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

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » Dolby DA20 faulty or not?

Author Topic: Dolby DA20 faulty or not? Andy Frodsham Expert Film Handler Posts: 238 From: Stoke on Trent, Staffs, UK Registered: Nov 2006 posted 05-10-2011 01:13 PM                     We've just purchased a secondhand DA20 and new CAT 702 reader ready for installation over Summer. I thought I'd quickly test both units before putting them away for the next two months. I temporary fixed the reader onto our projector and ran the reader cable through to the DA20. I connected the audio output from the adapter to our CP65 but not having the appropriate gendered cable couldn't connect the automation link, thinking, perhaps wrongly, that this would only affect the way that the DA20 addressed the processor! When I ran some film through the reader, all the digital signal level indicators activated and error rate count displayed correctly (a rather good 2 to 3). Unfortunately, the output signal and digital signal indicators did not illuminate and no audio was sent from the unit. Does the 'sense' cable need to be connected before an audio signal is sent to the output connector of the DA20 and in order for the output signal indicators to illuminate? Do I need to use special non-standard 25pin cables to link the DA20 and CP65? I'm hoping to do another test of the units later in the week - this time with the 'sense' cable connected. I'm hoping this will show that all is okay? Should I be prepared for a dissapoitment? Yet another stupid question, I'm afraid. Sorry guys!  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-10-2011 01:24 PM                     Did you set the CP selector correctly  |  IP: Logged Andy Frodsham Expert Film Handler Posts: 238 From: Stoke on Trent, Staffs, UK Registered: Nov 2006 posted 05-10-2011 01:34 PM                     Thanks Gordon! I'm pretty sure I did, but will need to check tomorrow! Would this make any difference if the 'sense' cable wasn't connected to the processor anyway?  |  IP: Logged Brian Woods Film Handler Posts: 32 From: Memphis, TN Registered: Dec 2005 posted 05-10-2011 01:47 PM                    You may want to check the 611A CP Interface Board if all of your settings are correct. I have had a few of them get zapped. The rest of the processor will act normal, but the channels will not have or show any output.  |  IP: Logged Andy Frodsham Expert Film Handler Posts: 238 From: Stoke on Trent, Staffs, UK Registered: Nov 2006 posted 05-10-2011 02:02 PM                     The card is still showing the selected projector and power-supply rail status! Should the output present LEDs illuminate without the DA20 being connected to the processor?  |  IP: Logged Markus Ito Film Handler Posts: 27 From: San Diego, CA, USA Registered: Apr 2011 posted 05-10-2011 03:10 PM                     I could be wrong but I don't believe the connection to the processor would change the behavior of the DA20 since the processor merely selects between the inputs. When we switch between analog and digital, the DA20 still processes the digital signal, but it doesn't get fed through the processor. It sounds to me like the problem lies with the processor since you say the the error correction display is working. When you say the digital signal levels activated what do you mean exactly? On each of the outputs, if no data is being sent from the reader, one led should be lit. I think its the second from the bottom. When you run film, those 4 leds in each of the channels should alternate depending on the signal strength for that particular channel. If that isn't happening, and the error display is still showing a number, it could be a problem with the DA20.  |  IP: Logged Brian Woods Film Handler Posts: 32 From: Memphis, TN Registered: Dec 2005 posted 05-10-2011 03:47 PM                    The card will still register fine, but on the LEDs where the signal output, you will get nothing. If you turn the selector switch around the dial, you may get the channels back (like on A, B, C, but these are test modes) see if that works. If that does, and doesn't work on 1 through 3, you have a bad card. I had this happen recent and it was a card issue. The card got zapped, and when I put the new card in, all the channels came back and things were normal. I found it happened when I hooked up the automation up and it had voltage on it for changing.  |  IP: Logged Andy Frodsham Expert Film Handler Posts: 238 From: Stoke on Trent, Staffs, UK Registered: Nov 2006 posted 05-10-2011 03:55 PM                     No, the digital signal level indicators are behaving normally. The bottom LEDs are illuminated until film is run through the reader. When I run some film, the individual channels show activity. Similarly, the the error rate window is displaying normally. The output signal indicators on the 611A are not illuminated. Also, the 'digital' or 'analog' LEDs are not illuminated on this card. The 'projector', 'motor running' (for selected projector one) and 'power rail' LEDs are illuminated. More significantly, no audio is being outputted from the DA20!  |  IP: Logged Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 05-10-2011 07:34 PM                       What type of cat. No. 611 do you have? There is an A version which is considered more desirable. You need to study on the description of the different modes possible on the CP selector switch. There are some "forced" digital positions which are good for testing this sort of thing. Is the nine pin d-sub plugged in? Usually this has a white default jumper between pins 1 & 9 if I remember. This jumper eliminates the need for a motor start relay and sets it to default to projector 1.  |  IP: Logged Andy Frodsham Expert Film Handler Posts: 238 From: Stoke on Trent, Staffs, UK Registered: Nov 2006 posted 05-10-2011 09:04 PM                     The unit is fitted with the 611A card, this being one of the main reasons that I bought this particular unit. The D sub shorting plug is indeed fitted and the relevant 'projector' selected LED is illuminated on the bottom of the 611A. The unit follows the normal boot-up sequence.  |  IP: Logged Andy Frodsham Expert Film Handler Posts: 238 From: Stoke on Trent, Staffs, UK Registered: Nov 2006 posted 05-11-2011 05:40 AM                     Following my second test today (this time with the relevant 'sense' cable connected)I can confirm that the DA20 is functioning perfectly okay. The unit obviously requires the automation link with the processor to be present, before it can either output audio or display level on the otputs LEDs! Switching-off the associated processor (in our case the CP65) also caused the DA20 to cease audio output and LED output indication. So, the absence of a linked processor actually prevents the DA20 from producing an output. Makes sense I suppose, since all the control of the adapter is allocated to the linked processor anyway! Thanks for the help and suggestions. I'm glad I haven't got to go hunting for a repacement CAT 611A!  |  IP: Logged Christos Mitsakis Expert Film Handler Posts: 242 From: Ag.Paraskevi, ATHENS, GREECE Registered: Sep 1999 posted 05-11-2011 08:54 AM                     The control cable is needed because in normal operation initially the cinema processor triggers the output of the DA20. Afterwards the DA20 takes over until another format is selected (presuming you have the auto digital disabled). Sam gave you a hint: by setting the CP selector to 9, A (in your case) or B you force DA20 to remain in digital and have active output.  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

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.