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Topic: Lost my first shows due to equipment failure

Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 11-22-2014 02:18 PM

He'll NEED the backup of the ICP...think about it...all of the SCREEN and PCF files reside there...so bits and pieces will be missing without making a back up of those.

With Christie, the last update and version of the software installed stays on the TPC unless someone went out of their way to delete it so the TPC should have what he needs to get the ICP to the same software.

Okay...so you have a GDC...do you have a pair of COAX cables feeding into the PIB module with a blank cover plate between the PIB and the ICP or do you have a GDC module between the PIB and the ICP with a honkin' PICe cable coming up there with a largish metal connector on it?

If it is coax...the problem may be the mediablock in the server itself...there is supposed to be a cooling fan on it...in the rear of the server there will be a grate where one of the card slots could be and there should be a decent flow of air coming out of it. If the Mediablock overheats...all bets are off as to what it will be putting out.

If you have an IMB...I would reseat that, for sure too. It feeds the signal to the ICP so it too can muck the image up.

If you have a BluRay player and can get an HDMI to DVI cable...then you could hook the BluRay up directly to the DVI and see if the image problem persists...if not...definitely not the ICP.

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Marcel Birgelen
Film God

Posts: 3357
From: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2012

posted 11-22-2014 06:45 PM

His website mentions there are no shows tonight, so the ICP either didn't materialize yet or didn't solve the problem.

quote: Marco Giustini
I would try re-seating the light engine LEQ (do I remember the name right? the board where the light engine connects to). What happens if you run the R G B calibration patterns? Those are generated ON the formatters.

He mentions the test patterns (generated on the ICP) to be looking as it is supposed to look. So, I guess the light engine is working fine.

quote: Steve Guttag
He'll NEED the backup of the ICP...think about it...all of the SCREEN and PCF files reside there...so bits and pieces will be missing without making a back up of those.

If he loses those, he might be better off calling the installer as he has to do those settings all over again.

I guess it's a good standard practice to make a backup of those files now and then (and keep them somewhere you can find them). A totally bricked ICP isn't entirely unheard of...

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Frank Cox
Film God

Posts: 2234
From: Melville Saskatchewan Canada
Registered: Apr 2011

posted 11-22-2014 11:19 PM

Back in business!

Got a call from the bus depot late tonight, so I hoofed it out there, picked up the new ICP board, brought it back here and installed it.

In the immortal words of Wayne, "SCHWING!"

Now I've got a picture, with proper colours and everything!

I have a couple of minor issues that don't seem to affect my ability to actually play the movies.

1. The red error lights are on the projector and I have this message: Warning: ICP Software Version Mismatch

2. My flat picture is very slightly off-center (by one and a half inches, I measured it) and the scope picture is slightly too big since there is about an inch of picture that overlaps onto the screen masking. Based on what you folks told me earlier in this thread, I gather that I need to re-load the screen files. I'm pretty sure that the techs who look after my machine have all of that stuff backed up at their office, so I sent them an email and hopefully I'll have everything back to perfect once again sometime tomorrow.

I'm now back up and running; back to the regular movie schedule tomorrow night.

[Big Grin]

Happy dance... [Big Grin]

Now I'll get a break from answering the phone, too. [Smile]

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Marcel Birgelen
Film God

Posts: 3357
From: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2012

posted 11-23-2014 02:17 AM

Good to know you're up-and-running again. And yeah, I can imagine the frustration of answering all those calls and telling them all the same, especially if you want to get some other work done. Can't you get some kind of phone answering service or other "phone monkey" for those kind of situations?

The version mismatch is indeed due to a wrong software version on the ICP. You need to get that in-line with the firmware of your projector.

If you didn't copy the SCREEN and PCF files from the old ICP, you're actually lucky the result is usable. I don't know what your arrangements are, but hold on to that old ICP, as the tech will need it to get the configuration files.

Maybe also ask him to create a backup of those files on an USB stick and store that away for future use.

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Marco Giustini
Film God

Posts: 2713
From: Reading, UK
Registered: Nov 2007

posted 11-23-2014 04:50 AM

Didn't you save the settings as advised? It's a piece of cake on a Christie. re. the software, it's been already discussed. You're lucky you have a picture on screen!

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Jarod Reddig
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 513
From: Hays, Ks
Registered: Jun 2011

posted 11-23-2014 05:10 AM

Great to hear Frank!! [beer]

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 11-23-2014 12:48 PM

Question: Was this a warranty issue? And if not.....it'll be interesting to hear how much a digital repair costs!

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Frank Cox
Film God

Posts: 2234
From: Melville Saskatchewan Canada
Registered: Apr 2011

posted 11-23-2014 01:57 PM

I'm pretty sure that the techs I deal with have a copy of all of that stuff so I'm just waiting for them to tell me what they want me to do next. I hesitate to get too carried away with doing things that's not at their direction, for obvious reasons.

They told me to pull the card and change it and told me how they wanted me to go about doing that. I pulled the card and changed it. Now it works again, mostly.

My machine is no longer under warranty so this fix is on my dime. They told me to send the old card back to them for a return credit.

I have no idea how much this is going to end up costing, but it's got to be cheaper than a new projector.

quote: Marcel Birgelen
I can imagine the frustration of answering all those calls and telling them all the same, especially if you want to get some other work done. Can't you get some kind of phone answering service or other "phone monkey" for those kind of situations?

I don't think you realize just how small my theatre really is. It's just me and my wife. Occasionally it's just me by myself if it isn't a particularly busy night.

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 11-23-2014 02:32 PM

Mike...parts prices vary WILDLY for the projectors based on manufacturer. The ICP is made by TI so you have TI's markup as well as the OEM projector company. Christie is actually pretty reasonable on their prices but this will still be in the multiple thousand dollar range.

Christie also offers "Refurb" boards so there is a way to save there.

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Marcel Birgelen
Film God

Posts: 3357
From: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2012

posted 11-23-2014 03:39 PM

quote: Frank Cox
I don't think you realize just how small my theatre really is. It's just me and my wife. Occasionally it's just me by myself if it isn't a particularly busy night.

I do realize that, but sometimes it can be someone you know or an external service that you pay a few bucks and just forward your phone to. Off course, I don't know about the availability of such services in your area, it was just a thought, I've used such services in the past mostly successfully.

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