[clancol]

is the firmware, up and running for this unit yet and how long is the sony turnaround for having the upgrade done.
D

[paul1672]

it's definately up and running as a member of these forums had his done.
turnaround time is another matter.
my pj was away for 3 months awaiting a repair and the firmware upgrade....
the repair was completed within a month,it then sat on sony service centres shelf for 2 months awaiting the upgrade....
when i got it back the upgrade was still not done...
to say i wasn't impressed is an understatement.
its since been sent back after numerous calls to service centre and i'm awaiting its return.
on a side note,when i received it back i had another problem,the fan noise in low lamp mode was considerably louder...
only slightly quieter than in high lamp mode.
and when i told service centre the reply i got was they were aware of the problem.....
anyway,good luck,i'm sure i've just been terribly unfortunate.
paul

[kgulls]

Be prepared to wait at least 5-6 weeks as that seems to be about the average time for Sony to get around to this job.

[PJTX100]

It is disgraceful that Sony deem this sort of service acceptable. They should at least be offering some sort of compensation for the inconvenience eg extended warranty, voucher for money off next Sony purchase etc. They've cocked this up good style and are even making the FIA look organised...PJ

[Comer]

It's a great projector, pitty it has a Sony badge on it though

[Blindman]

My upgrade took 2 weeks - and 720p looks great!

[windfall]

Hi Chaps

How did you go about getting your HS50's back to Sony for this firmware change? Was it direct or via the retail shop you purchased it through?

Thanks - Blindman - you need to spill the beans on how you managed a 2 week turnaround! Thanks

Tone

[paul1672]

well,mine was originally returned via my retailer but because of all the problems i'm experiencing i'm now dealing direct with sony service centre and they actually picked the machine up from my home.....
even that was a joke though,sat in all day only for no-one to turn up until the following day....
total shambles....
paul

[Blindman]

Well, I think I was lucky with the timing. I rang my dealer to arrange the upgrade, and by chance, it was the day Sony started doing the upgrades direct, so I got their direct phone no. They picked up the PJ direct the next day, as arranged. I think that because they had only got the fix up and running literally that week they didn't have much of a backlog. However I also rang the poor guys frequently to check progress, so that may have helped. The only problem I had was that when they returned the PJ, the left it in the Wendy house because I wasn't in , but this was the couriers fault, not Sonys. Hope this helps!

[paul1672]

well,imho sony are now the worst company i've ever dealt with......
i've just got off the phone to the service centre and after 3 weeks (it's already spent 12 weeks with them for a previous repair) i'm no nearer to getting my pj returned.
it went in for the firmware upgrade (for a second time,wasn't done the first time) and also a loudness issue in low lamp mode and after 3 weeks i've now found out they did a complete software upgrade yesterday and then realised the machine now has a yellow line on the bottom of the screen and it has a prism block failure (whatever that is).
so,now i have to wait for the part to come into stock and have them repair that.
in a total of 7 months ownership i've had use of the machine for 3 months and i could be waiting a further god knows how long until i get the machine back......
i'm on holiday next week and my first port of call is going to be citizens advice.....
sony are a bunch of cowboys in my opinion.
seriously considering never buying another sony product ever again....
paul

Hi,

Was going to buy this projector but this thread has me worried. Are the upgrades made on models being sold now or would I need to get the upgrade done? Should I still be thinking of gettting this projector or should I be looking at another make/model?? Where is the best place to buy this projector (I'm based in Dublin/Carlow in Ireland).

Thanks for your help on this.

[paul1672]

dont be put off by my experiences mate.
i'm just terribly unlucky.
many other folks on here will tell you they've had no problems with it whatsoever and when it's working its a fantastic machine.
as far as i'm aware all new models are now fully updated and shouldn't have this problem but if/when you find a retailer that has one to buy it might be a good idea to ask him if its the latest firmware first.
hope that helps.
paul

[paul1672]

well,i can now happily report after two visits to sony service centre i now have a fully working sony hs50 complete with the firmware fix....
i'm not going to suggest it displays true 1280x720 but there's certaintly no borders anymore.....
it only took 4 weeks for sony to fix it this time so they're improving....
i also had the prism block failure and fan issue sorted this time and it now feels like i have a brand new machine again as it's only done 10hrs on the lamp timer.
this indicates to me that they also must have put another brand new bulb in it.
i also know it was extensively tested before being returned to me this time due to my many complaints.
my machine also seems to have a new sticker (black with 3lcd written on it) in the right hand corner since its second return.
don't know what it means but it wasn't there before.
anyway,i'm off to finally enjoy my pj.
paul

[mikeaitch]

I'm boiling mad at this point

I sat in for 10- yes 10 hours yesterday waiting for mine to be delivered back, although the turnaround at about 5 weeks is better than some on this thread, the courier lied about trying to deliver it at 5pm and I'd stayed in for nothing.

They did deliver it today by ten though, but when I opened it up, it looked really bad- there were scratches all over the case, some deep enough to go through to the black plastic, with lots of others 20-25 or so.

Next time, I'm opening the box and making the courier sign to say there's no damage. It looks 2 years old, not 6 months

I immediately rang Sony, who said they had a report on the file that it was badly scratched when it arrived.What?????? My machine was unmarked before this fiasco, caused by a complete bulb failure. It was ceiling mounted and as with all my gear, looked after meticulously. Sony said there was a rivet which had got loose and shorted something out, but that it was repaired and ready to use, with the firmware upgrade done.

Still seething from the realisation that I couldn't prove the scratches weren't there before, I remounted the pj and switched it on.

Nothing.

I tried again, unplugged and retried etc, so in the end took it back down of the ceiling mount, the yellow cover/lamp bulb was lit, maybe it was loose...

Undid the screw - NO LAMP!!!!!!????!!!

The very thing I'd taken it back to the dealer for was not there. Unbelievable.

Sony will get a call in the morning... I hope they've got fireproof gear

[johnnyhaynes]

Originally Posted by Blindman

My upgrade took 2 weeks - and 720p looks great!

Does this mean no blanking ?
What input are you using ?
Thanks in advance

[paul1672]

with the update it means there is no border around the image using hdmi connection on 1280x720p.
i can confirm this because after 17 weeks and two visits to sony service centre i now have my pj back and working correctly with update....
this however does not mean it's true 1280x720p from the suggestions i've read since the update has been done.....
dont take my word for it though,it's just what i've read.
i think urbant knows more about this situation though so maybe he can verify either way.....
i feel for mikeaitch as i also had loads of problems with sony service centre and even after i finally got my pj back fully repaired they still forgot to send the power lead and lens cap......
totally cowboy operation in my opinion.
paul

[windfall]

I would add chaps that from my Xbox and my Linkplayer 2 (Hidef DVD player) over component that I get the same issue. It is not limited to HDMI.
I have now set the output on my Linkplayer2 to 1080 which does not cause the ununsed pixels around the outside of the pic, but I set the oiutput to 720 I then do get the frame of non used pixels. The same as with my xbox running 720p.
Personally after the crap you've had Mike I am leaving it at home!! I ait sending it off.

I am sorry to hear of the probs you had!

CMK - You can buy these with the newer firmware I believe - again you'll have to check, its a good unit - I am happy with mine, wish it had motorised zoom and lens shift - which would make this issue a bit less of an issue if you see what I mean!

Tone

[mikeaitch]

Thanks for the support guys- Sony were supposed to get a manager to call me back today but he didn't.

They have a very bad system there is as much as the Customer Service and Repairs computers cannot talk to rach other, so Pencoed didn't know that CS had agreed a new bulb...

They are letting down a great product, I'm looking for my next pj soon, Sony is way down the list of probables even if they launch a new wonder product at Cedia as is likely.

I think I need an extended dem of a good DLP H79 or the like, to see if the family are ok with a DLP

So still no bulb