Hi! I just bought Meteor with the 2021 Mods installed. Wow - what an amazing game. I’m having an odd problem and I’m wondering if anyone else is experiencing this. I have my Award Scores set to 600000, 800000 and 900000. I have the award selection set to 3 for Credit, Credit, Extra Ball. Tournament scoring is off. Game is in Free Play mode. When playing, I get a credit at the first award level but no award at either level2 or 3. I have changed the award selection and the problem is consistent. An award is given when crossing the first level but not level 2 or 3. Obviously not critical but would love to solve this if anyone has ideas. Machine is set to 5 ball play.

DickHamill -- any thoughts on my issue above? Easy to replicate. Thank you!!!

Thank

Thank you for this. Lots of great questions:
1) There are less than 20 credits on the machine
2) Great question regarding crossing both levels on the same ball. I don't think so, but I will test this. Considering that I've never seen the second award get triggered, I'd think this is not the case.
3) I have it set for "credit" "credit" "extra ball" so I don't think that is the issue (having previously earned an extra ball via another method).

But I do have a question (I used to be a FORTRAN and COBOL coder but those skills don't readily translate) -- this code seems to be for TournamentScoring and I do not have TournamentScoring set to on. Could that be the issue or am I reading it wrong?

Brian

Hi everyone. Just uploaded the latest software version onto my Rev1 board. Everything runs great but seems like the Test/Audit/Parameters have changed a bit. Does anyone have a comprehensive list? Thanks so much!!!

So...apologize for the long post.

I successfully uploaded this to my RoyGBev Version 1 board with Nano. The result was that the game started playing erratically. Some examples are that the coin door options did not align with the known list of settings and they jumped from (as I recall - -more on this in a bit) from 12 to 17. Additionally, the backbox lamps behaved oddly -- for example, when I scored a "super shot", the Game Over lamp lit momentarily.

OK -- so here's the "more in a bit". I found code from October and was in the process of uploading that when my machine went into cardiac arrest. I am not sure what occurred here but a got that "uh oh" smell coming from (I believe) the solenoid board and noted that the fuse on that board had blown. At this point I get playfield and backlamps during startup but no chime and no scoring lamps. Fuse is on order (I'm hoping that it did its job and gave itself up before frying the board components) and, at that time, I'll be able to post more details on my findings.

I am almost certain that my Anduino setup is good (I removed it and reconnected the cables to the MPU-200 and no change in the situation).

So, while I wait for the fuse, if anyone has any ideas on what/how I can test (I'm a novice but do have a meter) -- please let me know. I can use all of the help I can get. My pinball go-to guy is vacationing in the Philippines so I'm on my own until he gets back!

Thanks in advance,

Brian

Thank you -- that's what I'll do (as soon as I get the fuse which isn't easy to find). Will update when I have more infor.

Thanks so much for all of this. I did change the hardware version type. Is the code fix intended to address the skipping a bunch of the coin door settings during my test (wasn't sure from your note but hoping that is true). If not it means that something else is going on with my machine. Nonetheless, I've ordered fuses and an Alltek Solenoid board (I'm using LED displays so that's probably a better fit anyway -- but still want to see if the fuse fixes anything/everything). Got it all from Steve at PBR (he's in NY and I'm in PA so I'll get everything on Friday and you KNOW I'll get right on it).

This forum is the BEST! I've actually never played the original Meteor rules so looking forward to doing that!

Thanks everyone!

Hi everyone. Well, neither the fuse (on the original solenoid board) nor the new solenoid board solved the issue. Still just getting GI lights with no system boot. Ugh. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. (I am running off of the original MPU at this time -- Arduino not connected)
Brian

Update: Steve from Alltek was brilliant and pointed me to the rectifier board. I had visually checked the fuses but he suggested a continuity check -- right on! Blown fuse F3. Now I get to hunt that down

Update (because I know that you are all in suspense). I not only blew the solenoid driver board and its fuse but a rectifier fuse (f3). Once those were replaced the game boots in original mode but the Anduino won't boot with the Jumper installed. It does download the code correctly.

Hey -- good news is that I get to play the original Meteor. Bad news is that DickHamill did such a great job that -- well -- I gotta get back to playing that version. Any ideas?

Brian

It's the original MPU-200. I don't see a jumper at R134 but the board was running prior to my code update attempt so I assume whatever was jumpered is correct? Reasonable?

Thanks so much!!!!!!
Brian

Ok --thank you. Not sure where to go from here....

Update: There's definitely something funky with my Rev 1 and/or Nano. I cleared the memory (just uploaded a basic script) and then uploaded a codeset from October of 2022 for Meteor2021. That ran for a bit and I was in the process of updating settings when the ball display just started flashing a "5". From that point on, I couldn't get the board to do anything even after reloading code.

Interesting, when the system is in base code mode, the red LED on the MPU flashes and then goes out. With the new code, it just stays red and the machine doesn't boot. I'm thinking the board has to be fried -- but not sure which board..

Thanks everyone.

Brian

Thanks so much for your note! It was running fine before I attempted to upload new code from the library and then everything went haywire. I did the upload with the board mounted in the machine (I read this was ok) but not a good idea. Took out my Solenoid Driver Board (it was original -- so I bought an Alltek new version). That got me back to operational on the base code but now I can't get the new code to run.

I need to play it more but yes, I think everything is stable when running base code. Right now I have the board installed but the jumper off so running base. Seems to be fine.
Yes, I ran blink test and ran fine. Just to check, I ordered a Nano from Amazon to see if that changes anything. Based on your note - I suspect it won’t. Great advice on examining the MPU. I assumed that since it ran base code fine it had to be the Nano or the adapter board but you are right, could easily be a temperamental solder joint or connector. I’ll check that out as well. Thanks so much!!!

Hi Everyone,

Apologize for the long post but hopefully you will find some of this information useful Also, there is an ask at the bottom as I can't seem to figure out the new coin door switch settings.

First let me share that despite the experience of others. I would NOT upgrade the Arduino software with the board installed in the machine. Doing so (yes, the power was off) ended up sending me down a huge rabbit hole. I absolutely fried my Solenoid board and blew two fuses and also took out my RoyGBev adapter board and Anduino Nano (the board was Rev 1). Yes, many have told me that they've done this many times -- didn't work out so well for me.

Second, the good news is that once I replaced the Solenoid board and the fuses, I realized that I needed a new adapter and Anduino. So, while I waited, I played original Meteor which is also a great game. In doing so, I learned something else. If you only play the new code, the LED lamps behave just fine and you don't need a new lamp driver with the LEDs (no, I have no idea why this is the case but I can confirm it is (at least on my machine). Play the base code and your LEDs flicker terribly (awaiting new Lamp Driver to arrive tomorrow).

Since I was already "all in" -- I also replaced my MPU (Alltek like the Solenoid and the Lamp Driver) -- thank you Dave for getting the stuff out to me so quickly.

As a favor to those on this great forum, I also procured a bunch of 2-pin wired connectors so that I could add a switch and play both the base code and the new code. If anyone needs one, just DM me with your address and I'll drop one in regular mail. Offer good until I run out.

Finally -- the ask. DickHamill - I got the coin door setting above but I'm seeing weird results. I thought I would write down what I'm seeing

Code version is 2021-08-05-01

Ball display 01 -- award 1 (seems right)
Ball display 02 -- award 2 (seems right)
Ball display 03 -- award 3 (seems right)
Ball display 04 -- High score (interesting that it does not scroll on a 5 digit display but not a big deal. Seems right)
Ball display 05 -- 09 (supposed to be credits -- assume it is right)
Ball display 06 -- 04 (supposed to be total plays -- assume it is right)
Ball display 07 -- 00 (supposed to be total replays -- assume it is right)
Ball display 08 -- 00 (supposed to be number of times high score is beat -- assume it is right)
Ball display 09 -- 00 (supposed to be Chute 2 -- didn't test)
Ball display 10 -- 00 (supposed to be chute 1 -- didn't test)
Ball display 11 -- 00 supposed to be chute 3 -- didn't test)
Ball display 12 -- 8007 -- as expected
OK -- so here's where it gets funky
Ball display 13 -- Player 1 "04" Player two "01" Credit button does nothing. Supposed to be Free Play setting
Ball display 14 -- Same as Ball display 13 -- and same behavior -- supposed to be Ball Save timing
Ball display 15 -- Same as Ball display 13 and 14 --= and same behavior -- supposed to be music level
Ball display 16 -- 00 Supposed to be Tournament Scoring
Ball display 17 -- 15 Supposed to be Tilt Warning
Ball display 18 -- 03 Supposed to be Award Scores (balls, specials)
Ball display 19 -- 00 supposed to be balls per game
Ball display 20 -- 02 Supposed to be scrolling scores (and mine do scroll)
Ball display 21 -- 00 -- supposed to be Extra Ball Award for Tournament scoring
Ball display 22 -- 03 -- supposed to be Special Award for Tournament scoring
Ball display 23 -- 01 -- supposed to be Dim Level
Ball display 24 -- 00 -- supposed to be attract mode (for me, attract mode is 2)
Ball display 25 -- 00 -- supposed to be Match feature
Ball display 26 -- 02
Ball display 27 -- 00
Ball display 28 -- 01
Ball display 29 -- Attract

Setting 13, 14 and 15 seem to be wrong as documented. So I believe that 13 (Free Play) is actually 16

Hello! I'm not sure if anyone else is seeing the following odd behavior with the latest version.
As shared above, the coin door settings for 13, 14 and 15 seem to be wrong. If you skip those settings, everything else aligns.
During play, the match light and the tilt light come on intermittently. Does not occur when I play the original "base" Meteor.
The middle rollover goes from dim to bright (normally dim). Does not occur when I play the original "base" Meteor.
The rocket scoring and countdown seem to be erratic. For example, after I lose a ball, if the rocket is above 4,000 it counts down to 4,000 and then goes to the next rocket (never scoring the 3,000, 2,000 and 1,000). If below 4,000, it seems to work properly. Similarly, I get intermittent scoring lights during game play.

Thanks,
Brian

This is great. Thank Dick. I've attached a picture of the rollovers when running the base code. You see that the three rollovers are full brightness in the first pics (this is at startup). Then in the video (link here:

), I had already triggered the targets to advance the rockets and you can see the countdown.

Then I captured using Meteor 2021 (your amazing re-write!), you see the three rollovers with the middle "dim". Again this is at startup.

Then the video shows the rocket behavior.

It seems that the value starts at 4K and then counts down to 4K -- at least in some cases?

BaseRollover (resized).jpeg

Hi Dick. I have 2021, 08, 05, 01

Also -- two additional videos for you. This one shows the MATCH flashing during game play. I'm not sure but I think it starts flashing on the first Meteor storm and never turns off.

This one shows the TILT flashing during game play. I can't catch when it happens.

Thanks so much for this!!!

Brian

I will try tonight! Thanks Dick

You are a genius, Mr. Hamill. Everything working great now. The only remaining item (and it is totally not an issue for me) is that settings 13, 14 and 15 still show "04 01". I commented out the line 60 as follows "//#define RPU_OS_DISABLE_CPC_FOR_SPACE". That should do it -- yes? But anyway, no issue and all of the lighting and rocket scoring now work great. Phantom Match and TILT light also gone.

Thank you!!!

Check the "free play" setting and the number of credits.

Not in my experience. The correct way is through the coin door switch. I would change the code back to the way it was -- recompile and reload.
Then turn the machine on. You will hear the 5 chimes and the wav sound. Press the button inside the coin door (long white plunger). The settings are above in this discussion but essentially, if you depress the button until there is a "5" in the Credits display (the left side of the credit/ball count display) and then press the credit button to add credits, that should fix your problem. And it will prove that you are not in Free Play mode. Cycle a few more settings and then turn the machine off and then on again. You should see your Credits (as previously entered) in the Credits window. Press the button and you should be live.

If not, you may have a stuck switch or something but this should not be the case if the game works properly when running the original (base) code.

Great! Enjoy!!

Hi,
Hate to be a pest but is anyone else noticing that the rocket multiplier doesn't have any impact on the scoring in the latest version?

Hi!

So I was mistaken. The scoring seems correct it is the animation that has change. Hard to catch while playing so I took the glass off and did it manually. In the base game it actually illuminates for the 4x count, the 2x count and the 1x count (running down the rockets as each multiplier is added to the score). In the new version, it just runs it once but counts the score correctly.

Hello fellow Meteor fans. I just tried to upload the latest version of the code (Shows as Major Revision 10) and it did not work on my machine. I reverted back to Revision 9 and all is well. I run the Mega 2560 board (build by RoyGBev) and the full set of Alltek boards (MPU, Solenoid and Lamp).
Not sure if anyone else has tried or is having issues -- but thought I would alert everyone. Good think I had the prior version saved to my laptop!!

Hi Dick,
Yes — I modified to “3” as I have a MEGA 2560

Hi Dick,
Yes -- boots to the original code just fine and working fine with Revision 9 (from June/July?).
It boots with the Revision 10 code -- makes some odd sounds and then, after ball launch, tilts almost immediately and shuts down (no tilt warnings which I get normally)

I'll find time over the next few days. Thanks, Dick.

Hi DickHamill

Well, some odd occurrences. You may want to pour a glass of wine.
I uploaded the Rev 10 code again. Had my video running as I turned on the machine. Turned on fine. Hit the credit button. All fine. Played a game. All fine. So I'm thinking that maybe my last upload was corrupted? But I decide to turn the machine off and then back on. I get lights but no boot. So I try again. Same. Reload the Rev 9 code. Runs fine. Turned it off and back on. Runs fine. Runs fine on the base code in all scenarios. And I've been running Rev 9 since July/August with no issues.
Frankly the only reason I was looking to upgrade was to eliminate an anomaly that showed up in Rev 9 where the Rocket1, Rocket2 and Rocket3 sounds seem to repeat after a hit. Kinda annoying but I got used to it. Obviously I could also just edit those sounds to be silent and that would fix it as well so not too annoying. But I did notice in my one play of Rev 10 that the problem was eliminated.

Happy to do other testing. To remind you, I'm runing new Alltek boards throughout and a RoyGBev Rev 3 board.

Thanks so much!
Brian