$$$I$JV@NERVM.BITNET (12/03/87)
Date: 2 December 1987, 20:02:18 LCL
From: William Kirchhoff 904-392-4601 $$$I$JV at NERVM
To: INFO-DEC-MICRO at SCORE.STANFORD
With all the discussion taking place over the last few weeks, I have
hope that more interesting things can be achieved. This is just a short
note in light of the discussion on Rainbow problems from turning on and
off the system. My system over the last few months has started to burp
quite consistently with the monitor. It dims, flickers, and even flashes
off. Best medicine - a solid little thump and everything clears up.
Now thinking as an engineer, I hope there is a better solution. Has
anybody had any similar problems? Being a student programmer, I am hoping
for an easier (on the pocket) road then my last bout with DEC.
Any help will be appreciated.
Bill
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*---------------------------------------------*---------------------------*rose%beowulf@SDCSVAX.UCSD.EDU (Dan Rose) (12/03/87)
I've had problems with my display rolling. It looks like when the vertical hold is turned as far as possible from the correct position on a TV; the same image is repeated overlapping several times on the screen, each time displaced up or down at regular intervals. Usually, though not always, I get the problem when I haven't used the machine for a while, and it usually goes away if I leave it on for a couple of hours. Anyone else seen this sort of thing? Is there a relatively easy solution? I'm not really a hardware type and I can't afford DEC servicing. (Besides, I could probably buy an entire 80286 system for the cost of servicing my obsolete Rainbow. Me, bitter?) Dan Rose rose@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu
rl1b+@ANDREW.CMU.EDU (Robert A. Locke) (12/03/87)
OK. I think we've got two different problems here. The Vertical Hold
problem is simple. All you have to do is open up the monitor and find
which of the little blue dials is the vertical hold. I had to do it
once a very long time ago so I can't remember which one it is. But to
get the Rainbow monitor cover off, there is this little plastic cap on
the back of monitor. Pop the cap and voila, there is a screw. (Took
me the damnedest time to find that little sucker). Anyways, that's the
only thing holding the cover on the monitor. Oh yeah, make sure the
little peg foot that comes out the bottom is ALL the way in. That sort
of impedes the cover removal.
The second one of blanking screen I'm at a loss for. Sounds like it
might time to retire the monitor and get a new one. (Cheaper than DEC
Field Service).
--Rob Locke
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USAcampbell@maynard.UUCP (12/04/87)
In article <8712030220.AA03580@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> $$$I$JV@NERVM.BITNET writes:
<>
<> ... My system over the last few months has started to burp
<>quite consistently with the monitor. It dims, flickers, and even flashes
<>off. Best medicine - a solid little thump and everything clears up.
Take heed and beware! I have observed this problem in several Rainbows,
and every time it has turned out that the power cable -- the hefty ribbon
cable that connects the power supply to the motherboard -- was toasting
itself.
Shut off your Rainbow and remove the power cable. Inspect it carefully.
You're likely to find one or more of the contacts in the cable ends
darkened or scorched. If you do, leave your Rainbow powered off, and get
a replacement cable immediately. Do not delay -- I lost the contents of
my winchester once because of this problem.
I now buy two replacement cables every time this happens, just to make sure
I have a spare on hand. They're pretty cheap. And I inspect the power cables
on my Rainbows regularly -- every couple of months -- to be sure I catch
a bad cable before it catches me.
A word to the wise...
--
Larry Campbell The Boston Software Works, Inc.
Internet: campbell@maynard.bsw.com 120 Fulton Street, Boston MA 02109
uucp: {husc6,mirror,think}!maynard!campbell +1 617 367 6846