Re: [ql-users] OPD Expired!
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'm just a simple country lad but could I point out that the water in your radiators is most definitly NOT plastic The last time I drained down the system, it looked like plastic, I can assure you of that. Very nasty ! I suspect it had been in there from day one (of the house) and never had anything like a can of 'treatment' added to keep it 'nice'. I didn't taste it though :o) and will provided all the continuity you could ever wish for should you drop a live QL PSU into your bath instead of a plastic duck (;-) Speaking (typing) as one who has had the misfiortune (twice) to have been 'plugged in' to the mains while working on a device (I removed the plug and the workshop 'numptie' plugged it back in - even though there was a notice saying 'Norm at work, do not plug in !' The HS repercussions were worse than the 240V), I shall try to avoid dropping QL PSUs into my bath for two reasons that I can think of : (1) I would probably drop my book into the water as well and that would upset me (2) The power lead on my QL PSU is too short to reach :o) Still, I enjoyed your posting - it's good to see that I'm not the only one with a slightly warped sense of humour. Cheers, Norm. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] OPD Expired!
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Morning all, SNIP If, and only if a pin is bent, first ground yourself on a radiator then take a pair of fine pliers or tweezers (available from maplin) = if I might point out, my radiators (10 year old 'modern' house in th UK) have plastic pipes and are not connected to earth in any way. In fact, the entire water system in the house is plastic. Beware as not being earthed can be catastrophic. Cheers, Norman. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] OPD Expired!
- Original Message - From: Billy [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2007 1:32 PM Subject: Re: [ql-users] OPD Expired! [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Morning all, SNIP If, and only if a pin is bent, first ground yourself on a radiator then take a pair of fine pliers or tweezers (available from maplin) = if I might point out, my radiators (10 year old 'modern' house in th UK) have plastic pipes and are not connected to earth in any way. In fact, the entire water system in the house is plastic. Beware as not being earthed can be catastrophic. Cheers, Norman. I'm just a simple country lad but could I point out that the water in your radiators is most definitly NOT plastic and will provided all the continuity you could ever wish for should you drop a live QL PSU into your bath instead of a plastic duck (;-) All the best - Bill Perhaps Geoff could supply unearthed plastic Moles (for the bath?) Regards, John G. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] OPD Expired!
Richard Kilpatrick [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: My recently acquired BT Merlin Tonto just died! It's been on for a couple of days demonstrating the auto-answer function; the monitor has been switched off. However, earlier today the phone line went off the hook in an odd way, and the OPD appears to be dead - but I don't know if it's the PSU in the monitor which has failed (I get power lights so I am guessing not, but a disconnected monitor doesn't seem to do anything of note) or if the OPD itself has failed and that's why I am not getting anything out of the monitor. Are there any common failure points on these? And does anyone have a medium-res failed OPD colour monitor that has an intact lead? I could use that on my colour display to try and see if the OPD itself is still working. Richard, somewhat upset as he's only had the OPD a week :( Hi Richard OPD experience - I have a fair amount of OPD experience. The OPD is reasonably reliable, you just have to watch for loose connections. The switched mode power supply in the mono and colour monitors can go, but we have circuit diagrams for these. The monitors are less reliable than the OPDs, and the base units are usually rock solid. The modems sometimes go, but you can substitute a faulty modem for a working one in seconds. There are a small band of OPD-ers amongst the QL-ers, so I'll add you to my list if I may. OPD monitors --- I also know a TV engineer who will repair OPD monitors for a song. He's fixed some of my mono monitors for me. You can modify a QL colour monitor to work on an OPD, but it's easier just to plug the OPD into a mono monitor if you suspect a fault. OPD Tips --- I'm preparing an introductory guide for the OPD, and I will include a chapter on troubleshooting OPD problems such as these. Please try the following : How to cure 90% of OPD / Tonto faults : = a) Power down the OPD. b) Remove the monitor lead (15 pin D connector) b) Carefully remove the modem (left hand corner unit) c) Carefully remove the memory expansion pack (right hand unit) d) Check for bent pins on the connections leading to b) and c) If, and only if a pin is bent, first ground yourself on a radiator then take a pair of fine pliers or tweezers (available from maplin) and gingerly bend the connection pin back in place. e) Plug in the memory unit and modem b) c) and wiggle them around a bit. Try connecting and disconnecting until they feel secure. f) Plug in monitor lead into the OPD. Make sure that the connection is secure, and the thumb screws are tight. g) Power up the OPD : Power On Self Test (POST) === It's important to make a note of what happens when the OPD initialises. The OPD's initialisation process is similar to the QL's. The OPD does a power on self tests (POST), checking each of the sub systems : memory test, modem test, ROM test. i) Note the number of vertical bars on the startup screen. You should see an equal number of black and white bars. In 90% of cases, if the OPD fails the startup test, it's either a loose connection on the modem or the memory expansion, or a faultly memory chip. The memory chips are easy to replace, and they're similar to those fitted to the QL. ii) The sound of the modem 'clicking' and the led lights flashing. If the relay in the modem clicks and the lights flash, you're in business. iii) Make a note of any 'memory failure' messages. Cheers, Let me know if this cures your OPD. Dan. - All New Yahoo! Mail Tired of unwanted email come-ons? Let our SpamGuard protect you. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] OPD Expired!
On 3 Apr 2007, at 12:40, dan volvo wrote: ii) The sound of the modem 'clicking' and the led lights flashing. If the relay in the modem clicks and the lights flash, you're in business. I think I have a power problem, in that I get the Modem chattering with the LEDs for the line acitivity flickering, nothing from the monitor, and no bars/power/POST of any kind apparent on the OPD itself. If I can try either a new lead in my current OPD Medium-Res display (it's been modified to be a QL monitor with the power line detached at both ends and an 8-PIN DIN connector fitted) or have another way of powering up the OPD (mostly, I need the connector to the OPD), then I can verify my base unit/modem works (as it had been for several days quite happily) and I'll gladly pay a TV engineer to refurbish my OPD mono display. Full capacitor replacement! It was a bit wobbly when powered up - ripples on the display - so I suspect that may have been a sign of incoming PSU failure. Are there any boards other than the large Microvitec one in the colour display? I think the OPD must take 12V from there, but I'd like to be certain - there's an unused connector on the 240V cables inside. Richard -- Tasty Other - Because Far Too Much in Life Makes Sense Music for download - coming soon (RIP MP3.com) G.A.S. http://www.dmc12.demon.co.uk/music/ Platform: PowerMac G5 2.0GHz Dual, 20 LCD, Logic, Hammerfall. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] OPD Expired!
On 3 Apr 2007, at 17:06, Richard Kilpatrick wrote: Okay, can't get anything useful from the mono monitor without more research, but I'm not getting any 5v/12v - I think it needs connections to be made for these to work. But I am now 100% sure that modifying an ICL Medium-Res monitor to work with a QL actually, in this case, comprised ripping out the Astec PSU that powers the OPD and the chassis it sits on, and replacing the cable entirely. So I think I need more than just a cable to use that monitor and it is in fact just a big, rather ugly, QL monitor now. Richard -- Tasty Other - Because Far Too Much in Life Makes Sense Music for download - coming soon (RIP MP3.com) G.A.S. http://www.dmc12.demon.co.uk/music/ Platform: PowerMac G5 2.0GHz Dual, 20 LCD, Logic, Hammerfall. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] OPD Expired!
On 3 Apr 2007, at 17:55, Richard Kilpatrick wrote: Just another quick update sort of thing :D Schematics of the OPD mono monitor and PSU would be really handy for testing purposes, as I just remembered that I have an Astec Switch- mode PSU from something which has +5v, +12v, -5v, -12v available. It's a slightly larger board than the one I just removed from the OPD's monitor, but if I can tell which wires are 5V, which are 12V, and be sure of the function of the purple wire with a blade connector (I think, ground, there are a few purples which I am assuming are all ground) then I can make a lead up and power up the monitor/OPD with it? Richard -- Tasty Other - Because Far Too Much in Life Makes Sense Music for download - coming soon (RIP MP3.com) G.A.S. http://www.dmc12.demon.co.uk/music/ Platform: PowerMac G5 2.0GHz Dual, 20 LCD, Logic, Hammerfall. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] OPD Expired!
Re: ...Richard, somewhat upset as he's only had the OPD a week :( Commiserations Richard. It's just not fair! Hope it can be fixed. :) Best wishes, John in Wales ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
