kgallen

Hi Ed, Thanks for the quick feedback - good tip, thanks. Regards, Kevin

Hi, Is there an easy way to set the numerical value of non-intensity channels? The usual Home for an LED is R=G=B=255. To get R,G,B to a value of 0 requires some furious rotation on each respective encoder which takes some 5 seconds per parameter. This is a little clunky. I tried holding the encoder centre button and typing on the keypad in the hope that this might work (nope). Sure, usually we'd use some pre-programmed palettes or the great range of filter look-ups on the FLX. But just sometimes you need to get those values to 0 because you don't want a non-zero value tracking though a cue stack. If not, enhancement ZOS-xxxx? Thanks, Kevin ETA: Encoder behaviour is the default (Proportional) but the acceleration curve seems pretty shallow with rotation speed.

Hi Ed, Thanks for the update! Jon gave us some release proposals info a while back, maybe you could publish this for the upcoming releases? http://zero88.com/forum/topic/7175-flx-software-whats-next/#entry28062 Thanks! Kevin

Jan - did you ever get any alpha code to have a play with? I'm interested if there has been any progress with the development of the Effects Engine for FLX - I don't recall seeing anything in any of the recent Betas. I know the Zero88 team have (it appears!) been busy with the new FLX S24/48 desks and this should be good for the longevity of the FLX brand. However I'm eager to see some of the much promised and much awaited features that have been raised and discussed on this branch of the Forum actually make it into the released software, e.g. Correllian fixture library, Effects Engine. My reading of some of Jon's comments looks like the team have been a bit stalled resolving Solution compatibility issues and trying in vain to continue FROG2 support. Hopefully these are now out of the way and there will be more traction on the FLX wavefront and maybe a more predictable schedule? Let's hope that Jon and Ed come back from PLASA enthused and motivated to bring us both great new ideas and solid fundamentals over the next months! A rallying cry not a criticism...! We all want to love this console unashamedly - but the Forum has been relatively quiet for some weeks even months now, especially the generally active contributors - and I'm hoping that user's aren't drifting away...

Sorry for resurrecting an old thread.. with a question that I should have asked Jon at the time... Jon, did you by chance ZOS-xxxx my original requirement to have an option to clear all show-related data? It would be "nice to have" this option Thanks, Kevin

Hi Jon, Looking good! Worth you having a read through each page to make sure the context and references make sense. Some read like an email to a customer, refer to non-existent attachments or are a bit blunt. I realise you don't want to spend too much time on this but a couple of lines for each product would be nice to see with release and discontinued dates. I was going to say I couldn't find Linebacker (under Legacy Data), but then I found it under "consoles" (note you used lower-case C unlike the other sections ). Just keep the layout clean with all the data on there, with a search that works and is not too fussy - better that you return more hits that could be false positives as your database will not be that large. Search looks good on this new site - on the existing KB site, "alphapack2" (no spaces) returns nothing which is not useful! (Oh and tonight for some reason, trying that out took me straight to the German KB site as I was mentioning above!) If you can add other "service" data for the old stuff where you're less worried about IP and service centre trade then that would be good. I understand you'll always be worried about "No user serviceable parts inside" but for some of the really old stuff "user" might be as good as there is. Keep up the good work! Thanks, Kevin

Hi Zero88 guys, Could you please look into Legacy Product info access in the Knowledge Base via the various links on the UK Zero88 product pages. Sometimes I get to the German KB pages, sometimes the UK pages. On the UK pages, the product listings are a bit lacking/ad-hoc. For example tonight I was looking for some information on Alphapack2. This is not listed (under Dimmers) on the KB accessed via the link here: http://zero88.com/support/index.php?/Knowledgebase/List/Index/286/dimmers However I've been on the KB page for AP2 in the past - I've linked documents in my Forum posts. But tonight I can't find the AP2 KB page. Maybe I found it via the German KB previously. By using the search "alphapack" I manage to get to this document - but is this page an orphan page in the KB? http://zero88.com/support/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/82/0 Anyway if you can ensure that (at least recent) discontinued products are available on the UK KB I'd be grateful! :-) Much appreciated, Kevin

Hi JP, POST will not be "one IC". POST will form part of the boot firmware running on the CPU subsystem which will check various hardware functions on the desk. If you haven't, it's worth reconnecting your floppy drive as POST will likely check this, and at least will be trying to load the software driver for this device. Can I check you are waiting a little time before deciding that POST or boot has failed? I just fired up my FF and it took 25 seconds between power-on and the desk being ready, having loaded the in-memory show file. However from your report it looks like the BIOS boot is happening, but the application firmware is not loading. Can you get a copy of 10.12 (http://zero88.com/support/index.php?/de/Knowledgebase/Article/View/56/0/frog-range-operating-software-release-1012) firmware onto a floppy disk and insert this into your floppy drive before powering on the desk? It may be that something is corrupt due to the dead battery. The only externally available Service information I know of just has the details I added in my post. Schematics are not released for this product. I'm not Zero88 myself so I don't have access to any more information, sorry. If these ideas fail, since your Fat Frog is starting to boot, but is getting stuck I think you ought to give Keith Rogers at Zero88 a call on Monday. He'll be more than happy to help you and will know what to check given the symptoms of your desk. Here are his details: Keith Rogers Service Manager - Eaton's Lighting Systems keithrogers@eaton.com DD - +44 (0) 1633 833 101. Sorry I can't help you any more at this stage. However feel free to post again if you have more info and I'll see if I can suggest anything. Regards, Kevin

Hi, Since you've got power and some activity on the LCD your desk can't be in too bad a shape, so we should be able to get it going. Did you replace the CR2032 with a new/known good battery? http://zero88.com/forum/topic/7384-internal-memory-issue/#entry28968 Did you fiddle with any of the DIP switches when you were in there? Looking at the back of the fader PCBs, the DIP top left should be off-off-on, the DIP top right should be off-off-off. (off-down, on=up) Are the DRAM modules seated correctly on the STMAIN2 PCB? (EM7043?) You have STMAIN2 if looking at the back panel, the floppy disk is to the left of the power inlet (not next to the DMX connectors). When booting does the Wheel LCD say it's a Fat Frog? Google "zero88 fat frog" images to check which type of Frog you have. Fat Frog has 12 fixture buttons. The giveaway is also that it says "Fat Frog" on the lower left of the front panel . Power on the desk whilst holding F1 to enter the Test Mode. If you can, channel flash buttons 1 thru 14 select sets of faders and pots to test. Flash 1-8 = Faders, Flash 9-10 = Submasters, Flash 11 = other pots, Flash 13 = Wheels, Flash 14 = Buttons. Can you connect a monitor? This is needed for further debug as there are some messages that can appear on the monitor. Let us know how you get on. Kevin ps Once you get it up and running, it looks like you're on old Firmware from the 2005 date. Latest firmware is 10.12 from 2009.

Jon - another great pair of tips (don't read that too quickly!) to go into the "practical usage guide" in an index in the back of the next rev of the FLX manual

Hi Jon, .50 but not a Beta? Just checking (sorry!).

I can confirm - not "serviced" (whatever they would mean by that) and no neg output kits! I'm sure the warranty would have been a bit pointless. They looked like a cash converter outfit and more likely to put it in the bin than have the skills to fix it I would suspect...

Hi Ian, When I found the problem I thought straight away - I bet Ian would have told me to check that track! This was a unit from a well known auction site. It looks like a previous user had replaced the battery (it was an Ni-MH) but looks like they hadn't realised the old one had damaged the traces under it. This had me fooled for a while as the battery looked new (no fur jacket!) and the battery voltage was within range (3.7V) for a powered on and powered off unit. Keith got me to check the SRAM supply at its pins which was way out at a scary 10V - which would relate to the charging supply from the +15V rail via the 2k2/1N4148 - but without the battery acting as the voltage clamp. I eventually removed the battery as I wanted to check all continuities with it out of circuit and voila instantly saw the track. Buzzed it all out and realised this was the problem. I cleaned it all up thoroughly then used some mod wire to reinstate the connection. The other traces looked ok. After that we were up and running. The only annoyance is I should have got the thing cheaper as it was sold as working - well it did power up - but with the 012 error code on the display! Still all's well that ends well! Thanks, Kevin

Recording for future reference... When replacing the battery, make sure the PCB trace under the battery is intact and not corroded. Worth checking the continuity to the SRAM pin 28 from the battery positive terminal. The supply across the SRAM (pin 14 VSS, pin 28 VCC) should measure the same as VBAT. With the unit powered, if the voltage is above VBAT then suspect a break in the VBAT track. I measured nearly 10V with a good battery but this track broken. Fortunately the SRAM (and a 74HC00 NAND gate also on VBAT) survived the experience somehow. Thanks to Keith for assistance fixing one - that's another DEMUX48 rescued from the scrap heap.

As I'm here again, here are some sources for the battery: http://cpc.farnell.com/varta/3-v150h/battery-ni-mh-mempac-pcb-3-6v/dp/BT00152 http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/coin-button-rechargeable-batteries/0422393 http://uk.farnell.com/varta/55615603940/battery-nimh-tht-3-6v-150mah/dp/279353 I'm not convinced by some of the dimensions reported on the CPC site. As I'm ordering one, I'll check it and correct this entry if it turns out wrong. In the mean time, I'll press the "order" button then IanK can come along and let me know I've ordered the wrong one... ETA The CPC part above is the correct one.

Hi Arjen, I haven't swapped my floppy drive as it works fine - and to be honest I've now upgraded to an FLX so the FF doesn't really get an outing any more... :-( That BR link should suggest suitable offerings. Regards, Kevin

Hi Arjen, I'm not sure what you mean - the files themselves are some Zero88 internal binary format, with extension ".ift". The disk format should probably be "FAT16" or just "FAT". There's a bit of chatter on this link regards disk formats and SS/DD/HD sizes etc, so maybe worth a quick read and maybe trying format from the command line as with some of the examples? https://www.cnet.com/forums/discussions/formatting-a-1-44-mb-diskette-143429/ Probably telling you what you already know, sorry. Regards, Kevin

Hi Arjen, I can't help you really on this one, other to confirm that I used exactly the same approach with an external USB floppy drive (on XP) for my Fat Frog and had no issues. I'd have to say it was rare for me to re-format a floppy - I have a load of disks I use that probably came pre-formatted for PCs, although I know some I have wiped by reformatting using both the desk and the USB-floppy drive and I don't recall any issues. Maybe I'm one of the lucky ones since I've never had any issues with the floppy drive in my FF, while others report they do. Since you have a Mambo Frog, which was one of the last in the series to be released, I'd expect your drive to be one of the later ones - early Frog users seemed to report more issues. Regards the Fixture Files - it goes without saying that this database is now much bigger than can be fitted on a floppy, so I make the assumption you have a customised cut-down version of the database! If you get nowhere with the floppy, then you might want to look at swapping out for a paged USB solution. This was discussed recently here: http://zero88.com/forum/topic/7952-changing-floppy-drive-to-usb/#entry30835 Regards, Kevin

Shame you weren't able to drop a partial 7.9.x update as a parting shot as you did with Frog(Mk1) 10.12, but understandable after 13 years... I think we got 10 years (2000-2009) of software for the Mk1 Frogs which was nice - especially as I joined the party a bit late in 2006 - as you were thinking of ramping down the range as I now realise! Do I get to at least 2028 with my FLX then? Kevin

Yea sorry, I read the OP post several times today and he does clearly say for the "first time". Stupid question from me in #4! It really was a "daft question"!

(Crikey Ed, if mine ever goes wrong, I hope it goes a bit better than that... Cwmbran is much closer to me than Brum...)

Hi Mike, So to ask a daft question, was the screen working when you first had the desk and now it's not working? Has the desk been dropped, bumped sharply etc in the meantime? Any event that you thing might have caused an internal cable to come loose etc? If you're not on the latest software can you install that - or even any other version to see if it comes to life? Have you got an external monitor and is that working? Where are you located? If needed are you close enough to make a trip to Cwmbran (near Newport in South Wales, not that far from Bristol). Ed and Jon seem to be on an extended lunch break today, as I would have expected Ed to jump on this thread pretty quickly. Might be worth a call to Zero88 offices as they will probably be able to diagnose this quickly one way or the other: Technical Support Telephone: +44 (0)1633 833101 Email: support@zero88.com

If it's new I'd get back in touch with the company who sold it to you as the first step. When you say "not working" do you mean the screen is blank or the screen displays but the touch-ness does not work? Do you know what version of software it's running? Also you could PM(*) the serial number to Jon/Keith/Ed so they can follow up with any query. Kevin (*) Actually until you've had 10 posts I don't think PM is enabled. But I'm sure Ed or Jon will be along here in a very short time...

Sounds like he's made a number of different fixture definitions for the different modes of the device. Within the fixture assignment do you not see one called "M1"?

Oh Ed, have you done half a job?! Hi Uriah, Yes unfortunately this has to be done in the PC Fixture Editor. I'm not sure if there is a better way, but it can be a bit of a drag. I usually find a PDF of the manual that contains pictures of the gobos, make a tight screen grab of each gobo image and then use these. In the Fixture Editor, you need to upload each image against the DMX range for the gobo within the "Details" tab of the Beamshape parameter that is handling the gobo channel. I hope that is enough detail for you - sorry about my terse earlier post - I was using my phone! Regards, Kevin