Firmware/Update Requests For Onkyo/Integra-Please Read - Page 20

As far as I know, the 705 doesn't have the RS232 port at the back, which allows the 805/875/905 to be handled by the user for a "Main" firmware update.

You probably have to take it for that to an Onkyo service point.
But You may do the DSP update youself (CD).

Accoding the 705 manual, it has a RS232 port located above the speaker terminal posts.

Confirmed. My 705 has the RS232 connector.

The 605 does not have the RS232 interface

Joerod,
Is there still effort in trying to get the newest 705 fw? (which I hear is now 1.06) I really don't want to send this heavy thing all the way to NY.

HOPEFULLY, he may have some good news for us tomorrow night or Saturday. He's meeting with his "contact" then. (fingers crossed)

I've got my DSP CD burned and even built a serial cable, too much time on my hands, waiting for the firmware update! Waiting with baited breath for the 805 firmware update!

well unclamp it young man!

I just received my 705 from Amazon yesterday. Here is my firmware info:

Main 1.06/08223A
DSPS 8051:08214A
DSPS 8052:07518A
DSPS 8053:07820B

HDMI 1.01/07706A
VD:3.62/07717A

Good grief... why on earth would they try to clamp down on this? Is joerod saving their call center too much time? Are AVS forum members providing too much free tech support to their fellow upgraders? Are we saving them too much money in avoided service center warranty claims?

I think it is safe to assume that these are not the brightest lights who are making these decisions for Onkyo. You know, the kind of managers who think that customers are a PITA.

I propose that we all plan, on one paticular day, to call Onkyo service/customer support and complain about the "bomb" situation AND about the lack of available main firmware updates (for those of us that are still waiting for it, like us 805 owners).
We just pick one day like this coming Tuesday, and everyone call on that day and complain. If their call center gets FLOODED with complaints, mayb that will open their eyes a little wider and realize that we are DONE waiting.
Thoughts?

I'll be getting my 875 back from an authorized service center firmware upgrade soon...I know how to check and see what they updated my main firmware version to, but how do I know they installed the DSP update as well? Or is that built into the latest firmwares?

I'm a little antsy as I had to explain the intricate details of why a firmware update was needed in the first place...

Count me in Smarty, just start a thread, or sticky, give people enough time to find out about it and let's all call during the same day.

Great idea!

the firmware upgrade and the DSP update are different so it is possible they could have done a firmware upgrade without doing the DSP update.

You can check both when you get it back.

For the 875 it should have at least firmware 1.07 and hopefully they also updated the DSP while they had it and they should read out something like:


DSP 1. SR8051/08214A
DSP 2. SR8052/07518A
DSP 3. SR8053/07820B

Question on burning the CD of the DSP update.

Should the CD file name read "CD_SR805 123_08214A_07518A_07820B.wav" once it is burned, and can I burn this a data disk. Roxio keeps changing the file name to "Track01.cda" on me when I use audio CD burning.

I never checked the contents of the cd but I did use Roxio and specified audio cd... Worked just fine.

I can't imagine the file name matters at all; I think anytime you burn a true audio cd the tracks are named in the fashion you describe.

Incoming

Will there be an update to the 885 to 1.08?

- Rich

I think this is a good idea, count me in as well. If Onkyo does not want to release the FW update for the 605, 705 and 805 maybe in this phone call people should reference having their units bought back by Onkyo. Onkyo did this for one 905 owner due to his frustration with Onkyo not correcting known issues.

In this phone call people should also mention that recently bought 805s (not sure of other units) have come with the 1.08 FW and how can we get older receivers updated. I have been out of the loop with the update situation and I am not sure if you called Onkyo if you can bring your receiver to service center to be updated.

I looked on the Onkyo site and the only updates are for the 605, HD805 and Netune updates for older receivers. There is no mention of the DSP update or FW updates for current receivers. As I have said before this is CS at its very worst. If it was not for joerod and gurkey we would have no hint of the updates available. I would guess that 605, 705 and 805 owners make up the large majority of Onkyo receivers. I would think Onkyo would want them satisfied as well.

In all honesty I bought my 805 with the mindset that Onkyo would not be doing anything to correct known issues with their current receivers. So I was pleasantly surprised to see that they have both the DSP and FW update to correct these issues. Now it is up to Onkyo CS change how customers are notified and receive these updates. Denon, Toshiba, Sony, Oppo and I am sure many other CE companies seem to have the FW upgrade process under control. Why Onkyo can not seem to get their act together is beyond me.

Bill

You must burn the DSP update to an AUDIO CD-R as an audio (not data) file for it to work. Your names above are correct. The file is CD_SR805.....etc. before burning and when you read your burned CD, the file on it should read in Windows XP Explorer: Track01 1KB CD Audio Track

Main FW updates will ONLY be performed at the "regional centers". The Onkyo authorized repair centers are only allowed to perform DSP updates. How idiotic is this??

Thanks SJV and... BenDover.

Bill, I have an Integra 8.8. The 1st f/w update (1.05 - fixed some Reon problems and added some user functions (contrast, brightness, etc.) to the Reon processor) was sent to me on a CD from Integra but only after:

1. I found out about it here on the AVS forum.....absolutely NO notification from O/I either via email, post card, or on their own websites and I am a registered owner. If I had not known of the AVS Forum, as thousands of owner's do not, I'd have been SOL as far as getting notification of this, or any, update from O/I's wonderfully incompetent Customer Support department is conceerned.

2. I had to call them (when you could get through to them) and request the f/w update be sent to me.

3. They had to then send me a "release" that I had to sign and fax back to them....

4. Then they mailed out the CD which in my case, I didn't get until 2 weeks later!

Almost like you had to give 'em your firsat born male offspring, eh? How's that for customer service??

For 1.08 and the DSP updates, I went straight to joerod (God bless you, man!.....you too, gurkey) for them as O/I "customer support" has continually denied they even exist when called!

I went and picked up the 9 pin serial cable from monoprice yesterday (I work near their warehouse in So Cal). Using the files from Joerod (thanks by the way) I updated my 875 from FW 1.02 to FW 1.05. I then updated from 1.05 to 1.07. Everything went absolutely perfect. I used my home computer running XP. I had no problems whatsoever connecting to the 875 using the straight male to female serial cable connection on the back of my computer to the 875. I followed the instructions provided with the firmware updated to the letter and everything went as described. I could not be happier. I thought for sure something was going to go wrong.

I then did the DSP update using settings on my PS3 described earlier in this thread by "quack724" (post #124). Except that I used Nero Burning room to create my Audio CD. That went well except that, as others have noted, the process never said "complete" as described in the Onkyo instructions. It just stayed with the "S/PDIF Update" flashing on the screen long after the DSP writing took place. After 10 minutes or so I unplugged the receiver and when I turned it back on the update had worked (as described in the Onkyo instructions)

I was so worried about doing these updates in fear that I would do something wrong and "brick" my receiver but it was actually really easy as long as you follow the provided instructions.

I could not be happier. I now have more of the Reon controls (like noise reduction, brightness, contract, etc...) and elimination of the DTS-MA bomb but I think my favorite "fix" is that I no longer have to wait for what seems like forever for the audio to sync up with my cable box, DVD's, PS3 etc. It used to take several seconds for the audio to start after changing channels or pausing and restarting a movie. Now I can change channels or switch to a previously recorded show on the DVR and the audio instantly syncs up. I guess it is the small things that bring so much joy.

Thanks again for the files Joe.

I guess I should also say that to test the 875 and to see if anything did indeed go wrong during updating, I watched TV (SD and HD channels) for a while, watched half of a HD-DVD movie on my XA2, and played some PS3 games and had no problems. Everything seems to have worked fine. The DSP update did wipe out all my setting so I had to redo Audyssey and all my settings. I should also note that after all my updates were done I did do a hardware reset (unplugged the 875) and a system reset (vcr button plus standby button) just for good measure before re-inputting all my settings and Audyssey. The only thing I can really not check at the moment is the fix of the DTS-MA bomb. I did not have any titles to check in my XA2 with DTS-MA and the PS3 does not do next gen audio by way of bitsream. I wish I had a BDP-1400. But others here have said it fixed the problem and I would assume since the update took, it is fixed on mine as well.

I believe it would be more idiotic to release a complex update to a large customer base, assuming they all had the requisite skills to apply it without causing more problems than it fixes.

You should work for Onkyo. A compatible PC and a decent set of instructions has proven that anyone can install the update successfully. look how many members with an admittedly low level of understanding have done so successfully.

The delay problem is widespread enough that it has become synonomous with the x05 series. Now there is a fix and Onkyo won't release it? That's plain idiotic...and I'm pretty sure most in these threads agree.

I am a gearhead. I spend thousands of dollars needlessly upgrading my gear to always have the best (It's what I enjoy) and then I wholeheartedly recommend my favorites to people coming to me for advice (and there are many). I am pretty sure most others here are the same. That means each of us is not just repsonsible for one purchase, but many.

Poor CS and resistance to our firmware quest will cost Onkyo a lot more than they are thinking in the end. Too often companies feel they are the market leader and nobody can touch them. As much as I love my 805, and my 604 before it...I will most likely learn to love a Pioneer next...and that will also be my recommendation to others whome seek advice.

Well, that's not quite true. Onkyo has released a fix, it's just that many here don't like the distribution method and Onkyo's reasons are not "idiotic" - regardless of how many here agree or not.

Being in technology change management for many years I can tell you that you (and people here) are only part of the equation. The issue is always a trade off between the issues that a fix addresses and those that it causes. Onkyo has a couple of problems that can be fixed but a non-trivial manner in which to fix them. Sure, the tech savvy can do it but even here there have been many questions about what constitutes a straight-thru db9 cable, the CD connection, Windows OS and CD format. It's well beyond the "Check here for Update" button that most people seem to have a good handle on.

Having those who notice they have a problem send it to a Service Center is a reasonable solution that satisfies people who are motivated to get a fix. Does it satisfy those who have the capability to do their own? No, but at least it doesn't cause problems for a far greater number of less tech savvy customers.

The processes for most other receiver manufacturers aren't much better either. That's not an excuse as I'm sure they all will improve on this.

I consider myself at about a 3rd or 4th grade level when it comes to understanding computer applications. Yet, I've managed to update many dvd players, a couple receivers, calibrate my audio, calibrate my displays, install/uninstall/re-install sofware on my PC, ect... ect... ect...
So I disagree with the approach that people are too stupid to do their own updates. J6P buys a HTiaB, so most people that are buying things like the Onkyo 605/705/805 and on up ect... are mostly capable of doing things like this. We should at least have the OPTION, and if not comfortable with updating ourselves, then we can pay to ship it to them. We should not be FORCED to pay $50 to $100 to have our product updated to "proper working condition".

Onkyo needs to get their heads out of their asses and start catering to their customer base instead of listening to what some pencil pushing prick says what is or isn't better for their marketing sceme.