Unlatch the LCD but don't open it far enough
that the light comes on. Tilt it at about a
5 to 10 degree angle (with the light still
out) and then open and close the door
just enough so that the light goes on/off.
Buzz is noticably louder when the door
is tilted.

Thanks guys! I tried the different ways opening and closing/angle the LCD.... still no hum. Hopefully it won't show up when I'm shooting for clients.

Hi Joe et al,

My serial number for the no buz PD-170 was a 1111 series. I think the NTSC good serial numbers are different than the ones posted on the "international" web site people have gotten the numbers from.

I did call Sony to discuss the potential problem BEFORE going to B&H. Sony said the NTSC serials are different than the PAL numbers. Sony suggested and B&H gave me the serial number before openning the box. They also allowed me to test the camera in store.

I tested the camera sans mic so I could hear the internal electronic noise "clean." I've used the PD150 extensively so I now what the internal noise sounds like. Again, no buzz and the PD170 electronic noise does seem slightly quieter too.

I think the people who caught the "buzz" on dates near when those of us who didn't, might have had slightly older units placed in shipping just before the recall. Sony did say the recall was very recent as in just a few days before I called.

BTW I think it would be good for US to compile the good and bad serial numbers of NTSC units here so people might get an idea of the approximate cut off. B&H seems willing to give the serial number of the unit (it's on the box so they don't have to open it) and my guess is, they'll switch boxes if you ask. Of course at this point all the bad serials have been recalled according to both Sony and B&H (but who knows who's got what "sitting on the shelf").

Very simply....................they sent you a camera that was below the designated serial#. They probably had it on the shelf.

Very simply....................they sent you a camera that was below the designated serial#. They probably had it on the shelf.

Here's my bad NTSC #: 1,111,894.

Here's my good Serial Number
11110438

It's from the bottom of the camera.

Dave, it's odd that my serial number has one more digit that yours.

My serial number for the no buz PD-170 is in the 1112 series.

You're right Craig. Here's the correct serial number
for my bad one: 11, 111, 894.
It's interesting that your good one has a lower number than my bad one.

From what I undersand, this was a random problem caused by paint under a screw-head which didn't allow proper grounding of a shield. So it is quite possible that some units did not have a grounding problem.

I have 1110406...no problems(fingers crossed)

Distributor advised us that many of the sub serial# SONY's have been returned and fixed then redistributed back to the wholesalers.

Continuing saga of my trouble with PD170 ...
 

Well, I just received the 170 back from Sony Pro.
It had been over two weeks since it went out
Express Over Night. I called them up to inquire. It took them awhile to find the status of the camera,
but they located it in the shipping department,
waiting to be sent out. It had been there
for one week, just sitting around.
Rather than send it overnite, as I had sent
it to them, they sent it normal ground,
which took four days.
The "work performed" slip says "repaired the
low level hum, unit is working properly".
I immediatly used the PD shipping box to send
out a VX to Armatos for repair of a loose
3.5mm external mic socket. I'm trying to get two
cameras working at once, but I have to keep
atleast one around, enen if it has a problem --
can't have two out at once.
Incidently, I had originally contacted Sony regarding
the VX mic socket repair and was told I'd need to send
it in for an estimate, and then it could take three weeks
to repair, not including transit time. Mike suggested
Armatos. They were friendly and prompt on the
phone, giving me an estimate and saying the repair
would be two to three days. They also mentioned that
they get a lot of VXs in with that problem -- that it's
a very common problem.
Anyways, went to check out the PD and, guess what,
it came back to me no different than it went out! The
buzzing is still there!
Just to make sure I wasn't imagining it, I had my girlfriend
help me with a test. I put on headphones and closed my
eyes. She would open and close the LCD door at random,
and I'd raise a finger up when I'd hear the buzz, and
lower the finger when it would go away. She said I
was exactly *on*, with when the LCD light would go
on or off. And the buzzing varies with the angle of the
door. My VX2000 does *not* have this problem.
So I'm not very happy at all.
I have not yet tested whether this buzz is recorded to
tape. Suppose that's the next step.
Perhaps someone with a 170 could do me a favor.
Listen in a quiet room with headphones, with manual
gain set above 50% or 75%, with headphone volume
up. Is a sound like a fly or mosquito buzzing around
normal?
And the kicker to all this is that I just received a letter
from Sony in which they pass along the Fed Ex shipping
bill for the 170 -- the bill that Fed Ex sent to Sony -- to
me! They want me to pay the $30 shipping! And Sony
is the one that originally gave me the Fed Ex number to
give at Fed Ex when I returned the camera for repair!
I'm bummin'.

jeez that sucks i am planning on getting a pd170 this coming summer or fall hopefully sony will get there act together

Call support, not the Atlanta dufuses and politely but firmly tell them that you want a new camera and see what they say. And tell them you are NOT going to pay the shipping bill.

At the very least, tell them and email them the entire sequence of events including the stupid delays. If they won't compensate you by swapping cameras, then ask them how they are going to compensate you while they arrange for FedEx pickup from you, high-speed repair by them and FedEx next morning delivery.

Don't let them off the hook. If the first person you talk to won't help, take it up the line. Ask to speak with their manager and so on. Somewhere up the management chain, someone at Sony does care how they are perceived.

Dave
Really sorry to hear about your troubles. Sony needs to step up to the plate and get a new camera to you....ASAP!
As to the buzzing..I have used headphones in a quiet room with the camera in the VCR and in the Camera mode, opened the LCD and set the volume to max...no sound at all. (gain was at max-18db)

cameron : was this test with no microphone plugged into the xlr jackets????

Actually Hans, I tried it both with and without the Mic attached.
I may have mis-spoken....by no sound at all I mean that there was certainly no buzzing.

Folks you have to ground the inputs before you can truly tell the noise levels of the camera audio circuits. Probably won't take care of the buzz but it will stop the noise that is generated by floating input circuits.

Paul,

I'm in Hawaii and the local Sony service center is really of no help. I'm thinking about calling the Sony Pro service and see what they can do for me. My problem is that I need my camera. I'm sure all of us here need our cameras! I understand that Sony will pay for all shipping? How long is the turnaround time? I also read the post where the 170's came back and they still had the same problem. That totally sucks! Anyway, any info and suggestions you can give me would be appreciated.

Paul,

Sony paid for shipping, although I recently got an invoice from them for FedEx charges, but after I called them about it, they said it was sent out by accident and to disregard it. So I did not pay for shipping. That's not true of everyone, I believe. Read the thread.

As for turnaround time, they got it and and out in the same week. Again, there are probably no guarantees.

And as for shipping it back unfixed, what can I say? The work they did on mine fixed it. I recall only reading one post here where it wasn't fixed properly, but again, I could be mistaken.

Wish I could be of more help.

Thanks Paul, I called Sony this morning and got their FedEx account number to send in my camera. They told me FedEx ground! I'm in Hawaii so you can imagine how long it'll take before they even get it in Georgia. Were you able to send it overnight or did you also have to send it ground?

<<<-- Originally posted by Paul Chun : Thanks Paul, I called Sony this morning and got their FedEx account number to send in my camera. They told me FedEx ground! I'm in Hawaii so you can imagine how long it'll take before they even get it in Georgia. Were you able to send it overnight or did you also have to send it ground? -->>>

Ignore them and send it 2 day air.

pd 170 sound fix
 

I just sent my 170 in for the sound fix. No problems. There was a quick turnaround and the audio problem related to the lcd screen is gone. Sony paid for the shipping.

Tony Z
New Genesis Productions

Re: pd 170 sound fix
 

Well, I just sent in my PD170 to Georgia 2nd day air via FedEx. We'll see how long it takes for them to fix it and ship it back to me. Hopefully it won't be too long.

Just got my camera back today from Sony. The hiss is gone. BUT... they didn't ship my original box back with my microphone in it. I had called them and they said they found it and would ship it to me overnite so I'll have it on Monday. A few minutes later someone called and said they can't find it and that shipping normally ships everything back.

I called them back but the were gone for the day already. Geez! Well... good service in terms of fixing and turn around time. Bad service in terms of returning everything I sent them! I'll need to call them on Monday and find out whats going on and hopefully they have my box just misplaced it somewhere.

Yea, they lost my original box, returned the camera wrapped in bubble wrap.

Then when the camera had to go right back to them because they screwed up the backfocus, they tried to tell me that the problem was caused by the poor packing. Their packing BTW.

Unfortunately for them, they tried that on my wife when she called to check on the camera's arrival.

When they gave me a new 150 after about 10 months, it arrived in, yup, you guessed it, bubble-wrap.

Never ever ship them any accessories as they are guaranteed to lose them. Leave the lens hood and cover on but nothing else, not even the rubber eyepiece.

Mike,

So what is my recourse? Or do I have any? I called Sony and the cost of a replacement mic is almost $200!!! I shipped the camera with the mic thinking they would need it to check the hum (stupid me!). I sent them my camera in the original box with the mic (less foam windscreen) and I took everything else out. Battery, lens hood, and memory stick.

Am I to assume that they aren't going to ship me back anything me?

On the good side of things, the camera is really really quiet now!

Paul,
How much did you pay for shipping?

Dave,

Sony paid for the shipping both ways. It was overnite shipping.

Paul,

You have to go right after them. Claim that you shouldn't be expected to know what was wrong with the camera and it is very logical that you sent them the microphone and you want it back.

It isn't your fault they lost it, it is their's. Don't stop at the first person who answers the phone if they won't help. Work your way up. Demand to speak to a manager until you get someone who will agree to send it back to you. Ask for the original box and packing foam too. Back off on the box and packing if you have to if they return or give you a new microphone, i.e. make that your throw-away demand if you have to.

It is always wise to create a packing slip when you ship anything to anyone. Record model numbers and serial numbers if possible. Even list the box and the packing if it is special or custom for the equipment.

I also fax or mail a packing slip in addition to the one I enclosed in the shipping container if I am at all concerned with the operation to which I am sending the equipment.