Ye canne fix what ye canne test

I feel your pain!

In my business (fixing classic arcade/amusement games) I collect as many test fixtures as I can, plus host a mail list devoted to technical tools (mostly Fluke microprocessor test gear) in an effort to get information out there to save our games.

I have charged customers the time it takes to make a test harness so I can service their game board - most understand the problem once it is explained clearly.

John :-#)#

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(Please post followups or tech inquiries to the USENET newsgroup) 
John's  Jukes Ltd. 2343 Main St., Vancouver, BC, Canada V5T 3C9 
(604)872-5757 or Fax 872-2010 (Pinballs, Jukes, Video Games) 
                      www.flippers.com 
        "Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."

that cannot be put under test while in the workshop. Usually, this is beca use the item requires a missing accessory in order to operate OR is itself an accessory to a larger unit.

xing consoles, IR remotes, power leads with oddball plugs, foot switch unit s with multi-pin connectors and many others.

erse.

olves a LOT of testing - not just final testing ( which they fondly imagine they can do for you) but also initial and continual testing during fault f inding and fixing process.

it would make explaining it a lot easier.

** Never needed to go quite that far, myself.

I have one of nearly every kind of AC power lead: the various IECs, PowerCo n, XLR/LNE and even a large Bulgin for old Marshalls - plus a few variable bench PSUs that can power-up most things, including channel modules from mi xing desks - convenient when the desk is really large.

A 1GHz frequency counter shows if a radio mic is transmitting and on what f requency, but is no help when the issue is sound quality.

Long ago, I built a balanced pre-amp / headphone-amp combo as a substitute for a mixing desk - allows me to test any kind of mic, direct box or radio mic receiver.

However, I am still a bit stuck if some item only operates with a Midi or D MX input.

.... Phil

About the MIDI, not long ago I got one needed a USB jack replaced. I didn't realize at first it was not a real keyboard, only a MIDI controller. Isn't there some sort of universal software out there ? Like maybe on a driver d isk for a soundcard ? Isn't it pretty similar to the older style that used the game/joystick port ? If your PC can play a .MID file, shouldn't it work ?

The wireless mic problem might fix itself forya. I got one in that had one bad mic, and looking t it, it isn't going to get fixed. Eventually the othe r mic will get broken and then there is a spare receiver. This recent one w as an RSQ and apparently had all the channels. It could search for the freq uency or you could select it manually. Those things probably all operate on one band. Here, they seem to be around 690 MHz, might be different in othe r countries. But it seems if you get the right receiver for your country i t might just do the trick.

Of course then they bring a drum machine but no heads, or drum heads and no machine, you know how customers are.

** Got one of them here now, the mini USB socket has popped right off the P CB and vanished. There is other unrepairable damage too.

e bad mic, and looking t it, it isn't going to get fixed. Eventually the ot her mic will get broken and then there is a spare receiver. This recent one was an RSQ and apparently had all the channels. It could search for the fr equency or you could select it manually. Those things probably all operate on one band. Here, they seem to be around 690 MHz, might be different in ot her countries. But it seems if you get the right receiver for your country it might just do the trick.

** I would need about half a dozen to cover all the frequencies used here, VHF and UHF ranging from 49MHz to 830MHz.

Although they all use FM, the IF bandwidths can be narrow or wide and the a udio companding systems vary a lot too.

.... Phil