Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: DTS 6D processor maintainance

This is topic DTS 6D processor maintainance in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=007106

Posted by Peter John Anthony. C (Member # 2500) on 04-14-2005, 03:18 PM:

Hi every body,

Kind request to please let me know how do you maintain your DTS 6D processor.
Have you signed AMC for the processor....
What are the common problems with the DTS 6D processor?
How do you clean the Lens of the CD drive........
What all precaution is required for the processor?
When the processor is not in use, should we leave the processor off or every day whether we are using the processor or not we have to turn it on....

Please advice,
Thanks,
Peter

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-14-2005, 10:04 PM:

Well, if its as dusty in India where you live as it is here in Utah then blowing the dust out of the unit every couple of years is a good idea. I blow the dust out of the supply seperately. Use low air pressure!!!!!!!! I open up the supplies and visually inspect them and also be sure to check the fans on all normal service visits to be sure they turn freely and silently. I have replaced over a hundred fans in the field in DTS units alone in the last few years. It also does not hurt to replace the main filter cap in the power supply about once every 5 years as these are not really very high grade supplies by any means!!

Cleaning the drives can be accomplished with a standard CD ROM cleaning disk, but don't over do this. I generally only use them when a drive will not read any longer. If a cleaning doen't get it to work again then replacement is in order. I have not had a later TEAC drive fail yet!

They also used a metal encased British made switching supply in the analog circuitry that failed once in a while. This supply is about one inch by two and a half inches and has a white and blue label on it. The result of a failed supply is a green digital light but no sound output. The later style DC converter is a black epoxy US made unit that doesn't fail. DTS won't send them out as a replacement part because they would rather charge exorbatent prices to RA the whole board. These switching supplies are also available directly from the manufacturer and from several dealers that also stock them. Beware this is at least a three layer circuit board, perhaps 4 layers, and you need appropriate soldering equipment to safley remove and re-install the new switcher.

Hope this helps........

Mark

Posted by Peter John Anthony. C (Member # 2500) on 04-15-2005, 12:48 AM:

Thanks a ton mark for your lovely explanation.

We normally play all the movies in Dolby Digital. We rarely use DTS processor.

At present B drive is not working. A and C drive are working but not accurate it the sound reverts to mono.

I opened the DTS processor & saw the connection on drive B is disconnected.

I called the engineer he told me that there is a problem in the motherboard, if he connects the B driver non of the drive will work…. I really don’t know why so…..

Is there a serious problem, please advice.

Thanks

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 04-15-2005, 03:59 AM:

did he think to check the jumpers on the back of each drives for propper settings?

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 04-15-2005, 04:53 AM:

quote: Darryl Spicer
to check the jumpers on the back of each drives

Drive A - 2
Drive B - 0-2
Drive C - 1-2-4(terminate)

-Monte

Posted by Antonio Marcheselli (Member # 373) on 04-15-2005, 06:36 AM:

Peter

Seems strange with me that there is a problem with the motherboard if you connect your B drive! I would check the cables (I had once a SCSI defective cable in my old PC that reboot the entire system if moved!) and the jumper settings. You can find everything dts website

The, try a CDROM (not CD audio) cleaner to see if the reliability improves. DWhat brad are your CDROM? Toshiba or TEAC?

Bye
A

Edit: Sorry for the syntax errors... [Frown]

[ 04-21-2005, 05:54 AM: Message edited by: Antonio Marcheselli ]

Posted by Frank Dubrois (Member # 3042) on 04-18-2005, 11:27 PM:

I actually take the drives apart and clean them the old fashioned way. I hate compressed air....although it CAN be fun.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-19-2005, 07:56 AM:

quote: Peter John Anthony. C
Is there a serious problem, please advice.

This is more likely a bad drive than a motherboard problem. I would also be looking at the SCSI controller way before the motherboard. I've had the SCSI controllers fail as well a couple of times.

If you have Toshiba drives in there I reccomend that you just order the upgrade kit and re-do the entire unit to todays DTS standards. Ir will be alot more trouble free this way.

What brand drives do you have in there?

Mark

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 04-20-2005, 03:31 AM:

...if it's "B" drive that went, how about swapping out the "B" with the "C" drive? Change the jumpers from the "C" to be the "B" settings. Then make "C" a "dead" drive until the upgrade kit comes in (or, forget about "B" and let "C" be the "B" drive for awhile).

Also, when having a DTS-6 player unit, it's a good idea to "rotate" drives-not use A and B drive all the time. Being a SCSI system, the disks will be recognized in any drive in any letter order- (make up your own drive assignments per each week). We do that all the time at our theatres-"rotate" the drive usage. Course, this works if one isn't using the trailer disks.

-Monte

Posted by Peter John Anthony. C (Member # 2500) on 04-20-2005, 05:29 AM:

Sorry to all for the delay in reply………

Darryl the DTS Cd Rom jumper setting is Ok; previously we were playing sound with this setting.

Antonio and Mark thanks a ton for your reply.
I will try cleaning my CDROM with a CDROM cleaner.
The make of our CD ROM is TEAC…..

Thanks Monte for your help I will fallow your advice.

I have called my engineer to fix the problem.

Once he does the job I will come back with the details of work carried out.

Thanks once again for all your help.

Peter

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 04-20-2005, 05:53 PM:

Whoops Peter, I forgot one thing: if you do the tray swap between "B" and "C", physically do the swap, not just move the jumpers since you need that termination (4) jumper on the last drive of the cable string. - thx Monte