ME 2 is inoperative in HD mode.
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Our Sony MVS 8000G has developed a problem where ME 2 is inoperative when in HD format. No output, both on the frame outputs (ME PGM and ME PVW) as well as on the re-entrys to the other MEs and P/P.
The ME performs normally when in HD and in MIX, but when WIPE is selected as a transition type, the output video of ME 2 starts to degrade. First with fine green sync lines (when a source is absent or non sync). This progresses to where there is no output video on ME 2 at all.
Interestingly enough, ME 2 operates normally in SD mode.
The diagnostics shows a SWR 1 board 3 error. But it also shows the board TEMP as being o.k., and the FPGA for board 3 being o.k. as well.
Our engineers have contacted Sony, who suggested resetting the CPU on board 16 (S101, segment 4 and re-power) It was hoped that this would re-load or re-set the CPU. This recommended procedure was tried twice without success. after re-boot, board 3 in the frame has a red error LED illuminated.
We are operting with ver. 8.10.2 software.
Has anyone seen or experienced this before?
We have asked our engineers to swap board 3 with the same board from another frame, but there is a little hesitation in wanting to do this (or listening to operators... )
b.
Yes, the switcher has the Multiformat license...
I had the switcher in HD again today, ME 2 was fine for BKGD A and B busses, as well as all keyers 1 thru 4. Again the problem only seems to manifest itself when ME 2 is set to WIPE on the transition module. However, at other times, the ME has failed completely and there has been no video output regardless of which transition mode has been selected.
these are the errors from the diagnostics from last weekend when the problem occured:
i) 12:37:44 SWR1 Slot 3 Board OK
ii) 12:37:44 SWR1 Slot 3 FPGA Config error
iii) 12:38:44 SWR1 Slot 3 Board No Response
iv) 12:40:07 SWR 1 Slot 3 FPGA config OK
v) 12:40:07 SWR 1 Slot 3 Board Response OK
The log above is typical, Board 3 seems to be OK, then reports errors, and then finally reports status as being OK again, in about 2.5 minutes. The problem is itermittent in nature. We thought it might be a temperature overload issue when the frame is operating in HD, but the diagnostics do not report any temp errors (and the equipment room is as cold as a meat freezer) Air filters on the front of the rack frame are clean and there are no obstructions on the rear of the chassis, air flow is not impeded.
Sony tech will be coming into the studio early next week...
Hi Brian
On each board there are two red leds one is phase locked loop error the other is config error.
One of the reasons for getting a config error is if board has a different software version than the rest of the switcher. To correct this problem all you have to do is reload the switcher software and check the FPGA version is also correct if not you will need to load the FPGA data as well.
If you are not sure how to do this then contact your Sony service centre.
All the best
Phil
The ME 2 board in question had the same version of software as the rest of the switcher (it was updated this past January).
Sony has determined that the fault was due to a chip failure on the ME 2 board. As such, it is being repaired under warranty. In the interim, we pulled a board from a spare frame for use until the original board is repaired and returned.
I've seen a similar problem here in my facility (though we never tried running in SD mode). Sometimes, only the keyers would go away but the A/B bus would be fine. Other times, the entire M/E would go away. We've rebooted, reseated and swapped cards with other switchers. In the end, we have to buy a new card.
We have five 8000G switchers and four 8000A switchers that we often switch between HD and SD. I've seen a similar fault intermittently on three of the four 8000G switchers (the fifth isn't in service yet) and have one M/E card currently at Sony for repair/replacement. One ME card has intermittent FPGA error in SD mode and another in HD mode. Re-programming the FPGA code into the card usually fixes it for a while, but soon the fault returns (sometimes!) - and yes, all board firmware versions are the same. When faulty, the red FPGA config error led is lit on the card edge. Local Sony Service Eng confirmed he has seen it on other switchers too, so I get the feeling there might be a design issue here with something right on the edge of tolerance on these M/E boards. Regards, Andy.
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Bryan,
Do you have a Multiformat license for that ME?
Regards,