Combing the internet, I've found that seemingly *everybody* has had the same problem after just 1-3 years. It's been blamed on planned obsolescence (OK, crappy manufacturing techniques by low-paid labor).
The conclusions I've seen are:
1. It could very well be the remote. Buy a new RCA remote and see if that helps ($20-$30)
2. It could be the transformer or an eeprom on the motherboard needing to be replaced. It seems to be a $150 repair if you can find a TV repair place. Consensus there is to toss the beast out the window and buy new, likely you'll not plan on making the replacement an RCA...)
billymac, February 2010
