AZBox Video Interference Question

[alk3997]

I have a Premium with a 1TB Hitachi HDD installed. If I leave the top cover off the AZBox, everything is good.

When I put the top metal cover on the AZBox I start seeing a herringbone pattern in the component video output in about 5 minutes. These are parallel lines running through the video from the left side of the screen to the right. The left side of each line is slightly higher than the right side.

If the top cover is removed the lines fade away after about 5 minutes.

I have tried this with and without the hard drive, I've tried insullating the metal top cover so it can't contact the rest of the unit, I've made sure I'm not crimping any lines and I've replaced the SATA data/power cables. Nothing changes anything. I've also moved the unit around and also plugged the power supply into a different outlet.

Topday the interference with a high speed MPEG2 stream was to a point it looked like vertical streaks (very different). Removed the cover and the problem went away.

Is it possible that the cover is pressing into the main board somehow?

I'm really starting to wonder if this normal and people just aren't using component anymore? Also does HDMI work if 1080i is selected as the output? Seems to go blank for me.

Thanks for any help!

Andy

 

[Lak7]

Also does HDMI work if 1080i is selected as the output?

Make sure you set it to NTSC then 1080i.

 

[AcWxRadar]

Andy,

From your description, it sounds plausible that there may be a heat related issue. Since it requires a few minutes after placing the cover on for the lines to appear and a few minutes for them to disappear after removing the cover.

I would test whether it is heat related alone or a combination of the metal cover and heat by cutting out a makeshift cover from a cereal box and taping it to the AZBox. If the lines appear in a few minutes with a cardboard cover, then you can know for certain that the problem is purely related to heat buildup.

If it proves to be purely a heat related issue, you could take a low power hair dryer and warm some of the individual components or areas of the AZBox to try to isolate the exact cause or at least a general area.

I would start with this approach first.

RADAR

 

[alk3997]

Thanks! I've been trying to convince myself it isn't heat related since most of the box runs very cool. However, I noticed that the S2 card runs warm, so I have to wonder if that is my source.

Fortunately, I'm within the return window (less than 30 days) on the Premium. I say fortunately because the shell of the SATA connector on the motherboard came off yesterday (looks like it wasn't ever really attached).

We'll see where we go from here.

Andy

 

[AcWxRadar]

Thanks!

Fortunately, I'm within the return window (less than 30 days) on the Premium. I say fortunately because the shell of the SATA connector on the motherboard came off yesterday (looks like it wasn't ever really attached).

Andy

Hey Andy,

The shell around my SATA connector also came loose. I wouldn't bother returning it for that alone as I think they are all this way. They seem to be just lightly pressed on. To keep it in place, put it back on in the proper orientation with a very small drop of superglue at each end.

RADAR