Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Barco DP2K 23B Color Issues

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Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 11-10-2013, 11:24 PM:

Friday night, we experienced an issue with one of our projectors during a trailer for Hunger Games: Catching Fire where all of a sudden the screen was filled with blue horizontal lines flashing all over the screen in random places. As soon as that one trailer was over and the next one started the problem was gone. Thinking it was just that one trailer, I deleted it from the playlist and haven't had any more issues until tonight.

Tonight watching one of our features on that particular projector, we kept noticing that all of the shadows and skin tones had a slight blue tint to them. As that feature progressed we started noticing more areas where everything had a blue tint to it. It looks as if the whole screen is filled with blue and the other colors are just projecting on top of it.

Any clues? I called my tech guys who we bought it from and they suggested powering off the projector and re-seating all of the cards (ICP, IMB,and the input card) below the control panel. I'll have to use the Dallas key to clear the security issue out, but does anyone think that would actually clear out the problem.

The tech was able to remote in and pull the logs on the projector and server, and we don't have any errors, and we've got a green tail light on the rear of the machine.

I'm kind of stumped...

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 11-10-2013, 11:28 PM:

Yes reseat the cards. It's definitely the first step and is a common thing. As you wrote, make damn sure you have the power off before you do though.

Are you running IMBs or HDSDI? If HDSDI don't forget to run a short clip repeatedly after doing this before you power it down to keep the enigma from filling up.

Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 11-10-2013, 11:32 PM:

quote: Brad Miller
Are you running IMBs or HDSDI? If HDSDI don't forget to run a short clip repeatedly after doing this before you power it down to keep the enigma from filling up.

I don't have a clue Brad. It's a Barco DP2K-23B with a GDC SX2000AR server. The IMB is mounted in the projector.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 11-11-2013, 02:22 AM:

If you have an IMB, then you have an IMB. Just power off the projector, reseat the cards, power it back on, re-marry it and get a test show running.

Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 11-11-2013, 07:45 PM:

Powered off the projector, pulled and re-seated the cards, buttoned it all back up and then powered up the projector. I expected a red tail light once it booted up... I got a steady green tail light.

I tried the Dallas key and the control panel numbers flashed RED for about 1 second, then returned to their normal blue and green colors. If I tried to key in the security code within 5 seconds of the Dallas key, the projector just cycles through the various lens settings. We verified the numbers on the Dallas key to make sure I'm using the right one.

When I booted up the server, I still have the green tail light on the projector, but the server cannot connect to the IMB.

Called tech support, and they are just as stumped as me. Anyone have a clue why the Dallas key wouldn't clear out the security issue? The server says there is a network issue, but nothing has changed, and everything is plugged in to the correct place on the IMB according to the photo I took of it last night before I pulled the cards.

I can throw a test pattern up on the screen, and the colors look fine, just can't play a damn thing.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 11-11-2013, 09:36 PM:

The odd thing is that the dallas key is not taking if you are getting a red flash on the keys. If they took the dallas key, then it would be a green flash.

I would reseat the Cinema Controller (bottom card) again. That is the "brains" of the outfit. And I would also look up to verify that the number of the Dallas key matches your actual key (as well as the number sequence). Note, each time you use the key, it goes into the logs so if you go to diagnostics, you can look up what key it thinks it saw and compare that to the key that is loaded in (in the Installation/Advanced) section. You will need service privileges to do some of this.

Posted by Frank Cox (Member # 6258) on 11-11-2013, 09:37 PM:

Loose or broken network cable?

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 11-11-2013, 11:26 PM:

I'm with Steve here. Its most probably the cinema controller (bottom card). Then again a simple power cycle actually could also resolve things, odds are another reseat is in order.

Do make sure the cards are FULLY in. I've seen some people push the cards in until they felt tension, then "used the screws to snug it up". Don't do that. Push the card firmly in. Then screwing the screws in shouldn't move the board at all to get to a snug point.

BTW don't go tightening those screws too much. They are easily stripped. You need a #1 size Phillips.

Finally power the server down during this. The reason isn't that the server needs to be powered off, but you need to start the projector and server both at the same time from an off state sometimes.

Posted by Jason Raftery (Member # 6291) on 11-11-2013, 11:39 PM:

The cinema control board stores the Dallas key information, so if that board is not fully seated or is malfunctioning, the behavior you're experiencing is not surprising. The CCB also contains the projector's network router--if it is not working, your server will definitely not be able to play content.

First, power down and try what Steve and Brad advised--reseating the board. If the projector still misbehaves once you boot back up, check the following.

In Communicator, go to Diagnostics > Version Info. What version is listed next to barco? Is there an asterisk visible?

Also, go to Diagnostics > Tests > Self Test. Run the ICP and Router tests and advise if any failures are noted.

Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 11-12-2013, 08:28 AM:

Spent several hours on the phone with tech support last night and ran some self-diagnostic test via the Barco Communicator. Most everything checked out fine, but the ICP board threw out a couple of test failures.

The tech extracted the logs from both the projector and the GDC and sent them to Barco and GDC. Should hear back from them this morning hopefully.

Had another tech have me take the Dallas key from the other screen and add it to this projector in question, so it now has two Dallas keys that it can read from. Tried the new key and got the same results.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 11-12-2013, 02:09 PM:

"The problem is not with our equipment. It's GDC at fault." ---Barco

"The problem is not with our equipment. It's Barco at fault." ---GDC

[Razz]

Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 11-13-2013, 10:21 AM:

Got it fixed. I think Jason and Brad both had it right, I believe the bottom card wasn't seated properly. Last night I went back down to the theatre and pulled all of the cards again, cleaned the terminals and cleaned the internal connectors with a lint free cloth and Q-tip (no solvents)- just a quick wipe down. Got it all put back together and it booted to a red tail light. Did the Dallas key thing and it turned yellow. Punched in the code and about a minute later the tail light turned green. Fired up the server and everything worked exactly like it should.
Loaded and watched one of the features we already had loaded on the machine and it played through with no problem and no color issues.

I called the techs and told them and they said that after reviewing the server logs, GDC wants to send a replacement IMB. [Roll Eyes]

I'll probably hang on to the IMB for a week (unopened) just to make sure the problem doesn't return before I ship it back to them.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 11-13-2013, 12:34 PM:

Wait a minute...Jason and Brad? Check out who said this right below your post! <I can't get no respect...pulling at fictional collar>

If the IMB was the issue...generally, you'll get a longer than normal boot up...much longer before the button lights turn on.

Note, too, if you do change the IMB on a 2000AR...you'll need GDC to remote in and configure the IMB after it is installed before it will work (will need to set its serial number to match your KDMs).

Me thinks your problems are over.

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 11-13-2013, 01:04 PM:

quote: Steve Guttag
will need to set its serial number to match your KDMs

Uh...isn't it the other way around? Doesn't a site need new KDM's whenever an IMB (or server if using HDSDI) is replaced?

[Confused]

Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 11-13-2013, 03:08 PM:

quote:
Wait a minute...Jason and Brad? Check out who said this right below your post! <I can't get no respect...pulling at fictional collar>

Sorry I left you out Steve. [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Marco Giustini (Member # 4544) on 11-13-2013, 03:33 PM:

If the colours acted up again, try some test patterns. You can try the Barco test patterns, which are generated in the ICP, the colour calibration patterns, which are generated on the formatters. You should be able to identify where the problem is.

I would not think the Barco controller board was responsible for colour issues, but since it's ok now, leave it and see what happens.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 11-13-2013, 09:22 PM:

The part I liked is that both Brad and Jason referred to me in their posts and THEY get the credit. In all honesty, it doesn't matter to me but I pictured Rodney Dangerfield's reaction when I read it. Glad you got it working...sorry to hear that it took days.

Ken...no in a GDC system, the serial number of the server and the IMB are the same. As such, GDC programs the IMB to match the server. Once that is done, the existing keys will work with the new IMB. This is definitely NOT the case for all server/IMB companies.

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 11-14-2013, 08:15 AM:

I take it, then, that if the server fails and is replaced, the existing IMB is programmed to match the serial of the new server?

What if GDC does not have remote access? Is there a way for a qualified field tech to do it onsite?

Posted by Jason Raftery (Member # 6291) on 11-14-2013, 10:03 AM:

If GDC wants to replace the IMB, they probably saw some dropped frames or a hardware error in the server logs. I've had a handful of the AR IMBs go bad and produce flashing or distorted colors like you described Barry. Sometimes they make the projector take an extra 3-4 minutes to boot up but others not. When you pull the old IMB, check which hardware revision is printed on the bottom corner of the board--G, H, J, K, etc. The earlier revisions were more prone to these issues.

Glad Steve's [Smile]

advice on the CCB was correct. I asked about the software version on your projector as Barco had a known bug that could brick the CCB that was fixed in 1.10.118 and higher. If you are on an older version, I would recommend updating to 1.11.133 to avoid the problem.

Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 11-14-2013, 03:17 PM:

The replacement IMB was delivered this morning, but I'm kind of skeptical on pulling the old one out the day before we're supposed to go on-screen. I ran a complete double-feature set on Tuesday night and it performed flawlessly. If I see the issue rise up again this weekend, I'll swap it out on Monday.