Sony 510a vs Ritek G05

[Bigandy]

Hi Guys,

I've been using Ritek G04 disks with my Sony 501a for almost a year now. However the last batch of disks i got were G05's and i've only had a 50% success rate - the disks report 'Power Calibration Error' before starting the burn.

Has anyone else had probs with G05s on their Sony.

Thanks

Big A

p.s. - i'm using firmware 1.0c - i'm a bit worried to update again as the last time i tried to flash the drive the update didn't take but thankfully it took the second time or the drive was binned.

[cyflyer]

Hi Big A.
I've had similar problems with a Sony DWU14A. I've downloaded an update, but don't know what to do with it !!!
Can you guide me through the process ?

[handyguy]

There are a lot of PCE topics. reading them should answer this. Try writing at 1x & go from there.

I only use Accus on my sony, they work great.

[cyflyer]

Reading through the PCE topics made me decide to go down the firmware route. its gotta be a firmware issue cos the current firmware is 1.0d, and the newer version is 2.0 something. Like I said, i don't know what to do with the unzipped files of the download firmware. Everyone seems to talk about updating the firmware, but nobody actually describes HOW to do it ?

[joepic]

I've been using Ritek G04 disks with my Sony 501a for almost a year now. However the last batch of disks i got were G05's and i've only had a 50% success rate - the disks report 'Power Calibration Error' before starting the burn.

Has anyone else had probs with G05s on their Sony.

p.s. - i'm using firmware 1.0c - i'm a bit worried to update again as the last time i tried to flash the drive the update didn't take but thankfully it took the second time or the drive was binned.

I am having the same problem with the Ritek G05 on my Sony 510.

I have been using Ritek G04's for a year with no problems on my Sony 510.

About 4 months ago I purchased the Ritek G05. I have the latest firmware 1.1a installed in the Sony 510. I was only able to burn 2 DVD's from the batch of 100. I am getting the same error message 'Power Calibration Error' that you have seen. It looks like Sony needs to update the firmware.

Lucky for me I also have a Pioneer 108 which burns the G05 without a problem. So the Sony only works with 4x media.

[Rich86]

I have a problem also with trying to burn Ritek G05 media in my Sony 510A. It looks just like G04 media (dye color), but I get only calibration errors (Roxio EMC7) or write errors and coasters (CloneDVD2). I have been using G04 media for a long time with excellent results.
I read somewhere else that Ritek has stopped production of G04 media and some G04 orders are actually being filled with G05 media in the package. I can't wait to see what is in the 100 stack of G04 media I just ordered.
What is it about DVD firmware that is so finicky and specific about what brand and make of media will be supported? I've never had this type of problem with cd-r media as long as you stay within a dye color grouping.

[MJDore]

Bigandy...it's not a Sony problem. I burned 6 out of 10 coasters with these G05 on my NEC 2500a. Ritek has issues.

Switched to TY and haven't burned a coaster since.

[Rich86]

Good to know (I guess).
I was kind of assuming it was a firmware update issue to use 8x media.
Has anyone burned 8x media successfully in the Sony 510A?
I just picked up a batch of TDK 8x - think they will work ok?

[Redd]

Make your first burn to a Sony /RW...what you should be doing anyway. Using a /RW for first burn will prevent coasters. RW disks can be used X1000. If you then are happy with your project, then copy to Ritek. I've been doing this with my Sony DRU500AX for over one and a half years with no problems or coasters.

[Rich86]

Yes - I can burn to the collection of DVD-RW and DVD+RW media all day long. I've also never had a problem with Ritek G04 4x dvd-r media. The issue here is specifically 8x DVD-R media. My Sony 510A will NOT burn to Ritek G05 8x media. I was trying to determine if the issue is isolated to Ritek G05 8x media - or all 8x media on this drive.

Has anyone been burning TDK 8x DVD-R media in the Sony 510A? What were your results?

If anyone HAS been succesfully burning to 8x dvd-r media with the Sony 510A, please let us know the media you are using and the firmware of the drive.

[TBoneit]

Good to know (I guess).
I was kind of assuming it was a firmware update issue to use 8x media.
Has anyone burned 8x media successfully in the Sony 510A?
I just picked up a batch of TDK 8x - think they will work ok?

Well I've used Teon (Staples 4.97 for 20) 8X -R and TDK 8X +R & -R and ESA 8X +R and at least one other brand in a Sony DRU510A with nary a problem. At 4X of course.

I'm at work so I can't check what firmware version but I seem to recall it was installed this past spring.

Maybe you should bin the Ritek media and buy brand name? I have been buying whatever is on sale last batch was 2 x 20 pieces Teon for short DVDs where I wasn't planning on filling themn anyway. Still using the TDK 25 packs I got for $9.97 per recently. At 25 to 40 cents per disk retail B&M stores I can't be bothered buying online.

YMMV
Good Luck

[colojim]

Hi Guys,
I have had the same experience with my Sony 510A, I put my comments in the "MEDIA" section of the forum. Firmware upgrades did not make any difference.

I was able to burn one G05 disc at 1X but the next attempt crashed, from then on they all failed.

I also tested the G05 discs on a friend's Pioneer drive and he had the same problems. He also monitored the write speed, which was dropping down to 1X and going no faster than 1.25. As far as I am concerned it is a Ritek problem, as I can still burn G04, Laser, Melody, Ricoh and Princo with no problems.

My Ritek G05 discs were labelled 4X therefore they should have worked like everyone elses disks.

I noticed that Sony has no plans to upgrade the firmware for 510A drives.
If they don't, I will never buy SONY again, this is just deliberate planned obsolesence.

[TBoneit]

Quick Follow up, My 510a is running firmware 1.0f and my 500a is 2.of and I've never had problems with either drive burning media at less than the rated speed or at the max of 4X that the drives support.

1X at 1X
2X at 2X and
4X at 4X

with these firmwares. Lately all I've been getting are 8X disks. The Sony's burn em at approx 15 minutes a disk. For comparison the BTC 8X seems to take approx 12 minutes per disk on the same disks. Not that big an improvement to me.

Power calibration errors could mean a dirty laser, Smoker around the machine maybe? Mine are in smoke free environments. Or it could mean laser wearing out as the fact that it is trying to burn at 4X would mean the disk is compatible. Or could be dodgy media.

Good Luck.

[martin474]

Hi All. My Sony 510a worked fine on G05 -R 8x white printables purchased in December. I have a new batch now (from supermediastore on April 1) and it will not write to them. Error is: SCSI Sense - Key:3 (Medium Error) ASC:73 ASCQ:03. My firmware is 1.1. I am guessing the media has changed since the Sony writes to other brands just fine. Is there any solution to this, or do I move on to other media? Thanks.

[Sifaga]

I just tried some Ritek G05's last night on my Sony DRU510A and have the same problem

I think it may be time to upgrade to the pioneer 109 ($77)

[Sifaga]

i found some old G04's and tried them on my burner and it worked so the problem is probably the G05's with the DRU510A

[sporlan]

I bought the Riteks and they have a warning sticker on the pack that says not to use them in 2, 4, or 6 speed burners.