Hacking the LG 55LW5700 TV

I bought this TV from Costco after debating between the two models.    This post is about how to turn on some hidden features.

LG 55" Class (54.6" Diag.) 1080p 120Hz LED-LCD HDTV 55LW5700

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11646075

Just a little philosophy first...

I like to buy TV's from Costco because they extend the warranty a year and will take it back without arguing if something is wrong.  I had a friend order mail order and the TV was delivered broken THREE times!  Screen was cracked and other horrors.  Each time he had to wait a week for the service guys to come and take it away.  A month long ordeal.  Not for me!  Buy TV's local.

Costco has the 55LW5700.   The 55LW5600 and 55LW5700 are not exactly the same.  The 55LW5600 is the TV you find everywhere else.   The cabinet is slightly different but the motherboard is the same, just different features are turned on.   All this should be true for the 47LW5700 and 47LW5600 too.

Link to the 55LW5600 that is sold by everybody else but Costco.
http://amzn.to/1Oe3V3j

The 5700 is missing a few features vs the 5600. No magic remote is included, but the Wifi adapter is! However you can just download an app to your phone to replace the magic remote.  And from what I hear it doesn't work so well anyway.

Apparently you can use the service menu to turn on other features and make the 5700 into a 5600.  It requires a universal remote according to these posts.

This has been covered a lot in other forums, but since this forum is for me to find what I want, here are the two best posts I found.

http://slickdeals.net/f/3703172-LG-55LW5700-1199-at-Costco-B-M

Configure your 55lw5700 into a 55lw5600 and turn on local dimming to match contrast. Add THX, Thumbnails and DVR capabiliity.
Borrowed from another thread. Program your remote to open the LG service menu:http openlgtv.org.ru/wiki/index.php/Access_hidden_service_menus_/_modes
Enter the PasswordPassword = 0413 or 0000 (use the original remote to navigate and enter values)
Option 1 goto> tool >change to lw56. 
This will fool the set into thinking it is now an LW5600, Next:
Option2 goto> localdim menu =1 (This turns on the menu item)
Finally:
Option4 local dimming =1
For saftey and not to corrupt the firmware, after any change exit the menu (simply click the button you programmed to access the menu to bring you back out) wait 10 seconds, power off the TV and wait 20seconds then power the TV back on...you have now basically turned the 5700 into the higher end 5600...cool eh?
Here some other very cool tweaks you can turn on:
Option3 thx & isf setting=1 (Adds the THX & ISF video mode like higher end models have. Not available on DLNA/MediaLink)
Option 5 Channel Browser Set to 1 to enable preview thumbnail grid of all channels, it may not work on US cable, noticed when enabled Korean words show up in the menu?
option5 or option 6 (depending on your specfic model) 3d thx=1
DO NOT SELECT THX MEDIA DIRECTOR ON ANY LCD TV IT CAN DESTABILIZE YOUR TV IT'S USED ON PDP.I WOULD NOT LEAVE IT ON IF YOU'VE DONE SO.
DVR: 
This TV has build in DVR functionality...all you have to do is supply the external USB drive. Basic instructions:
As always to get the really cool stuff "EZ Adjust menu"
Option 3 goto> DVR Ready Set to 1 (this enables Time Machine for dvr like functions on USB just need an external usb drive (not a stick) on usb port 1 
Plug in the drive...if it asks you if you want to use it, say no.Then go to the home screen, with 2 right arrow clicks you get into screen with time machine app, 
Enter in it and in it it shows new screen with prompt to start initialize process, you say OK and it formats drive - after that it becomes active but in that screen there is no scheduler/recorder - confusing. 

Go into regular program view mode, press quick menu and in the bottom line it should show time machine app box - and when you enter it it will open up recording option, scheduler, etc. Under inputs you now will see your USB and clicking it will show time machine screen and you can play those recordings.

5700 doesn't have Local Dimming but it can be turned on via the Service Menu. You need either a Harmony remote or the universal RCA RCR3273 ( $5.05 from Amazon and also available at Wally ) to enable this and other features like THX mode ! 

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1384595

Start by getting an RCA universal remote model no. RCR312WR. I got it from Walmart for $8 dollars. Then you have to hold the "tv" button while you type in this code = 11265. After that I pressed the "Guide"button and a pop up appears asking for a 4-digit passcode. That passcode is = 0413. And now the service menu will appear on the left side of the tv with a bunch of numbers and options. Now which options and settings that are safe I do not know. I do know which ones are to turn the Local dimming on and to turn on all the THX picture settings. Here goes, Option 1 goto>tool>change to lw56. This will fool the set into thinking it is now an LW5600. Next, Option 2 goto>localdim menu=1 (This turns on the menu item).Finally, Option 4 local dimming = 1. This is to turn on the local dimming, basically changing the lw5700 into a lw5600. To turn on the THX settings = Option 3 THX = 1. Go to Option 6 3d THX = 1. Now you have turned on the THX settings. For safety and not to corrupt the firmware, after any change exit the menu, wait 10 seconds or so, power off the TV and wait 20 to 30 seconds then power the TV back on. This should change your set in the lw5600 and added the THX options.

Found the remotes on ebay for a few bucks.  Walmart didn't have the models mentioned above anymore, although I'd bet that the ones they have would have worked.  But I hate going to walmart.  I got the RCR312W from ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RCA-SAT-CBL-TV-VCR-DVD-3-FUNCTIONS-REMOTE-CONTROL-RCR312W-CODES-INCLUDED-/230740748359?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35b9386847#ht_7018wt_1225

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RCA-RCR3273-3-Device-Universal-Remote-Control-/290661216003?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43acc22f03#ht_5430wt_1225

The remote came in the mail.   Made a slight mistake.  I bought a RCA312W not a RCA312WR.  Hopefully it makes no difference.  (from future self ... it DOES make a difference)

The section in yellow was me flailing to figure out why it wouldn't work, you can skip this part unless it helps you figure out the same thing.

The instructions in the second post above didn't work as written.

• "Then you have to hold the "tv" button while you type in this code = 11265" 

• Didn't work.  TV does not respond and the light on the remote turns off after 4 digits.

Found a site with the codes for the remote, RCA312W.   http://rcaaudiovideo.com/remotecodefinder/?sku=RCR312W&productType=TV
And the 5 digit code RCA tells you 11265 is on the list...

LG	11423, 10017, 11265, 10178, 10856, 11178

I even watched the stupid video, and it say 5 digits.  The remote is clearly only accepting 4 digit codes.
A set of instructions is herehttp://audiovox2.info/docs/common/RCR312WR/RCR312WR_OM.pdf
Doing a code search the remote picked 1004, which is the correct code to control the TV.  But no service menu.
Frustration abounds.

Went back here, it gives the same instructions.http://openlgtv.org.ru/wiki/index.php/Access_hidden_service_menus_/_modesRCA remotesThis is for the following models: RCR3273N, RCR3283N, RCR412SN, RCR412BN, RCR4383N, RCR4258N, RCR4358N, RCR4373N, RCR4383N, RCR461, RCR612N, RCR473N, RCR812N, RCR815N and will probably enable ez_adjust menu only.Procedure

1. enter setup code 11265,

1. hit the GUIDE button

I could program my Arduino to generate the IR codes, but I've already spend more time on this than I wanted.  I'll throw that on my project list for the Arduino fans out there to do later.  I already have an Arduino IR remote control box I built for activating the sleep timer.
Based on the instructions, it seems the first "1" means TV.  2 and 3 are VCR and DVD, and 5 is for sat boxes.   I tried leaving off the first 1.  The remote accepted 1265 and will control the LG TV.  But the menu key doesn't bring up the password box.  None of the keys do!  It doesn't work.
Back to this thread to read the posts againhttp://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1384595
Found a video.  Hate video but watched it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE2baLOcCKk&feature=youtu.behttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2G1gw2FtJs&feature=relatedI have to figure out what the "magic button" is for this remote.  There is no P, S or guide buttons.

Looked hard at my remote versus the one I meant to buy.   Whaaa!!!  The only difference is that the W has no guide button.  Curses.  It has a "Go Back" button where the "Guide" should be!  The go back button doesn't open the service menu.
http://rcaaudiovideo.com/search/?sku=RCR312WR
http://rcaaudiovideo.com/search/?sku=RCR312W

My RCR312W:  Note to the upper left of the direction pad, a "go back" button, not a "guide" button.   Doh!

Now I have to buy another remote.  I guess another universal remote around the house won't go to waste.

Went back to ebay and bought a new RCR312WR instead.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?VISuperSize&item=110820926194

And back to waiting for it to come.

My new RCR312WR.  See the Guide button.

Put in the 5 digit code 11265 on this one.  Hold the TV button and type it in.  It took the 5 digit code this time.  I'm on my way.

Went to the TV and pressed the guide button.   Finally!

Press guide and the code box pops up.   Type 0413

Service menu appears.    Pretty cryptic.  You can navigate with the universal remote or  the LG one

In the Tool Option 1, change the TV to a 55LW5600 by changing LW57 to LW56

Turn on the local dimming to improve contrast like the 5600

This is for the THX video setting to be enabled

Picture modes before enabling THX

Picture mode menu AFTER enabling the THX settings.  See the new options?

So in the end this is easy, it takes a $10 remote control (buy the correct one) and the 0413 password.  Done.  Enjoy!