Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: How can I rebuild and calibrate a DTS reader.

This is topic How can I rebuild and calibrate a DTS reader. in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Eric Robinson (Member # 2966) on 07-03-2007, 06:54 PM:

I have an interest in rebuilding my own DTS readers and avoiding the $350.00 fee for the service by DTS. Does anyone do this or is this exclusively performed by DTS only?

Posted by Brad Allen (Member # 470) on 07-04-2007, 01:38 AM:

Claco-The company Mark works for-last I knew would do a rebuild at a very reasonable price point.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 07-04-2007, 08:46 AM:

I will only do them if the scanning drums are not worn. Readers with good drums are rare after running that many feet of film. Since DTS introduced the later version of the PCB that fits in the reader you don't have to make the 4 volt adjustment... so getting them rebuilt at the factory not only gets you a new drum but also the later style board that you never have to adjust.

Mark

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 07-04-2007, 09:44 AM:

Hopefully, the LEDs will last a bit longer too. While the board may auto calibrate, the LED will still fade...some batches at fantastic rates.

Posted by Eric Robinson (Member # 2966) on 07-07-2007, 01:06 AM:

Assuming I could acquire a new scanning drum and a new style self calibrating circuit board, could I perform the alignment with a scope? Is there information about how to perform this calibration and the equipment required?

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 07-07-2007, 08:29 AM:

Unless you "know someone inside" they can't be aquired. We stock an LED that works very well and has very long life.

Mark

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 07-07-2007, 09:03 AM:

DTS Published a Technical note TN-E698A that covered what the time code should look like on a scope if all was adjusted properly. I didn't check but that TN may be here on Film-Tech.

Steve

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 07-07-2007, 06:57 PM:

Carl Greenberg solves these kinds of problems. Louis

Posted by Eric Robinson (Member # 2966) on 07-08-2007, 12:20 AM:

quote: Louis Bornwasser

Carl Greenberg

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 07-08-2007, 09:41 AM:

Carl runs Quality Presentations in Massapequa NY tel: 516-667-3456

Carl supports the DTS-6 and sometimes has access to parts that the dts factory no longer has. He will work with you. Louis

Posted by Dominic Espinosa (Member # 2122) on 07-08-2007, 10:53 AM:

Myself as well as a certain ACE technician I once spoke with have had success doing the alignment with running film, specifically multiple trailers (if it doesn't loose tracking through the different trailers it should be pretty close).
Not really the correct way to do it but it gets the job done.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 07-08-2007, 04:24 PM:

quote: Louis Bornwasser
Carl Greenberg solves these kinds of problems. Louis

Carl's involvement is mainly to repair the older boards in 6D's, 6's, and 6AD's. He unfortunately doesn't do any TCR repairs there..... Anyone tied to two different Blackberry's couldn't possibly have the time to do them.

You are far better off sending the bad TCR back to DTS. I believe they have finally gotten the LED situation right this time as well.

Mark

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 07-08-2007, 06:02 PM:

Blackberries [puke]

Carl

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 07-08-2007, 07:32 PM:

quote: Richard Fowler
Blackberries

Yes Richard.... Carl IS the gadget guru to end gadget gurus! Thats how he gets your messages and then calls you back [Big Grin]

. Perhaps not all that bad a gadget! I wonder if we will all see Carl sporting dual I-phones at the next convention?????

Posted by Eric Robinson (Member # 2966) on 07-09-2007, 10:36 AM:

Thanks Steve...I found the Technical Note here:

DTS TCR Technical Note - Timecode Reading Problems - TN-E698

Unfortunately I am too curious not to try and fix one of these myself. Usually when something is broken I figure I cant make it much worse. Most of the time I'm able to figure it out.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 07-09-2007, 01:02 PM:

Eric,

Check the width of the drum at least with a digital caliper before you "waste" your time on it. I find that many readers were poorly aligned when installed and typically you'll find one sode of the drum worn making it wider than normal. A new drum shold be about 35mm + a tad bit, say not more than .02". If the drum is worn wider the track which is very narrow will weave in and out of the normal scanning area and you won't be able to align it to "stay put" no matter what you do.

Mark