Official Sony Bravia KDL-xxW5100/W5500 owners/calibration thread - Page 32

My 46W5100 did the power-on/off thing every ten minutes when I first got it. Constant power cycling is very bad for the electronics, and can lead to premature failure. I did a bunch of research on the problem, and deduced that it was 'phoning home', connecting to sony central on the internet and sending information back and forth.

I was finally able to stop it cycling by doing a total reset back to factory settings. The procedure is in the manual - it involves holding some buttons on the remote while simultaneously pressing buttons on the side of the TV.

Since doing so, I have carefully avoided setting up any widgets, nor asking the set to update the available video services.

In my case, I'm quite certain that the 10-minute power cycling I experienced was not caused by queries for guide data updates. I did not have the set configured for the guide, since all my content comes from a HD-STB. And in any event, it would be exceedingly silly for Sony to be seeking guide data every 10 minutes (unless of course the Sony repair department is hoping to stimulate some business replacing power supplies that burn out prematurely due to the constant cycling).

My 52w5100 does this maybe once every 3-4 months, it turns off and I think on again.. sometimes it seems to lose the handshake to my Sony DVR - the DHG-Hdd500?, and will first lose audio, and then the DVR is unresponsive. I think it is a TV issue. it never does it when I'm using my Mac Mini hooked to it. I used to have the TVGOS system set up but I don't use it anymore, maybe I should change those settings.
Also I notice the TV clock is wrong again, could be our power went off. This TV definitely has more of this than any other Sony TV I've had, and it seems that most all the darn firmware updates mention the turn off problem. It's not bad enough to go thru the hassle and probable unsatisfaction with repair or replacement. It's kinda minor but makes you wonder if it could get worse.

Got the KDL-52W5100 refurb from Sony as a replacement for my SXRD set with bad OB. Great TV, really like the looks. However noticed when turning on the set in the morning have had two issues:
1. Set will power on and show BRAVIA logo then power off and the red power light flashes 3 times. Can power back on but repeats this sequence.
2. Set will try to power on but will not show the BRAVIA logo and flashes the power light 6 times. Try to press power button and will do nothing, red light continues to flash.
Fix for either is to unplug the set and plug back in and this usually will work. However it will happen again a few hours later after the set has been off.

Any ideas? Sony support chat said to have a tech come look at it .

Isn't there a f/w update for this?

I did the latest update, version is aa0176pn.

Edit: repair company came out today and did some quick checks but ended up taking it in to the service center to diagnose/repair. Will know in a few days and will post the resolution.

Anyone notice when streaming Netflix movies that it will display full screen but TV shows only display 1/4 screen?

Forget about it. After doing my own search, you use the up and down arrow to adjust the size of the picture.

Anybody have luck with Sony coming out to check out the clouding issue. I have persistent clouding even after turning the backlight down to 2. The clouding also is the same area that is dimmer in an all white background. I also have a stuck pixel. I'm going to call Sony soon but wanted to see if anyone else had experience.

OK guys
I tried the reset again and this time it seemed to work. well it minimized the problem. the TV still powers on and off every like 3-4 hours but its not doing it like every 10 min. I don't use cable directly to the TV i have a HD-STB and i never enabled the TV guide or have used or enabled any of the widgets so i don't know why this TV keeps calling home everyday like this. but just a warning my buddy has the same TV and recently we hooked up cable to it and ran the channel programmer and his TV started doing the dreaded power on power off every 10 min. then i reset it for him and now its like mine where it will do it every 3-4 hours somewhere around there. he says it rarely had ever did that so just beware, if you guys don't need to go coax directly into the TV then don't do it. i think the culprit is the coax and the TV guide thing getting enabled and even after resetting the TV and making sure TV guide is off the TV will still be doing this.

Btw, quick question to anyone that knows about this stuff. i just recently built an Core i3 540/asus p7h55-m pro HTPC and the in the intel graphics properties the TV had defaulted to 59hz but i changed it to 60hz. it also has options for 23hz,24hz,and 29hz. so which one of these 5 am i suppose to choose. am i assuming right when i say that the 24hz is for 24p or the 29hz is for 30p and so on, so i should just pick which ever frame rate i will be using depending on the content or am i completely off?

Thanks in advance

I'm a newbie here!! So I apologize in advance for the dumb question here re my Sony W5100. I've been reading and reading threads - trying to learn how to adjust settings. I bought this TV (46") before Christmas and it's been a great TV. It's just that my family room is very bright/sunny in the afternoon
(glare prob) and I'm wondering if some adjustments may make it easier to see if not centered in front of TV. This isn't a huge deal, but.. it would be nice to know how to adjust settings.

So, I've found some recommended settings from posters here. And here is the dumb question ~ I have the Harmony Remote from BB where I bought TV. Not sure if that matters, but I can't find where/how to change things like: backlight, color, brightness; or advanced settings menu; or white balance menu. Yes, embarrassed!


I've tried all kinds of buttons on the Harmony! I don't want to mess up what the GG Geek Squad set up for all my inputs (for DVD, cable box, WII, etc)...

TIA for any direction!

can someone give me the settings of the kdl-40v3000 series[

Hi...i am having a problem getting sound to play on the same channel that my Pc is set to (hdmi 1)

My Sony V5500 has a dedicated pc vga input and a 3.5mm audio in, labeled -
"Pc/hdmi 1 audio in" ...however if i use the vga input i get a terrible picture that is not 1:1 pixel mapping so i use dvi-hdmi from my graphics card for the picture and get a perfect picture with no sound.(on channel hdmi 1)

With my audio 3.5mm jack going from my sound card to the "pc/hdmi 1 audio in" i get sound only on the "pc" channel with no picture of course while on "hdmi 1" channel i get the picture with no sound.

Does anyone have this model and no why this is?

Thanks for any help.

Hi Bobby. I'm new here too - but just wanted you to know I saw another thread dedicated to Sony V series. It's still on first page towards bottom. You may want to post there too since I "think" this thread is about the W series. Good luck!

Sometimes you just have to use your dedicated TV remote. I keep my TV, Cable, and 5.1 Stereo remotes all ready to go. I have not found any universal remotes that provide full access to all functions on any device. Note that I have not tried a $500 or more universal remote and don't plan to in the future. I am satisfied to use different remotes when needed. For you, the TV remote is needed to access the TV controls.

This thread is for the KDL-W5100, not the KDL-40V3000. I searched quickly and found one thread on the AVS forums about your TV at the link below. I did not find settings for your TV at cnet. If you search more, I bet you will find more.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1033573

Hi I am having a problem loading the Facebook widget. It shows the loading icon in the right upper corner and continues that but nothing ever happens. I have a Bravia 52W5100. Any help would be appreciated. Thanx.

I have had a KDL-65W5100 for only a few weeks and have noticed some strange behavior with the brightnessor backlight when putting up a windowed IRE gray scale.

When putting up a windowed IRE gray scale, say in the 30-40IRE range, the brightness stays for a second and then it "clicks" down a few notches. It is noticeable and obviously confuses say a gamma measurement. Almost as if there is an auto-control on or something and it knows the room is dark. But there is no auto control on! I have made sure all of the various auto settings or "enhancements" are off including all the ECO settings.

I do not notice it on a full field grayscale IRE or on program material (yet).

Is there something in the nature of the sets that might cause this or am I looking at an equipment issue or bad power supply or something?

Any input most appreciated.

Thanks,
BJBBJB

Harmony remotes can be taught extra commands since they are "learning" remotes. If you go to the support page for your remote you should be able to find a link to an area that explains the process. Basically it involves logging into your harmony web account, hooking up your remote via a usb cable to your PC, putting the remote into learning mode and then using the original TV remote to send the desired IR command sequence to the harmony remote. The harmony remote will learn that sequence and then the web interface will provide a way of assigning the command to a particular button.

My Bravia W5100 is presently loaded with firmware aa0176pn. When I use the onboard menu to check for updates, the set reports that it has the latest firmware, no update required.

However, upon checking the Sony support website, I see that version aa0178pn was released 06/09/2010. Has anyone installed it? Any feedback?

And why doesn't the set discover that there is an update available?

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu...L46W5100&LOC=3

I believe it is the same version except one is OTA update while other is a manual download.

@Mame,
According to Sony Tech Support, aa00178 is newer and is required to get the Netflix widget.

Jeffrey at Sony wrote:
"If the software version is aa0176pn or lesser, your TV does need this update. (corrected information)". He also stated that the info on the website is incorrect.

I've installed aa0178pn, and see no difference in behavior. In particular, the Netflix widget is still missing.

I am also having trouble with the Facebook widget.
I have the latest firmware and I am able to successfully download it. However, when I try to launch it, it pops up briefly and then disappears (the spinner keeps going indefinitely in the upper-right corner until I press Exit). My other widgets (weather, Twitter, etc) seem to be fine.

Anybody else experience the same thing?

@pleomorph,

I get the same thing with the Twit widget and the Revision 3 widget. Actually, nothing pops up up (not even briefly) when I launch the widget. All I get is the spinner. It spins and spins, until I press Return. Both of them downloaded and installed successfully.

The only widgets I've had success with are Weather and Twitter. There is no sign of Netflix on my set (no widget, no video app) even though Sony and Netflix both advertise it's supposed to be available.

I have the latest firmware (aa00178) on my 46W5100.

The internet features on the Bravia have been a huge disappointment (and waste of money).

Kyphos,
Sorry if you've been asked this before and I missed it, but are you in the United States? I believe the Netflix video app will only show up if your TV is registered in the U.S.

@pleomorph,
I'm in Canada. Netflix is now available here - it finally launched last month. The Netflix.ca website has a page indicating they support the Bravia sets. I've contacted Sony and asked them - the response from tech support told me to download the latest firmware to get the netflix widget (aa0178), but that made no difference.

I even ran the set's Startup Wizard again, and told it I was in the US (gave it a zip code instead of a Cdn postal code), thinking that might trick it into thinking I was south of the 49th!

You're not missing much with Netflix in Canada. It came out on the PS3 and the quality is... worse than standard cable I would say. The selection is also sub-par. I don't even recognize 75% of the movies (B run), and the "new releases" are at least a year old if not more. When my one month trial runs out, I won't be paying for it that's for sure. Hopefully it improves over time.

Yes, I'm having the same problem with the Facebook widget. (However, I'm using the 176 version of the firmware on my KDL-52Z5100.) My Facebook widget pops up briefly and then disappears, and the spinner on the right top corner of the screen spins and spins and spins...

Not only that, my Yahoo Weather widget stopped working properly... only shows me the current temp, no 5-day forecast like it used to... that section is now grayed out on the expanded widget. I tried it for different cities as well. Same problem. Yahoo News widget now only spins and spins like the Facebook one does. (Yahoo News used to work.) Anyone else have problems with the weather or news widgets? Care to test it if you don't already have them installed?

I even tried to delete the problem widgets and re-install them, but the re-installed versions do the same thing. (The Ebay widget still works. At least one widget is working for me!)

It's very frustrating. What has changed? Is it a problem with the Yahoo widget servers? or the firmware? I was going to try to upgrade to the 178 version (even though the Sony site says no need to do that.) But, some of you have had the same problems with the 178 version?

Any way to fix this?

(Note too, that I had had problems even pulling up the Widget gallery until I removed most of my widgets, and I only had a few installed in the first place. Then Widget gallery would load.)

Another question... Is the only way to update the Yahoo Widgets engine through the TV's overall firmware upgrade?

Thanks!

Kal

I just saw from another thread a possible solution to the widgets spinning problem. Check out the post at the end of page 81 of the AVS forum thread called "The Official KDL...XBR9 Thread"
(Sorry I couldn't include the link here... AVSForum won't allow us new posters to post URLs until we've had at least 3 posts.)

And the first post on the next page (page 82) of that same thread says (according to Beantown111) "to unplug the TV, wait a minute, replug and do a factory reset."

I'll give that a try and see if that works for me. If that works for you too, let us know.

I did a factory reset to stop the constant clicking for the channel guide. Unfortunately, it did not fix the Facebook widget.