I have a 32" Sony Trinitron purchased in December 2000 that has been a great tv.  Most recently the red standby light started blinking.  It has a specific series of blinks every three seconds or so.  The blinks do not stop even when the set is turned off, although I have not tried to unplug the power cord.  The set is connected to cox cable via a digital cable modem.  When the set is first turned on and the video appears it blanks out and comes back on alternately.  The frequency of the blanking starts out rapidly at first and as time goes by the interval between blanks gets longer and longer until after around 8 or 10 minutes the picture stabilizes.  The red standby light still blinks its sequence, however.  The sequence is 5 blinks, pause, 5 blinks......and so on.

I'm wondering if this can be repaired in the home and how much should be spent in light of the fact that this tv is 7+ years old.  If it's just a board change, it should be cheaper than if a technician having to actually take the tv out and replace a component on a board.  I have an electronic background but not in tv repair specifically and I'm wondering what the best course of action should be at this point.  The new tv costs are very high and so is shop labor, if a decent shop can be found.

Should I attempt trying to determine what is wrong and try and order parts?

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated...................Thanks, George