CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

ecrabb · Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:02 am Post subject: Weird G70 issue: No video...

OK, this isn't my machine we're talking about. It's quest_enterprises' machine, and I'm just trying to help him out.

I went through a few things on the phone with him, and I'm stumped... I'm concerned he has a hardware issue at this point. Here's the deal:

- No external video will display.
- He's tried the RGBHV input, the switcher connector via an Extron interface, and A Moome card in the IFB slot.
- All menus and patterns function properly.
- I went throught the basics on the phone with him: Brightness, contrast, pic mute status...

One weird thing is that he couldn't select the menu option to change sync - it wasn't available. Is that perhaps disabled when the moome card is selected?

So, any ideas? I haven't had a chance to look at the service manual, yet to know which board or connectors to look at. These machines were deinstalled and moved, so there could certainly be a loose card or connector.

I'd like to try to get over and help him in person, but I'd like to have some ideas first to know whether we should have spares or...

That's all I can think of right now. We'll add to this as the questions come up.

Thanks, guys!

SC

CasetheCorvetteman · Joined: 09 Nov 2008 Posts: 6326 Location: Australia

This will sound like a really bloody silly suggestion to you im sure, and i certainly mean no disrespect, but is the projector set to the Video or S-Video input instead of RGB?

CIR Engineering · Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 1:54 pm Post subject:

Also, I forget on the G70, but aren't the sync options only available in service mode? He may need to go into service mode and change sync.

craigr

ecrabb · Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 3:11 pm Post subject:

Yep, he knows how to switch inputs, and did so while I was on the phone with him.

Yeah, Craig - he was in service man mode - I had him check hours to verify.

I'm at a loss. I had him check bias and gain to make sure that wasn't backed down...

Troubleshooting over the phone sucks. I think I'm gonna need to just go there and troubleshoot. I wish it wasn't a 2-hour drive each way, but it probably makes sense at this point. He's got two machines, but supposedly they're both doing the same thing.

SC

CIR Engineering · Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 3:26 pm Post subject:

CIR Engineering · Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 3:27 pm Post subject:

Yeah, maybe have him ship you a DC board to try in your G70 before you make the four hour trek.

craigr

ecrabb · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 3:01 am Post subject:

Craig... DC board? That's the convergence board, right? He doesn't seem to having any problem with menus, patterns, OSD, etc...

What are the chances it could be a bad RGB input board (BA board). I still haven't looked at the service manual, but according to Curt's page here:
http://www.curtpalme.com/SonyG70_Layout4.shtm

quest_enterprises · Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Posts: 93 Location: Marion, Iowa

Here is what I did today to trouble shoot,

I reseated the vertical focus board, convergence board, H deflection board, cpu board, main input board and all main power boards.
Same issue with no picture
I swapped the vertical focus board into the other g70.
Same issue with no picture.
All menus and test patterns work.

MikeEby · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 5237 Location: Osceola, Indiana

I don't know a G70 at all but don't they have a component input? Could it be set to use that?

Mike

quest_enterprises · Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Posts: 93 Location: Marion, Iowa

We went through all of the inputs including a moome card. It switches to the different inputs but the picture has sync issues it seems. I just have lines scrolling for a picture.

stefuel · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 12:17 pm Post subject:

Forget the projector and check your input cables. I don't know what you have for equipment but try feeding the source to a PC monitor or connect a PC to the projector with a known good break-out cable and try again. Sounds like the problem is external to the projector. Always prove the source before you condem the display!!!

ecrabb · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 2:16 pm Post subject:

He did that, too Chip. Swapped the same RGBHV cable over to his XG, and it worked fine apparently.

Besides, the same behavior existed between the Moome, RGBHV input, and composite... So, that would have to be 3 completely different input cables bad.

But, the input is obviously functioning in some way. The projector is obviously seeing the signal, as the status changes from "INPUT A - NO INPUT" to just "INPUT A" and it reports the correct fH and FV.

I'm guessing the BA boards are bad. It blows my mind that there could be two machines with the same problem, though

I'd like to know what Curt has to say about, but he's been off the grid for a few days.

SC

CIR Engineering · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 2:31 pm Post subject:

Well, if this is a board issue, about the only logical thing it could be right now is the input board. I mean, if OSD's and system messages work and the sync is reported correctly on screen...

Unless you have six bad neck boards or six bad tubes or who knows. You probably need to send some boards to Curt for testing.

craigr

Jim Shonk · Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 149 Location: Zanesville Ohio

Remove the moome card and do a factory reset, I had a similar problem and it turned out I was fighting a failed moome

CIR Engineering · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 3:07 pm Post subject:

ecrabb · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 5:05 pm Post subject:

This issue existed before he ordered the moome card. In fact, he picked up the moome card to try a card in the IFB slot other than the switcher card.

Jog my memory... How do you do a factory reset?

SC

Jim Shonk · Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 149 Location: Zanesville Ohio

I wonder if these units were operated with the out board switcher, if so it may be looking for a signal there, go into service mode and cycle the switcher index 1, 2, 3, or 4 hit reset to factory data on all those see if it will try and lock on to a signal afterwords, the fact that both units do this, I am positive it's a setting and not a failure, common since would dictate that. I cant wait t hear what fixes it. (remember reset next to blkg) on the remote. don't forget 0all and switcher/index

CIR Engineering · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 11:18 pm Post subject:

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 8990 Location: Colorado

quest_enterprises · Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Posts: 93 Location: Marion, Iowa

Evening,

I did the factory reset in service mode. The picture still has the scrolling lines. However, the picture has the color of my desk top which is the projecting source. How do I reset the switcher. Do i go into service mode menu and than 2 inputs and scroll through the switcher there or do it on the switcher on the remote.

Thanks