Star Tech Journal
Issue: 1983-October - Vol 5 Issue 8 - Page 9
9
STAR*TECH JOURNAL/OCTOBER 1983
New System Preview continued.
INTRODUCING
Troubleshootlng
Since the service manual is not out yet (but will be soon), here is a short troubleshooting guide.
1. If the player begins spinning, but does not move inward, the disc player is probably locked or
not fully unlocked.
2. If the player does not spin and no red LEDs are visible on the front of the player, but decision
tones are heard, your player is probably not getting any AC, or the player's power on/off
switch is turned off. Be sure that the line cord (AC) is plugged securely into the back of the
player. These tend to work loose in shipping. If the line cord is secure, check the on/ off switch
(the second button from the front of the game)on the player to make sure it is tripped.
3. If the disc player must be removed, you do the following:
( a) Remove the two carriage bolts - one on each side of the rear of the game.
(b) Carefully slide the drawer out of the cabinet, being sure not to pull any of the cables loose
accidentally.
(c) If total removal of the player is desired, remove the 24-pin ribbon connector, the coax
(BNC style) connector, the RCA audio jacks, and unplug the AC line cord.
Then remove the player by pulling outward until the player drawer reaches the end of
the roller tracks.
Note: The player and drawer are very heavy. Use caution when removing.
(d) To insert the player, reverse the above procedure.
4. If your game goes black and white only ( no color signal), the problem is probably in the NTSC
decoder board. An easy way to check this is to connect an RF cable from the player VHF
output to a color TV just like at home. It is possible for a black and white signal to be produced
by the player, but not as likely as it is for the NTSC board to go bad on the monitor.
5. Troubleshooting hint If the game plays random scenes, or does not respond to player control
movements, you can disconnect the 24-pin ribbon connector from the back of the player and
use the buttons on the front of the unit to make sure that the disc player is functioning properly.
If it is, your problem is probably in the PCA CPU board. If the buttons on the front of the
player have no effect, it is time to send the player in for repair. UNDER NO CIRCUM-
STANCES should a field technician attempt to repair a disc player unit Only the distributor
who sold you the game is able to honor your warranty. Once your disc playeris out of warranty,
any factory-authorized Pioneer service center can do your disc player repair work.
Remember that ALL warranty work MUST be done through the distributor from whom
the game was purchased.
ANY work done to ANY component by a NON-factory-authorized service department or
technician will VOID your warranty!
Concluslon
From the service viewpoint, there is very little risk involved when purchasing aDragon's Lair unit
since you have a relatively small number of components that make up the game, and each unit is
very easy to swap out. The only major drawbacks are that there are no service manuals ready yet
and the distributors are not familiar with the laser disc system yet Both drawbacks will be rectified
shortly, as Cinematronics is almost ready to go to press with their service manual. As more laser
disc systems come on the market, the distributors will become as proficient at repairing them as
they are at repairing CPU boards.
The Customer Service Department at Cinematronics has been very helpful, and the only
gamble involved with Dragon's Lair is the same as with any new technology ... will it go over?
Well, with the collection reports coming in averaging between $700 and $1400 weekly and all the
other major manufacturers jumping on the laser disc wagon, it seems that this question has
answered itselfl
Cinematronics is planning to hold service schools and information will be forthcoming in this
regard shortly.
If you experience any difficulties with your Dragon's Lair, please contact Cinematronics'
Customer Service Department at their toll-free number, 800/854-2666, and they will be very
happy to help you.
If any of you feel that you might bug the people at Cinematronics too much, believe me ...
there's no ~ay! In the last two weeks I've made close to a dozen calls to their service department
and never once was I cut short! I want to thank Mr. Bagby, John, Felix, Laura ... in fact, everyone
at Cinematronics for their technical assistance which was needed for this New Technology
Review.
THE
PROTECTOR
6000TM
TOTAL PROTECTION FOR YOUR
SENSITIVE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT.
Something that you can 't even see may be slowly
but surely killing your expensive electronic equip-
ment. It's transient voltage , and it can be fatal to
computers , medical equipment , electronic games,
videotape recorders, electronic test equipment ,
electronic cash registers - almost any of today's
sophisticated solid state equipment.
THE TRANSIENT VOLTAGE PROBLEM.
Most of this modern electronic equipment uses
LSI and MOS semiconductor devices which are
extremely sensitive to voltage transient surges or
" glitches. " In fact, a large percentage of equip-
ment failures can be directly linked to the damag-
ing effects of over-voltage line transients to
unprotected, highly fragile components.
THE PROTECTOR 6000 '" SOLUTION.
Not to be confused with other transient voltage
protection units available today, THE PROTECTOR
6000 uses state-of-the-art solid state components
and exclusive circuitry to provide you with com-
plete and total protection from transient voltage
surges of up to 6,000 volts. THE PROTECTOR
6000 uses silicon PN junction devices - proven
to provide the fastest response to surges! They
have a statistical life expectancy of over 20 years.
THE PROTECTOR 6000 has a maximum clamping
voltage of only 335 volts , well below the voltage
rating of other transient protection devices which
commonly use much less effective MOV's or gas
discharge tubes. It also provides full protection
from electro-magnetic and radio frequency inter-
ference . The unit operates in both common and
differential modes , and is outfitted with a circuit
breaker to guard against severe current overloads
over 15 amps .
Why take chances with your expensive electronic
equipment? For lull details contact your local
NTE distributor or write:
NEW-TONE ELECTRONICS, INC.
44 Farrand St., Bloomfield, NJ 07003
THE PEOPLE WHO BRING YOU THE TCG
LINE OF SEMICONDUCTORS.
© 1983 New-Tone Electronics, Inc.
STAR*TECH JOURNAL/OCTOBER 1983
New System Preview continued.
INTRODUCING
Troubleshootlng
Since the service manual is not out yet (but will be soon), here is a short troubleshooting guide.
1. If the player begins spinning, but does not move inward, the disc player is probably locked or
not fully unlocked.
2. If the player does not spin and no red LEDs are visible on the front of the player, but decision
tones are heard, your player is probably not getting any AC, or the player's power on/off
switch is turned off. Be sure that the line cord (AC) is plugged securely into the back of the
player. These tend to work loose in shipping. If the line cord is secure, check the on/ off switch
(the second button from the front of the game)on the player to make sure it is tripped.
3. If the disc player must be removed, you do the following:
( a) Remove the two carriage bolts - one on each side of the rear of the game.
(b) Carefully slide the drawer out of the cabinet, being sure not to pull any of the cables loose
accidentally.
(c) If total removal of the player is desired, remove the 24-pin ribbon connector, the coax
(BNC style) connector, the RCA audio jacks, and unplug the AC line cord.
Then remove the player by pulling outward until the player drawer reaches the end of
the roller tracks.
Note: The player and drawer are very heavy. Use caution when removing.
(d) To insert the player, reverse the above procedure.
4. If your game goes black and white only ( no color signal), the problem is probably in the NTSC
decoder board. An easy way to check this is to connect an RF cable from the player VHF
output to a color TV just like at home. It is possible for a black and white signal to be produced
by the player, but not as likely as it is for the NTSC board to go bad on the monitor.
5. Troubleshooting hint If the game plays random scenes, or does not respond to player control
movements, you can disconnect the 24-pin ribbon connector from the back of the player and
use the buttons on the front of the unit to make sure that the disc player is functioning properly.
If it is, your problem is probably in the PCA CPU board. If the buttons on the front of the
player have no effect, it is time to send the player in for repair. UNDER NO CIRCUM-
STANCES should a field technician attempt to repair a disc player unit Only the distributor
who sold you the game is able to honor your warranty. Once your disc playeris out of warranty,
any factory-authorized Pioneer service center can do your disc player repair work.
Remember that ALL warranty work MUST be done through the distributor from whom
the game was purchased.
ANY work done to ANY component by a NON-factory-authorized service department or
technician will VOID your warranty!
Concluslon
From the service viewpoint, there is very little risk involved when purchasing aDragon's Lair unit
since you have a relatively small number of components that make up the game, and each unit is
very easy to swap out. The only major drawbacks are that there are no service manuals ready yet
and the distributors are not familiar with the laser disc system yet Both drawbacks will be rectified
shortly, as Cinematronics is almost ready to go to press with their service manual. As more laser
disc systems come on the market, the distributors will become as proficient at repairing them as
they are at repairing CPU boards.
The Customer Service Department at Cinematronics has been very helpful, and the only
gamble involved with Dragon's Lair is the same as with any new technology ... will it go over?
Well, with the collection reports coming in averaging between $700 and $1400 weekly and all the
other major manufacturers jumping on the laser disc wagon, it seems that this question has
answered itselfl
Cinematronics is planning to hold service schools and information will be forthcoming in this
regard shortly.
If you experience any difficulties with your Dragon's Lair, please contact Cinematronics'
Customer Service Department at their toll-free number, 800/854-2666, and they will be very
happy to help you.
If any of you feel that you might bug the people at Cinematronics too much, believe me ...
there's no ~ay! In the last two weeks I've made close to a dozen calls to their service department
and never once was I cut short! I want to thank Mr. Bagby, John, Felix, Laura ... in fact, everyone
at Cinematronics for their technical assistance which was needed for this New Technology
Review.
THE
PROTECTOR
6000TM
TOTAL PROTECTION FOR YOUR
SENSITIVE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT.
Something that you can 't even see may be slowly
but surely killing your expensive electronic equip-
ment. It's transient voltage , and it can be fatal to
computers , medical equipment , electronic games,
videotape recorders, electronic test equipment ,
electronic cash registers - almost any of today's
sophisticated solid state equipment.
THE TRANSIENT VOLTAGE PROBLEM.
Most of this modern electronic equipment uses
LSI and MOS semiconductor devices which are
extremely sensitive to voltage transient surges or
" glitches. " In fact, a large percentage of equip-
ment failures can be directly linked to the damag-
ing effects of over-voltage line transients to
unprotected, highly fragile components.
THE PROTECTOR 6000 '" SOLUTION.
Not to be confused with other transient voltage
protection units available today, THE PROTECTOR
6000 uses state-of-the-art solid state components
and exclusive circuitry to provide you with com-
plete and total protection from transient voltage
surges of up to 6,000 volts. THE PROTECTOR
6000 uses silicon PN junction devices - proven
to provide the fastest response to surges! They
have a statistical life expectancy of over 20 years.
THE PROTECTOR 6000 has a maximum clamping
voltage of only 335 volts , well below the voltage
rating of other transient protection devices which
commonly use much less effective MOV's or gas
discharge tubes. It also provides full protection
from electro-magnetic and radio frequency inter-
ference . The unit operates in both common and
differential modes , and is outfitted with a circuit
breaker to guard against severe current overloads
over 15 amps .
Why take chances with your expensive electronic
equipment? For lull details contact your local
NTE distributor or write:
NEW-TONE ELECTRONICS, INC.
44 Farrand St., Bloomfield, NJ 07003
THE PEOPLE WHO BRING YOU THE TCG
LINE OF SEMICONDUCTORS.
© 1983 New-Tone Electronics, Inc.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).