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BBC defends Watchdog report, Sony strikes back too

Posted Sep 18, 2009 at 7:08AM EST by Karl B.

Listed in: PS3 Tags: BBC, playstation 3 updates, PlayStation Network, refurbished, Sony, UK, Watchdog

PS3 - Image 1

Yesterday, the BBC's consumer rights show Watchdog looked into allegations of systematic failure issues plaguing launch versions of the PS3 console. Sony's had their say, and now that the Watchdog episode has been broadcast, the BBC has had theirs as well. Thing is, the BBC isn't done yet. They've since issued a statement on the Watchdog website backing the claims made on the program. Here are a few snippets:

Sony dislikes the term "the yellow light of death", since it implies a single fault is afflicting all consoles. It says the flashing yellow light is a "non-specific fault indicator that can be triggered in a range of different circumstances." Sony adds that the yellow light could indicate a problem caused by "any one of a range of issues that may inevitably affect any complex item of consumer electronics".

So if there isn't one single thing that's causing thousands of machines to stop working, why does it appear that one single repair appears to get them working again?

Unwilling to pay Sony for a refurbished PS3, customers often turn to independent console repair businesses. Several of those businesses have told Watchdog that the vast majority of consoles they see with the "yellow light of death" can be repaired by heating up specific parts of the circuit board. This process is called solder re-flow. By heating the connections between the components and the circuit board to temperatures in excess of 200 Celsius, the metal solder joints melt, just like they did when the device was first assembled. Console repairers say that this process method is commonly used to repair fractured connections, or dry joints.

The statement also claims that "by Sony's own admission, around 12,500 of the 2.5 million PlayStations sold in the UK" have been affected by the so-called "yellow light of death" since March 2007. It's worth noting that Sony didn't exactly say 12,500 but that 0.5 percent of the PS3 install base in the UK was affected.

Sony, on the other hand, also replied to the BBC's claims. In regards to the solder re-flow process, the company stated that:

As regards the purported solution to the supposed "yellow light" issue adopted by commercial repairers, effecting a reflow correctly, to the required engineering standards and in a properly controlled static-safe environment requires the use of an infra-red BGA soldering station, which must be set up and programmed to run at very specific temperature profiles. Each such station costs tens of thousands of pounds

Consequently, even if a yellow indicator/system shutdown were triggered by a soldering issue, it would be misleading for you to suggest to viewers that the basic solder reflow process you describe....is necessarily a reliable procedure when performed in that way, or that it can properly be done cheaply and quickly.

Did any of you guys catch the show? What did you think? Sound off in the comments section.

Sony defends PS3 from BBC "PS3 failure" report

Via BBC

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The facts in Sony's report were too clear and backed-up to want to trust the watchdog report. Not only did watchdog display clear bias but most importantly, irrespective of if there was a PS3 problem, they didn't report facts accurately.

UNDER 12,500 suffering from general YLoD error on Sony's database could mean that any % of that number was caused by soldering issues. A certain % would have been caused by mistreatment and an even larger % of these issues would have occurred and been fixed during warranty. Leaving out of warranty YLoD errors likely to be under 5,000, only a certain percentage of which caused by soldering issues.

More to the point, once you factor in that most owners who have the time to take their console in for repair would also have the time to buy a £60 reflow kit of similar quality to unofficial repair shops, crank up the juice and point it at the solder, why would you then recommend taking it to a third party repair shop?

Sony's repair service is at a much higher standard and once you factor in prompt door to door delivery is certainly more cost effective.

# Hey if it isn't the same — phiyuku 2009-09-18 10:49

way to fix the RRoD. Reflow the only 100% true way to fix an RRoD since X-Clamps in my opinion just buys time. After about 2-6 months, more if your lucky you will have to reflow it eventually. The only thing Xbox 360 has about 33% - 54% failure rate depending on what studies you look at since Microsoft themselves don't give any numbers or percents. Atleast Sony gives a .5% which might be on the low side of what it really is but you know it has to be close to that percentage. Yeah and those machines are hella expensive. If I was to start fixing 360s it will take a long time recuperating all that money even if I charge 100 dollars. Usually companies have reflow boards other than to repair consoles so they might as well jump on the bandwagon and make some money.

# ... — Shatterdome 2009-09-18 14:01

Sony originally said the reason the Watchdog report is fundamentally flawed was because they based their findings of of 3 ps3's, one which had been opened by the owner already.

Obviously 3 is not a good number for a control group, you need at least 1000 to get any reliable information.

So I wonder why Watchdog said absolutely nothing about only using 3 system and having a piss poor control group and just started pointing fingers at Sony again....

Sounds like watchdog is full of BS to me.....i'll have to try and download an episode to watch and see how crappy it is.

# mmm — emcp 2009-09-18 15:54

TIME TO USE THE NEWLY INCLUDED IPLAYER

# Okie Finoki — YAMI ANUBIS X 2009-09-18 16:33

BBC is a news corporation, there actually full of BS, if you wanna know the facts, its that when it comes to videogames with BBC, they always make up BS like this, just to win against other companies and get money off of them.

BBC isnt one to talk. There one to make BS up. BBC is nothing but a news company, not videogame fighting company. Bbc right before E3 said "oh its a fact that the PS3 SLIM will be announced at E3, we are always correct about our predictions"

There very stupid. Actually truth is I knew PS3 SLIM wasnt gonna be announced at E3 cause Sony was gonna announce it at Gamescom. They kinda confirmed it with the 45nm Chipsets being in PS3 by august.

BBC also said that a Xbox 360 slim would be announced like a year ago.

I think if they wanna fight Sony, they should fight against the PS3 fans aswell cause this company is about news, NOT making up BS.

# mine died — narutosaiyan 2009-09-18 17:01

its only the old 60 gb consoles that have problems with the overheating processor. i had mine from the day it came out and never really turned it off for 3 years. only for a few hours til i sleep. even when i wasnt using it i left it on, until it finally overheated. with hundreds of movies, over 2000 pics and 20 games on it im not really surprised. but id like to see a 360 take half the ***** i put my tray through. these idiots think that because a few old models overheated they can call out a huge problem like the 360, but really its only less than 5% of all ps3s

# ... — dre 2009-09-18 20:25

time fo sony to sue they cant have false negative press with the lauch of a new console model and i highly doubt bbc watchdog can proove their report wasn't bias.

# here's their article straight from BBC.com — duy817 2009-09-18 20:29

here's the link if anyone wants to read what they have to say: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8263063.stm

# after you read that article watch this — duy817 2009-09-18 20:34

after you read the article above watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v+GAb3-OrJB8M

# wrong link up there — duy817 2009-09-18 20:39

here's the broadcast from BBC I found on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDu9ePWF4gg

# haha!!! — duy817 2009-09-18 20:45

the show looks so stupid by the way they did their findings that i think there's no need for Sony to defend themself to this BS.. BBC is only making fun of themself for airing this crap.

# Not 5%, .5% — kupomogli 2009-09-18 21:12

Less than 1%

# WTF — houaruto 2009-09-18 21:56

.5% increase in my paycheck is so insignificant it it were a raise..............why the hell would anyone care about .5% of something that is so insignificant to even worry about..................your car breaking down every once a year, now that is a problem

# yeah that is sad.... — Shatterdome 2009-09-19 00:59

basically they started with "a comedian that works for microsoft..."

Yeah, I am sure it will be a totally objective report and not over exaggerated. That is what I expect from a comedian talking about a competitors product. /sarcasm

# oh... — Shatterdome 2009-09-19 01:02

and I forgot the the twit they had singing the dumb ass song...is that really necessary ? That just shows how sensationalized this show is.

# ylod easy fix — vern1000 2009-09-19 04:41

i must say i have had my system since dec. 2006 and it has run constantly but in this last year it really has been put to the test running linux,movies,ga mes,internet chat rooms it never rest. but i have gotten the ylod three times in the last 6 months i repair mines myself, i was not using the right thermal compound the reason it would fail about 2 to 3 weeks later if anyone wants to save themselves some money just make sure you get artic silver 5 thermal compound and u will be good and go to youtube and watch glisky1 video he's the one with the best video

# I disagree on two things... — Sloma 2009-09-19 12:41

...I disagree on this: "Sony's repair service is at much higher standard (...)" and that: "(...) is certainly more cost effective." It may be: "We rip your pocket better than others" instead.

First thing, not entirely PS3 specific but I also own VAIO laptop which once I had to send for repair (just before my warranty expired), it broke after one month. This time I sent it to 3rd party for repair and on the phone they told me it is poorly made (at the time I paid around 950 pounds for it).

Anyway, I paid less and it still works. Now, regarding PS3 I don't think it's not common problem on the contrary, my brothers PS3 YLODed. This time I bought a heat-gun and successfully reflowed it myself.

I think that Sony's products are these days more and more poorly made. Thankfully my PS3 works OK, unlike my brothers but at least I have know-how to fix it when it happen.

# Thanx man — ___ 2009-09-19 23:15

Btw is the repair on all models? I was wondering because I have the original model and some have the internally redesigned 40gb. Thanx for the info btw, made my day.

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BBC defends Watchdog report, Sony strikes back too

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