CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

FlyingCheese · Joined: 19 Nov 2008 Posts: 43 Location: Springfield, IL

Looking for some help...

Got an Ampro 3300. That's my first problem.... Lately, when powering the set up if I have registration turned on, the blue image is all screwed up (see attached pics). If I turn off registration for a bit and let her 'warm up' and then turn registration back on, things go back to normal. For the most part. I usually get pretty bad drift of the blue image after an addition 10-15 minutes. If I go into the Help/Setup menu and exit the screen without doing anything else, the blue image aligns itself and I'm good for another 10 minutes. Or 3. Or 4 hours. It's completely random.

Any ideas? I've checked the battery voltage on the CPU board and it's fine. I've done a few complete setups from scratch, but the end result is as I describe above.

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 1:59 pm Post subject:

This is caused either by the reggie board or the output board right by the reggie board. I can repair both.

stefuel · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:05 pm Post subject:

There is a short 8 wire cable that goes between the reggie and the drive board. Fire it up and wiggle that wire at both ends. I've had that wire fail where it's crimped within the connector and drove me crazy with exactly the same problem as you have.

FlyingCheese · Joined: 19 Nov 2008 Posts: 43 Location: Springfield, IL

I'll be damned if it wasn't that friggin wire that stefuel mentioned....I had that tray unfastened so it was hanging down, must have been putting some tension on that connector. We'll see how long she's good for tonight.

Now, anyone got any tubes for an XG so I can ditch this Ampro.....

stefuel · Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:07 am Post subject:

OK, I have to ask. Other than this easy fix problem, why do you wish to "ditch" it for the XG? I will agree that the XG is a superior projector design but it's expensive to re-tube/repair and loud.

FlyingCheese · Joined: 19 Nov 2008 Posts: 43 Location: Springfield, IL

Why? No real good reason to be honest. The Ampro has served me well for the 6 months I've had it, and I've got another 3300 for parts should something blow up...Just always considered the XG a step up in my mind. Got an XG 135 along with two Ampro 3300's and some older Ampro for $300, so it was just included in the deal.

My only real dislike about the Ampro is the wired remote, it's kind of a pain. And the fact that it's not backlit - makes it kind of hard to see what you're doing. On that note, I do have one of the newer style Ampro remotes that is backlit, but haven't been able to get it to work properly - am I missing something or is it not going to work properly? Been a while since I've tried to use it, so I might be forgetting something...

The Ampro isn't the sexiest looking machine either....though I do like the monster lenses, they make the ones on the XG look like little kid toys. Maybe I need to paint the case black or something, that faded white/yellow job isn't cutting it.

RobertMfromLI · Joined: 29 Jun 2009 Posts: 114 Location: West Islip, NY

There should be an easy way of making virtually any wired remote into a wireless one. Haven't looked in ages, but there were sites online that had schematics for readily available parts (ie: Radio Shack) to make one that converted virtually any data signal of that sort to IR and back to a data signal on the other end...

papalek · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1536 Location: Longs SC

There are wireless remotes available for the AmPro but they are hard to find.
Are both of your remotes the same style? If one is the old style(long rectangle) and the other one is the new style(looks like a paddle,wider at top) they will not inter change. But the 3300 was available with both style remotes. So your other machine "might" have the correct CPU to work with the new style remote. The CPU boards are easy to swap.

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

Or I could reprogram your CPU to work with the newer style, backlit remote. Mr. Green

stefuel · Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 1:03 am Post subject:

The wireless remote does have the benifit of being able to walk right up to the screen and make critical adjustments. I have the IR remote and adapter but did not like it so I now control my AmPros with RS-232 and wireless touch screens via my Crestron system. Now that's the cat's a$$.

FlyingCheese · Joined: 19 Nov 2008 Posts: 43 Location: Springfield, IL

macgyver655 - How much do you want for reprogramming the CPU board?

stefuel - You interested in parting with your wireless setup?

I can honestly say it's not a major deal to me, it just would be nice to have the newer style remote work completely - I've got one, but not all the functions work and you can't tell what adjustment you're currently making because there is nothing on the readout. I'd be willing to part with a few bucks to make the change, but nothing major as it's just a minor inconvenience.

stefuel - Do you pay to have your Crestron system programmed or did you go the DIY path? Not the easiest DIY project from what I gather. I do ASP.NET stuff for a living, and I've toyed around with RS232 a bit and control my matrix switch in my wiring closet this way, but I've not jumped into any sort of full-blown automation yet. Would like to eventually, but considering my theater is bare studs with a big-ass screen and some big-ass speakers, the wife would prefer I get moving on finishing it before I mess with it any.

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

OK, I got Curts approval on this. If your interested I would need your newer style remote to test it and make sure its working properly and your CPU board to change the software and test it. As far as cost, probably just the cost of the blank chip I have to replace which I think was about 10 bucks and the return shipping cost. Let me know what you want to do. thanks. Smile

FlyingCheese · Joined: 19 Nov 2008 Posts: 43 Location: Springfield, IL

I'll shoot you a PM...

stefuel · Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:31 pm Post subject:

If you are going through all that trouble, I'd have him change the CPU battery at the same time unless it checks out perfect.

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

I was already thinking the same thing Chip. Smile

Its funny how great minds think alike, isn't it....... Laughing

FlyingCheese · Joined: 19 Nov 2008 Posts: 43 Location: Springfield, IL

I'll ckeck the voltage when I pull the board, but if I recall, I checked it a month or so ago and it was reading 3.6v or something real close to that. It may have been changed at some point... I suspect the PJ has been worked on at some point, there are handwritten stickers all over some of the boards with numbers of some sort - I suppose it could have come that way from the factory, but I'd assume not

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

stefuel · Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 4:35 am Post subject:

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508