Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Easy Writer Marquee Board

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Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 10-16-2003, 08:17 PM:

Has anyone manuals or tips how to troubleshoot an Spectrum Corp. Easy Writer marquee board? It is an outside marquee with small tiles which can be flipped to create texts or graphics. It is controlled by a software called Easy Writer too and this connects to the board by a modem connection.

Posted by Jeff Taylor (Member # 443) on 10-17-2003, 09:15 AM:

Michael: I have one of those installations. Frankly, I don't personally know how to program it, but I have a person who does. Call or email Sabrina Wilson at 413-543-6027 or sabrina@eastfieldmall.com and be sure to mention that Jeff Taylor recommended you contact her so she'll take you seriously. She has the manual and knows how to use the system. Good luck.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 10-17-2003, 06:17 PM:

Blah! You need to ditch that old flipper technology for a new LED-based message center. Well, you would need to do that if you lived in a perfect world where everyone could easily afford the high prices of outdoor electronic message centers. Honestly, most flip type stuff is on the way out --particularly in terms of customer support and parts supply. Our company is trying to get a few customers to replace their old flipper type message centers with LED-based units.

If only HP and others could get the prices of LEDs and supporting electronics components down more (especially on the ultrabright blue variety). Then I might be able to incorporate some giant video billboard displays into some sign projects.

I designed two versions of a gas station sign a couple days ago, one version of which featured LED displays for prices. That feature added over $10,000 to the job. Almost needless to say, the customer opted for normal Zip Change style numerals instead.

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 10-17-2003, 11:09 PM:

That is a fascinating story, Bobby. But can you also tell us how the older flip tile style boards work? I don't mean the tile flipping, but setup, communications, troubleshooting etc. Our problem is that we can connect to the unit initially but it doesn't respond when we try to upload.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 10-18-2003, 01:47 AM:

What kind of storage does the on-board computer for the message center have? Does it use a hard disc? If so there might be a problem with it. I can only guess this might be an issue since you are able to connect with it.

But are you sure you are connecting with the message center and not just the software inside the computer you are using? Some message centers use your computer as a host/controller and won't really tell you for sure if you are getting data to the unit. They're just telling you that you are successfully saving a playlist into the computer and sending it to its own internal host for playback.

Have you tried rebooting the message center by powering it down and restarting it. One of the most common problems I see is lighting or power surges causing a message center to wig out. A lot of the time a simple reboot can cure the problem.

How is your computer connected to the message center? Are you using a fiber optic cable, radio transmitter, RS-232 cable? I hope you're not having to use a "bag phone" setup. That's a cell phone rig on a slave computer in the message center. Those things are crap. Anyway, com port settings can be a source of problems. Rodents and their damage to cables is another common problem.

Anyway, try rebooting the message center (if it doesn't require a crane truck to get up there to do it). After that, do what you can to verify your connection settings are proper and that there is no obvious physical damage to your setup. It is more difficult to check cables for damage however, especially those that might be run underground.

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 10-18-2003, 03:29 AM:

The company's website says it offers trobleshhoting and wiring diagrams.

http://www.specorp.com/

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 10-18-2003, 08:45 AM:

We can dial up the unit and the modem on the other side responds. But we can not establish a "channel" when we want to upload. It has been like that since a power outage last week.

The company`s website also says you have to have an account to get to the info section. The accounts apparently are only open to their technicians.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 10-18-2003, 10:50 AM:

Typically with most outdoor electronic message centers they will often get their brains scrabled with power outages, power surges and nearby hits from lightning. If you're lucky a simple reboot of the system (resetting the thing from inside the sign) will do the trick.

However, there is a good possibility you have some kind of component in need of repair.

If the sign is not safely within reach you'll need to arrange a service call from a sign company, preferably the sign company that put up the message center or a sign company with a good reputation. Don't just go for the cheapest outfit when choosing a sign company for service. The sign industry has some good, professional shops and a whole lot of "we do it cheaper" fly-by-night hacks that may do more harm than good. There should be at least a few good sign shops there in the San Diego area.

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 10-18-2003, 11:17 AM:

If you have a user license, then supposedly this form should get you the login and password necessary to log-in. I think they're just screening to make sure that only the users of the equipment can access the page, kind of like DTS's Tech Center.

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 10-18-2003, 03:40 PM:

Thanks for the advice, Bobby. I could imagine there is simply a PC based control system in there. We will see if we can reset it. When the problem is more dire, we will of course call an experienced service technician. But if resetting it somehow does the trick, we can save a lot of cash. And you`re right about this too: you never know how competent the "service technicians" are...