xCard, SDI BT656 Pro and Crystalio VPS2300 Problem

[Ludewiko]

Hi

I bought the SDI BT656 Pro Modification Kit and made the cable to connect the xCared with BT656 Pro Kit myself. I have tested the cable - it seems to be ok.

I have used the following pin asignemnt of the xCard (see attachement).

The BT656 Pro Kit is connected to my new VPS 2300 scaler. However I get no image at all. I also tried to change the polarity of the SDI input. If I connect the S-Video output of the xCard to the VPS, I get an image. This means the xCards works fine.

The red LED on the BT656 Pro is burning red (I understand this means it gets the correct clock signal).

Is there a way to test the digital output of the xCard or the BT656 Pro Kit?

Anyone who can help?

Thanks in advance.
Ludewiko

[Atman]

Hi,

The pin assignment on the Xcard is correct. How do you connect the Xcard PDI interface to the BT656Pro kit?

Cheers,
Atman

[Ludewiko]

Hi Atman,

I made the following connections using the ribon cable which was delivered together with the kit.

xCard BT656 Pro
Data 00 D2
Data 01 D3
Data 02 D4
Data 03 D5
Data 04 D6
Data 05 D7
Data 06 D8
Data 07 D9
Clock Clock
Ground Clock Ground


I left the D0 and D1 from the BT656 aside.

The LED is red.


Thanks
Ludewiko

[Atman]

The connection is correct too. Where do you get the +5V power?

Did you set any parameter on XMP?

Cheers,
Atman

[Ludewiko]

I have connected the +5V and Ground to the Power Supply of the computer using a connector.

Which parameter do you mean on the XMP. The only thing a made sure, was to have the Video Output set as you have metioned in one of your posts ( http://www.pixelmagicforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29 ).

Is there anything else?

Can I mesure something? Voltages on Dataline?

The LED on the BT656Pro gets red approx. 2 seconds after I have started the computer and stays red.

Are there any other diagnostic possibilities?

Unfortunately I do not know anybody from whom I could borrow SDI equipment to make further tests.

Cheers
Ludewiko

[Atman]

That is fine if you have followed the XMP instructions.

It is not easy to do diagnosis because you don't have the necessary equipment.

You may send us the Xcard, BT656Pro and the cable you made so that we can test them in Hong Kong.

Cheers,
Atman

[Ludewiko]

Yesterday, I got an SDI player and I was able to test the Crystalio. It worked great.

So appearantly the BT565 Pro is defective. I am going to send it back to the UK where I bought it.

Cheers
Ludewiko

[Duncs]

Hi guys,

I have the same setup and get the same problem,

xcard - BT656pro v1.2 mod (Borrowed from my Meridian 598DP)

Home made cable - linking pins as above.

I get the LED on and have set the xcard to composite output and I can see a picture via this. The Crystalio just shows 'no source'

I know the card/scaler are both ok as tested with other equipment and I have tested out the cable with a meter - also checked that the BT656 pro is receiving a signal with my scope.

My question - Is the BT656pro compatiable with the xcard or is the xcard SDI output board something special?

Many Thanks
Duncan

[Atman]

Hi,

BT656Pro is the same as the Xcard SDI output board. Please check the cabling again.

Cheers,
Atman

[Duncs]

Thanks Atman,

I have reconnected my Xcard to my Sweetsport via PDI and it looks like my xcard Card may have a problem - I cannot get a picture via Dscaler any more.

I have tried all the normal things - set card to composite, tested analogue outputs ok etc.

Is there any information on what I should expect to see on the digital port?

Thanks

[Paul Forgey]

I am also having this exact issue except I am using the Xcard kit so the cable should be fine. My Xcard has pins 1 and 3 (data 0 and data 1) cut on the digital output connector. I worked around this by soldering those wires to the board instead. According to my dealer, all the newer Xcards are coming this way.

Is there anything else the later revisions of the card other than having the two connector pins cut that could be creating a problem? My Xcard is revision S3.

What's curious is when Windows boots and first initializes the hardware, the Crystalio shows "NTSC Source" until I try to play something, at which point is says "No Source". The red light remains on.

EDIT: we can eliminate the SDI card as the cause of the problem. I borrowed the known working one from my DVD player and the behavior is the same. While my solder joints look OK, I know I at least didn't short them because the analog output from the Xcard is fine.

[Ludewiko]

Hi

I also still have the problem.

I have returned the BT656 Kit to the UK. They have checked it and discovered it was faulty. The new one I did not try until yesterday. It still was not working. I was able to borrow a second xCard. Also not working. So I believe also the exchanged BT656 is faulty.

Apparently several poeple have the same problem. Could it be that there is a manufacturing/designe issue?

I am going to contact the UK dealer again.

Cheers
Ludewiko

[Paul Forgey]

In my case, I know both SDI cards are working because they function in my DVD player.

[Atman]

Hi Ludewiko,

1) Is the LED on the BT656Pro ON when the Xmedia Player is running?
2) In "Video Setup" of Xmedia Player, which "Output" and "TV standard" you have selected?

Cheers,
Atman

[Atman]

Hi Paul Forgey,

Do you see any missing resisters (marked as RP?) on the Xcard?

We found that some resisters connecting to the digital output on some new Xcards have been removed. There will be no digital video output on those cards.

Cheers,
Atman

[Paul Forgey]

I'll take a look tonight. It sounds likely to be the case if this is a known issue. I don't suppose I could re-enable this functionality by installing these missing components, could I? The BT-656 bus must be present on the card somewhere for it to work.

Unless you think it is highly unlikely to make it work, I am willing to try installing the missing components. What are the values of these missing resisters or resister packs, and what are their component numbers?

[Paul Forgey]

RP1. Looks like it is one of a few resister packs providing current limiting to the data lines on the plug, so if it is missing there is no connection.

Can somebody with a non DMCA damaged card post the part number? Thanks.

[Atman]

Hi Paul,

This is the original Xcard with PDI output. RP1 missing is normal.

[Atman]

This is the new Xcard without the PDI output. RP2, RP3 and PDI connector are missing.

[Duncs]

I think the problem is due to the installation order of the software. My SDI output initially did not work on my pc, I re-installed XP & the xcard drivers and it started working ok.

I then moved the xcard to a new PC and I cannot get the SDI output to work (I put it back in the old PC and all was ok - so I know both the xcard and BT656 are ok)

During all the test the Component output was working fine.

Tonight I will try the working harddisk in the new pc and try and prove where the issue is - but it feels like a software installation problem.

[Paul Forgey]

OK, now I have a working X-card again with a complete digital connection with no missing components or missing connectors. I also have an unmolested cable (thank you for sending me that!).

I'm back to my original problem. The Crystalio shows "No Source" while the component video output works fine. The light on the SDI card is on. We've already determined the SDI card is fine because I've swapped it with the one in my DVD player and both seems to work in that.

I really don't think it's a software issue because the digital connection is simply tapping into the signal feeding the DAC. So if I'm getting analog video, I should be getting digital as well.

[Atman]

Hi Paul,

You have a SDI mod. DVD player with the BT656Pro kit. So the Crystalio's SDI input can work with that SDI mod. DVD player without any problem, right?

If this is the case, please send us the Xcard, the BT656Pro and the ribbon cable so that we can test the combination in our lab.

Cheers,
Atman

[Paul Forgey]

Hi Paul,

You have a SDI mod. DVD player with the BT656Pro kit. So the Crystalio's SDI input can work with that SDI mod. DVD player without any problem, right?



Yes.



If this is the case, please send us the Xcard, the BT656Pro and the ribbon cable so that we can test the combination in our lab.

Cheers,
Atman

Will do, thank you. I assume you want it shipped to the Science Park address on your web site?

[Atman]

Yes, please send them to the address on our web site.

Cheers,
Atman

[inichol]

Hi Atman,

Late last year I purchased a PMS Video PDI card DeLuxe PCI capture card and X-Card combo package from Digital Connection in the States.

I eventually got the capture card and DScaler to work. It works very well with the ATI 9600 video card and provides a very good picture on my Panasonic AE700 projector.

However I have been trying to get the X card to pass video from the Digital video output to the capture card via the supplied ribbon cable.

I have tried all sorts of things trying to get it to go but the capture card always says no video source when I select the digital input.

Reading through this thread I see that others are having similar problems.

The post by Paul Forgey on April 19th says that he found pins 1 and 3 cut on the digital output connector.

Tonight I pulled the X Card out of my PC and also find that these two pins have been cut off on the digital output connector.
All of the resistors (as per your photos) seem to be there - its just the chopped off pins that appear to be the problem.

I am not so brave to butcher the board and solder some wires in to effect the connections. I dont wont to void the warrenty as I have spent over $400 US in getting this combo (includes shipping and duty to New Zealand)

So the question is how do I get a X card that is complete and will work as descibed in its literature?

The information on the back of the card is as follows:-

Number under bar code - 40503712
Next line - P/N 53-00066 1-01 Rev S3
Last line - MADE IN CHINA

Has yellow sticker FQC/31 Acc

I also note that the I seem to have an older version of the software than that descibed in the on line manuals. - both in the X card set ups and the XMedia player.
I cannot find any manuals for the software that was provided
How do I obtain the latest software for this card?

Looking forward to your reply.

Best regards

Ian Nicholson

Auckland

New Zealand

[Michael Wong]

Hi Inichol,

I have attached a picture of a working Xcard with the digital connectors.
Pin 1 should be located under the upside down triangle.

For the new software for Xcard, you can check Sigma Designs web site:

http://www.sigmadesigns.com/support/downloads.htm

Regards,
Michael

[inichol]

Hi Michael/Atman

Michael,

Thanks for the info for the links to the drivers and software. I will download shortly.

Also thanks for the picture showing the board.

Mine looks exactly the same with the exception the two pins on the Digital Video Out connector have been chopped off.
These are the two pins on the top left of the connector (adjacent to J5 on the picture)

Question for Atman - what can be done to get a card that has all the pins available as per the picture?

Kind Regards

Ian Nicholson