing to their color (red is the
right channel, white the left)
to these jacks.

1

These wires should be included
with your stereo system.

Before you begin plugging in your stereo sys­tem, it’s a good idea to put it in its
approximate place first. That way you know
how much wire you have or will need.

INSTALLATION AUTO PROGRAM

PAGE 10

3375-O

Mini glossary

AUTO PROGRAM Auto Program is how your Entertainment Machine finds all the channels available in your area and stores them in memory.

Use Auto

Program to

automatically

find and

store all of
the stations
available in

your area in

the TV’s

memory.

Auto Program

With the remote control in hand,
press the POWER key to turn on
your Entertainment Machine.

Press the MENU key so the Setup
menu appears.

Using the UP/DOWN arrows on
the remote control, select Auto
Program on your screen.

Press a RIGHT or LEFT arrow to
reach the Auto Program screen.

Using the UP/DOWN arrows,
choose either Cable TV or Off-Air
Antenna on your screen.
Note: The option that is blinking
and appears in white is selected.

Press a RIGHT or LEFT arrow to
begin Auto Program.

Press ENTER or QUIT to return to
TV viewing.

1

2

3

4
5

6

7

PRG

CABLE

VCR

AUX TV

ENTER

FLASHBK

CHANNEL

CHANNEL

123
456

7
0

89

MENU

REWIND

RECORD

PIP

PIP ch

FREEZ

PAUSE TIMER

PLAY

STOP

SURF

MUTE

POWER

VOLUME VOLUME

QUIT

CC

FFWD

TV/VCR

SOURCE

7

4/6

2

3/5

1

Note: Auto Program finds channels
being received by the TV Tuner. See
information on page 14 for using
the Cable Box or VCR Tuners.

To customize your channel
selection, see page 18.

OPERATION REMOTE KEY FUNCTIONS TV MODE

PAGE 11

3375-O

A quick list
of all the
keys on your
remote and
what they do.

TV Mode Remote Key Functions

PRG

POWER

CABLE

VCR

AUX TV

SURF

ENTER

FLASHBK MUTE

CHANNEL

CHANNEL

VOLUME VOLUME

123
456

7
0

89

MENU

REWIND FFWD

RECORD

QUIT

PIP

PIP ch

FREEZ

CC

TV/VCR
SOURCE

PAUSE TIMER

PLAY

STOP

PRG (PROGRAM)

Programs your remote to

operate other products.

See page 35.

FLASHBK (FLASHBACK)

Return to the

last channel viewed.

POWER

Turns TV On or Off.

CABLE/VCR/AUX/TV

Selects remote operating mode.

CHANNEL (UP/DOWN)

Flip through

available channels.

MUTE

Turns sound Off and On
while the picture remains.
Press once to quiet sound, press
again to mute, press again to
restore sound.

ENTER

Shows the Channel/Time

display. Press after channel

numbers for instant selection.

NUMBER KEY PAD

Selects channels directly and
enters numeric values for
some options

.

MENU

Displays on-screen

menus for TV mode. See page 16

UP/DOWN ARROWS

The Up/Down arrows select options.

remote control part number

MBR3458

(124-212-51)

TIMER

Displays the Sleep Timer

Menu. See “Timer Setup”

on page 24 for

more information.

VOLUME LEFT/RIGHT

Adjusts the sound levels on
your Entertainment Machine.

QUIT

Removes on-screen display from
view. If no display is on, switches
SEQ sound feature On and Off on
some TVs.

TV/VCR-SOURCE

Switches between watching TV
through your antenna/cable, or
through your VCR.

Keys dedicated to VCR
functions will still operate
your VCR while the remote
is in TV mode.

CC(CLOSED CAPTIONING)

Displays the closed caption menu.

LEFT/RIGHT ARROWS

The Left/Right arrows

adjust options.

LED INDICATOR LIGHT

Lights when keys are pressed.

PIP FEATURES

For PIP (Picture-in-Picture)

operation. See page 32

SURF

Activates custom channel select

mode on your

Entertainment Machine.

When Surf mode is active, CHANNEL

UP/DOWN keys “Surf” through the

channels you’ve selected.

MENU

POWER

VOLUME

CHANNEL

3375-O

OPERATION BUTTON FUNCTIONSPAGE 12

How to use

your front

control

panel to

operate

the menus.

Front Panel Diagram

ENTER ADJUST SELECT MENU VOLUME CHANNEL POWER

To access the Setup menu, press
the MENU button once; to get the
other menus, keep pressing the
MENU button.

Choose the function you wish to
change using the SELECT button.

The ADJUST buttons act as an
“adjustment” (Left/Right) func­tion.

Menus disappear after five seconds.
To get them back, push the MENU
button again.

If you’ve lost your remote, you can
get a new replacement by calling
1-800-255-6790 to purchase a
replacement.

1

2
3

Note: For model A27B41, when using the on­screen menus, the buttons on the front panel
correspond to the remote control buttons as
follows:

VOLUME = Adjust Left/Right
CHANNEL = Select Up/Down

Typical 10-Button TV Front Panel

Typical 6-Button TV Front Panel

1

32

3375-O

OPERATION TV FUNDAMENTALS PAGE 13

Introducing
you to the
basics of your
Entertainment
Machine

Basic Television Operation

The source button (TV/VCR/Source) on the remote switches between
Video input and Cable/Antenna input. The Time/Channel display will
read “Video” in place of a channel number if A/V inputs are selected as
the picture source.

Cable/Antenna Input: This setting allows you to change cable or
antenna channels and to view videocassettes on channel 3 (or 4)
in mono s o und.

Video Input: This setting allows stereo playback of videocassettes. The
television cannot change channels in the Video mode, but the VCR can.

To view the current input source, press ENTER on your remote.
The Time/Channel display should appear in the upper right
hand corner of the screen. If the display reads ‘Video,’ then the
source is an A/V input. If the display reads a channel number,
then the source is your Cable or Antenna.

Source

XDS Data Feature

Channel/Label or Video (Indicates Source)
Time
Audio Mode

PIP Channel & Label
(Note Shows Source of sound)

Ch 12-MTV

10:55

Stereo

PIP Ch 30-ABC

XDS = Extended Data Service

Some broadcasters are including on the signal they provide
additional information (data) about the program. This data (see
example) appears on your TV screen when you press ENTER; if
the channel has XDS.

Date
Channel/Time/Audio Display

(shown with PIP display, if PIP is on)
Title of Program

Length of Program (in hours and minutes)
Time Remaining (in hours and minutes)

Showing XDS Data

Select a channel. Press ENTER to display XDS data; if available.

XDS Channel Labels

XDS can provide a channel label automatically. For the pro­grams to display an XDS channel label, select the dashes
(- - - -) for that channel from the Channel ID option in the
Setup Menu.

Example of an XDS Data Display

Jan/30/98

Ch 25-MTV

7:55

Stereo

PIP Ch 30-ABC

NOVA

Length 00:44 Time Left 00:37

At this printing, XDS data is only being provided
by some public broadcasting stations; and as a
result, it is only available on some channels.

You must set the Clock in the Setup Menu
before the time will appear on the
Channel/Time Display or on the XDS display.

3374-O

PAGE 14

OPERATION TV FUNDAMENTALS

Basic Television Operation (cont’d)

Surfing

VOLUME VOLUME

CHANNEL UP/DOWN arrows: Use these arrows to change the channels.
Autoprogram will have found all channels available to you.

NUMBER Key Pad: To skip to any channel, enter the number of the
channel using the NUMBER key pad, then press ENTER.

FLASHBACK: To instantly return to the last channel viewed,
press FLASHBACK.

SURF: Switches between the primary channel selection and your cus­tomized surf channel selections. The surf mode icon will appear in the
lower right corner of the screen when you change channels. Press SURF
to turn surf On, press again to turn surf mode Off.

This is while the source is set to Antenna/Cable. For any other
source, such as a VCR, the Main Picture channel changing will
be controlled by that equipment.

Volume Right/Left: To adjust the volume level, use the volume
Right/Left arrows. To silence your TV instantly, press MUTE once to
soften the volume, press again to turn sound off. To get the sound
back, press MUTE again.

FLASHBK

CHANNEL

CHANNEL

ENTER

123
456
7089

SURF

Audio

Changing Channels

MUTE

Introducing

you to the

basics of your

Entertainment

Machine

Mini glossary

TUNER The television, VCR, or cable box that you choose to change channels with.

OPERATION TV FUNDAMENTALS

3374-O

PAGE 15

Basic Television Operation (cont’d)

Help on
combining
your
Entertainment
Machine
with more
equipment.

There are a number of ways you can choose to integrate your Entertainment Machine with the rest of your equip­ment. Channels can be changed using the television, the VCR, or the cable box, with advantages to each.

USING THE TELEVISION AS THE TUNER preserves all your channel labels (not available on some models). It also
reduces the number of keys on the remote control you need to worry about. (One device, one remote to learn.)

USING THE VCR AS THE TUNER has the advantage of simplifying the recording process. If the VCR is tuned to
channel seven, then the VCR will record channel seven.

USING THE CABLE BOX (if you have one) to change the stations sometimes has an advantage, too, especially if
your cable provider requires you to use their cable box to descramble their stations.

Setting Up a Tuner

1
2

3

4

5

Based on the advantages listed above, decide what
device you want to use as the tuner.

Connect the antenna or cable source to the input
of your tuner. (If you chose your television as the
tuner, then you’re done. Go watch your
Entertainment Machine.)

Connect the output of your tuner to the input of the
next device.

If you used A/V cables for step 3, set the “next
device” to Video input. If you used an RF coaxial
cable in step 3, then tune the “next device” to
match the output channel of your tuner (usually
channel 3 or 4).

Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you reach your
Entertainment Machine. Then enjoy!