Hi, first read this thread about 2006, when after 12 months my 710 started to lock up. Came back tonight after my wife threatened to put the machine in the bin after persistent lockups.

Pleased to see potential solution frome sony customer dis-service dept. Have just turned off updates and rebooted. Not optimistic but worth a try.

I just wanted to add my name to the growing chorus of complaint.
It started locking up from new - then recently it has started to mess up the aerial - my Sony TV started to be unable to get anything other than BBC channels - No 3,4,5 or their sibings.
I phoned Sony and he basically avoided the whole issue and implied I should turn ON updates on the PVR. What rubbish!!
I am so P***ed off with Sony and disappinted. I have just purchased a Humax PVR as replacemement ( Which? Best Buy )

No lock ups in a week since switching off the auto updates. Berfore last week we were getting a couple per day.
Fingers crossed. (at least the wife's not going to put in the bin for the moment)

Just for the record, my kit is sony 710, sony freeview box, sony tv

Hi just got SKY and would like to know how to set my 910 to record from the sky box its not a +box, can anyone help me?
John G.
PS no lock ups for ages am i just lucky.

Connect a full wired SCART cable to the TV out socket on the SKY box and the other end to Line Input 3 on your 910 (do not use the VCR out SCART on the SKY box as this will not send RGB). Set the SKY box to send RGB (not PAL) and SCART Control to "On" (option 4,1). Set the 910 to accept RGB on Line Input 3 (in the set up menu).

If the 910 is connected to your TV with an HDMI cable, you will also need to connect another full wired SCART lead between Line 1 (on the 910) and your TV (to an RGB enabled SCART socket). This will allow you to watch SKY when the 910 is in standby (or, if the 910 is on, you can still watch SKY by pushing the TV/DVD button on the remote).

To record from SKY select Line Input 3 (selector button is under the slide down flap on the remote).
Last edited by Masteriser : 27-02-2008 at 20:52

Re: above post (# 905) I have just thought of one more thing. If you have a wide screen TV you should set the picture format on the SKY box to 16:9 (this is done on the same menu page as the RGB and SCART set-up) this may well have all been done by the SKY instaler, but not necessarily.

Also (this is probably unlikely but) if your 910 is connected by SCART (ie Not HDMI) then the 910 should also be set to 16:9.

I keep looking back at this forum expecting to find a new version of the firmware has been released

I've recently updated my TV and surround sound, and went the LG route, as I couldn't face another Sony extravagansa!

Don't use my 710 much anymore, as the LG has a digital tuner, and I'm not doing much recording as there's only rubbish on the box!

P.S. Had an email today, offering me a PVR for a ridiculous price. Kind of makes you wonder why we're all wasting our time with Sony anymore!
http://www.bigpockets.co.uk

If it's not on their front page, search by "Tevion/Tecsonic Twin Tuner PVR (Build your own PVR)"

Or you could just turn off updates in the set up menu and be lock up free (well almost, I have had one since the summer when I turned off mine (I would suggest that would compare favourably with any other PVR you care to name). These products are approaching their third birthday, updates are very unlikely now, especially arter the last debarcle. Trust me, turn off updates and your problems will be solved!


That's your choice, not sure there are many on here who would agree LG is a premium AV brand (I've got one of their American style fridges though, and I'm well pleased with that, bar the cost of replacement water filters).


Really, I still find there is quite a bit, but it is spread thinner these days.


Good luck with that, I think I'll stick with my 99% trouble free 910.

Haven't had a single lock-up for over a year now, the solution is to switch off the software update, if you haven't done this yet, do so,IT WORKS.

I have had a 710 since late 2005. Loved it from the start, occasional lock ups but nothing serious. From December/ January this year it was locking virtually every time we tried to use it. On the verge of binning it, found this forum and switched off the automatic updates as advised - just like magic, no lock ups since. Can't believe the difference it's made.

Just felt I should say thanks to everyone on here who has spent time gathering and posting information about this problem as it has been invaluable for me.

What seems to have been my problem was when ABC stopped broadcasting. The EOPG was still trying to loads its data but it had gone.

Performing the factory reset followed by re-scanning and setting the channels (plus turning off updates) and I've been problem free for many months now.

This is bullsh*t.

In the UK the Sale Of Goods Act gives you six years coverage. If the problems with your machine are not due to normal 'wear and tear' take up any repair costs with whoever sold you the machine (the Sales contract is with the retailer, not with Sony).

I recently got Apple Computer (retail) to fork up full replacement cost of a machine when it tanked a year out of guarantee by threatening them with the Sale Of Goods Act.

Since I took my 710 into a server ctr well over a year ago (they replaced some cable) I have only had about one lock-up. I also turned off the software update and make sure I put the machine into standby when not in use.

Will going to factory re set erase titles on hard drive/timer events?

I have never tried this, so I am not sure. If you are having problems, do a re-scan (deletes then re-saves all the FreeView channels). Doing this will not affect your timers or the stored programmes on the hard disk, and is good practise, as over time channels change or come and go and this does seem to confuse these units. Also, make sure you turn off software updates. You should then be trouble free.

I was one of the first to switch off Software Updates having referred to this forum, and sadly I do still get a lockup every couple of months or so.
It's a lot better, don't take me wrong. I was getting lockups at least twice weekly before

I've upgraded most of my kit to LG during the last year having been flooded, but unfortunately the 710 survived! Saying that, once LG release a HDD recorder with a digital tuner (can't believe they haven't already!), you'll see my 710 sitting on eBay!!!

I won't be buying Sony again for a long time!

Sorry to hear about you getting flooded out, shame your 710 didn't get damaged then.!

but as of yet, a year plus now without a single locky or a timer overun so it certainly has worked for me.

Have you tried rescanning all channels. This will remove any channels that have closed, the searching for listings of which seems to cause the EPG to crash given the wrong circumstances.

You might just be lock up free if you do this

Hi there

Can anybody help me with my 710!!!?

Haven't had any lockups for ages. Moved my 710 this pm whilst taking carpet up it is now unusable!!!

Remote does not work. Holding off button for 10 secs turns machine off (also took plug out for a while). When I switch power back on it comes up "Welcome" and then straight into " Power Off " - NO "Recovery" flashing.

When I turn it on it comes up as L1 or L3 and has the recording light on. It can also have " TV " in the display panel.

Can't do a thing with it - it's done this in the past but has usually clicked out of it but don't know what I did to make it work.

Anybody any ideas? Am not a techie so need reasonably easy to follow advice.

Many thanks in advance

I had this 'vicious circle' problem about a month ago.

The machine kept coming on as L1, and when I tried changing input select, it would lock up and go around again. By luck I tried (on about the 10th reboot) just pressing the number '1', lo and behold, BBC 1 came up and normality was restored.

After that, I disabled the auto updates (as has been stated on this site, people who have contacted Sony have had responses saying they will never update this machine anymore as its too old now) as there's no point. Since then its been behaving itself.

However like everyone else here I agree the 710 seems to have been a buggy disaster since day one!

Are the new machines offering 1080p upscalng any better??

All the best

Vince

Thanks for that Vince.

I have had auto updates turned off since the last software update fiasco - however I did download the latest version (04?) before people were aware of all the problems some people had with it. I have to say that I didn't seem to have any problems with the upgrade at the time. The machine has been behaving itself (apart from the odd glitch now and then) but I just can't trust the thing - if this has all happened just cos I moved the machine - it's a load of c**p. I've lost several recordings just cos I can't get into the system menu etc.

Like you I've had the L1 thing before where it was locked and have just messed about with it and I also found that if I pressed 1 when it was on L1 it seemed to click onto the correct digital sceen.

Anyway I've had it with this machine - 'fraid they won't sell me anymore Sony rubbish - top prices for machines that don't work.

I've just bought a Panasonic DMREX77EB off Amazon for £199 - nearly half the price of the 710 and to my non trained eye - it has most of the features of the Sony - enough for me anyway. Seems to have good reviews - but don't want to know if anybody on here knows otherwise

Hope everyone on here has better luck with their 710's than I have.

All the best

For the record, I've had my 710 about 18 months, and it has frozen only three or four times.

I keep it well ventilated, with spacers between the VCR below it and the surround amp above.

The Sony Centre in the Trafford Centre, Manchester are trying to flog a display model off as we speak.

I have to say after the nightmare of the Sony, I've been tempted to go over to a Panasonic...however do models like the DMREX77EB offer the 'recording in standby' option that the Sony does?

I find this very useful, as I have a Norwegian satellite box that goes THROUGH my Sony (should I want to record anything off of Satellite), and when the Sony records a program in 'standby' , as its not really "on", I'm still able to watch the feed from the Satellite box...Does the Panasonic behave the same way, or when it records does it actually come on?

Many thanks

Vince

I have not had a single lockup for over a year now. I have NOT switched off software updates. So, according to your logic, the solution is not necessary.

quote:- hardylane


Mine is/was well ventilated - nothing on top, underneath, at the side or at the back - still didn't work. I just think it's the units that are faulty probably through bad design - you either get a good one or a bad one - i.e. one that has intermittant faults and then packs in.

Why would some units be OK even with the last so called "faulty" software download and some not? As per "dipper" 's post some machines still work with their auto software update turned on.

Vinceds writes....


Hi Vince

Don't have satellite so not really up on this however - from my Panasonic manual :-

<<Linked Timer Recordings with External Equipment - press Ext Link button - unit turns off and EXT-L lights on display to indicate timer recording standby activated. While unit is in EXT LINK standby mode or recording most operations on this unit are prohibited. When you operate press EXT-L to cancel EXT LINK standby mode or recording>>

So maybe you won't get what you need from this machine - perhaps ask the question on the Panasonic board - there'll be a lot more knowledgeable folk on there than me <grin>

The only thing I've found so far that isn't on the Panasonic is that when using the timer etc the channel you're watching cuts out and you get a silent screen - but this is no big deal for me. Another thing I like on the Panasonic is that when you record from the EPG it also brings up an automatic box showing you the timer settings and it's dead easy to extend the set times so that you don't miss the end of the programme if it's running late. You have to go into the TIMER setting to do this on the Sony.

Still getting used to the Panasonic as only got it yesterday - really liked how the Sony worked - when it did work - but no matter how many good features not much good if it locks up all the time.

All the best