DIY Build ISP Questions [Build your own upgrader dongle!]

[Mouzuone]

Hey antony,

how about a photo of your device? Did you check whether the transistors work properly?
I may quote myself here:

The transistors might be damaged. Use a diode test, if your multimeter hasn't a tester integrated. Connect plus(red) to the base and minus(black) to C and E, which should give you a value. Any other combination shouldn't. If it does, new transistor(s) are called for.

Usually, electronic elements that aren't smd can withstand quite a lot of heat. I don't think that's the issue here.

[ant_coe_]

According to my multimeter I get 0.62 volts? when connecting pin C to B and/or pin E to B. The remainder of the options don't show any readings whatsoever.

I can only get these readings when the transistors where removed from the remainder of the circuitry... (does this clue at anything? while connected I get 0 readings or maybe checking it wrong as fiddly) As a result I managed to break off a leg of each transistor and will be buying new ones tomorrow (no embarrassing soldering photos today!)

i have earthed the outside of the LPT connector and the VGA connector - not sure if excessive, these all get joined up with the remaining earth contacts according to the PDF diagram

The resistors produce a reading of 76 ohms, checked continuity between pin readings against all other pins without errors - im genuinely confused why this is happening!

A second note:
My Laptop/Alienware M17X (r4) with mini display port (duel channel) will not output 120hz on the monitor x2411z with the display port -> duel channel DVI cable (DP 1.2). It is not a cable limitation as a friends desktop computer works well - its the laptop - attempting a active converter in the time being and will keep others with similar issues updated.

[ant_coe_]

Find attached a copy of what LPT tool came up with - when clicking the different LPT ports the values change accordingly, but nothing changes regardless if the tool is there, isnt there or the program is 'connecting' or not.

[pnum]

if your adapter and LPT port are working correctly ticking the boxes for the 9 and 17 pins should change the values of the 11 and 15 pins

[Mouzuone]

According to my multimeter I get 0.62 volts? when connecting pin C to B and/or pin E to B. The remainder of the options don't show any readings whatsoever.

I can only get these readings when the transistors where removed from the remainder of the circuitry... (does this clue at anything? while connected I get 0 readings or maybe checking it wrong as fiddly) As a result I managed to break off a leg of each transistor and will be buying new ones tomorrow (no embarrassing soldering photos today!)

Sounds legit with the volts. However, you would use a diode test, which is identified with a symbol on your multimeter that looks like an arrow hitting a hyphen. That will work even when everything's connected.

[ant_coe_]

Just searched for a image of a diode test symbol, its the same that is displayed.

About to start making it again, this time with slightly better NPN transistors - will report back if there are any issues.

With the LPT test/parallel test tool, ticking any boxes immediately gets reverted back to when it is first loaded. The only buttons that change anything is selecting the port LPT1, 2 or 3 on the upper right corner.

Will be testing with 2 computers also - thanks for the help so far!

> TC

[ant_coe_]

WORKING!

Okay okay, its my bad reading of diagrams that caused all these issues - im writing below to help others who may get the same difficulty.

My transistor had the Base and Emitter pins the wrong way round, I used a basic google search to find out how to read the diagram from the PDF on blurbusters, but didnt realise the correct way to wire it up.

My Transistor, TIP31CG (NPN) from Maplin, UK works fine, use this PDF to see the way to read the pin out and how to read the soldering diagram...

http://www.mouser.com/ds/2/308/TIP31A-D-116282.pdf

When the adapter was correctly made, the auto detect worked with a OK message, screen update worked after I lowered the speed a bit, on the second attempt. Waited a good minute between attempts with power removed.

Thanks for all your help, now getting the BlurBusters utility downloaded right this second!
>TC

[Dignitas]

Hi guys,

a friend of mine is going to build me the adapter, but do I need a special VGA-cable for flashing or can I simply use the VGA-cable which was included by the Benq monitor?

Regards

Dignitas

[Chief Blur Buster]

a friend of mine is going to build me the adapter, but do I need a special VGA-cable for flashing or can I simply use the VGA-cable which was included by the Benq monitor?

All you need is a standard VGA cable.

[Dignitas]

a friend of mine is going to build me the adapter, but do I need a special VGA-cable for flashing or can I simply use the VGA-cable which was included by the Benq monitor?

All you need is a standard VGA cable.

My buddy who builds me the upgrade dongle said to me, that all pins the dongle uses had to be assigned on the VGA-cable as well. And according to him only a few overpriced VGA-cables have all 15 pins assigned.

But I dont know if his statement is 100 percent correct or not, so can someone confirm that the VGA-cable provided by Benq will work for sure?