CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

diezzler · Joined: 23 Dec 2010 Posts: 38 Location: Potomac, MD

I'm new to the forum in the sense of posting, but am not new to the CRT world.
I recently picked up a Sony 1272q with a RM-PJ1292 remote. Everything works great, except for the fact that the remote will not work in IR mode (remote works when plugged into the back). I've looked all over the web and on this forum, as well as others. Any ideas what could be going on?
The projector does have the IFB11 Card in it.
Thanks in advance for all your help.

Cliff

ecrabb · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 5:30 am Post subject:

Could be several things... If you've tried pointing the remote directly at both front- and rear IR receivers (separately) to no avail, then it could be that the projector thinks something is plugged into the control-S ports all the time (and has disabled the IR receivers). It could also be that the remote isn't sending IR.

Oh... Where did you get the RM-PJ1292? Did it have a battery cover or flip-covers? It was possible to remove the built-in keypad from one machine and use it as a wired remote, but not wirelessly as the built-in panel didn't have IR emitters.

You might be able to test to see if the remote emitters are working and determine whether it's a problem with the emitters in the remote or the receivers in the projector. Many video cameras or cell phone cameras are sensitive to IR... Just point the remote right at the camera and see if you see anything. Test the camera with a known-good remote to find one that's sensitive.

SC

diezzler · Joined: 23 Dec 2010 Posts: 38 Location: Potomac, MD

Thanks for the reply, I list all the things i've tried below:
1) Remote is indeed an actual wireless remote, and not one that was converted from a hard wired (on top) one.
2) Remote works while it has a 3.5mm line plugged into it and pluged into the back of the projector.
3) Remote will operate a sony 1252 projector (a friend of mines), and does indeed send a signal.
4) Tried the remote on the front IR and back IR very closely.
5) Plugged in and unplugged a 3.5 mm plug into the the remote-s ports (a few times) just in case the projector port was stuck and thought one was still plugged in.

Any other ideas? If the projector does indeed "think" there is a plug in the control-S port, is there anything I can do to remedy this problem?

Thanks

diezzler · Joined: 23 Dec 2010 Posts: 38 Location: Potomac, MD

I also went one step further and pulled out the video/s-video board and tried to turn it on. I also unplugged the back IR board and tried with just the front, and vice versa. Still no go.

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 2:30 pm Post subject:

Sounds like the problem is most likely in the remote itself. You can check for IR output of the remote with a digital camera. Point the remote emitter at the lens, and look at the camera viewfinder. If it's outputting light, then the IR emitters in the remote will glow blue.

I've had many 12XX remote PC boards crack. Lots of times that will cause the little red LED on the face of the remote to still flash, but there's no output from the remote via the IR.

ecrabb · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 2:35 pm Post subject:

Curt, did you miss this tidbit and my same suggestion earlier? Wink

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 3:21 pm Post subject:

Uh, yeah, I did. Smile

Damn speed reading! Never mind..

ecrabb · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 5:08 pm Post subject:

OK, so I can't remember... On the 12xx... What board do the IR sensors connect to? One of the big CPU board on the top/back of the machine, yes? Could the IR sensors just be disconnected for some reason?

SC

diezzler · Joined: 23 Dec 2010 Posts: 38 Location: Potomac, MD

I believe I traced the correct wires from the IR receiver in the back of the projector that goes to the board right under the Green Tube. It appears to be the main board that everything is plugged into.
I also downloaded the remote IR files for my pronto and tried it, but did not work.
Is there anything on the projector I can reset? Something like a cmos battery, or a hard reset?
I'm thinking maybe the projector is doing something funky, and if I reset it it may work.
Maybe possible that both IR boards are broken, but the back one still lights up red and green.
Any other ideas? Thank you all for your input and help.

cliff

diezzler · Joined: 23 Dec 2010 Posts: 38 Location: Potomac, MD

I also read on various forums that the R50 has some dip switches that when incorrect will prevent the remote from working.. Are there any on this projector that could do the some thing? Also, maybe a hidden menu on the projector that can turn IR on/off..

Thanks Again

ecrabb · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:12 pm Post subject:

I don't think there are any switches that will prevent the IR receiver from working as there are on the newer D50/G70/G90 chassis. At least, I don't remember that ever coming up in any discussion over the years since I had my first 12xx... which is going on ten years, now. Shocked

Knowing definitely that the projector disables IR input when a cord is plugged into the Control-S port, I think it's highly likely that the jack is physically grounding something, or the circuit that controls that was zapped somehow... Maybe you could use a flashlight and a magnifier and try to look into the ports, but I don't what else you can do at this point other than to try swapping video/S-video input boards (the one with the control-S jacks on it) with a known good machine. Maybe Curt can help you in that department.

Seems like you've checked everything and it's down to the projector/board itself. I'm out of my depth at this point.

Cheers,
SC

diezzler · Joined: 23 Dec 2010 Posts: 38 Location: Potomac, MD

It could be the control-S port, but I even unplugged the video/s-video board and turned the projector on with the physically wired remote then tried to use the wireless remote, and still no go. I'm not sure if that board needs to be plugged-in/connected for IR signals to be received, but if it does still receive signals without the board then it is not that port on the board. I also plugged a non-powered IR receiver into the control-s port and tried the remote pointed at that and it did not work. I'm not sure if the IR receiver I have is "compatible" with it. The funny thing is, when I plug the wireless remote into the control-S port it works. You would think with that port working, that any IR receiver would work. Does anyone know if there is a special or specific type of IR receiver that needs to be plugged into the port?
Again thank you for all your help and time.

Cliff

diezzler · Joined: 23 Dec 2010 Posts: 38 Location: Potomac, MD

Another idea.
I could unsolder the control-S port from the board itself, as the pins inside may have gotten stuck and think there is a plug in it. Or, I could just unsolder the pin that either grounds or loops that tells the projector there is a plug in the control-s port. Does anyone know which pins on the plug do this? Additional does anyone have one of the video/video-s boards or know the part number and how much it would cost?
Thanks again

cliff

ecrabb · Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 5:31 am Post subject:

This is a weird one for sure...

I glanced at the service manual, and it looks like the NA and NB boards (IR receivers) as well as the RC board (the chassis mounted remote control) - all connect to the DM board first. The DM board is the big motherboard at the bottom of the chassis, under the tubes, that the vertically-mounted DA, DB, DD and DE boards are plugged into.

I guess I'd first double-check that the NA and NB boards are indeed connected to their headers on the DM board. It may take a little digging to do. They probably are, but I'd still check it.

Once you verify that, then the only thing left to check would be that the BC and BM boards are properly seated. All three of these boards are motherboards connected together by the big bus connectors, and the SIRCS circuits travel across all three. I can't easily tell from the block diagram, but I suppose if a bus connector weren't square/tight, maybe the wired connector will work and the IR receivers won't.

Those boards are all fun to get into... They're in the bowels of the projector with lots of stuff connected to them.

But, since these machines are getting so old, the connectors are getting oxidized and needing to reseat connectors is common. I'd rock/pull every board you can get to and try to reseat - especially the BC and BM boards.

Good luck.

SC

ecrabb · Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 5:34 am Post subject:

Oh, and if you pulled the whole video/s-video board, then it can't be the control-s port holding something down... So, don't worry about desoldering that.

Mac or Curt can chime in, but I wouldn't be surprised if you don't just to need to re-seat some boards (not that that's an easy task).

Cheers,
SC

diezzler · Joined: 23 Dec 2010 Posts: 38 Location: Potomac, MD

Thanks for the reply. I started to take everything apart and then I saw the CA boards and all the wires. You are right, there are a lot of boards, wires, and plugs in there. I probably need to take a few pictures of it and then take it apart so I know where everything goes. I'll finish it up tomorrow and post the results.
One question, I noticed that the slots for the video/s-video, IFB boards, BA, BB, BC, etc all have the same plug connectors on the back. Does this mean that they can plug into the board in any given slot? If so, would it be worth while trying them in a different order?
Also, you said that the since I pulled the video/s-video board that it couldn't be the control-S board. Will the projector work correctly without the board? I just wanted to make sure, but I'm sure you know since you were able to read the service manual schematic.

Thanks,
Cliff

diezzler · Joined: 23 Dec 2010 Posts: 38 Location: Potomac, MD

Ok, I finished taking all the boards in the back to the bottom out and cleaned the pins on the boards. Plugged them back in (after 2 hours) and still no go. I also unplugged the stock wired remote and plugged it into the port on the front and on the back where the IR receivers were. The remote would light up when I hit keys but nothing would happen. I also plugged the front and back IR boards (NA and NB) into the port where the remote was originally and tried the wireless remote and nothing happened. The red light on the NA board did light indicating the projector was in standby. I guess the IR messages and hard wired messages are different to the projector, or go to different places.
Any other ideas?

thanks
cliff

diezzler · Joined: 23 Dec 2010 Posts: 38 Location: Potomac, MD

After thinking about a little. It probably comes down to a few things. Where ever the IR codes are stored, processed is either damaged or is turned off. Does anyone know where the control-s turns off the IR functionality? That could be a different board from where the IR codes are processed/stored and could also be malfunctioning. I have no idea if you can gather this information from the service manual schematics. But thank you for all your help.
I have no idea where to go from here. And based on what I did above, I doubt it's likely that a IR reciever plugged into the control-s port will work.

diezzler · Joined: 23 Dec 2010 Posts: 38 Location: Potomac, MD

Ok got it to work. It indeed was the BB board. If you look on the service manual on pg 23 grid B2, you note that the SIRCS is connected to the outer two connections (one is ground and the other one goes to the SIRCS-5V on pg 25). The inner two connections (normally a closed circuit with no plug) is the circuit that cuts off the IR functionality. I unsoldered the control-S jack off and opened it up to see what was going on (in the process breaking it and that was a little nerve wrecking because I'd have no IR and no control S) and noted that the pins where intensely bent. I just took a wire and soldered them to the junction on the board to restore the normally looped circuit (when there is no plug in the jack) and it restored IR functionality.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions. I really appreciate everybody's help..

Cliff