Milkmansound Posted May 18, 2004 Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 ok, I just spent some more time dealing with my issues. Here is where I am at:1 - I can't tell if Mios is on there or not because I am a mac user and can not use Midiox - I have no way of linking my midi in/out that I know of, and I can't tell if my core is sending requests (the LED test still suggests it does though)2 - My LCD is displaying only blocks on the top line3 - The regulator is still getting really hot, only when the LCD is in circuit though (I think)4 - when using my C64 as a powersupply, there is only 9V going to my SID I can use the lab supply to get it back to 12v, but that only leads to:5 - There is some audio coming out, but it sounds like a slow square wave noise thing, and it is non responsive to MidiI apologize for the laundry list of problems, but I really want to get this thing going, and there is absolutely nobody in my entire state (Vermont) that has any clue about the midibox (I will change that once this thing works properly!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowan Posted May 18, 2004 Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 Hi1/ you using OSX? If so you can use "MIDIMonitor" to see what is being spit out of your MB, and you can use "SysExLibrarian" to upload apps to your MB. Check the "Core Upload via MIDI" section in the "HOWTOs" on uCapps for links.2/ If your LCD shows lots of black blocks on the top row you have the bootstrap loader installed on your PIC but NO MIOS. Once MIOS has been uploaded the LCD will display " MIOS copyright....." for a few seconds then the screen will say "ready". At this stage you have to upload the SID app.3/Sounds like a short or maby a component is conected around the wrong way. Check, Double Check then check again.4/?5/The SID won't do much until you have the SID app uploaded to the core. The black blocks suggests that MIOS has not been uploaded yet, let alone the SID app. (note: after the bootstrap has been loaded via the JMD then you load MIOS via MIDI then the SID app via MIDI. It must be in the order!!!!!!).Give that a tryRegardsRowan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milkmansound Posted May 18, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 ok - that is good to know - I have been using Midi monitor, and it never registers the requests, so it looks like I need to get back to just the core to get Mios in there. Thanks - Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milkmansound Posted May 18, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 Thanks - that was great info - I got the confirmations (I had the cables reversed polarity wise) and am able to boot Mios, and the Sid app! However:a) the regulator still gets hotb) the SID is not tempered properly (as in, when I play a major scale it sounds pretty strange, and it seems to also be stuck in "note on")for b, should I reload the app?for a - I am not sure what to do about the regulator - I may be able to fit a sink on it, but it gets really hot (like too hot to touch) is this how it is supposed to run?I am really close guys....thanks for everything so far - Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowan Posted May 18, 2004 Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 HiGood to hear you have had some luck. a/Try uploading the SID app again. Do you have a different SID chip you can try? Have you loaded any patches with Jsynth onto the SID? If not, send a patch with Jsynth to the SID (Just follow all the instrustions on uCapps). b/Does your LCD have backlight? If so try disconnecting the backlight. If the Reg still gets hot you know that isn't causing the problem (I had this problem with my first MB)Keep us informed how you get along.RegardsRowan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milkmansound Posted May 19, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2004 well, I disconnected the backlight and everything fell into place. The regulator gets warm, but never too hot (you can hold your finger on it). Also, the SID has become tempered, and does not stay on after a note is played (however, there is some oscillation still, but no more than any 20 year old synth)So once again - thanks to all those who helped me out - it seems like just a few weeks ago I was totally bamboozled looking at the ucapps website, now I have my very own SID!My only remaining question is: how do I use the backlight without overloading the regulator?- Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamjking Posted May 19, 2004 Report Share Posted May 19, 2004 My only remaining question is: how do I use the backlight without overloading the regulator? Does attaching a heatsink to the regulator make much of a difference? I have a small heatsink attached to the regulator and am using a backlit LCD and never had a problem (this is for a MB64 with 9V/1A power supply tho). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milkmansound Posted May 19, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2004 I have not put a sink on it yet- that was going to be a last minute thing. I may extend the leads, and attatch it to the case that I am assembling with a large sink and a glob of silicon compound. (and of course, an insulator). For now though, I am going to leave the lamp out of circuit, and push forward - T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowan Posted May 19, 2004 Report Share Posted May 19, 2004 Hi,Great!!!!!!LCD's backlight draw alot of current (couple of hundred milliamps) so you should expect the reg to get hot, but you should still be able to touch it.You have now located the fault to the backlight circuit. My money is on the transistor in the backlight driver circuit being connected around the wrong way. Not all makers of transistors use the same pin-out. Do you have a multimeter with an HFE tester? If you do, get youself a new transistor and put it in the HFE tester all ways poss. until the meter reads the highest value. Look at the markings on your multimeter and that will tell you the pin-out of the transistor.The other thing that comes to mind is the brightness pot could set to zero ohms. Try turning it half way and see if the reg still gets hot.best of luckRegardsRowan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milkmansound Posted May 19, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2004 wait - the transistor that is on the PCB? It is in there the way it is supposed to be - do you suggest that I reverse it? I am not sure if my Fluke has HFE on it, I usually use the diode tester to check trannys. I did turn the Luminance all the way down, which helped a little. But as I said, the reg still gets hot - too hot to hold your finger on. - T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowan Posted May 19, 2004 Report Share Posted May 19, 2004 Hi,Yes, transistors have to be put in to the circuit a certain way. The transistor i'm talking about is marked "T1" on the core schematic. It's the BC337. You could try reversing it. If the transistor is around the wrong way it should get hot. You could try reconnecting the backlight and see if it gets hot, if it does it's around the wrong way. Your best bet is to get your hands on the datasheet which will tell you the pin-out of the transistor. You can then compare that with the schematic of the core.You can use a diode tester to find the "base" of the transistor and whether the transistor is NPN or PNP. You can't tell which of the other two legs is the emmiter or collector.RegardsRowan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milkmansound Posted May 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2004 I checked the data sheet and found out that yes, my tranny has a different pinout. I switched it around and now the reg runs cool with the backlight. thank you - now I am at 100% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowan Posted May 20, 2004 Report Share Posted May 20, 2004 Hi,Thats great!!!!!!!I hope you enjoy your SID.RegardsRowan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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