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Dead on Arrival Unit? — Parallax Forums

Dead on Arrival Unit?

awesomeduckawesomeduck Posts: 87
edited 2008-12-30 16:23 in Propeller 1
I received my Hydra this weekend but I think it is dead.
All i get on the screen is some random looking black and white lines. It actually looks like there is no sync signal. I tried two different TVs, three different cables and I also tried the 128K cartridge...in case it was a software bug. The cart gives a different looking random pattern, but still not viewable.
Any ideas on other things to try? BY the way, my Prop Demo board works fine on these TVs.

Comments

  • BaggersBaggers Posts: 3,019
    edited 2008-12-15 19:11
    are you using the same programs to test the tv out?
    as the clocks are different.

    the hydra has a 10Mhz clock, that you use PLL*8 to get 80Mhz
    and the demoboard is 5Mhz and PLL*16 to get 80Mhz

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  • Parallel UniverseParallel Universe Posts: 46
    edited 2008-12-15 19:17
    Check for a missing crystal. (It should be·right between the propeller and the game cartridge.) They seem to fall out and get stuck in the box pretty easily.
    I just pulled mine out and tried the HYDRA and got the weird horizontal lines you were talking about.

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  • awesomeduckawesomeduck Posts: 87
    edited 2008-12-15 19:50
    The crystal is in place and looks correct. It says 10.000 which I took at 10Mhz.
    There are two programs I am using to test on both tvs.
    1. The default program that ships with the Hydra (asteroids like)
    2. The default program that ships on the 128K game cartridge.

    Both programs produce similar results, which look like a display that cannot sync to the incoming signal.
  • BaggersBaggers Posts: 3,019
    edited 2008-12-15 22:36
    out of curiosity, are you in NTSC territory with an NTSC TV?
    OR, have you tried programming it with something? as IIRC there was some issues with batches of unprogrammed carts.

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  • awesomeduckawesomeduck Posts: 87
    edited 2008-12-16 04:37
    I am in a NTSC territory, where the truck's a Ford and the tractor's green.
    I thought maybe the unit was not preprogrammed, but then I thought the odds of a hydra AND the cart not being programmed were pretty slim.
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2008-12-16 04:51
    Have you tried uploading [noparse][[/noparse]F10] a copy of one of the demos (with Propeller Tool) that comes with the Hydra CD?
    Pretty much anything in the \demos section should work perfectly.

    Might mean a call to Parallax in the morning..

    OBC

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    Post Edited (Oldbitcollector) : 12/16/2008 1:58:19 PM GMT
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2008-12-16 05:09
    Maybe seat the Propeller chip also?

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  • awesomeduckawesomeduck Posts: 87
    edited 2008-12-17 23:09
    I uploaded new code to the EPROM, same results. I think the unit is alive as I could program it and communicate with the IDE...just the video output is hosed. I packed it up and sent back....I waited weeks for a free shipping weekend only to end up spending $9 to send it back.
  • dandreaedandreae Posts: 1,375
    edited 2008-12-18 16:05
    Parallax's policy is to test it first.· If it turns out that it is a manufacturer defect we will credit the shipping cost.· If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at dandreae@parallax.com

    Best regards,

    Dave

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    Parallax Tech Support·
  • awesomeduckawesomeduck Posts: 87
    edited 2008-12-18 19:41
    Success, my new Hydra arrived today and it fired up and worked perfectly on the first try using the same cables, TV, power supply from my original kit.
  • BaggersBaggers Posts: 3,019
    edited 2008-12-18 23:24
    glad you got it working [noparse]:)[/noparse]

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  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2008-12-20 16:57
    @awesomeduck:

    Ok, you've had a working Hydra for two days.. where's the new games? <SMIRK>

    The Hydra is an awesome kit for learning Spin/Game Programming.
    Congrats on getting it running, now use your Parallax credit to get an SDmax card
    when you return the dead one.. [noparse]:)[/noparse]

    OBC

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  • AndreLAndreL Posts: 1,004
    edited 2008-12-22 03:05
    All hydras are thoroughly tested before being shipped. So the only thing that I can think of it a cold solder joint that survived testing or a bad chip. It is VERY rare for either, I think we have had 2-3 bad hydras since the launch of the product and that's it, that is like a ridiculously low flaw rate.

    Anre'
  • awesomeduckawesomeduck Posts: 87
    edited 2008-12-30 00:46
    Just to follow up....I returned the dead unit and Parallax confirmed it did have a "short" on it...which I assumed to be a cold solder joint. The Parallax team was very quick to help me out...all good now...and 1/2 way through the book...which I am really enjoying.
  • BaggersBaggers Posts: 3,019
    edited 2008-12-30 10:35
    congrats, & enjoy [noparse]:D[/noparse]

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  • soshimososhimo Posts: 215
    edited 2008-12-30 16:23
    Congrats! I just ordered the book (I'm going to try to prototype - I have all the parts and I've done POCs for video, sound, and input). It was supposed to be here Friday but UPS rescheduled delivery shakehead.gif
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