Many dealers and installers have previously complained on Remote Central about Sony's new satellite receivers (SAT-B65 and SAT-A65) having problems with the phone line locking up.

As for the phone line locking up--no question, there is a serious problem. My company has installed over a hundred Sony 65's and every single one of them siezes the phone line and won't let go. When I called Sony tech support, they claimed that I was the only one who has had a problem with the phone line. They had suggestions like "Have you turned the power switch on?" and "Could there be any trees or other obstructions in the way?" and other eaqually "helpful" ideas that were read out of a book by someone who could barely even read a book.

The truth is that every single Sony receiver being currentyly being sold has the same phone-line problem. If it hasn't happened to the ones that you have installed, give it time! All you can do is unplug the phone line and wait for Direct TV to say something. I seriously doubt that Sony will ever own up to the problem-- You know that they don't make mistakes!

Some more mistakes that Sony won't own up to:

The new receivers are locking up constantly! I must get ten calls a day. A surge protector doesn't seem to help. It's not a ground problem with the dish. It's just another problem that supposedly doesn't happen. Yes, I checked to see if the power switch was on and that a tree didn't suddenly grow in it's path ( I looked out the window----no tree). Thank you Sony tech support.

When the receiver needs to be re-booted (almost every day), the favorite stations need to be re-set. It takes a while, get used to it.

Do you need to pull the card out? You will need a pair of needle nose plyers or some small fingers. Or you can pull the card door off, then you can reach it--maybe.

What happened to Sony's great menu that was used in the past? That was one of the only reasons to pay a litter more for a Sony. Now it's pretty much the same piece-of-crap Hughes menu that every other company puts there name on. Client's find it much less intuitive to operate.

They got rid of the enter button. So, either punch in four digits for the channel or wait for it to figure out what channel you are trying to access. It will get confused much of the time and return back to the channel that you were originally on.

In general, my clients hate the new Sony receivers. Sony has ruined the product line completely. Unfortunately, Sony is so arrogant that they will probably never admit to it or fix it. Some day, after DSS sales get horribly slow for Sony, they will probably stop selling DSS receivers, never realizing that that they made a very stupid mistake.

Sony could be a really great company if only they grew ears and listened to their dealers, installers, repair techs, reps, and customers.

Strange-

We totally quit installing the Sony DSS's a couple of years ago because of the modems seizing phone lines & locking up.

Our rep is swears those problems are solved and we should jump back in. (Yes it did take them about a year to admit that the modems even were a problem.)

Sounds like deja vu all over again to me.

BTW, absolutely NOTHING chaps my cheeks more than the standard "Gee, that's the first we've heard of that problem / You're the only one having that issue".

If we install x# of units, and x% goes bad in a repeatable, predictable, truly suckable fashion, then there's your sample right there.

I don't expect any company to produce perfect products - I'm reasonable & EXPECT problems, but I just want an honest attempt to remedy them.

Barry

Kinda like my issue with the old B50's etc... "Your card is warping? I've never heard of that problem before"

Thanks for the response, guys! It's nice to know that I'm not the only guy who can't install a Sony DSS without a problem.

As for the SAT-B50s, I didn't notice a problem. However, the SAT-B55, before they changed it to a SAT-B55P, did have a serious card warping problem. There again, I was told I was the only guy having a problem. Then Sony got wiser and realized that heat travels up, not down, so they put vents on the top. No more problems after that with the SAT-B55P. Once they finally got it fixed, they decided to discontinue it for the B-65. I guess it costs too much to cut in vent holes.

One more problem that I've discovered with the new 65s:
You can no longer use a CFL friendly IR repeater like the Xantech 480-80. The codes get mixed up and buttons perform different functions than intended. Maybe the Sony codes are interpreted to Hughes codes or some other crazy thing. Never the less, it is a new problem not found on the 55s.

I would be interested in hearing from other installers/dealers who have had the same or other problems with the new Sony's. I am thinking of starting a class-action lawsuit.

Keith

I hate agreeing all the time...

We did the Charlie Brown/Lucy football routine & tried a half dozen of the newer units, replacing dead Sony's when we couldn't make the move to RCA because we had too much programming in place or the client resisted because our original Sony vs RCA sales pitch was SO good.

What an amazing coincidence! On the newer models OUR cards warped too, and we had to drill ventilation holes in the tops! Guess we're not as unique & special as I thought we were.

And Hey, the modems still locked up!

And yes, I do like the older menu's better!

And...

Barry


P.S. Slightly off-topic, but my favorite DirecTV tech support "answer" to one of my clients with a dead modem was "You're probably playing your system too loud. Turn the volume down and maybe then you can buy movies"

I'm immune to "Is your TV on Channel 4?" and "Is your system wired with RG-6 cable", (like my clients know the "right" answer to those pointless questions), but this one's my favorite... I couldn't make it up if I was drunk.

This message was edited by Barry Shaw on 07/18/02 23:36.44.

Did you ever notice when installing a Sony SAT-B55 that 10 minutes after you have it activated you lose programming and it says "Access Card Has Expired"? Happens to me everytime and I call them back up, they flip a switch, and it's fine. I was told it's a common problem with that reciever, so why don't they just do all the tweaks before you get off the phone?

Why not just make the call first?

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

OT but I don't know if I'd want a guy working in my home with my wife or daughter named McNasty.

No, I wouldn't want anyone in my house if my wife or daughter were named Mcnasty, either. : - )

Oops. Good one Larry.

It's just a screen name guys. Just a nickname I got in the service that I use for stuff like this. All the wives and daughters refer to me as "Hot Pants"...Isn't that normal though?

The blind ones?

Hey! Not just the blind ones...the ugly ones too