CTB16KD address issue.

[JeffF]

Our one and only CTB16KD is acting up this year. It does not show up in the hardware utility program but during a sequence it responds as programmed.

I tried resetting the controller by setting the dials to "00" for a few seconds but the odd behavior persists.

I don't really mind not being able to get to the controller via the hardware utility except I would like to update the firmware.


Anybody ever run into this situation before? If so, what was the cause/fix?

[bisquit476]

I'm sure you did, but gotta ask, did you reconfigure the comm port first before trying to recognize the controller?

[Dennis Cherry]

What is the ID # of the controller?

In the hardware utility what is your maximum ID number setting? Is it higher than the controller number?

[JeffF]

This controller is set to 05. Our other 14 controllers are found by the hardware utility no problem. Max. controllers is set at 15.

And I haven't done anything to the USB controller since the other controllers are found. I have a spare I'll swap in and try just to be sure.

I was also reading the dials can act up so tomorrow I'll get up on the roof and turn them a few times to see if it helps.


Not sure if it came across in my first message, but the controller works fine when being addressed by an actual sequence... I just can't get to it via the hardware utility.

[JeffF]

Great info, sounds like a similar condition. I'll try the triggers and see what happens.

Thanks.

[Mtrumbull]

just finished trouble shooting the same trouble, plays from show but not in HU. ended up bring a bad cat5 cable at the plug, put new end on, now all working normally.

[JeffF]

My problem was a bad communications chip(8 pin chip near the jacks). Technical support suggested I swap in a chip from another one of our controllers and the controller now works great... they will be sending a replacement. LOR = awesome!

Thanks again Jeff M.!

[LightORamaDan]

Jeff Millard wrote:

That's why they mounted them in a socket I guess. [snip]

The com chip is very exposed to the outside world and thus the most likely chip to be damaged. Although it is designed to take static charges of many 1000s of volts it can be damaged by static charges when pluging in cables.

Also by sorting some pins on the 18 pin header you can fry the comm chip so be careful especially when you have a controller that uses a black jumper on that 18 pin header. Place the jumper in the wrong place and the comm chip will die.

Jeff is correct, because of the potential for problems. the comm chipe is in a socket to make it easy to replace.

Dan

[JeffF]

LightORamaDan wrote:

...the comm chipe is in a socket to make it easy to replace.

Dan

Yep, very easy. The only problem that comes about is when you place the defective chip in your pocket and forget about it until you sit down and it goes into your skin. Besides that though, very easy.

[LightORamaDan]

Jeffrey wrote:

LightORamaDan wrote:

...the comm chipe is in a socket to make it easy to replace.

Dan

Yep, very easy. The only problem that comes about is when you place the defective chip in your pocket and forget about it until you sit down and it goes into your skin. Besides that though, very easy.

OUCH.... As soon as we know a chip is bad we fold all pins in flat before we toss it to make sure it is never used again... I now see a new reason to do that.