CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

km987654 · Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 10:24 pm Post subject: Which Convergence Board

Which Barco convergence board is better. Is it the BD800 BD1100 or BD801. I am fitting one of these into an 1100. They are all physically different so I imagin that they perform differently also. Logically the BD801 should be best as it was the latest but is it? and if I use the 801 do I need the CPU as well?

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 10:44 pm Post subject:

As I PMed, you can't mix and match boards in these sets. All use different control software, and if you put the wrong board into the wrong set with a different controller board, then you'll get all sorts of random weirdness going on, such as controls working reverse of what you expect, or just random action depending on what you try and adjust.

There is no 'best' board here. The 'best' Barco boards are the late model 801 and higher, that broke the convergence circuits down onto two boards rather than one large one. That prevented board flexing and cracked solder joints. With the whole BArco ES series at this point, if you have a convergence board that works, then leave it alone.. Smile

The later boards won't work in the older ES sets either.

I completely appreciate what you're trying to do here, you're trying to hotrod a 9" ES focusing set by putting in later model boards. THe limitation with this (and literally any other ES focusing set) are the tubes (IMHO), so while you might increase performance and reliability a bit, the big thing is to get into an EM focusing set down the road.

km987654 · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:13 am Post subject:

OK Got the message. I have a convergence board from the 1100 but its physical condition is not great that is why I wanted a spare so now I am stuck with convergence boards from an 800 and 801 which is ok. If I wanted (needed) to use these other boards would changing the CPU suffice since all of the other components in the set are from 800 and 801 sets?

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 2:27 am Post subject:

Good question, I've never tried it. I don't think you'll smoke anything if you have the controller boards. Feel free to play with it, incl swapping convergence boards, it should be obvious pretty quickly whether they are compatible or not.

km987654 · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 2:54 am Post subject:

I didn't know that the covergence boards were so particular before our recent conversations and when I ordered a convergence board for the 1100 you sent me one from the 801 so I installed the 801 convergence board in the 1100 and well its still there and the set powers. When I have finished replacing the Red tube (silcon tube in LC tank) I will let you know if the board does its job.

I don't have an 800 or 801 CPU. How much for an 801?

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 3:32 am Post subject:

The 1100 and 801 might be the same. I think I went off the numbers that I gave you. I haven't played with the 800 boards in years, but I think that they are not interchangeable with the 801.

$50 plus shipping for each controller board. THey are a bit big and heavy, even without the metal shields, so shipping will exceed the boards I think.