topic Re: 65A1 - random blank / black screen with Bravia logo bottom left in Android TV

65A1 - random blank / black screen with Bravia logo bottom left

UKTIVO — Sat, 26 Aug 2017 07:40:54 GMT

Hi all.

I'm a brand new Sony owner. Normally go with Samsung. Just fancied a change.

The 65A1 OLED is fantastic but I do have one issue. I think it may be part of the long running issue that other owners have posted about. Also. Before anyone moans, I wasn't able to post in the open thread. So had to create this new one. Happy if any mod wants to merge this post.

Anyway. I've had the TV for about 4 days. Each and every day, without notice, the screen will go blank showing just the Bravia logo in the bottom right. The sound continues.

I've noticed this is happening only after I've used the Android TV service. The way to stop it is to turn off the set, leave for 10 mins or so. Turn back on. As long as you don't use the Android TV service. It doesn't seem to happen again.

So. If this is an known fault, are Sony fixing it? The threads I've seen with similar issues are quite old, I would have hoped it had been fixed by now. Do I reject the TV, change for another Sony A1 or change for another manufacturer?

Thanks.

Re: 65A1 - random blank / black screen with Bravia logo bottom left

speedyrite — Sat, 26 Aug 2017 12:17:19 GMT

Suggest begin by checking that the TV's system software and all apps are up-to-date, or have you already done that?

Re: 65A1 - random blank / black screen with Bravia logo bottom left

UKTIVO — Sun, 27 Aug 2017 12:30:53 GMT

Hi. Thanks for the reply. I think all is up to date. I have to say the lack of manual to show where everything is doesn't help matters.

Re: 65A1 - random blank / black screen with Bravia logo bottom left

UKTIVO — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 13:45:18 GMT

I've taken a video showing the issue. Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction as so far Sony support have taken days to tell me it's the screen saver and to disable it.

[Link removed by moderator]

Re: 65A1 - random blank / black screen with Bravia logo bottom left

BLUE_FIRE — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 07:04:44 GMT

Hi!

After all the problems that I'm facing with my 6 months old Sony XD8005 and all the problems that I read in this forum, my suggestion would be to change the TV for another brand.

I just keep mine because the image quality is really good, the rest of it is trash. This will be my first and last Sony TV.

Re: 65A1 - random blank / black screen with Bravia logo bottom left

d.aulman — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 14:21:36 GMT

Hi,

I received my new KD55-A1 oled TV three weeks ago. I updated it to the most recent software (android 7) and I experience exacty the same prolem; after watching regular (digital cable) TV for about a minute, the screen turns blank (like a screensaver, with the Bravia logo in the bottom right). When I press a button on the remote I return to the TV channel, but it keeps doing this about every one or two minutes. Really annoying! I hope Sony will fix this soon, because the TV is hardly usable for me like this...

David, the Netherlands

Re: 65A1 - random blank / black screen with Bravia logo bottom left

UKTIVO — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 16:08:09 GMT

Hi. I had my tv swapped out but before my old tv was collected I actually figured out why it was doing this.

There is an app called samba tv. When I first got the tv I chose not to activate this app as I had no need for it. This was when the blank screen issue first showed itself. Before I sent the tv back I carried out a full factory reset. Samba tv appeared again only this time I said yes to the first install screen, then chose the tick box to not install and don't ask again. Sorry can't recall the exact phrase used.

Since then neither the rejected tv or the new replacement tv did the blank screen thing again.

Give it a go and remember to report back.

FYI. Sony, to this day, that's near 5 wks I think, haven't replied or even tried to resolve the problem. That's pathetic support and they should be embarrassed about it. I've just spent 6.5k UK pounds on Sony products last month. Unfortunately, I won't do that again. Their loss not mine.

Good luck.

Re: 65A1 - random blank / black screen with Bravia logo bottom left

d.aulman — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 19:59:20 GMT

Hi UKTIVO,

Thanks for the response. The Samba TV service indeed seems to be the culprit.

I reset the TV to factory settings. As long as I don't install the Samba TV service, the problem is gone.

I don't think I will miss this Samba TV service, so this is an acceptable temporary solution.
But I do hope that Sony will fix this problem, because the Samba service keeps asking to install several times a day which is a bit annoying.

Best regards,

David

Re: 65A1 - random blank / black screen with Bravia logo bottom left

jumpsuit — Tue, 10 Oct 2017 09:03:20 GMT

Hi @UKTIVO and thanks for the info and your solution

You initially said "I've noticed this is happening only after I've used the Android TV service."

Can you give us a little more information as to what "Android TV service" means?

(e.g. were you watching cable tv like @d.aulman, were /had you been using another app e.g. YouTube / Netfilx etc?)

Any more info would be really appreciated.

Thanks

Re: 65A1 - random blank / black screen with Bravia logo bottom left

RoosDK — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 10:32:39 GMT

New owner of a 65A1. I just experienced the same problem, for the first time after using the TV for 5 days or so. The only change/difference seems to be, that I briefly ventured into the Google Play store, but backed out once I was prompted for a login, as I had no intention of logging in at that moment.

Went back to watching a TV show, and briefly thereafter the black screen/logo appeared for the first time.

I rebooted the TV set, and that seems to have cleared the problem for now. But this behaviour is not really practical.

The TV is fully updated.

Regards

Roos

Re: 65A1 - random blank / black screen with Bravia logo bottom left

dave11674 — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 10:08:20 GMT

Same here 4 days after getting my tv

ive emailed sony directly ill wait and see what they say

ill try remove the samba tv app see what that does

happened to me on hdmi 1 watching virgin tivo

and hdmi 3 on the ps4 pro

thanks

Re: 65A1 - random blank / black screen with Bravia logo bottom left

paurose6 — Sun, 20 May 2018 16:07:20 GMT

Had my 65A1 for 4 days (May 2018) and I am not at all happy. Mine came with cosmetic damage to the bezel, Sony are absolutely useless and are not taking any responsibility for it. Even telling me this is not covered under warranty. I need to pay for someone to repair/replace it after already paying what I have for the tv.

I am having the black screen as well and I did NOT install Samba so unsure why I am having the issues after what others have posted?

I will never buy anything Sony again. The company are not what they used to be which is a shame. Anyone thinking of buying an A1, please don't, go to another brand

Re: 65A1 - random blank / black screen with Bravia logo bottom left

djelia77 — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 18:56:59 GMT

Hi dave11674,

Just wondering if you got to the bottom of this. Mine has started doing this quite consistently recently and with a similar setup to yours (vm v6 box)

Any advice that helped you would be appreciated (if any)

Thanks

Darren

Re: 65A1 - random blank / black screen with Bravia logo bottom left

davegibbo1 — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 07:50:04 GMT

I have the problem where my new 55a1 screen blinks. It is literally momentary but sometimes happens one or twice an hour or more. Sony have been no help at all stating it is the hdmi cables etc too close to each other but this is disputed by a qualified tv engineer. I bought this tv on all the great reviews but I will add my own wherever I can now advising people and just how unsupportive the so called Sony support is!

sony should take responsibility and help.

Re: 65A1 - random blank / black screen with Bravia logo bottom left

RoosDK — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 11:30:41 GMT

I was able to mitigate the issue by disabling the SambaTV app manually, but then had to live with being prompted once in a while, that the Samba app was not running. I then had to navigate to the apps, activate the Samba app, and could then immediately thereafter disable it again.

The problem seems to have been solved with the Dolby Vision firmware update. Since then I have not seen any of these issues. Also seem to remember that the Samba app was mentioned in the release notes of said update, as part of the list of bugs fixed...

Roos

Re: 65A1 - random blank / black screen with Bravia logo bottom left

davegibbo1 — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 15:28:39 GMT

Many thanks for this but when the TV was new, a matter of a couple of months ago it downloaded the latest updates but has continue to have a problem with the screen 'blinking'

Re: 65A1 - random blank / black screen with Bravia logo bottom left

pb1965 — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 19:04:46 GMT

Ok, so I am having a similar problem with a 65XF9005. Here's what I have just sent to Sony customer support...

Dear Mary,

I can now provide you with some further information which may help your engineers produce a resolution.

The 65XF9005 television which suffered from the picture blanking issue has been replaced by another 65XF9005 set. This set worked perfectly for 5 days without any picture blanking episodes UNTIL I performed a firmware upgrade to V6.5603.0175EUA. Now this replacement television has the same issue.

I have spent some time looking to find the cause and I can tell you the following :-

This problem only happens when the television has been disconnected from the mains electricity supply for at least 1 minute.
It only happens when viewing HD broadcast television channels – either DTT HD or DSAT HD channels – it does not happen when viewing SD channels.
If the television is powered up to an HD channel, the screen will blank within 30 seconds of the ANDROID logo being replaced by the broadcast picture.
If the television is powered up to an SD channel and remains on the SD channel, the screen will not blank.
If the television is powered up to an SD channel but is changed to an HD channel within 15 seconds, the picture will blank before a further 15 seconds elapse.
If the television is powered up to an SD channel but is changed to an HD channel after 30 seconds, the picture will not blank.

I hope this is of some help.

You may want to experiment yourself and see if you can determine if a repeatable sequence of events causes your problem to occur.