Further Sony/Pioneer DVD tinkering

[prime]

Hi,

I've been tinkering a little more with my recorder based on information gleaned from it's and the latest Pioneer service manuals (RDR-HXD770/870/970/1070, and DVR-LX70D). I unfortunatly have not got past my CPRM error yet, even using the latest Service disk (1305).

However I have discovered that the drive now fitted to the Sony and Pioneer drives has a serial port on the back that can be used for firmware upload (if upload from disk fails), the Pioneer manual lists a converter (GF1348), but this is about $150 to buy, so figuring it's probably just a level shifter I made my own it is a level shifter though note that the RS-232 levels on the drive are 3.3V

Having built this and connected to a PC serial port my Sony dumps a signon message when you start it and seems to go into a command mode, though I have not figured out any off the commands yet, the machine just responds with an "unknown command" message


Pioneer DVD Recorder 2007 Model Powered by E2R-FEx1.1
$Revision: 1.6283.4.130.2.11 $

Hello!

READY

The initialization of slice level!
HELP
Undeclared Command : %s

Dunno if anyone has any clue as to what the commands might be ?

Also the Pioneer manual lists a program called ufu.exe does anyone happen to have a copy of this ? maybe by running it and monitoring what it trys to send on the serial port, I can figure out the command structure ?

Cheers.

Phill.

[Andy_V]

Hi Primo,

Did you find the programe file you were looking for? also, do you have a copy of the interface you have built. I have a Sony RDR-HX750 and is similar to the Pioneer DVR-550H.


Regards,

Andy

[orsetto]

It is a very VERY bad idea to "tinker" with Pioneer/Sony firmware via serial ports or any other hardware method: unless the unit is completely broken there is nothing to be gained and much to lose. If you do not see a downloadable update disc image on the Sony or Pioneer website for your DVD/HDD recorder, then no update exists for that model.

Fooling with hardware serial port or DIP settings will in no way get around the requirement for a service remote: you cannot clear a CPRM alert by any other means. If you have replaced the hard drive in a Pioneer or Sony/Pioneer model, you need to "marry" the CPRM number printed on the rear panel chassis label to the motherboard of the recorder and the new HDD. This is done using a service remote and service disc together. The Pioneer GGF1381 service remote is very difficult to get, the equivalent Sony J-6090-203-A is less expensive and somewhat easier to pry loose from Sony parts vendors. There is also a generic "clone" of the Pioneer GGF-1381 available from online replacement remote vendors for approx $50 US.

The proprietary Sony burner in the Pioneer/Sony models of 2006-2008 is a big pain: it is impossible to repair or replace yourself, the only option is factory service center and this is so expensive it is usualy cheaper to purchase a complete new recorder instead. While we can fool around with replacing the HDD in these machines, avoid "tinkering" with the burner unless you enjoy paying outrageous repair fees.

[Andy_V]

I have a Sony service remote but am sure my DVD laser diode has died. The Drive will play CDs but doesn't recognise DVDs. I'll follow the service checks from the Sony service manual to test the Laser. A replacement drive from Sony spares is very expensive, does anyone know where I can find a replacement sled mechanism complete with the optical assembly. My player model is RDR-HX750.

[orsetto]

If your Sony recorder laser diode is dead, I'm afraid you're out of luck. Sony DVD/HDD owners worldwide have spent years trying to figure a workaround, and failed: there is no way to repair these recorder burners short of factory service center and their obscene fees. Up until 2005, Pioneer recorders contained barely modified off-the-shelf PC burners which could be used as replacements in the recorders simply by swapping the recorder controller board into the generic retail burner. Unfortunately beginning in 2006 Pioneer and Sony began co-producing a DVD/HDD chassis that relies on a specific, proprietary Sony burner which has no equivalent generic PC model you can harvest replacement parts from. Sony does not sell repair parts for this burner, the only service option is full replacement at a cost that approaches the purchase price of a complete new recorder. For that matter, Sony has now moved on to having Samsung OEM their entire new line of recorders, so getting an RDR-HX750 burner repaired at all may soon become impossible (in the USA market, Sony Service does not carry replacement burners for any model older than 2007).

The most cost-effective repair for a Sony or Pioneer recorder with dead burner is to pick up a complete new recorder, at least in Europe or Asia where the older DVD/HDD models are still in limited supply at normal prices. Within the next year or so, as remaining old Sony/Pioneer stock disappears, we will be forced to migrate to the few dismal new models mfrs offer. Panasonic is the last remaining brand to offer "premium" DVD/HDD models of their own mfr, everyone else has either dropped the business altogether or contracted with third-rate suppliers to OEM machines they then re-brand as their own. Not too many choices left...