Xenarc issues #2

**wizawuza** · 02-21-2004, 05:05 PM

Hello,

I just bought a xenarc/gaim unit from digitalww.com, and got it in the mail a couple of days ago. Just tried it today... and it doesn't work.

The LED comes on, and stays on. When I look at the screen though, I can just barely see anything on the screen.... basically I can only tell if there's something on the screen if I do a pan, so that you can see stuff barely move on the screen. For instance, if I'm viewing a thread in the forum, since there are the blue and white parts... if i move up or down, I'll be able to see slight shadows move up or down on the LCD.

Touchscreen works (i have dual monitor vga card, so that's how I can tell what the little lcd SHOULD be doing)

I didn't touch anything in terms of connectors, other than plugging in the correct plugs, etc.

I tried this thread Xenarc issues for help.

As for the wire going to the inverter, I get 12VDC on the green, ~3.3 VDC on the brown, and 0 VDC for yellow and orange.

Unfortunately I appear to be getting 0.05 VAC between the white and pink wires coming out of the inverter.

I tried searching, but to no avail (other than the link shown above).

Any ideas? Armen? Anyone else? I want to try to get some ideas before a return is considered.

Thanks in advance.

edit: i fixed the link above

edit: now I appear to be getting ~5VAC on the output of the inverter... whether the LCD is connected to the inverter or not (so it's not a loading issue).

**wizawuza** · 02-22-2004, 11:26 AM

bump.

also I'd like to point out that I am definately not shorting out anything.

And if I unplug the lcd from the inverter, the LCD still shows the shadow of the image... (the really dark image that you can only really see if light is shined on it.

Anything that I can perhaps do to test if it's the inverter?

**Shadow** · 02-22-2004, 01:59 PM

From what you're testing, it sounds like the inverter's dead. Unplug the LCD from the VGA controller board and then turn the screen on. The screen should light up like a flashlight 'til the board puts the inverter to sleep. If it doesn't, your inverter's dead. PM Armen about buying a new inverter. He helped me out a lot with a new ribbon cable.

**wizawuza** · 02-22-2004, 07:13 PM

Originally Posted by Shadow

From what you're testing, it sounds like the inverter's dead. Unplug the LCD from the VGA controller board and then turn the screen on. The screen should light up like a flashlight 'til the board puts the inverter to sleep. If it doesn't, your inverter's dead. PM Armen about buying a new inverter. He helped me out a lot with a new ribbon cable.

If I don't plug the vga controller with the ribbon cable to the LCD, nothing shows up. Even if the inverter is connected.

I just received this unit like this unfortunately, so I won't be paying for another inverter.

If there is any easy fix, or if another one could be sent, that'd work out. I'll PM Armen right now. Thanks for the suggestion.

**wizawuza** · 02-26-2004, 01:23 PM

Ok, I tried calling, phone number is disconnected or something.

Sent a PM on 2/22. Nothing.

Sent a note using this form: http://www.digitalww.com/c1.htm
nothing.

Sent email 24 hours ago. Nothing.

Anyone know how to contact this guy?

I know you all are probably tired of hearing me ***** here, but can you blame me for receiving a non-functional LCD screen that I paid $380 for?

**dug1967** · 02-26-2004, 01:53 PM

Sorry I don't have anything useful to say about your problem, Wiz, but I just wanted to state something here...

This whole Car Computer thing is really cool, I am currently building my second and I really love doing it, but I am just SO surprised by the crap that is in the market place....

In almost every aspect of this market, the hardware is just a mish-mash of crap... Power Supplies that don't really work, never ship from the vendors or are just poor designs.... LCD screens that are totally hit or miss, some work okay, some don't work at all, some work some times.....

I feel your pain, Wiz... beleive me if I had paid $380 bucks for a POS I would be fumeing....

It is stories like yours that have kept me from buying a screen yet....

I wish you luck and also wish the hardware vendors in this business would join the relm of responsible vendors and ship decent product.... I mean is it that hard for them to test their items prior to shipment and give some service after the fact....

Excuse my rant.

**wizawuza** · 02-26-2004, 04:58 PM

just to let you all know, digitalww did PM me back.

The issue has not yet been resolved, but wanted to let everyone know that he did contact me regarding this. Updates to follow

**wizawuza** · 03-07-2004, 04:43 PM

Just want to reply to make sure that this doesn't happen: weeks from now someone reads this and thinks digitalww is a terrible guy.

just got the inverter replacement from digitalww, and now the lcd seems to work.

Thanks

edited: bad grammar on my part, meant to say that digitallww isn't bad.