Faulty SMP 24

[ktb]

So I recently bought a Steinberg SMP 24 that does not work with intention of fixing it. I took it to my tech and he said he would have to estimate 2-3 hours to trouble shoot which would equate to about $300 dollars worth of his time. He advised me it would not be worth it. Not the answer I was looking for.

Enter you guys. When I turn it on it makes a short beep and the display flashes zeros with the top left corner of the zero's slightly faded out (looks like a bunch of J's if you will.) My tech doesn't think it's the power supply. I think he's right because when you turn it on there is a slight hum. I’m assuming it's receiving power but i'm not an electronics guy.

Any thoughts or constructive suggestions? Does anyone have a service manual or an owner’s manual they can send me as well?

Thanks!

[mal7921]

Hmm, first thing to look at is the internals, check capacitors to make sure they have not leaked or are not starting to bulge, also look for an internal battery and check for similar symptoms (Though I'm not sure if they have an internal battery, but they probably do).

If all looks ok, try removing the battery for around 10 minutes or so and then re-connect it (Do not short it though) and see if the display changes.

[ktb]

OK, I looked inside (both sides of the circuit board) and everything appeared good. I even had a friend of mine who knows more electronically speaking than I do and he agreed that he didn't see any issues with the internals.

As for the battery, the seller told me that they replaced the battery to see if that was the issue. Apparently it wasn't. So it has a new battery (supposedly). I tried to remove the battery but it is soldered to the PCB. I took some pictures of the battery to show what I mean. Not sure how to attach them though.

[mal7921]

I've not had a chance to look at this, but there is now a copy of the SMP24 manual in the downloads section. This may have some troubleshooting in the back though I've not yet had a chance to look through this. The direct link is here.

Hopefully though it will give you some pointers as to what to try next.

[NCGM]

I'm keen to know of anyone who has a newer firmware in their SMP 24; mine shows v1.4 on the scrolling red LED display upon powering up. If anyone has v1.6 I could arrange to copy their EPROM data to give to someone else who could make one for me, and anyone else who needs one.


NCGM

[ktb]

Success!!! After downloading the manual (thanks NCGM and mal7921!, that wasn't here last week) I discovered all that was needed was to re-initialize the unit by pressing TAB and START simultaneously while turning on the power. I got it working with Cubase 2.1 no problem now. Thanks again NCGM and mal7921!

[NCGM]

Great news ktb! Would you mind telling us what firmware is shown when powered on? Mine says v1.4 on the red led display.



NCGM

[ktb]

It's v1.6. What are the steps in making copies of it?

[NCGM]

Thanks for checking for me and others. I've just opened up my SMP 24 and luckily it is a chip in a socket that can be removed very easily, just be lifting it out. It can then be read with an EPROM copier, and the data used to make more EPROM chips for the SMP 24. It's pretty much how Atari TOS operating system chips are made I think. Atari users do this regularly for each other and it is no big deal. I'll ask a few people over at Atari-Forum.com to see if they will copy your chip for me, if that is ok with you? Posting a tiny chip should be very cheap each way from New York and I will send you a bit of PayPal money to cover this.

*** UPDATE: A site administrator at the Atari-Forum.com has offered to copy your EPROM and make another for me. He is in the UK like me. ***

Here is the chip in mine, a TMS 27C256JL which according to Google is a Siemens type although the model number may be different in yours, due to a larger chip with the extra Cubase data:






NCGM