Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: DTS Readers

my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

»	Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE » Operations » Film Handlers' Forum » DTS Readers - LED Power

Author

Topic: DTS Readers - LED Power

Paul Konen
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 981
From: Frisco, TX. (North of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 06-23-2002 11:45 PM

Is it possible that the red led on DTS readers could get "tired" and start to have problems reading prints?

Can the power of the LED be adjusted like on the CAT-701?

I have a couple of readers that for some reels of a print, they read just fine, for other reels, they have trouble reading the timecode.

Thanks
Paul.

| IP: Logged

Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 06-24-2002 12:47 AM

We've got an original "Jurassic" reader at the Galaxy that is STILL chugging along fine. You have to have the lights off and no extraneous light to even see the green led on the reader, and trying to see the red led inside the reader is virtually impossible...yet it reads timecode fine and dandy.

I would bet your problem is the lateral alignment has drifted. Set it up with Karen to make a field adjustment, for there is a stiff penalty if you remove the "do not remove" sticker. (I forget what the penalty is, death or something like that. )

| IP: Logged

Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 06-24-2002 01:07 AM

......and adjust it very carefully for the brightest steady green light. Before you do that, make sure the flanges are absolutely clean and free of wax and dirt build-up. Chances are, that is what happened to you.

Incidently, I think there is a little locking set screw to hold the adjustment in place. Don't reef on the adjustment screw without loosening the lock screw.

| IP: Logged

Manny Knowles
"What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???"

Posts: 4247
From: Bloomington, IN, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 06-24-2002 02:46 AM

Some DTS readers have a trimpot for the LED.

Unplug the D connector on the reader
Remove the cover to expose the D424 board
Plug the D connector in and turn on the DTS player to provide power to the reader

Use your meter and measure the voltage across TP1 and TP2. It should be 4 Volts. If the LED cannot get at least 3.5 V then DTS recommends doing an exchange/repair.

There is a DTS TechTalk bulletin that describes this procedure. If I can find the file Karen emailed to me I will forward it to you.

| IP: Logged

Antonio Marcheselli
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1260
From: Florence, Italy
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 06-24-2002 04:49 AM

Paul.

I recommend you to check the reader/projector alignment before touching the reader's lateral alignment. Try moving the reader, moving the auxiliary roller and add tension to the print. Also try Manny's procedure on the led tension.

If that does not improve your reliability, try the reader's lateral alignment.

Bye
Antonio

| IP: Logged

Darryl Spicer
Film God

Posts: 3250
From: Lexington, KY, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 06-24-2002 09:28 AM

Really the problem is two-fold. The reader can be weak and the timecode on some of the prints can have defects. We were having this problem on a couple of our projectors running Star Wars. We repaired exchanged the DTS readers but the reels stiill exhibited drops in timecode but not to the extent that the other readers were causing, that being dropouts to analog sound.

| IP: Logged

Karen Hultgren
Master Film Handler

Posts: 492
From: Agoura Hills, CA, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 06-24-2002 11:48 AM

Paul,

Yes, the LEDs can get "tired" and you need to test the voltage to the reader every year or so to be sure it is correct. I have a procedure on doing that, if is very easy, I'd be happy to email it to you. It is also posted on our online techcenter (look at dealer or service center notices).

If you'd like the procedure, please send me an email.

Karen at DTS
khultgren@dtsonline.com
www.dtsonline.com

| IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

Printer-friendly view of this topic

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.