Star Wars
Data East, 1992I have a DE Star Wars Machine and recently I've developed a problem with the DMD gets horizontal static like lines across it.. It doesn't happen most of the time.. however it happens usually when you hit "The Force". It also happens at other times.. but very random. The game plays perfect besides this. I included a picture. Thanks in advance for any help!
Paul
Money is on reseating the ribbon cables, as stated by tomdotcom. Some of the power connectors to the dot matrix might be loose? I'd just unplug and replug the connectors to make sure. The important thing is the DMD powers on at least.
Wow! thanks for the fast reply guys! I tried what you said... it didn't help.. so i followed them all and reseated the other ends. This, improved it dramatically.. still happens a little. I noticed a missing screw on the power supply board right under the CN5X7 connector (RottenDog). And what do you know?!?! a trace runs right to this missing screw from the connector for ground. SO I'm going to head to the hardware store tomorrow and get a screw... I'm thinking thats the problem! I'll keep you posted! Thanks again!
So I replaced the missing screw.. and now it's worse then ever.. anything else that you know of that could cause such interference? It seems to happen mainly during "The Force" and the sarlac pit... when the ball is bouncing around the pop bumpers.
Try using some pliers or vice grips to re-crimp the plastic ends on the ribbon cable connectors. Sometimes they get loose. Be gentle and don't crush/break them.
The vibration from these could be causing it due to a loose connector as BD said. Also, check the diodes to make sure they are still connected well to the solenoids. Maybe an intermittent connection is causing the interference?
I gave all the clips a good squeeze and checked the diodes on all the solenoids. No luck, same problem. I'm lost! I don't see anything or even know what to do from here. I've included another picture. Thank you so much for all the suggestions guys!
It is always more along the bottom of the screen.. sometimes it goes up to the top...
Yes it could be a dirty socket. I take it you have tried to remove and reseat that display eprom IC ? It has to be a connection problem somewhere and not in the display itself. It could though be a flaky display eprom that is right on the edge of working or one of the DMD pal chips flaking out. Fortunately they are all available for download on ipdb.
REMOVE AND RESEAT ANYTHING IN A SOCKET
P.S. PAL = Programmable Array Logic
Yes i removed and replaced the IC. I just ordered a new eprom for $10, i figured it's a fair price if it works.. and if not, its only $10! Hope that is it.. I wish I had another machine to swap some parts around and test it out..
Sorry to sound dumb. (i'm new to this stuff, but understand a decent amount of electronics)
Is a PAL chip something that is easy to replace? is it on the DMD board? I've only noticed one removable chip on it. And one empty socket, from what i understand this was for an earlier version of the table. what would I do with the downloaded files? Assuming i would need some kind of programmer and a blank chip.
Today, as usual when i get home, i sat down to play a couple of games.. and it worked perfectly. The only thing different is humidity. Today it's very comfortable.. and the past week or so it has been unbearably humid. How is it possible that this is affecting the interference? or is this just a crazy coincidence?
Finally, An Update!
I just purchased a rebuilt original power supply for my machine and the problem is gone! There really was nothing else it could have been, i went through the whole machine, so i bit it and took a gamble. The aftermarket power supply just didn't cut it!
I'm glad you FINALLY got the fix and peace of mind. It just goes to show that no matter how much others try to make a universal replacement there can be things involved that will never be taken into account and provide the performance the original can.
Don't be too mad at them .. if it wasn't for vendors making substitutes we'd have alot more machines scrapped out forever.
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Clinton, CT
Kamloops, BC
But I've have read alot of good things about the same company's PPS boards.. can't say i would rule them out if i ever need one.. but i would definitely go for rebuilt first next time..