Thursday, February 5, 2009

Firmware Update 0904-0401

I just received an email from Pioneer about a firmware update that fixes a number of software bugs. The new firmware is downloaded and copied to a USB flash memory stick. The Kuro then automatically detects and performs the update. I thought that the only way a firmware update could be done on a Kuro was by an authorized technician.

Here is a copy of the email:
Dear Valued Customer

Thank you for registering your Pioneer® PDP-6020FD KURO™ high-definition
television. In an effort to provide you with a high quality viewing
experience, we would like to make you aware of a new firmware update to
improve the performance of your television..

Note: The firmware update is intended solely for the following KURO models:
PDP-5020FD, PDP-6020FD, PRO-111FD, and PRO-151FD. The firmware update should
not be used with any other Pioneer or Elite models.

The firmware update addresses the following:

* In some instances, while watching some digital television programs, a
* Pioneer logo may appear on-screen. This firmware update resolves that
* issue.

* Additional support for MPEG audio output on some digital television
* channels not previously supported.

* Elimination of potential audio noise that may occur at the end of a
* wave (.wav) file when using the Home Media Gallery feature for playback
* of certain files.

* Elimination of potential video noise that may appear in the top left
* corner of the television when using the slide show mode in Home Media
* Gallery.

* Correct display of programming information on the Channel Banner when
* using the television's tuner.

Even if you are not currently experiencing any issues with your KURO
flat-panel television, we still recommend that you install the free firmware
update.

Installation of the update should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

HOW TO OBTAIN THE FREE FIRMWARE UPDATE:

Pioneer is offering the following three options for consumers to obtain the
free firmware update:


1. Download the free update to a computer here and transfer the update to
a USB flash drive (28MB of free space required) for insertion into the
plasma; OR
2. Order on-line a USB flash drive containing the free update by accessing
the following URL: http://parts.pioneerelectronics.com/pdpfirmware; OR
3. Order by phone a USB flash drive containing the free update by calling
Pioneer Customer Service toll free at 800-421-1404 and then transferring to
the Parts Order Department (select Option 1)


HOW TO DETERMINE IF THE FIRMWARE UPDATE HAS ALREADY BEEN INSTALLED:

To determine if the new firmware update has already been installed on a
PDP-5020FD, PDP-6020FD, PRO-111FD, or PRO-151FD, please power on the
television and do the following:

1. With the unit on, press the Home Menu button on the remote control
2. Press the Down arrow button five times and select "Setup." Then, press
the Enter button
3. Press the Down arrow button five times and select "System Setup." Then,
press the Enter button
4. Press the Up arrow button once and select "Technical Info." Then, press
the Enter button.
5. The software version information will display on the television screen.
If the current software version displayed on the screen is less than
0904-0401, the firmware update needs to be performed. If it is larger than
0904-0401, the firmware update does not need to be performed.


If you have any questions, please contact Pioneer Customer Service toll free
at 800-421-1404. Pioneer service representatives are available Monday through
Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Eastern Time), except on holidays.

Sincerely,

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc., 2265 East 220th Street, Long Beach, CA 90810

It isn't mentioned but this update should also should fix the daylight savings bug. It is interesting that the firmware size is 28MB which is about half that of the Sony S350 Blu-ray player firmware update. Both devices run Linux but the S350 has Java support.

The link to download the firmware update appears to be broken and it returns a 404 error. Not sure if it is a web server problem or if Pioneer pulled the file.

9 comments:

Dale Zimmer said...

I have a PDP-5020, and received the email to firmware update as well.

I have tried everything to update. I can not get TV to update. I have tried 2 different USB memory sticks.

I unplugged the TV. Plugged in the USB stick, and it will not update.

Do you have any ideas or suggestions on what I might be missing?

Thanks.

Unknown said...

I am having the same problem. The kuro recognizes the USB drive and can see the update folder, but will not update.

Erik said...

I thought I followed the directions exactly but I had a couple problems the first time I tried the firmware update. I got it to work but the process is a little tricky. Here are a couple suggestions:

* Erase the USB flash drive and make sure all hidden files are removed, re-initializing the USB flash drive might help

* Make sure you unzip the package and copy the Update folder to the root directory

* Try a different USB flash drive as some work at different speeds

* Make sure you completely power down the Kuro by unplugging it prior to attaching the USB flash drive. Simply powering off with the remote is not sufficient.

Good luck.

Unknown said...

Hi,

Had the same problem with firmware update for the Kuro KRP-500A.

Didn't work with 32GB USB stick.
Tried few time, no lock.

Tried again with 64MB USB stick - work straightway.

Batnun

MasterFramer said...

I got the USB drive from Pioneer today and my 5020 will not update. I unplug the AC cord with the TV on. Plug in the drive and then the cord and nothing happens. The USB light comes on a few times but nothing else. The instructions that came with the drive talk of red, blue and orange lights on the tv flashing. I get none of that. Any ideas?

Chet Strebe said...

I did this update a couple of weeks ago. I had to use an old USB thumb drive as every new one I grabbed didn't work. Not sure why but I found one that was less than a gig and copied the files to the root of the drive and it worked right away.

Unknown said...

I attempted to update the 5020 a number of times with different flash drives. I finally found and older 1G device that included other files. I copied the update directory and it worked fine. Its too bad that Pioneer's instructions do not take these "variables" into account.

cjohn1

JB said...

I have a PRO-151FD and encountered numerous failures with the update. Few seconds after each recycle (TV power-up and channel displayed), the TV switches to Home Media Gallery and displays the Update folder for further view.

I've tried the update with numerous SanDisk USB 2.0 flash drives with 1GB and 16GB memory. However, all of them had U3 system software installed. U3 gets control first and can prevent the TV from doing the update. I've removed the U3 system files from the USB drives (using a removal software found on the Internet) and reformatted them to FAT16 or FAT32 but to no avail. So, I went to a local CompUSA store (www.compusa.com) and bought the smallest USB drive available made by ULTRA (USB 2.0 256MB with no U3 system installed) and succeeded in getting the update to work!

Bottom line is do not use a USB stick with U3 system originally installed on it and with very large memory. I'm not sure why the TV would still not recognize the update folder after the U3 system removal and the drive reformats. It may have something to do with the slower reading or initialization speeds in the large memory sticks that could prevent the TV from doing the update.

When copying the update to the USB drive attached to a PC, just drag and drop the update folder onto the USB drive.

Unknown said...

Had the same problem as well. It failed to recognize the newer USB drive and I had to resort to an older Simptech USB drive (3 years old). Switch to a different USB drive if possible and the problem goes away.