2015 Bravia Android TV Issues

[NickCo1979]

I thought I'd create a generic thread to cover off the issues being encountered on the 2015 Bravia Android TVs. I've listed my issues below with fixes / workarounds and responses from support. All comments and solutions welcome!

1) Hot Swap HDMI doesn't work - manifested by no input on HDMI channels 2, 3 and 4 on the KD-49X8305C. Workaround - reset the TV, either by holding down the remote power button for 5 seconds or by switching the TV off at the wall and then back on again. Further details on this thread: https://community.sony.co.uk/t5/televisions/kd-49x8305c-hdmi-2-3-4-inputs-not-working/td-p/1944435

2) HDD Recording doesn't work - error message states a system update is required but none is available when checking. Hopefully this will be fixed soon by a firmware update.

3) Netflix App doesn't work - this seems like the app has been deliberately disabled. So far a support case has only recommended that a factory reset be performed (took two days to get to that cracking piece of advice.....), with no improvement as a result. A temporary (albeit for advanced users only) workaround is provided by MikeLothian on this thread - https://community.sony.co.uk/t5/televisions/netflix-support-for-kd55x8509c-android-tv/td-p/1945360 

4) Sound lag and performance issues after the TV (KD-49X8305C) has been on standby for a while - manifested for me as stuttering and sound / picture sync issues in all apps (youtube, amazon instant video etc) and HDMI sources (PS4, seperate YouView box etc). Hopefully this will be fixed in a firmware update, at the moment workarounds involve either changing channels to get the sync to work or in my case having to turn the TV off and then on again at the socket.

As stated previously, all comments welcome. Personally I'm willing to give Sony a couple of weeks to fix this, but if it's not done soon I'll be sending my new TV back for a refund as it's not really fit for purpose.

[fglundgren]

Do Anyone know what kind of specs there are on the ethernet port? Is it 100 or 1000?

Have an old 100 ethernet switch but dont want to buy a new one if the TV doesnt support it.

[adyjay33]

To be honest, if you buy a 1Gig ethernet it will work only as fast as the network its on or the slowest device on that network.

I am using a 1Gig on my TV without issues, apart from the usual "The TV is not connected to the internet" then all of a sudden it is syndrome... another strange quirk of these 2015 models.

I think it is a 1gig anyway but trying to find info without the manual is not that easy.

They ethernet switches are not much more expensive than the slower ones you can get these days.

[fglundgren]

Oh yeah, I know that it will work with a regular 100 mbit device. But the one I have is working fine, so if there is no benefit, I wont just throw away money even if it only cost like 50 dollars. 

I really hope Sony wasnt that cheap to install a 100 mbit ethernet port on a 4K tv with all the streaming that everyone is doing these days with netflix, plex, youtube etc. I mean, 1000 mbit protocol was released I think back in 1999

[elraouk]

I was told, back when page numbers of this thread were 2 digits long, that it's a 100mb NIC so save your money and keep the switch you have, unless whatever else you are connecting has gbit 

[fglundgren]

Cheap *****

[elraouk]

Most people don't even come close to 100mbit Internet speeds,  4k streaming is well within 100mbit.
Only thing that might benefit is transfers across your network, but given the amount of storage on the TV it's not like you would benefit much. 
I agree, it seems strange to skimp on the NIC, but I'd have been happy with 100mbit NIC if they'd given us the quad core cpu the early reports of these sets spoke about and a bit more ram. 

[fglundgren]

Thing is, lately I been having alot of problem playing stuff over Plex. Might be the software of the TV. But I get many times with regular 720/1080p movies that my internet connection is to slow. And playing 4K videos is almost impossible. Sometimes plex works pretty good, sometimes not at all.

Just thought it would improve if I upgraded to 1000Mbit. But seems that isnt possible.

Anyone know of a program on the TV to check the speed of internal network speed?

[baz4096]

I thought the maximum you'd expect for 4k streaming is around 40mbps?

Netflix recommend having a minimum 25mbps internet connection for reliably streaming their (admittedly more compressed) UHD streams.

Also, I doubt very much the SoC could handle 1gbps, even if there was a gigabit port...

[baz4096]

@fglundgren

I use Plex a fair bit and found performance on my (now returned) Bravia to be perfect for most of my content. I never tried any 4K stuff through Plex, however I'd double check your client settings. It's entirely possible that a default setting for local content is forcing your Plex server to transcode the 4K content to reduce the bitrate. Transcoding 1080p on the fly requires a reasonably capable CPU, I'd hate to see what you'd need to transcode 4k stuff in realtime. 

Check the settings on your Plex tv app and make sure you've got the bandwidth set to Original for LAN content.

Additionally, I'd check that the 4K content you're streaming is in a format natively supported by the Bravia, otherwise your Plex server will be forced to transcode it regardless of your bandwidth settings.

https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200289408-Plex-Web-App-Settings

Look under Streaming Settings about 1/2 way down.

[fglundgren]

Yeah, have gone over all the settings on the Plex app on the TV and on my server. All should be good. Direct Play and Direct Stream is both on.

I guess with the software on the TV being pretty buggy I should try to do a hard reset and reinstall all the stuff.