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A1 mainboard died following FW update

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Jonas A-R View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Jonas A-R Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: A1 mainboard died following FW update
    Posted: 04 February 2025 at 18:15
Hi all,

I have made this post on dpreview describing how my a1 died following a FW update.
It is in for service, and I hope to get it back soon in working order.

I thought some might find it of interest and, as stated in my dpreview post, I would love to hear from others who have had similar problems.

Best,
Jonas

Edited by Jonas A-R - 04 February 2025 at 18:28
a1 20/1.8G 21/2.8 Loxia 35/1.4GM 50/1.2GM 85/1.4GM 90/2.8G Laowa 100/2.8 2:1 100/2.8GM STF 135/1.8GM 24-105/4G 100-400/4-5.6GM 200-600/5.6-6.3G 1.4x 2x TC
 



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addy landzaat View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote addy landzaat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 February 2025 at 18:31
You mentioned repair costs in Swedish Kroner, you're not in Denmark?
I guess your camera is over two years old?

It is an expensive bummer- really annoying!
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Jonas A-R View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Jonas A-R Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 February 2025 at 19:10
I’m in Denmark, but apparently we do not have a repair facility here. It was Sony support who facilitated contact to the Swedish company.
And yes, it is out of warranty.
a1 20/1.8G 21/2.8 Loxia 35/1.4GM 50/1.2GM 85/1.4GM 90/2.8G Laowa 100/2.8 2:1 100/2.8GM STF 135/1.8GM 24-105/4G 100-400/4-5.6GM 200-600/5.6-6.3G 1.4x 2x TC
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Jozioau Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 February 2025 at 00:23
I had a similar issue with the a1 after uploading firmware V2 when the Bluetooth and WiFi were not able to connect to smart phone Creators App nor to the Bluetooth RMT P1BT remote commander.
Fortunately the camera was within its 2 year warranty and Sony replaced the motherboard and uploaded latest firmware at no cost to me.
I have recently successfully uploaded latest firmware V3 without any issues.
Sorry that for you it's going to cost.
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Jonas A-R View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Jonas A-R Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 February 2025 at 04:55
Originally posted by Jozioau Jozioau wrote:

I had a similar issue with the a1 after uploading firmware V2 when the Bluetooth and WiFi were not able to connect to smart phone Creators App nor to the Bluetooth RMT P1BT remote commander.
Fortunately the camera was within its 2 year warranty and Sony replaced the motherboard and uploaded latest firmware at no cost to me.
I have recently successfully uploaded latest firmware V3 without any issues.
Sorry that for you it's going to cost.


I assume it was fw2.00 which broke your camera?
Mine broke after going from 1.32 to 2.02 long after Sony retracted 2.00.
Problems with the later versions are less documented and so far Sony has not acknowledged there is a problem with the fw.

a1 20/1.8G 21/2.8 Loxia 35/1.4GM 50/1.2GM 85/1.4GM 90/2.8G Laowa 100/2.8 2:1 100/2.8GM STF 135/1.8GM 24-105/4G 100-400/4-5.6GM 200-600/5.6-6.3G 1.4x 2x TC
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Jozioau Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 February 2025 at 06:29
Jonas,
All the details about the a1 firmware update to V2.0 (soon withdrawn after release), then V2.01, are in this thread:
a1 firmware updated to version 2.0 then 2.01.
I never uploaded V2.0, but uploaded first V1.35 then V2.01.
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Jonas A-R View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Jonas A-R Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 February 2025 at 07:25
Originally posted by Jozioau Jozioau wrote:

Jonas,
All the details about the a1 firmware update to V2.0 (soon withdrawn after release), then V2.01, are in this thread:
a1 firmware updated to version 2.0 then 2.01.
I never uploaded V2.0, but uploaded first V1.35 then V2.01.


I see, so your main board was destroyed by fw2.01 just like mine. Poor job by Sony!
a1 20/1.8G 21/2.8 Loxia 35/1.4GM 50/1.2GM 85/1.4GM 90/2.8G Laowa 100/2.8 2:1 100/2.8GM STF 135/1.8GM 24-105/4G 100-400/4-5.6GM 200-600/5.6-6.3G 1.4x 2x TC
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Jozioau Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 February 2025 at 10:33
My a1 was not 'destroyed' by V2.01 - everything worked photographically, only the Bluetooth remote would not pair as it was supposed to. I took it back to the camera shop where it hd been bought less than 2 years before, and they tried unsuccessfully to pair.
They then sent the camera with a report back to Sony and a few weeks later it was returned in 'as new' working order with the mother board having been replaced under warranty, and the latest firmware uploaded. The bluetooth remote now paired and worked.
And recently I uploaded V3.0 firmware without any issues.
But from what we've both seen on line the connectivity problems seemed to be a result of some bad code in V2 that ultimately required motherboard replacement.
Is it worth trying to get Sony to at least come to the party with a discount or contribution to your fix?
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Jonas A-R Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 February 2025 at 10:47
Destroyed is perhaps a bad description. However, a required replacement of the motherboard is a pretty serious damage in my opinion.
I am in contact with Sony support, but my hope is pretty low that they will acknowledge it was because of the firmware and will offer to cover some or all of the cost.

a1 20/1.8G 21/2.8 Loxia 35/1.4GM 50/1.2GM 85/1.4GM 90/2.8G Laowa 100/2.8 2:1 100/2.8GM STF 135/1.8GM 24-105/4G 100-400/4-5.6GM 200-600/5.6-6.3G 1.4x 2x TC
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Micholand Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 February 2025 at 19:02
Posted it back then in another older thread already, the issue with the BT/WiFi hardware error surfacing after running through FW updates (especially v2.01) can be found on Sony support here and obvioulsy applies to certain batches of a1, a7sIII, a9III bodies.

Edited by Micholand - 05 February 2025 at 19:05
/Michael

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Post Options Post Options   Quote Jonas A-R Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 February 2025 at 06:03
Originally posted by Micholand Micholand wrote:

Posted it back then in another older thread already, the issue with the BT/WiFi hardware error surfacing after running through FW updates (especially v2.01) can be found on Sony support here and obvioulsy applies to certain batches of a1, a7sIII, a9III bodies.

I cannot see which firmware version in the link. Are you sure it is 2.01 rather than 2.00?
a1 20/1.8G 21/2.8 Loxia 35/1.4GM 50/1.2GM 85/1.4GM 90/2.8G Laowa 100/2.8 2:1 100/2.8GM STF 135/1.8GM 24-105/4G 100-400/4-5.6GM 200-600/5.6-6.3G 1.4x 2x TC
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Micholand Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 February 2025 at 19:24
Release date of V2.01 was 24-04-2024.
The Sony support article was updated on the same date:
Article ID : 00342275 / Last Modified : 24/04/2024

It's the update to V2.0x which seems to reveal this HW error in the end, especially since V2.01 is just an increment to V2.00 and on the V2.01 FW download site this is also stated:
This update also includes the benefits from the Ver. 2.00 update.

Unfortunately the benefits on some circuit boards seems to be a broken BT/WiFi chip like in your case
Technically it would be interesting what a chip failure analysis (incl. x-ray) of such "broken" BT/WiFi units would reveal, but for sure such internals won't be disclosed to the public by Sony and in the end the customer service will just swap the complete circuit board
/Michael

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Jonas A-R View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Jonas A-R Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 February 2025 at 08:04
Originally posted by Micholand Micholand wrote:

Release date of V2.01 was 24-04-2024.
The Sony support article was updated on the same date:
Article ID : 00342275 / Last Modified : 24/04/2024

It's the update to V2.0x which seems to reveal this HW error in the end, especially since V2.01 is just an increment to V2.00 and on the V2.01 FW download site this is also stated:
This update also includes the benefits from the Ver. 2.00 update.

Unfortunately the benefits on some circuit boards seems to be a broken BT/WiFi chip like in your case
Technically it would be interesting what a chip failure analysis (incl. x-ray) of such "broken" BT/WiFi units would reveal, but for sure such internals won't be disclosed to the public by Sony and in the end the customer service will just swap the complete circuit board


That is interesting! I naively assumed they would have fixed this problem when they quickly pulled 2.00 and then made 2.01 available.
a1 20/1.8G 21/2.8 Loxia 35/1.4GM 50/1.2GM 85/1.4GM 90/2.8G Laowa 100/2.8 2:1 100/2.8GM STF 135/1.8GM 24-105/4G 100-400/4-5.6GM 200-600/5.6-6.3G 1.4x 2x TC
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Jonas A-R Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 4 hours 48 minutes ago at 15:25
I got my camera back from repair, and so far everything seems to be in working order. It is a bit of a relief!
I am still waiting for Sony in Denmark to decide if they will cover my expense.

a1 20/1.8G 21/2.8 Loxia 35/1.4GM 50/1.2GM 85/1.4GM 90/2.8G Laowa 100/2.8 2:1 100/2.8GM STF 135/1.8GM 24-105/4G 100-400/4-5.6GM 200-600/5.6-6.3G 1.4x 2x TC
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