CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

RogueChili · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 162 Location: Westfield, MA

Hi,

I am currently working with "Speedyandre", he offered to do the preliminary field testing and post his findings. I do appreciate you response however must decline your offer at this time. I will however keep your offer in mind if any additional testing is required.

Thanks,
John

grogthegreat · Joined: 16 May 2007 Posts: 166 Location: San Diego, CA

No problem. I'm glad that the testing is being done. I look forward to seeing the results.
-Greg

Graham Johnson · Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 9:38 pm Post subject:

I hope all goes well for this mod after the last stupid debarcle on AVS. It is nice that someone finally is able to back up a claim.

I suggest you all jump on the wagon and buy this if its available as who knows if there will ever be a second run of PCB's Thumbs Up

MYoung · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 369 Location: Madison, WI

I'm interested! By the way Graham, thanks again for selling me that red tube neckboard to get my 1292Q back up to snuff a couple of years ago!

speedyandre · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Netherlands

I've finally received the box with the modded neckboards in it and I got a god damn high customs fee too Twisted Evil

Is there any favourit scene on blu-ray that I can test?
The one I've posted from 5th Element is ok and also scrolling titles on a black background show the streaking very well.
I think I'll place all the modded boards in one time to get a good idea of the whites not streaking anymore.

André

Ile · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:32 am Post subject:

I made new version of my streaking test pattern, this time 1920x1080 png format.

Take pics from tube face through lens, from screen it's hard to capture streaking with camera.

speedyandre · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Netherlands

I'll try this pic on my PS3 if I know how to Embarassed

When I put pics on an usbstick the PS3 doesn't see them, maybe they need to be in some directory?
Also some input about using my Spyder 2 for measurements to show the difference between modded and normal neckboards is welcome Wink

I think the Spyder 2 sensor is not very good with low IRE values.

André

freak1 · Joined: 04 Apr 2009 Posts: 13

HI Guys,

I hope Speedyandre gets a great experience from these neckboards.. if he approves, I'll be among the first to order a set. maybe Andre can help me put them in..

I will be moving into my new home at the end of the month, with a dedictated HT room Smile

MYoung · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 369 Location: Madison, WI

So there's only ~20 fellow 1292Qers on this whole forum?! By the way, who the hell owns a 1292Q and voted no?! If this mod works, and works well, then the 1292Q goes back on the "High Performance CRT Projectors" list, where it belongs!

speedyandre · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Netherlands

I think the 1292 is indeed a very good performer when the streaking is gone Thumbs Up

The noise of my 1292 is less then half of a standard 1292 by changing fans to Papst and isolating them from the metal parts with blu-tack.
Next update is hd10-f lenses (expected to arrive here soon) and I'll try to find the source of some faint 50/60Hz lines that appear sometimes with bright scenes.
If I'm lucky these lines will disappear with the modified neck boards but I'm afraid it is a problem with the PS or one of the (dc) boards.
But first I need to make a test setup and measure if the modification doesn't change the normal behavior of the neck boards.
It would be nice if others can repeat the measurements to assure more consistent results.

André

speedyandre · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Netherlands

I've exchanged the blue neckboard because it's red wire was not strapped to other wires.
The difference is quite clear but sometimes I still can see a very light kind of streaking in the blue tube.
At first sight there is no difference in colour or brightness but I only can confirm this with some measurements Wink

I'm sorry for the blocks, they came after resizing and compressing the pictures Embarassed

André

Analog_Alpha · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 89 Location: London, Ontario

So what is the status on this? Has any adjustment to the board been made? Is this going to be available for sale?

speedyandre: anyway you could post a picture of the screen displaying just black and white please?

Cheers

RogueChili · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 162 Location: Westfield, MA

The status is testing / evaluation. This process is complicated and time consuming and I expect will take a few months to complete.

As far as a saleable product, I am skeptical at this point. The interest / demand does not justify investing in having boards made. Not to mention it is a real pain in the ass to implement in the field. Originally I was thinking this would be user installed however I now realize that is impossible for most. Field installation requires modification of the neck board (SMD technology) requiring a certain level of experience. In all practicality, the boards would have to be sent to me for modification making it inconvenient and costly for the end user. Let’s see how the field testing goes before making any decisions.

freak1 · Joined: 04 Apr 2009 Posts: 13

Hi RogueChili,

if the field implementation is going well, you can count on me sending my neckboards in...

speedyandre · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Netherlands

RogueChili · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 162 Location: Westfield, MA

That pot was on the prototype board. Its intended use was exactly your concern, stability! Varying the resistance of the pot simulated the affects of temperature changes and component tolerances. It was just to give me an idea of the stability and how well the modifications integrated with the original circuitry. Not as elegant as the mathematical solution but much less involved.

That being said, there is a slight gain decrease with temperature, however it is negligible in the acceptable working temperature of the components.

speedyandre · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Netherlands

I have some new pics of the same scene Smile

The blue lens or c-element could use some cleaning but I don't see the dust on the screen Wink

André

HV-MAN · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 18 Location: Brisbane, Australia

If it all works out, and it looks like it is, count me in.

RogueChili · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 162 Location: Westfield, MA

Status: the mod is still in testing, there was an unforeseen development with one of Andres modified neck boards. For reasons not yet understood the blue crt goes dark after approximately one hour of use. Once that problem is resolved testing will resume.

Update: the modification has taken on new life. There are a few shortcomings with the original design concept that if addressed now will enhance the final product by simplifying the installation, increasing the efficiency of the amplifier stage, increasing compatibility with other projectors and reducing the cost. I really want to simplify the installation to the point that only simple soldering techniques are required. Honestly, I am not excited about the prospect of modifying any significant number of neck boards. I have done three sets to date, and at approximately 2 hours per, and can say I have had my fill!

The Plan: the new concept is to design a hybrid circuit, including the streaking fix and amplifier stage, that replaces the existing amplifier IC with only two additional connections to the neck board. All that is required to modify your neck board is to remove the original amplifier IC, solder the hybrid circuit in its place and solder two wires hanging off the hybrid circuit to two points on the neck board. One additional benefit of the hybrid circuit is the cooling efficiency will be improved allowing the air flow to be reduced = noise reduction.

overclkr · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 4227