KD48A9 recordings have black frames

[GreatBoo]

Recording freeview HD channels to a 1 month old 1TB WD Elements Portable USB drive, on playback there are multiple black frames displayed and occasional audio glitches during playback. This does not happen when watching the same freeview channel live.
The menu tells me the software is up to date.
I assume Sony are going to release a fix for this?

[GreatBoo]

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You still write about WD HDD, and I already told you that it is not the brand that matters but the power consumption but you simply ignore it

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? I did try another device with a smaller capacity, 128GB Samsung FIT flash drive, after your suggestion. This would have miniscule power consumption, being solid state with no spinning disk. I reported in a prior post that it also didn't work.

Unfortunately I don't have a 500GB WD passport drive to try. 
Thank you for that list of compatible drives but it is from 3 years before this TV was produced.

I would suspect this problem is more to do with the TV's software allocation of buffer size than power consumption, although power consumption could also cause issues too of course. 

Ultimately, if Sony advertise a feature, then the customer has a right to expect that feature to work. If that feature is subject to external factors, it is up to Sony to clearly define to the customer how to make it work correctly. 

[rooobb]

It seems like I'm the one who sold you the TV...  

Unfortunately you read from my posts only what you want to read...

Sony states clearly:

IMPORTANT: Sony cannot guarantee the full operability of other manufacturer's HDDs on the TV, and is not responsible or liable for any issues that may occur.

Related to the use of a flash disk (or SSD btw) https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/articles/00126288

[EUSupport_EN]

Hi @GreatBoo

The requirements at the bottom clearly state an externally powered HDD is recommended, regardless of what the TV USB ports can output.. Although the article  referenced by @rooobb is outdated, it still can be used as a guide for which HDDs can be used as the recording function is fundamentally the same on Android TV.

[GreatBoo]

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@EUSupport_EN wrote:

Hi @GreatBoo

The requirements at the bottom clearly state an externally powered HDD is recommended, regardless of what the TV USB ports can output.. 

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I think you're referring to this 3 year old document:-
https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/articles/00148248
Which states:

• Power supply: We recommend HDDs that use an external power supply.

In which case, I would say that a recommendation is not a stipulation. 

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Although the article  referenced by @rooobb is outdated, it still can be used as a guide for which HDDs can be used as the recording function is fundamentally the same on Android TV.

Could Sony be specific about what drives are known to work correctly with the A9 Master series please?
From the customer's point of view, I'm still none the wiser what specific drive I need to buy to make use of the USB recording functionality.

[Mooly01]

I'm very sceptical as far as any HDD's being declared by Sony as being 'suitable' is concerned. There is nothing technically special or different about any of the portable HDD's and they are probably just the same internally as those from other companies. While there may be an odd one that doesn't play ball for some reason, those will be in the minority.

Earlier in this thread it was mentioned that the problem is not unknown and that for one user it coincided with a firmware update.

If I was faced this problem on my own set I would look at ALL the menus and write down what all the existing settings are. Having done that I would then see if altering anything possibly related to how image processing is handled makes any difference.

This is exactly how I solved my issue of the jerky horizontal motion on USB recordings. Sony just constantly reeled off the 'Factory Reset' and 'Recommended Drives' script and were oblivious to the fact that a menu setting fixes that issue.

This is the type of document I produced for the settings, one that I can quickly and easily reset things back to how I want them should the need arise. I specifically referenced the USB problem I was having at the time and the fix.

So I would definitely explore the menus on your new set and see what is in there.

 

[neilg23]

I have the same issue, using a fast solid state HDD USB3 and frame and audio drop out, it makes the TV useless, shame as the rest of the TV is great

[Win_88]

I see a new update was released today. Maybe it makes a difference? let us know how it goes:

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/oled-tvs-android-a9_a9s-series/kd-48a9/downloads/00017076

Win_88

[neilg23]

Yes I have updated the TV and will try out later...fingers crossed

[GreatBoo · Accepted solution]

With today's PKG6.4960.0628EUA software so far I've watched 1 hour of playback with no black frames - it appears that Sony have fixed the black frames bug! Halleluyah!
But it also appears to have introduced a new bug - I'm having trouble getting it to record live or record a programme which has already started...

[Win_88]

That's good to hear @GreatBoo. If anyone still faces the issue after updating, let us know here!