Self-explanatory poll for the BD-UP5000 owners with defective units.

Well, the minimal responses so far indicate there is no build date pattern here, just an all-around lack of QC. ;)

I had two. One was Dec and the other was Feb. I could only vote for one - Feb.

The new improved Fox RSOD screen now has a "Continue" button, so "Point Break" plays! BUT.... the picture looks like a mis-tracking VHS tape! Other than the movie itself the disk plays perfectly (extras, featurettes, previews of other movies, etc.)

I had two. One was Dec and the other was Feb. I could only vote for one - Feb.
That's a bit odd, multiple votes should be allowed.
The new improved Fox RSOD screen now has a "Continue" button, so "Point Break" plays! BUT.... the picture looks like a mis-tracking VHS tape!
......why do you continue to tolerate a defective player?

Not many responses here. Is the Fox playback problem that much of a rarity? What percentage of machines are affected?

No many responses here. Is the Fox playback problem that much of a rarity? What percentage of machines are affected?

Apparently, that would make a better poll.

Haven't had a problem with a disc yet, and I can't be the only one.

Well, only 6 responses to this poll, so that tells us pretty much what such a poll would reveal. :)

I finally got a recent Fox disc to test my Jan08 unit, and sure enough I got the red firmware update screen even though I already had 1.3 installed. I filled out the form online and will be sending it off for repair...

I finally got a recent Fox disc to test my Jan08 unit, and sure enough I got the red firmware update screen even though I already had 1.3 installed. I filled out the form online and will be sending it off for repair...

Just be sure to pack it in a generic box if keeping the original box is something you care about.

Do you have a link for the form? I'd be curious to see it.

Just be sure to pack it in a generic box if keeping the original box is something you care about.

Do you have a link for the form? I'd be curious to see it.

I am guessing that the "form" Eric is talking about it the Online service Request form that you can fill out once you register your player online.

I finally got a recent Fox disc to test my Jan08 unit, and sure enough I got the red firmware update screen even though I already had 1.3 installed. I filled out the form online and will be sending it off for repair...

Good luck, Eric. I had a good, and quick, experience having mine fixed. I put a screenshot of the RSOD in the box along w/ a note reiterating the problem, just in case the repair center didn't read the repair ticket...

Doug

Mine was built December of 2007. I just got it back from being serviced. I tried the new Die Hard on BR and it now works. I had the RSOD before getting it serviced. The repair center told me they replaced the "main power control board assembly".

Feel free to add that vote to the poll. Yours would be the first December unit, so there's obviously not much of a pattern in our small group of 8 (though half were built in January).

I am guessing that the "form" Eric is talking about it the Online service Request form that you can fill out once you register your player online.Yes, that's exactly what I was talking about: Online Service Request (http://www.samsung.com/us/support/repaironline/supportOnlineServiceRequest.do)

For those that have sent their players in for repair, how long did it take for you to receive it back? Mine's supposed to arriving at CVE in NJ on Friday, and I was just curious how long to expect it to be there.

Yes, that's exactly what I was talking about: Online Service Request (http://www.samsung.com/us/support/repaironline/supportOnlineServiceRequest.do)

Does Samsung reimburse for the shipping cost or do I just lose that money?

Does Samsung reimburse for the shipping cost or do I just lose that money?

If you are within the warranty then they should pay for shipping with a label....I believe someone was able to print a label from the site and send it off that way. If you are out of the warranty then its on your dime I believe.

If you are within the warranty then they should pay for shipping with a label....I believe someone was able to print a label from the site and send it off that way. If you are out of the warranty then its on your dime I believe.

I was able to print a mailing label but it has no postage info on it. May depend on where it is being shipped. I think I'll call Samsung when I have some time.

For those that have sent their players in for repair, how long did it take for you to receive it back? Mine's supposed to arriving at CVE in NJ on Friday, and I was just curious how long to expect it to be there.

11 days.

Doug

Does Samsung reimburse for the shipping cost or do I just lose that money?

I didn't even ask. I just paid UPS $21 to ship it w/ insurance. Thus, I knew it would get there fairly quickly and, if it was lost or damaged, I'd at least have money to buy another new BD player. Samsung paid to send it back, also by UPS.

Doug

I'm sure this borders on wandering off-topic... but I've been all over (well, almost all over) the place and am wondering about this FOX red-screen error, and how the best way to be sure whether you have it or not.

I ask because I haven't bought any Blu ray yet, but just rented "Jumper" and "The Omen" and both of those played fine. One is more recent than the other, but both are FOX releases.

Do I really need to go rent "Simpsons" or one of the "Die Hard" movies to be sure? Or is it an all-or-none kind of situation?

I'm sure this borders on wandering off-topic... but I've been all over (well, almost all over) the place and am wondering about this FOX red-screen error, and how the best way to be sure whether you have it or not.

I ask because I haven't bought any Blu ray yet, but just rented "Jumper" and "The Omen" and both of those played fine. One is more recent than the other, but both are FOX releases.

Do I really need to go rent "Simpsons" or one of the "Die Hard" movies to be sure? Or is it an all-or-none kind of situation?

I experienced it on Juno and Sunshine, but don't know if all Fox BDs are affected.

Doug

If you are within the warranty then they should pay for shipping with a label....I believe someone was able to print a label from the site and send it off that way. If you are out of the warranty then its on your dime I believe.I think either way you have to pay to ship the unit to them and, assuming the repairs were covered under warranty, they will ship the repaired unit back to you at no cost.

I purchased a 2nd one at Best Buy but for more money than last time. Would it be possible to return the player that I bought there 3 weeks ago with the new receipt, or do they log serial numbers somewhere?

The build date on today's player is Jan., 2008 also, but no RSOD! Updated it to the new firmware. Before that all I could get was a black screen with Point Break, but now I'm playing it.

I haven't watched all the way through... but I rented Sunshine tonight and popped it in. I let it go all the way to the main menu and then started the movie without problem. I then paused and FFWDed a little into the first few minutes and didn't see any issues yet. Haven't had time to watch the whole movie yet, but am hopefully correct in being optimistic that I don't have one of the need-to-be-fixed Samsungs.

I haven't watched all the way through... but I rented Sunshine tonight and popped it in. I let it go all the way to the main menu and then started the movie without problem. I then paused and FFWDed a little into the first few minutes and didn't see any issues yet. Haven't had time to watch the whole movie yet, but am hopefully correct in being optimistic that I don't have one of the need-to-be-fixed Samsungs.

You should be OK, but I remember folks having more issues with titles like FFROTS, Die Hards, ect...The Sunshine issue was fixed with firmware 1.3......

For those that have sent their players in for repair, how long did it take for you to receive it back? Mine's supposed to arriving at CVE in NJ on Friday, and I was just curious how long to expect it to be there.

I sent mine to NJ, it arrived on June 24
It sat there for a week waiting for a part
They shipped it back on July 1
I received it July 9

December build with a lot of freezing. I have now played 4 Fox movies and all played fine. I should be able to watch another 4 by then end of the weekend so my fingers are crossed but right now back in love with this player.

OK, for people that have had problems with FOX titles, if my player can play I, Robot then should i be good w/other FOX movies? I was scared i would have RSOD, but "I Robot" played great.

OK, for people that have had problems with FOX titles, if my player can play I, Robot then should i be good w/other FOX movies? I was scared i would have RSOD, but "I Robot" played great.

you should be good to go...

I had a freebie Blockbuster rental tonight, so I took Simpsons. If it doesn't work then I'll run screaming in circles and post again. Was going to try Live Free or Die Hard but they didn't have it (rented out)... but if Simpsons works I think I'm going to quit worrying since it will be the 4th FOX title that has worked (Jumper, Omen, Sunshine, and maybe Simpsons). Surely that's enough testing.

As fate has it I'm waiting to buy the Die Hard collection until they iron out the sound issue for Die Hard 2.. and I don't actually want to buy any other FOX titles currently out right now I don't think, so it will be a while before I'd test, which is why I wanted to work it out a little here in the first week. So far so good!

How long does it take a unit that was sent in for repairs to show up in the repair self tracking on Samsung's website? According to UPS my unit was delivered on Friday 7/11, but the website is still showing the status as "Open (customer's product hasn't been received)".

How long does it take a unit that was sent in for repairs to show up in the repair self tracking on Samsung's website? According to UPS my unit was delivered on Friday 7/11, but the website is still showing the status as "Open (customer's product hasn't been received)".

They're terrible about updating the website w/ status. Don't rely on it. You'll get an e-mail when it's being returned, but don't expect any useful information about what they did.

Doug

Sent mine to NJ - I got a notice from UPS the unit was delivered and two days later I got an email from the repair center that they received the unit. Only two other notices from the repair center (1) repair on hold waiting for a part and (2) unit was shipped back to me. The unit was in their hands for about two weeks. The online repair status was useless.

Sent mine to NJ - I got a notice from UPS the unit was delivered and two days later I got an email from the repair center that they received the unit. Only two other notices from the repair center (1) repair on hold waiting for a part and (2) unit was shipped back to me. The unit was in their hands for about two weeks. The online repair status was useless.I finally received two automated emails from Samsung this afternoon. The first stated that they had received my unit and to expect a 5 day turnaround. The second came about 3 hours later, and stated that they are experiencing a delay due to parts not being available and they would try to get it back to me as soon as they could.

I got two more automated emails today, the first asking me to rate my satisfaction with the repair process, and the second saying that the repair was completed yesterday and listing the UPS tracking number of my unit that was shipping out today.

So here's my timeline so far:
7/7: Filled out online service request form
7/8: Shipped unit in for repair
7/11: Unit arrived at repair center
7/17: Tracking website updated to indicate unit was received and parts were ordered
7/21: Repair completed
7/22: Repaired unit is awaiting shipping

The UPS tracking number is still at the "Billing Information Received" stage, but hopefully it will make it out today it will arrive this Friday 7/25 or Monday 7/28.

I wonder... has anyone considered that it might not be "when" but rather "where" the players are manufactured? I'm curious if there is more than one manufacturing location worldwide... and if it is possible that all (or most) of the units out of a particular manufacturing facility are the ones exhibiting the playback problems with FOX titles.

I wonder... has anyone considered that it might not be "when" but rather "where" the players are manufactured? I'm curious if there is more than one manufacturing location worldwide... and if it is possible that all (or most) of the units out of a particular manufacturing facility are the ones exhibiting the playback problems with FOX titles.

No, I bought two with very similar serial nos., and one had the problem and the other didn't. I'd guess they are all made in China, which is obviously part of the problem.

No, I bought two with very similar serial nos., and one had the problem and the other didn't. I'd guess they are all made in China, which is obviously part of the problem.

I don't know that being made in China makes it "obviously" part of the problem. I mean, if that were true as a general statement then companies only have themselves to blame for manufacturing there. Then again, Samsung isn't an American company so it makes more sense for them to be in China than it does many of the American companies that have products made in China.

As for the serial number similarity... A manufacturing location code could be 1 or 2 digits within the serial number if there are not a lot of locations... so serial numbers from different manufacturing locations could have very similar appearance.

Also, even if all are made in China... could be one location got a bad batch of a certain component... or there was a bad assembly line at one location. I remember a story in two-way-radio world of some radios that were failing in a peculiar way... and ultimately they tracked it down to one woman on the assembly line who was improperly inserting one particular component (a coil) that ultimately resulted in a failure on all units she touched. Units that didn't come down her way or when she was not at work did not exhibit the same failure.

Just something to think about. In the modern world many companies really don't try very hard to find out where failures are coming from it seems.

My repaired player arrived today, and seems to now play Die Hard. That's the only Fox title I have to test, but so far so good...