Sony RDR-HX725 Hard drive replacement

[tarikm]

Does anybody know how to go in the service menu on an sony RDR HX980??

[orsetto]

Service mode in the RDR-HX*80 series is entered using a separate "service remote." Unlike the the earlier RDR-HX*10 thru *50 models, the RDR-HX*70, *80, and *90 models are not "100% Sony" designs using the older Sony interface (which let you enter service mode using buttons on the front panel and the normal remote). The *70, *80, and *90 Sonys were designed in collaboration with Pioneer, so they use the Pioneer interface (which requires the dedicated Service Remote and sometimes a Service DVD as well).

Pioneer was very consistent about this over the years, but the Sony versions can vary from model to model depending on the country they were sold in. Extensive info on service mode for these Sonys can be found here and here. The original Sony/Pioneer service remotes are no longer made or sold, but "clones" of it are available from various web dealers who specialize in hard-to-find remotes. The price is usually 30 Euros approx.

[tarikm]

could you please give me a site where I can find the service remote? paying around 30 euros is better then buying a new one from 200-250 euro's while this one is still working also except the hdd. The recorder is bought and used in Belgium

[orsetto]

I don't have link to a remote vendor in EU. You would need to ask in more EU-centric Sony forums like the ones I posted earlier. What you need is a generic clone of either the Pioneer GGF1381 or Sony J6090203A remotes. There are several vendors in North America, you could try contacting them regarding their shipping costs to Belgium:

The actual Sony remote is still available here for $70 (US).

The same dealer sells a generic clone of the Sony here for $22 (US)

Another dealer sells a clone of the Pioneer version here for $52 (US)

That same dealer sells the same remote on eBay here for $38 (US).

If these dealers will not ship to Belgium directly, perhaps you have a friend or relative in USA/Canada who could order it and then re-ship it to you themselves.

My personal recommendation among these would be the generic Pioneer clone. I have used one since 2005 and it has proved extremely reliable. I also own the original Sony service remote, and have found it oddly unreliable (the recorders do not always respond to it as expected).

Certain inexpensive multifunction remotes using the JP1 design can be programmed to emulate the Sony/Pioneer service remote. For suggestions, try contacting member mdavej at AVS forum.

[tarikm]

Hmm the only one in europe that I can find is the original sony, but this one is at least 50 euro's... To be honnest, I need this remote control only once to format my hdd, unfortunetly I don't know anyone with this kind of remote and only the original sony and the clone can be shipped to Belgium. Does it really matter then if it's the pioneer or the sony? I also don't have anybody in the US or Canada who could do this for me.

[orsetto]

If you can get the Sony clone shipped to Belgium, I'd suggest that one. The clones seem to work better than the originals I've tried, no idea why. There's no significant difference between the Pioneer and Sony remotes (clone or original) other than ergonomics: the Sony tries to be more clever with different sized buttons but doesn't actually work as well as the Pioneer which has a confusing array of same-sized buttons. They all send out the same signals, and for Sony recorders I believe you'd only use the ESC and P.RUN buttons anyway.

You should be able to resell the remote to another Sony owner who needs one: given this was the most popular series of DVD/HDD recorder in Europe, there are plenty of owners still using them. You could advertise it on one of the EU-centric AV Forums, or someplace like eBay.de or eBay.uk. But if you can afford to keep it, just keep it: if you hold onto your Sony recorder for several more years, you might need it again. Better to have a tool than not.

[tarikm]

Thanks orsetto for all the information! Now I know everything!

I will see what the cheapest option is and buy it, after I will keep it for my self, like you said i'll maybe need it again for the same or another DVD recorder, you never know. thx again!