Pioneer BDP51FD - ghost in the machine

[admin_exported]

Hi Everyone

I have a BDP51FD, bought a couple of years ago and pleased with it. Very recently, it has started to turn itself on, boot up and then turn itself off again completely at random repeatedly. So much so I've taken the power lead out. I've changed nothing e.g., firmware update etc. to provoke this bizarre behaviour.

I have perfomed a master reset subsequently but this hasn't helped, along with taking out the power and HDMI cables and putting them back in, in case anything was shorting out somewhere - no other cables are connected. It's connected to a Pioneer VSX919AH AV receiver, which is working fine, along with all the other equipment connected to the receiver (TV, Sky HD, Wii).

It continues to play Blurays and DVDs fine, as I watched True Grit last night (good film btw).

Has anyone had a similar problem / solution, or have any ideas what might be causing it? I'd be grateful for any help, as its starting to drive me mad :wall:

Thanks

 

[Cofnchtr]

Hi,

This isn't some sort of HDMI control error? Maybe the player is detecting the amp on and powering up automatically? Not even sure your equipment has this control feature though?

Cheers,

Cofnchtr.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the comments. I've swapped the HDMI cable and changed the setting with the receiver so the BDP player can't be controlled by it. It's stopped the problem for now but not totally convinced how or why. We'll see.....

 

[Andrew Everard]

Have you bought a new TV, or changed any settings on the TV you have? It, too, can send HDMI control signals back 'up the chain', thus affecting the player.

 

[Anonymous]

Darn it - spoke too soon. Still doing it. Andrew thanks - I haven't but I do have a 13 yo son who has been plugging various Wii PS2 consoles in recently - wouldn't surprise me if settings have been meddled with. :doh: Do you have any thoughts on which might be the likely candidates?

Regards

 

[Andrew Everard]

What's the make and model of the TV?

 

[Anonymous]

I experienced a similar situation to yourself (ghosts in the machine) but with totally different equipment. My problem was with the audio playing up on a brand new Onkyo TXNR609. It`s connected to an ancient Hitachi 42" plasma with just one HDMI input.

When making the correct settings for the HDMI pass through to go via the sky HD box, everything appeared to be fine, until I used another input on the receiver and I no longer had audio via the HDMI through setting when turned off. None of the menu settings had changed. I checked and double checked. The only way I could cure it was to reset the receiver back to its factory setting and it worked fine again!

I wrote to Onkyo about the problem, received a ticket number and that was the last i heard from them.

By chance the following day, I noticed a firmware update, so I went ahead and updated the firmware (with improvements NOT related to the audio settings/problem) and that cured the HDMI audi pass through problem. It has not happened since.

I strongly believe the firmware inside the receiver had somehow been corrupted at the factory, though, I did change HDMI leads around several times and heaven knows how many times I went through the audio menu settings, I even blamed it on the old crappy Hitachi TV, before I got lucky with a cure to the problem.

If your problem is related to firmware issues and a firmware fix is not yet available, it might be that you find your problem isn`t cured until you are able to update firmware - as I don`t know if you can re-install the current firmware.

Hope you find a solution!

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks optek. There was a recent firmware upgrade for the blu-ray and I tried that. settled down for a while but then started again. So I then reset the receiver to factory settings, as you had done and sine then all has settled down - no random turning on Seems something in the receiver was calling on the blu-ray to activate per Andrew's comment and the reset has turned it off. No idea what or why but hey, gave me a great excuse to play with the setting up again for a few hours.

Appreciate the comments all and thanks for the ideas to help out. :cheers:

 

[Anonymous]

Apologies Andrew, I've just read back through and realised I'd missed your response question regarding the TV. For the record it's a LG 42LH5000.

 

[MajorFubar]

It`s connected to an ancient Hitachi 42" plasma with just one HDMI input.

lol must be my (old) age again but I wouldn't call any plasma telly ancient. My idea of an ancient telly is one which has nothing but an aerial input and 'remote control' was whichever small child was nearest the telly 😀 (guess who's job that was when I was young...!)

 

[Anonymous]

In terms of technology, 42PD8700U, is extremely ancient, when you consider how quickly we have moved on.

I am aiming for a Samsung UE46D7000 or UE46D8000. It`s a milestone from what I am accustomed to.