USB - Page 2

GermanMan · Post by **GermanMan** » Tue Sep 16, 2003 2:43 pm

Schweeeet!

You guys are way ahead of the ball. Too cool.

Post by **Henry** » Tue Sep 16, 2003 2:47 pm

GermanMan wrote:Schweeee!

You guys are way ahead of the ball. Too cool.

Thanks

GermanMan · Post by **GermanMan** » Tue Sep 16, 2003 2:50 pm

Well, now I only need the website updated so I can actually purchase the thing, and I'm off and running.

It comes in a wide-voltage version as well I assume.

Keep poking them with that stick, I'll check back in tomorrow.

Ha! Beat you to it on the ATech thread!

Post by **Henry** » Tue Sep 16, 2003 2:58 pm

GermanMan wrote:Well, now I only need the website updated so I can actually purchase the thing, and I'm off and running.

It comes in a wide-voltage version as well I assume.

Keep poking them with that stick, I'll check back in tomorrow.

the VK204-24-USB is a USB display, no voltage regulator. You will need to connect a USB cable to the display and then a standard unmodified 3.5" floppy power cable.

GermanMan · Post by **GermanMan** » Tue Sep 16, 2003 3:07 pm

Duh, Thomas! Geez, sometimes I'm amazed at how brain-dead I can be. I remember reading that... Sorry for the stupid question there Henry.

I got all wound up in the discussion in the Atech thread about the wide voltage being best for the old serial version .... this is much better. I'll shut up now so you can get some work done.

Post by **Henry** » Tue Sep 16, 2003 3:10 pm

GermanMan wrote:Duh, Thomas! Geez, sometimes I'm amazed at how brain-dead I can be. I remember reading that... Sorry for the stupid question there Henry.

I got all wound up in the discussion in the Atech thread about the wide voltage being best for the old serial version .... this is much better. I'll shut up now so you can get some work done.

Ya, I saw... the voltage regulator is a good idea if you are using the standard serial version, but it not needed (or available) on the USB version.

Post by **Henry** » Tue Sep 16, 2003 3:53 pm

OK, here it is...

http://matrixorbital.com/pages/product_ ... ductID=103

GermanMan · Post by **GermanMan** » Tue Sep 16, 2003 4:11 pm

Do the mounting points between the USB and old Serial version remain the same? I've already got my case, set up specifically to mount the Serial version - so I want to be sure there are no issues with mounting this USB version - in terms of dimensions, stand-offs,etc (I really need to look into the case and see how it was set up to mount - I'm thinking it was with standoffs...

haysdb · Post by **haysdb** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 1:18 am

The VK204-24-USB fits perfectly in the ATech case.

David

Miles · Post by **Miles** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 7:48 am

The mounting points between the USB and Serial version will be identical, you will have no trouble installing your new USB!!!

haysdb · Post by **haysdb** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 10:59 pm

GermanMan wrote:Well, you are likely going to make a lot of folks building home theater PC's with the Atech Fabrication cases very happy indeed.

How prophetic.

David

GermanMan · Post by **GermanMan** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 2:42 pm

Just to let you guys know, as this was the case with the first VK204-24-USB I received, which I asked about via email:

The VK204-24-USB is to be powered by a standard, unmodified floppy cable the way it leaves the factory as the jumpers have already been configured for that mode of operation. This is what I was told in response to my inquiry afterm my initial VK204 arrived several weeks ago. At that point I noted that the unit did ship with a flyer that says, in a list of warnings: 'Do not under any circumstances use an umodified floppy drive power cable'. At that time, I was told that this was an error in the materials shipped with the unit. I should use an unimodified floppy power cable.

I just received my replacement VK204 and it also is still shipping with the flyer stating 'Do not under any circumstances use an unmodified floppy drive power cable'.

Since my original unit failed, from what I'm 'guessing' was some capacitors being installed backwards on the boards, but did SMOKE the thing, I would like to be clear on this:

Is it corrrect to just use a standard, unmodified floppy power cable to run the VK204-24-USB as it comes from Matrix Orbital?

Miles · Post by **Miles** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 2:55 pm

Yes it is correct to use an unmodified floppy power cable to power up your VK204-24-USB. I'll look into why the units are being shipped with this warning!! I can assure you the problem has been resolved and the few units that made it past testing were quickly recalled and dealt with!!

GermanMan · Post by **GermanMan** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 3:05 pm

Miles,

I'm sure the new unit will work just fine. I had sent an email from my home account over the weekend and have not gotten home to check it yet - but since the question may be of some interest, I think I'll ask it here (feel free to delete this post if you feel its necessary):

The original unit I had purchased came with the blue filter attached to it form you guys. The replacement I got from you today did not have the blue filter on it. How do I go about moving the blue filter off of the old VFD and attaching it to the new VFD?

Also, for the electrical engineers in the crowd like myself, can you verify for me the problem with those early units? Was it two capacitors installed in reverse on the circuit board?

And a final technical question: in the manual, there is an image of the circuit board. On the VK204-24-USB units I have seen, there is a whole block of components missing vs the image in the manual. Can you tell me what those parts controlled (they parts are to the right of the top fan-connector running accross the board to the right and include an 8pin IC, and a couple of other larger parts and smaller parts)? I"m curious - where those parts needed for the LCD display control that are not used on the VFD ?

Post by **Henry** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 3:11 pm

Hi,

Yes, the two capacitors were installed backwards, and over time would blow up. Since the PCB is used for both the VK and LK series, the LCD required more components, like backlight resistors and the contrast generation circuit. And since the VFD doesn't use either, the components do not need to be stuffed.