New XENARC 706TSA 7" Touchscreen LCD with DVI! "Coming Soon" - Page 5

rodweb · 01-03-2009, 04:54 AM

Punky, Yes. The 706TSA has backlit buttons. When we power up the monitor they all light up in blue, but the power button displays in Red. Usually, it turns blue when turned on. In our case, i does not turn on and the LED behind the power button stays red.

rodweb · 01-15-2009, 01:43 AM

Couple of days ago out of the blue I got an email from Xenarc that said:

Quote:

Sorry about the delay due to the holidays. I have just returned from a long trip and I am not sure if your e-mail has been answered by another associate. We apologize that you are having issue with your unit. It is possible that the input box is bad. If that is the case, then the unit will still be under warranty. Also, we would usually cover a product under warranty even if it’s opened up if a problem is reported to us within 30days: http://www.xenarc.com/faq.html#QA12

Since you are in Australia, it is hard to make sure whether it is the monitor or the input box that is at fault. How about this, if you ship both the monitor and input box back to us, we will pay for shipping back to you if the input box is defective. And we’ll just charge you shipping back to you if the monitor is indeed bad since it has been over 30 days. I’ll waive the repair cost for you this time.

Regards,

Jimmy Hu
jhu@xenarc.com

Needless to say, the monitor is in the mail back to Xenarc today for a warranty claim. Maybe you guys should be getting on to Xenarc. Not sure on the consumer protection law is in your country but down here goods must be of merchantable qualiity and fit for the purpose it was intended. I relied on Xenarc's comment that this was "Automotive Grade". Huh! However Jimmy's email was out of the blue, I had not been back in touch with them. Sound like a nice phone call to Jimmy might yield a result for you guys.

rodweb · 01-29-2009, 02:42 AM

Just another update on this. Got an email from Xenarc this morning stating it was the input box, not the monitor that had failed and therefore it was still covered under warranty. The monitor is on its way back to me from the US.

I asked them this question:

Quote:

It seems that mine was quite an early build judging by the serial number, I am aware of at least 4 other monitors that have had the same symptoms, one of which had a serial number 4 less than mine. I bought Xenarc because everybody said it was the best but I am concerned this may happen again. I am wondering if there was a design or component fault that is at the cause of this and if so, has the matter been rectified now?

And I received this in reply:

Quote:

Hi Rod,

We have sold many of these units and we haven’t had that many units came back to us yet. To reduce turnaround time, we just exchanged your board with one from our latest batch. We will then have our engineers overseas take a closer look at the defective boards. Unlike other manufacturers that try to save cost by using cheap components, our company use higher grade components that are more expensive. For example, we use solid capacitors instead of the traditional Liquid Capacitors. Solid capacitors are more durable. So I also would like to find out which component failed.

Regards,

Jimmy Hu
Xenarc Technologies Corp.

Anyway based on my experience, if your monitor has died, it is probably worth sending it back for repair as if it is the input box, you won't have opened it and the repair will be under warranty.

They have given me good service as the only cost to me was the freight back to Xenarc as they are covering the return freight to me in Australia which is pretty decent of them.

I can't wait to get the monitor back into my rig so I can have the Car PC up and running again...

rodweb · 02-17-2009, 08:48 PM

Well just a note to say I have got this up and running again and this time have fully installed my monitor in the dash. See link to my worklog in my signature block for details.

I also had it confirmed by Xenarc that this monitor does not autosense a reversing camera on AV2. They advised they will ahve a new one out in a few months which adds this and a few other features. They said if I bought a new input box, this would add these features to the 706TSA monitor I have.

Not a big deal as I have the buttons mounted in the dash but am wondering about using an Arduino microprocessor and some relays or optocouplers to "press" the xenarc buttons to select the correct input based on monitoring the reversing light circuit.

Great to be back into business again after a three month enforced sabattical...

rodweb · 03-15-2009, 06:16 AM

Well got a start on this auto reverse sensor. Got the software and hardware sorted out to make it happen and have updated my build up thread here:
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/1299108-post44.html

Now just got to get it off the breadboard and into may car.

Minoritydan · 07-02-2009, 02:22 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by rodweb

I also had it confirmed by Xenarc that this monitor does not autosense a reversing camera on AV2. They advised they will ahve a new one out in a few months which adds this and a few other features. They said if I bought a new input box, this would add these features to the 706TSA monitor I have.

Hey Rod,

Any word when the autosense of a reversing camera would be added?

I'm about to send my input box back, i'm still having the issue with my screen flickering and shutting off.

rodweb · 07-02-2009, 10:14 PM

Dan, no I have not followed up on the new model input box since I posted my last post.

I have been a bit slack on the Car PC front as had a fair bit on elsewhere, I have not done any more with my own auto sense solution. I got most of the hardware put together and had the controller rigged up flashing LED's as if they were the monitor buttons, then got distracted. I've been telling myself that I got to get back into it!

You'll have to send your monitor back as well, just pray it is the input box. Don't forget to cable tie the interconnect cable into position when you get it back. ( I had to join a couple of ties together to go right round the box).

On an aside, I am considering putting in a 12 volt HD Television set top box and use a HDMI to DVI cable to use the digital input on the 706TSA. I will need to sort out the extra audio inputs and have decided I will use a JL Audio CL-SES to auto switch audio between PC, TV and a Head unit (for good AM/FM radio reception) to the amp. It won't be cheap to get all this sorted as I need a overhead console to mount the Head unit (and probably the set top box) which will set me back about AUD $500 as it will be custom made and they will mount the equipment into it for me. Looks like the JL audio importer does not bring in the CL-SES so I'll have to get it from the US. This setup will mean the PC won't have to be on to use the other sources and I like the idea of this. And besides, somebody might as well use th edigitla input Xenarc gave us!

Minoritydan · 07-15-2009, 02:11 PM

I gambled and just sent in the input box last week.

Today I had this email when I got to work:

Your monitor has been repaired and will be shipped today by UPS, tracking # 1ZY1Y70903#####.

Service completed: exchanged input box

Xenarc RMA Department

Looks like it was the input box after all??

I have my fingers crossed...

rodweb · 07-15-2009, 07:42 PM

Good luck Dan. You just got to hope thay did test it before they replaced it...
Could you get a price on the input box alone? It would be handy to know and might even warrant me holding a spare...

Minoritydan · 07-16-2009, 07:23 AM

Rod,

I did not get a price on the input box alone. I will see what I can find out.

Minoritydan · 08-26-2009, 11:31 PM

Hey Rod,

Hope you are doing well.

Well, wouldn't you know it, some thieves broke into my car and ripped out the monitor and tore apart my center console in the process.

They did not get the input box that is mounted in the trunk, so now I have no monitor and a useless input box. If you want it, its yours as I have no use for it now.

rodweb · 08-27-2009, 04:43 AM

Geez Dan these monitors must surely be jinxed. Did you have insurance on your Car PC? I listed it on my car policy as an audio system.

I hate to take advantage of your misfortune, but having a spare could be very handy for me over here. I'll send you a PM.

Mine played up again the other day and it was a loose connector on the interconnect cable at the input box end even with it cable tied into place. Gave it a jiggle and it was fine.

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