Quick update on the speaker static/buzz issues I was having when changing the backbox light brightness...

I took a look yesterday and found no loose grounding screws or connectors/wires. All the circuitry and solder joints looked intact. I noticed that the backbox speaker wiring was looped around the solenoid cable, but unlooping it and moving it around had no effect on the noise. I even tried plugging the machine into a power conditioner with no luck. Unplugging the speaker connector was the only way to get the noise to go away...

I opened a ticket with CGC last night and got a response this morning that they are sending me a new controller board. I'll have to send the old one back (I was hoping to keep it so I could troubleshoot it). I'll report back on how it works out.

I noticed the same buzz on my CE. Very interested in your outcome. Thanks

Advice please. I am getting the Eat at Eddies mod and also want to brighten up the playfield . I would also like to light the SOL hole and outhole. Is Comet the best resource ? Is it easy to install? And would Pinstadium drown out that proposed lighting if I purchase that as well?
Thanks!

there are no sockets to hook mods to in the AFMr games only light boards so everything is molex connections of some sort. we offer a combo backboard and trough light setup. You can choose what colors you want to order. here is a pic of my game.

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I apologize if this has been covered elsewhere but I'm curious. Has anybody found a way to change the sound schemes on this game? I figure about the only thing this game is missing is a few "acks" lifted from the Mars Attacks movie along with a couple Slim Whitman "howls".

How do I keep blowing up the saucer with "Dirty Pool"? I keep dropping it in the multi ball lock an it seems the ship will sometimes randomly explode when I do this and I cannot figure out why. Loving the game! Still haven't gotten to Mars but I've gotten all the other jewels lit.

Check the switch under the playfield at the subway.
It's set a little close.
Just twist it a little to make it less sensitivel. Loosen the screws if you need to.

I got the replacement controller board and plugged it in, but the problem is much worse. At the default MAX brightness, where before I had only minor static (which is likely normal), I now have very loud static and buzzing. This gets progressively worse as I decrease the brightness, and there is still no difference between the MAX and -1 settings. The new board is unusable; I'm certainly not going to send my original board back if there's any chance I won't get it back.

I noticed that the code revision on the new controller is 1.0.1, with a build date of Oct. 2018. The 3.3V regulator (U8) is also different (but I think they're the same device, just different vendors - I haven't compared the two datasheets):

Original - Burr Brown 11174
New - ST Micro LD33

For now, I put my original board back in and I'm going to respond to CGC and send the new board back. I'm trying to get a video of what's happening.

If anyone else has time, it would be great if you could try to reproduce this problem just so we can see if it's widespread. All you need to do is adjust the Backbox Brightness setting and see if you get buzzing or static from your speakers as it decreases, and whether there's a difference in brightness between the MAX and -1 settings. The latter would indicate to me that there's a software bug, but the former would be a circuitry issue that could probably be solved with some capacitance or lowering of the amplifier gain somewhere.

Have you tried a ground loop isolator on the speakers?

Is that posdible?

It should be possible. I think I'd have to DIY something as none of the ones I saw really accept anything other than a 3.5mm plug; I'll see what sort of stuff I can grab at work.

I had a couple of other ideas that I'd like to try, but I'll wait until CGC responds; I'm sure they'll come up with a solution.

The nice thing about electronics is there's always more than one way to skin a cat - it just depends on how complicated you want to make it.

EDIT: I was searching for problems like this and one that came up is for Monopoly. The problem there was that the amplifier gain was way too high, and was amplifying and passing noise within the circuitry. You won't notice this in an arcade or bar, but at home you will. All that's needed is to turn the gain down, but obviously the circuit used on that game is different than the one in this one. I think this was also addressed with Stern Service Bulletin #133.

http://thepaisleys.azurewebsites.net/paisleypinball/monopoly/eliminate_backbox_hum_and_buzz.htm

The AFMr uses the TI TPA3116 amplifier. Its gain is set with R39 and R38 - 20k and 100k, respectively. Looking at the datasheet, the gain is set to 26dB, with the lowest possible gain being 20dB. Lowering it would be as simple as removing R38 and changing R39 to 5.6k. I'll dig through the datasheet more tomorrow and see if I can learn more about the design.

CGC replied and said that this is a known issue that is inherent to the design, and is due to the way the backbox lights are dimmed. They said there would be no fix or update to address it, and they recommend keeping the brightness at MAX.

I don't really mind it, but I think I'm still going to poke around and see if I can do anything. I'll keep you guys updated if anything works.

That’s not cool, wish they would help you solve the problem. I have a AFMrLE and would love a MBrLE next to it but now this gives me something to factor in. I hope you find a fix good luck.

Can the strobe light multiball be turned off on AFMr? A bit too much for me. Thanks.

No.

LTG : )

That sucks... Any options to weaken the effect or make it harder to start or anything?

A2.08 in Williams feature adjustments.

LTG : )

The Powerblades illuminating during strobe multiball is an amazing effect. Really enhanced the game for me.

Tape a piece of opaque material over the LED board - or otherwise turn it all the way to low - it’s a little much but still fun

Turn it on low, ok.
It's a strobe light after all.
As long as you dont get seizures from it.

On high setting? You crazy...lol

you can turn down the strobe brightness in the CGC menu. but its epic when it starts.

had two issues recently:

Anyone have a problem with the drop target not coming back up? If I reset it manually it comes up for a bit then after a while it doesn't come back up again? anyone seen this?

on the right ramp - when the ball comes out of the wireform - its sometimes got a bounce that takes it randolmly in different directions - including the outlane ? anyone seen this?

Be sure the switches under there are working, haven't come loose or anything.

Lower flipper strength, or figure some washers or something to raise it up a little on the side back there.

LTG : )

ah good point - you just reminded me that the game has just been waxed.

Post is off center. Once you see it, you can't unsee it =( I'm fairly certain it is drilled straight through with no room for adjustment. Left side post is dead center and inline with the black painted circle.

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That happened a few times to me until I turned the flipper strength down, as LTG recommended. -4 seems to be pretty good for my setup.

Looks like all of your printing is to the right. It doesn’t line up with the holes.

Well the good news is the printing isn't off. The bad news is the holes on the entire right side seem to be off. Left looks good, right is off. Will take picture of the upper playfield as I make my way up there.

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Just noticed that my start button stops blinking after a while . Is this a setting ? As soon as I start a new game it goes back to normal .

this is normal

Your playfield looks completely normal, the holes are good and in good positions. They look exactly like mine.
The artwork always is kinda random.
Pinball artwork never exactly matches the cutouts.
This is normal.

The geometry of the game is cut by a CNC machine and are precise. Your game is perfect. Art is applied by hand and has registration variation.

Always variations in the silk screening process but the holes are always precise. Nothing wrong with that Playfield at all

switch had moved position wise, moved it back and its looking good. have the say the mainboard of AFMR is a work of art.

Eddy's in the house. I'm not a big mod guy but this thing looks awesome and was easy to install

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drop target fixed thanks LTG.

Neil.

So this is my first day playing my new AFMrLE. I just finished ruler of the universe (29 Billion) is there anymore wizard modes to this or did I just finish the game? Its beautiful, I love it, but afraid this might be way to easy if you are a decent pinball player right?

Holy cow......I’ve owned mine for 10 months and haven’t come close. You must be playing with 10 balls!!

3 balls, default settings haven't touched a thing.

Fantastic !

Nice score. Next game try with the glass on.

That's a great score. Have you been able to do it multiple times? If so, WOW!

Even great players like Lyman still play AFM and it never gets old. You have amazing skill if you’re able to do that - I’ve never been close.

Anything to know about installing eat at eddys mod? I have a afmr le. Just follow instructions on mezelmods, or is there something special i have to do?

The game may be too easy for you. I'm an average player at best, and after 15 months of ownership, I have been one shot away from lighting rule the universe. So it's more than challenging for someone of my caliber. I suppose you can try raising the pitch, closing the outlanes, and removing the extra balls.

Edit - Should have said open the outlanes

Finally got my under apron mod installed. Looks great with the Titan glow rubbers.

-Jeff

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I have three sets of pingraffix powerbladez remaining if anyone wants a set. Pingraffix is out of stock.

https://lermods.com/products/attack-from-mars-remake-powerbladez-by-pingraffix

Happy holidays!

I saw somebody posted that they put theirs in a few posts back but this thing looks way better in person than it does on the mezel mods website. Wicked cool mod that I almost didn't buy!

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So...is there any way of changing the speaker volume besides the main volume option from the coin door?

In my home game room....AFMr is just loud. I have 0, 1, or 2 as my viable options. On my IMDN, I have 1-6 or so before it starts getting too loud, and on my Dialed In, I have a lot more (1-22 or so). I would love some more volume options besides 3 on AFMr. If I had some way of turning down the volume somewhere else (menu, hardware, etc) then I could get more options when using the main volume.