Here is my problem.

Readers are working properly, I checked them on my systemand I know that they are working perfectly. I found that there were installed not perfetly aligned with the projector, I've checked them, they still need to be slightly moved but during projection the timecode led bliks approx. 2 times for a minute. I believe that that shouldn't be a problem, right?

Let's come to the strange thing. We are projecting Resident evil. When the movie starts, timecode led stays COMPLETELY off, like there is no timecode track on the print or readers are completely misaligned. Only SYSTEM led blinks (as normal operations). Absolutely NO Blink on timecode.
But if I reboot the player (while projecting) the player starts to read timecode and switch in 6-ch properly. I also tried to do the following:

1. While player is NOT reading timecode, cover/uncover the reader's led with a business card. No effects, the player does not read anything from the reader
2. While player is reading correctly timecode (after the cold reboot) cover the reader's led with a business card. After 4.5 seconds the player drops to analog, but if I discover again the reader's LED the player read again timecode and switch in digital normally.
3. While the player is reading correctly timecode (after the cold reboot) cover the reader's led, let the player to drop. Then reboot th e player but this time keep covered the reader's led while the player is rebooting (simulating the start of the movie). No problem, when SYSTEM starts blinking I remove the business card and the timecode is read properly.

So, WHY I have to reboot (also open/close the cd drives) the unit at each movie's start????

This does not sound like a software problem.

First be sure that you cycle power whenever you change discs. This is very important.

Then, be sure that the voltage to the reader's lens is correct. Follow the procedure that I emailed you.

Be sure that all the rollers on the reader are in good condition and rotate freely.

Be sure that the projector's chassis is earth grounded.

Be sure that the projector's speed is correct and constant. You could have a problem with a slow or "bouncy" startup. Check to be sure that the projector's motor belt is not slipping.

Be sure film tension is constant. Position the reader's auxiliary roller as close to the large center roller as possible to achieve maximum film wrap.

Let me know what happens.

Thanks for the post and email. Unfortunately I'm now come back to florence but I'll have someone make these tests.

But before leave I had a chance to make few tests and I have some results:

1. With no film threated I tried to connect the cable that come out from the DTS cable to the projector. Result: the green led of the reader become green (with no film running) but very dim.
While DTS film is running and timecode is read (after the power cycle) if I connect the ground cable to the projector the reader green led become very dim and the red "timecode" led on tha player turn off.

I didn't have a tester to test the projector ground. Do you believe that the projector isn't earthed and this can be the cause of the problem?

No problem with cycle power between two different disk: actually we have the same movie all the time on that screen.
And, I also tried to cycle power the unit before the show (say, 20 minutes before the start) and the timecode was not read at first attempt.

Projector is a Vic 8 that doesn't have belts.

Thanks for the procedure about how check the led voltage. But that readers came back from UK recently and has been used about 2 months since they've returned.

I think that projector earth has to be checked. Question: what connects the cable coming out from the dts cable? The chassis of the reader?

THANKS for your availability!

Antonio

Use an ohm meter to check the projector. Go from the earth ground prong on the AC power in to the projector chassis. You should see zero ohms.

The projector chassis should be earth grounded separately from the DTS as should the sound rack. The DTS timecode cable (if it was made by DTS) comes with a ground strap tucked under the shink sleeving next to the 9-pin connector on the cable. If you need to earth ground the projector then you can use that strap. You would put it under one of the screws that connects the timecode cable to the reader. Just be sure the reader's chassis is common to the reader bracket. Then check that the reader's chassis is common to the projector. If the projector chassis is painted or heavily varnished, you may need to scrape away some paint/varnish to make a good connection.

You should check the reader's voltage to the LED. The readers you got two months ago are refirbished and may have new LEDs. In this case, during the first two months, the LEDs will pull down the voltage and then stablize. I'd check the voltage to the LED. I bet it is a little low.

I hope that helps.

Thanks for your reply.

I didn't know that new LED has to be checked, I will check them and mine too!

quote:

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If you need to earth ground the projector then you can use that strap. You would put it under one of the screws that connects the timecode cable to the reader.

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I will check the projector earth, but I already connected the strip coming out from the timecode cable to the screw that secure the reader to the brackets. The result is that the green LED of the reader become green but very dim as I described before.

So, I'll check that projector is earthed. If not, I can earth it using the cable's strip but I need to check that readers is 0 ohm with the projector itself. Am I right?

Thanks for your help!

I've emailed detailed instrucions to my manager that have the player.
I hope that ground is the issue.

But why connecting the strip to the projector cause the green led to dim? Let's suppose that projector is not earthed, what can cause the green led to dim?

Thanks!

In short, do the setting adjustment with as little ambient light as possible.

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I am planning on purchasing a DTS unit here in the very near future, but I'll need one that is trouble free.

Very seldom do I hear any complaints about the DTS-6D that has two CD SCSI drives. But I, too, have had lots of problems with the DTS-6AD and the DTS-6 with three SCSI drives.

DTS is one of the most trouble-free cinema systems available. I suspect people post DTS questions here a lot simply because *I* am here to answer them. Don't get me wrong, I love being available to you guys but sometimes it can be a double-edged sword.

The 2-drive player is a DTD-6 unit and the 3-drive player is the DTS-6D unit. The DTS-6AD is a cinema processor.

Many of the DTS problems people have stem from installation issues and once people know what to look out for, problems are solved. Informing you guys (and gals) is my job and I hope that it is of help to you.

If you are having to reboot the player each time to get it to switch the CP to digital, I suspect that you are having timecode reading problems. Please send me an email and I'll send you some information on how to fix it.