2015 Bravia Android TV Issues

[NickCo1979]

I thought I'd create a generic thread to cover off the issues being encountered on the 2015 Bravia Android TVs. I've listed my issues below with fixes / workarounds and responses from support. All comments and solutions welcome!

1) Hot Swap HDMI doesn't work - manifested by no input on HDMI channels 2, 3 and 4 on the KD-49X8305C. Workaround - reset the TV, either by holding down the remote power button for 5 seconds or by switching the TV off at the wall and then back on again. Further details on this thread: https://community.sony.co.uk/t5/televisions/kd-49x8305c-hdmi-2-3-4-inputs-not-working/td-p/1944435

2) HDD Recording doesn't work - error message states a system update is required but none is available when checking. Hopefully this will be fixed soon by a firmware update.

3) Netflix App doesn't work - this seems like the app has been deliberately disabled. So far a support case has only recommended that a factory reset be performed (took two days to get to that cracking piece of advice.....), with no improvement as a result. A temporary (albeit for advanced users only) workaround is provided by MikeLothian on this thread - https://community.sony.co.uk/t5/televisions/netflix-support-for-kd55x8509c-android-tv/td-p/1945360 

4) Sound lag and performance issues after the TV (KD-49X8305C) has been on standby for a while - manifested for me as stuttering and sound / picture sync issues in all apps (youtube, amazon instant video etc) and HDMI sources (PS4, seperate YouView box etc). Hopefully this will be fixed in a firmware update, at the moment workarounds involve either changing channels to get the sync to work or in my case having to turn the TV off and then on again at the socket.

As stated previously, all comments welcome. Personally I'm willing to give Sony a couple of weeks to fix this, but if it's not done soon I'll be sending my new TV back for a refund as it's not really fit for purpose.

[fxfxfxfxfx]

You will be able to use iPlayer and 5OD as these were separate apps on the TV.  However, ITV player and Demand4 will NOT work, as these are YouView apps.

ITV Player and All4/Demand4 (whatever its called this week) are not YouView apps? They were developed by each channel as standalone apps like iPlayer and 5OD.

In regards to all satellite 'Freesat' stuff I am going to ask Sony to create a FAQ - im not too good at explajning things sometimes and it is a frequent question.

Can you try and explain it?

I don't get why my two Samsungs, neither of which are "Freesat", however can show the channels and a simply EPG whereas my Sony can't.

[MonkeyWallace]

Has anyone switched to the Panasonic Viera TX-65CX802B? I'd appreciate any comparison comments.

After the latest update to YouView I've had enough and am going to push Curry's to see if I can return it after the 90 days based on the fact that it was sold with misleading information. As a FreeSat user (with no aerial) it's like having a hodge-podge of solutions to watch and record current TV through an external FreeSat box, rewind via separate apps, no access to the ITV/C4 apps without an aerial etc. Makes me want to scream.

[Indy121]

I'm new to this and a little confused. Sorry for the stupid question....

but what does you view do that sky doesn't? Sky has all the catch up content through the box? Will I be ok just using sky / Netflix on this?

I've brought the tv 49x8307 but won't be able to set it up for a couple of months yet as my house is undergoing renovations. I will be out of the returns period by this time, so am nervous! 

[elraouk]

These TVs aren't Freesat, they have a sat tuner for free to air channels. There's a difference. Samsung,  Panasonic and some others license Freesat, hence better EPG (I. E. One that works).  Sony's is a joke!  If you don't need the TV right away then I'd return it and buy when you do, unless you got some unrepeatable deal.  TV is OK if you use it like a display and low powered android box; i.e. have an external tuner (sky, cable, freesat like humax) and use the Amazon / Netflix / Kodi / plex apps 

[ZombieFried777]

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@Indy121 wrote:

I'm new to this and a little confused. Sorry for the stupid question....

but what does you view do that sky doesn't? Sky has all the catch up content through the box? Will I be ok just using sky / Netflix on this?

I've brought the tv 49x8307 but won't be able to set it up for a couple of months yet as my house is undergoing renovations. I will be out of the returns period by this time, so am nervous! 

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Absolutely nothing, it's no where near the on demand catch up service we have with sky, 

[cozzykim]

We use a Humax FreeSat HDR for normal live TV viewing on HDMI4/ARC, but we've updated our 55X8509 and had a look at YouView.

The catch up apps all work as they should, the guide is fluid and well laid out and we can't tell any difference between the FreeSat and YouView HD channels.

This is in contrast to the YouView set top box that we had when we signed up for Talktalk PlusTV, which was a clunky and horrible Huawei model. We sent that one back because it was painfully slow and kept freezing up.

So, in comparison with our experience of the Talktalk stand alone box, the Sony/Youview seems to be pretty good at first glance.

The only downside from our point of view is the inability to select FreeSat on HDMI4 as the default 'TV' input on the dedicated button.

Although the integrated sat tuners are nice to have, I don't think we would have used them in preference to our Humax box with its custom firmware and web interface anyway, so the Youview option is an added bonus for us if it works OK, as we can use it to watch On Demand and the non satellite freeview channels.

I'm giving it a cautious thumbs up for now, and it looks as though the lip sync problems we had before the previous update are much improved.

[Indy121]

I picked up the tv with a free wireless sound bar for £640. Don't think I will beat that deal anywhere... Which is why I picked it up early. However, if it is going to give this many problems, the cheap price doesn't mean a thing! 

[Dithian]

Looks like between now and December 24 (or maybe rescheduled) for Recording and Twin Tuner and PIP/PAP

http://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/article/73499

[mickwileman]

Yes i did after being a Sony customer for years,i could not put up with all the problems i was having.

Switched to the PanasonicTX-65CX802B  never looked back,stunning full LED Backlight Picture every feature works as it should,really is a nice TV can highly recommend it.

[Dobbs3]

Hi Folks,

I'm going to return my Sony to Currys this weekend as I can't really wait for Sony to fix all the issues, especailly the lack of HDD recording.

Please could one or two of you good people do me a list of the main problems (bugs) that affect these TV's so that I've got the information I need to prove to Currys that these TV's are basically faulty and should be replaced or refunded.

Starting with:

• No Hard drive recording as advertised.

Thanks folks.