SOFPJF@UOGUELPH.BITNET (Peter Jaspers-Fayer) (09/30/86)
From the 'I said it couldn't happen to me' dept: Turned on my 1040 this morning, the power light went on, the disk select light went on, the disk made one light 'putt' sound. No seeks, no screen, no nothing. I think my warranty *just* expired. I have no idea where to start trouble-shiooting, and besides, although I can use a multimeter, I've never laid hands on a logic probe. So this is a last resort before I phone the dealer and way (?) months and pay (?) dollars to have them fix it. Does anyone have a quick suggestion or 2? I'm not ENTIRELY all thumbs with a soldering iron, but that's about it. Please reply direct, as I'd hate to clutter up the net (unless it's something you think one and all should know. I should also mention that we've been experiencing some VERY nasty weather here, (thunderstorms) BUT: - I haven't had it powered on during a storm, - I've had the modem turned off (I read something in earlier postings), - Everything connected to my computer is plugged into a 'power bar', and I use the switch on that to power everything up and down at once, except the CPU, which I switch on later/off 1st. Given the above, what is the likelihood something nasty fried a chip? I expect that was it *sigh*... Some spike came in over the phone line, right!? In the future, should I even go as far as to remove the RS232 cable from the modem or the ST while the system is not in use? Or wire up some switch, maybe even solenoid driven, to bypass the modem when I power off the ST. Why doesn't the modem or the ST come with such a switch? I wonder which of the phone lines the ugly critter used to carawl into my system? Ring, ground, or ? /PJ
steele.Henr@XEROX.COM (10/01/86)
RE:we've been experiencing some VERY nasty weather
here, (thunderstorms) BUT
Although you are using a plug strip ('power bar'),most of these units
only switch AC hot and not the neutral line. Lightning strikes can jump
the gap in those switches anyway. My suggestion, after you get your
machine fixed of course, is to install a different switch so both sides
of the AC line are switched and to add transient/surge protection.You
can buy plug strips with the transient/surge protection
built-in(expensive) or you can add MOV's(metal oxide Varistors-
available at Radio Shack) to your existing plug strip. If you add it
yourself put one between AC hot and ground;another between AC neutral
and ground;and a third between AC hot and AC neutral. MOV's act like a
gate and turn on to voltages over their rating (the ones at Radio Shack
have a rating of about 130 volts),so they tend to regulate the AC line
to somewhat 'normal' conditions and will conduct those nasty high
voltage spikes to ground. But non of this is any good if you don't have
a good ground at your outlet. If you live in an older home with 2 wire
outlets make sure that the plug strip is getting the ground you need.
You can buy cheap testers for correct wiring/grounding for $2-$5.
good luck,
Johnbraner@batcomputer.TN.CORNELL.EDU (braner) (10/09/86)
[] I've had my Avatex modem fried, and also the 1488 chip in the ST, during a thunderstorm in August. Since then I PHYSICALLY DISCONNECT the power line and the phone line during bad weather. (When it happened, only the phone line was connected.) The phone company told me the surge arrestors outside were blown, so I really had a strong hit, which is rare but... BTW this was second time I had to send my AVATEX 1200 modem to their service center (E&E DATACOMM). Their service was quick (well, a month, but half of that on UPS shipping back and forth) and they have a small flat fee (if it's not under warranty). So my experience is: If you fear buying that cheap modem because of lack of service, fear not. - Moshe Braner