Oritron NPD3117 Networked DVD Player VFD problem

[Shawn Lin]

I have an Oritron NPD3117 networked DVD player.
It's very similar (runs the same software and UI) as the GoVideo
D2730, Gateway Connected DVD Player, and Amoisonic NDP9200.

After months of sitting idle in "standby" mode, I turned it on to
discover the DVD part of it had quit working and the VFD was
displaying gibberish.
I probed all the output voltages on the SMPS, and found a +5V was out
of spec, reading around 2.8 to 3V. Upon closer examination of the
SMPS, I found a swollen 100uF 16V capacitor in location C18. ESR of
the cap measured at 32, so it was definitely bad. I replaced it with
one out of the junkbox and now the DVD player seems completely 100%
functional, BUT the VFD is still displaying gibberish. I thought
maybe I missed a capacitor in the SMPS, but I tested the ESR of all
the rest and they look good. None even get lukewarm except for the
one I replaced.

What normally causes a VFD to display gibberish? It appears to me as
though adjacent segments are lighting up when they are supposed to
stay off. I can tell that the segments that are supposed to be lit
are a little brighter, while all adjacent segments are lit up too. I
know -21V, F-, and F+ go to the VFD. The filament voltage is about
5VDC and seems fine as the display is plenty bright. -21V measures at
-23V, but that seems close enough. All voltages to the display board
and motherboard test good. I'm not sure what else to check. Any help
would be greatly appreciated!

Shawn

 

[Jerry G.]

Sometimes the ribbon cable between the LCD display panel, and its drive
circuits can developed some opened traces. The drive circuits to the LCD
panel may have also failed. This ribbon is not usually replaceable without
the proper equipment to re-mount on the new ribbon cable back on to the
glass LCD display. Some manufactures will not normally sell the ribbon
separately. They will sell the complete LCD display panel, including the
ribbon as a replacement part if they will sell the spare parts. Or, they may
only replace the compete viewfinder. Some will even tell you that they do
not sell the parts, and you will have to send them the unit for service.

--

Greetings,

Jerry Greenberg GLG Technologies GLG
=========================================
WebPage http://www.zoom-one.com
Electronics http://www.zoom-one.com/electron.htm
=========================================


I have an Oritron NPD3117 networked DVD player.
It's very similar (runs the same software and UI) as the GoVideo
D2730, Gateway Connected DVD Player, and Amoisonic NDP9200.

After months of sitting idle in "standby" mode, I turned it on to
discover the DVD part of it had quit working and the VFD was
displaying gibberish.
I probed all the output voltages on the SMPS, and found a +5V was out
of spec, reading around 2.8 to 3V. Upon closer examination of the
SMPS, I found a swollen 100uF 16V capacitor in location C18. ESR of
the cap measured at 32, so it was definitely bad. I replaced it with
one out of the junkbox and now the DVD player seems completely 100%
functional, BUT the VFD is still displaying gibberish. I thought
maybe I missed a capacitor in the SMPS, but I tested the ESR of all
the rest and they look good. None even get lukewarm except for the
one I replaced.

What normally causes a VFD to display gibberish? It appears to me as
though adjacent segments are lighting up when they are supposed to
stay off. I can tell that the segments that are supposed to be lit
are a little brighter, while all adjacent segments are lit up too. I
know -21V, F-, and F+ go to the VFD. The filament voltage is about
5VDC and seems fine as the display is plenty bright. -21V measures at
-23V, but that seems close enough. All voltages to the display board
and motherboard test good. I'm not sure what else to check. Any help
would be greatly appreciated!

Shawn

 

[Shawn Lin]

Jerry, thanks for the reply.
This one has a VFD and the ribbon cable is soldered to the display
board, but has a plug on the mainboard side. I've wiggled and jiggled
it, and no hint of any change on the display. I'm not sure what to
make of it.

On the plus side, I contacted the manufacturer via email and mentioned
the bad capacitor. To my great surprise, I actually received a reply,
and from someone who is aware of the problem! He says there is a
design problem in the power supply, the capacitor being one of them,
and they will replace the power supply for no charge even though the
unit is out of warranty. He seemed unphased by the fact that I had
opened mine up and replaced the capacitor. He even offered to have a
representative contact me to have the power supply replaced, they will
even pay the shipping. He seemed to think the problem with the VFD
could be related to the power supply. I guess I will find out if he
is all talk, or if this is an example of truly good customer service.
Maybe if the VFD is still not functioning correctly after they replace
the power supply, maybe they will replace whatever else is causing it.

Shawn