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Sky Digital BSkyB, Freesat & Saorsat support forum
Sky & Freesat fringe reception
Good Signal Strength but no signal Quality
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<blockquote data-quote="Pete6" data-source="post: 187366" data-attributes="member: 218976"><p>Fixed, working upgraded --- thanks to:</p><p>Michael Dranfield.</p><p>Digifix Ltd.</p><p>16,Terrace road,</p><p>Buxton ,</p><p>Derbyshire.</p><p>SK17-6DU.</p><p>+44 01298- 73989.</p><p><a href="http://www.digifixltd.co.uk" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0000ff">www.digifixltd.co.uk</span></a></p><p></p><p>who sent me the following article he has published.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Pace ZIF tuner failure.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Tuner failure in pace satellite receiver boxes is now one of the most common faults there is ,I am of course referring to models fitted with the ZIF type tuner module,the problem is caused by failure of the MAX2104CCM 48 pin down converter chip and typical faults range from stuck in st/by to no satellite signal received sometimes intermittent or affecting only some channels.Now the underneath of the chip has a metal pad which is not only the R.F ground plane connection but also the heatsink contact ,which of course has to be soldered to the ground plane on the pcb,investigation has shown that the soldering between these two areas is very poor and for a long time I assumed this to be the cause of the chip failure however this has turned out to be incorrect and the real cause of chip failure is more complex.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Some time after 1996 Maxim semiconductors introduced a change in the moulding compound that is used to produce the chips package ,phosphorus was added to the moulding compound as a flame retardent,replacing Bromine and Antimony which are not considered to be very environmentally friendly and it would seem that the addition of the Phosphorus sets up some chemical reaction within the chips package leading to the growth of Silver Dendrite between adjacent pins ,this growth then results in high resistance shorts between pins.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Any one who has restored vintage radios will be familiar with 1960 s transistor radios that use the AF XXX series of transistors in which over time a crystal substance grows within the transistor which eventually causes one of the lead outs to short to the screen connection , a simple way round this is to simply cut off the screen connection extending the transistors life.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Now in the case of the MAX2104CCM there is a way to destroy the Silver Dendrite growth and believe it or not it is possible to repair the chip without having to remove or replace it ,this is of course only a short term solution as the Silver Dendrite will start to grow again , remove the tuner and the small metal screening can covering the chip and heat up the chip to around 190-200 degrees ,don’t go over 205 and then let it cool and hey presto the chip will now be found to work again,I have soak tested repaired tuners in this way and they still continue to work,but I stress this is only a short term solution as a repeat failure is inevitable.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Chips manufactured by Maxim after November 2001 were produced with non- Phosphorus based moulding compound ,but bare in mind millions had already been produced and many will still be sitting is stock at semiconductor surplus suppliers so beware ,the top of the chip carries the date code as follows, 0145= 2001 year ,week 45( November). </span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Michael Dranfield.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">6,Calesdale close,</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Buxton ,</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Derbyshire.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">SK17-9RH. </span></span></p><p></p><p>I did this and the receiver started working. As Michael said, there is no guarantee as to how long it will stay working so I will shortly order a new tuner module from him which costs between £20 and £30 + postage.</p><p></p><p>Michael was very helpful and he obviously knows exactly what he is talking about. A really good contact indeed.</p><p></p><p>Finally before you try this fix, you really need to be good with a soldering iron and to have an iron that is transformer isolatedand is temperature controlled. If you don't know what you are doing, deal with Michael who does.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Pete6, post: 187366, member: 218976"] Fixed, working upgraded --- thanks to: Michael Dranfield. Digifix Ltd. 16,Terrace road, Buxton , Derbyshire. SK17-6DU. +44 01298- 73989. [URL="http://www.digifixltd.co.uk"][COLOR=#0000ff]www.digifixltd.co.uk[/COLOR][/URL] who sent me the following article he has published. [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Pace ZIF tuner failure.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Tuner failure in pace satellite receiver boxes is now one of the most common faults there is ,I am of course referring to models fitted with the ZIF type tuner module,the problem is caused by failure of the MAX2104CCM 48 pin down converter chip and typical faults range from stuck in st/by to no satellite signal received sometimes intermittent or affecting only some channels.Now the underneath of the chip has a metal pad which is not only the R.F ground plane connection but also the heatsink contact ,which of course has to be soldered to the ground plane on the pcb,investigation has shown that the soldering between these two areas is very poor and for a long time I assumed this to be the cause of the chip failure however this has turned out to be incorrect and the real cause of chip failure is more complex.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Some time after 1996 Maxim semiconductors introduced a change in the moulding compound that is used to produce the chips package ,phosphorus was added to the moulding compound as a flame retardent,replacing Bromine and Antimony which are not considered to be very environmentally friendly and it would seem that the addition of the Phosphorus sets up some chemical reaction within the chips package leading to the growth of Silver Dendrite between adjacent pins ,this growth then results in high resistance shorts between pins.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Any one who has restored vintage radios will be familiar with 1960 s transistor radios that use the AF XXX series of transistors in which over time a crystal substance grows within the transistor which eventually causes one of the lead outs to short to the screen connection , a simple way round this is to simply cut off the screen connection extending the transistors life.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Now in the case of the MAX2104CCM there is a way to destroy the Silver Dendrite growth and believe it or not it is possible to repair the chip without having to remove or replace it ,this is of course only a short term solution as the Silver Dendrite will start to grow again , remove the tuner and the small metal screening can covering the chip and heat up the chip to around 190-200 degrees ,don’t go over 205 and then let it cool and hey presto the chip will now be found to work again,I have soak tested repaired tuners in this way and they still continue to work,but I stress this is only a short term solution as a repeat failure is inevitable.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Chips manufactured by Maxim after November 2001 were produced with non- Phosphorus based moulding compound ,but bare in mind millions had already been produced and many will still be sitting is stock at semiconductor surplus suppliers so beware ,the top of the chip carries the date code as follows, 0145= 2001 year ,week 45( November). [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Michael Dranfield.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]6,Calesdale close,[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Buxton ,[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Derbyshire.[/SIZE][/FONT] [SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]SK17-9RH. [/FONT][/SIZE] I did this and the receiver started working. As Michael said, there is no guarantee as to how long it will stay working so I will shortly order a new tuner module from him which costs between £20 and £30 + postage. Michael was very helpful and he obviously knows exactly what he is talking about. A really good contact indeed. Finally before you try this fix, you really need to be good with a soldering iron and to have an iron that is transformer isolatedand is temperature controlled. If you don't know what you are doing, deal with Michael who does. [/QUOTE]
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Sky & Freesat fringe reception
Good Signal Strength but no signal Quality
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