(Old) Sony TV Firmware - can it be sourced?

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MrGadget

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Topic # 162158 30-Jan-2015 19:41

Hi,
I have a 2009 Sony KDL-40V5500 TV - old right!
Well, it has a firmware version currently of 1.012AA - pretty antiquated. While I don't have any pressing need to update it, I do note that the European version of this model has updates available up to 1.75 or so, and even our neighbours across the ditch have 1.429AA - both suggesting there's probably a reasonable amount been happening.
The Sony NZ site lists no firmware option that I can find and I was wondering if anyone knew;
A) is there an FTP or some site that stores old firmware
Or
B) (and I hesitate because I believe I know the answer) is the Australia or European versions compatible.

I know conventional wisdom says "if it ain't broken, don't fix it), but I would like to see what improvements they have made...

Many thanks

Neil

michaelmurfy

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Reply # 1225629 30-Jan-2015 20:00

Right here: http://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/content/cnt-dwnl/prd-tvhc/bravia-kdl-firmware-update-v1752ea/KDL-40V5500

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RunningMan

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Reply # 1225630 30-Jan-2015 20:06

michaelmurfy: Right here: http://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/content/cnt-dwnl/prd-tvhc/bravia-kdl-firmware-update-v1752ea/KDL-40V5500

Be careful - that may be the euro firmware, and could have different channel spacings etc. which could render it unable to tune here (if it has a DVB-T tuner).

MrGadget

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Reply # 1225632 30-Jan-2015 20:21

RunningMan:
michaelmurfy: Right here: http://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/content/cnt-dwnl/prd-tvhc/bravia-kdl-firmware-update-v1752ea/KDL-40V5500

Be careful - that may be the euro firmware, and could have different channel spacings etc. which could render it unable to tune here (if it has a DVB-T tuner).

Exactly what I was getting at with part B) of my question. Without trying it (eek) I would assume it would reject anyway, but unless I know of a kiwi with this model who has done it successfully, I doubt I would chance it...

toyonut

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Reply # 1225691 30-Jan-2015 22:16

Unless the nz site has one, I wouldn't risk it. The UK one improves EPG and tuning which will be pretty specific to UK and the Aussie one fixes a timezone daylight savings time issue in WA. Neither of those are likely to enable any magic features. It is generally only the internet connected TV's that are going to pick up new features.

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

MrGadget

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Reply # 1225695 30-Jan-2015 22:22

paulmilbank: Unless the nz site has one, I wouldn't risk it. The UK one improves EPG and tuning which will be pretty specific to UK and the Aussie one fixes a timezone daylight savings time issue in WA. Neither of those are likely to enable any magic features. It is generally only the internet connected TV's that are going to pick up new features.

True, but those are just the changes in the most recent version... There may have been a number of previous changes that are not noted there.

kiwijunglist

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Reply # 1225721 30-Jan-2015 23:28

What's wrong with the TV?

HTPC: Intel i3-2100 / 12GB RAM / AMD HD7750 / 480 GB SSD / 58TB Storage / MediaPortal / MadVR / Win10
AVR: Pioneer Elite SC-LX87 220W 9.2 Ch AVR
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B1GGLZ

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Reply # 1225760 31-Jan-2015 08:47

What about using "System Update" in the TV Settings Menu. Will that allow you to update via the LAN connection like later models?

Batman

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Reply # 1225769 31-Jan-2015 09:15

MrGadget: Hi,
I have a 2009 Sony KDL-40V5500 TV - old right!
Well, it has a firmware version currently of 1.012AA - pretty antiquated. While I don't have any pressing need to update it, I do note that the European version of this model has updates available up to 1.75 or so, and even our neighbours across the ditch have 1.429AA - both suggesting there's probably a reasonable amount been happening.
The Sony NZ site lists no firmware option that I can find and I was wondering if anyone knew;
A) is there an FTP or some site that stores old firmware
Or
B) (and I hesitate because I believe I know the answer) is the Australia or European versions compatible.

I know conventional wisdom says "if it ain't broken, don't fix it), but I would like to see what improvements they have made...

Many thanks

Neil

improvements? to a TV? with a firmware update?

from my experience 99.99999% NIL whatsoever.

waste of time

Swype on iOS is detrimental to accurate typing. Apologies in advance.

MrGadget

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Reply # 1225793 31-Jan-2015 10:57

To answer a few things;
Nothing is wrong with the TV - although I would be happier if it play a few more video file types off the media server,
The System Update menu option simply comes up asking for me to insert a USB drive - no network update like more recent models.

So often there are little FTP sites with buried firmware updates for old models and I was hoping there may be a Sony one knocking around - it would seem not :-(.

Thanks for the help.

ripdog

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Reply # 1239220 15-Feb-2015 07:34

It's highly unlikely that firmware updates would enable playing of additional formats. TVs, even smart ones, don't have powerful CPUs like a desktop, laptop or even a modern phone. To keep costs down, they use dedicated format decoding chips, which can only decode a small set of common formats - but they are incredibly cheap and use tiny amounts of power, compared to doing the same with a general-purpose CPU. These chips will typically do MP3, AAC, h264... possibly a few others. Just the most common formats.

So it's not really possible to add more formats because there is no programmable hardware inside which can do the job.

ilovemusic

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Reply # 1239408 15-Feb-2015 15:52

joker97:
MrGadget: Hi,
I have a 2009 Sony KDL-40V5500 TV - old right!
Well, it has a firmware version currently of 1.012AA - pretty antiquated. While I don't have any pressing need to update it, I do note that the European version of this model has updates available up to 1.75 or so, and even our neighbours across the ditch have 1.429AA - both suggesting there's probably a reasonable amount been happening.
The Sony NZ site lists no firmware option that I can find and I was wondering if anyone knew;
A) is there an FTP or some site that stores old firmware
Or
B) (and I hesitate because I believe I know the answer) is the Australia or European versions compatible.

I know conventional wisdom says "if it ain't broken, don't fix it), but I would like to see what improvements they have made...

Many thanks

Neil

improvements? to a TV? with a firmware update?

from my experience 99.99999% NIL whatsoever.

waste of time

depends on the tv.

remember a modern digital tv comprises three parts - the screen/panel, the electronics to drive the panel and the firmware to control the electronics.

my vt panny got no benefit at all from updates but on my ancient samsung 5-series the built-in media player got thoroughly de-buggered - aspect ratio problems, audio sync, all fixed.