[Longshanks]

Hi

Have just acquired one of the original grey models. It is mechanically sound and came with controllers, mains adaptor video cable and games. The problem is that when I plug the RF cable into the TV I get no picture.

Can someone advise please.

Many thanks

[jaclaz]

Longshanks, on 28 October 2010 - 10:02 AM, said:

Hi

Have just acquired one of the original grey models. It is mechanically sound and came with controllers, mains adaptor video cable and games. The problem is that when I plug the RF cable into the TV I get no picture.

Can someone advise please.

Many thanks

It's most probably a "lead-free" solder related problem (but cannot say without more details).

In a nutshell:
Most video processors use a BGA (Ball Grid Array) as means of connection to the actual motherboards.
They are (tiny) balls of solder that are actually soldered by heating the "whole thing" for a certain period of time.
At a certain point, in order to comply with environmental laws, the "old" lead based solder was replaced by a new "lead-free" alloy.
Typically this has a lower melting point AND tends to crack if overheated.
The practical outcome is that devices that generate lots of heat (like a video card processor), expecially if in tiny spaces (laptops) and with no or poor cooling (playstations and the like) tend to overheat the solder, thus causing irregular (more common) or NO contact at all
IF this is the case, since "proper" "reballing" is out of questions for it's cost, the only possible way out is to re-flow it.

It is a maybe 50% probability, in any case.

Here there is some (sparse) info about the procedure:
http://www.boot-land...topic=6102&st=0

In any case DON'T EVEN THINK of running the candle/alcohol trick :
http://geektechnique...%20board-repair

Cannot say if this particular problem did affect the Playstation "1".

Check this first thing:
http://www.ifixit.co...Troubleshooting
http://www.ifixit.co...ic-Board/1596/1

To disassemble the stoopid thingy properly, and see if here:
http://www.eservicei...ng=Play+Station
you can find a suitable service manual for the model you have.


jaclaz

[Tripredacus]

Well with most that use RF it may not necessarily be the system. It could be the TV or a misunderstanding of how they work together. I do not have a PSX RF adapter (I only have the composite ones) so I can't see but look to see if there is a switch on the converter box. This is for channel. Typically channel 3 is the one to use. Then you must make sure you set your TV to that channel.

However, not all TVs are the same. It is possible that the TV has a special "channel" to use the port you are using. So if you set the RFA to 3, and channel 3 doesn't do anything, try going below channel 2. Some TVs will have an "input" channel to use instead.

And lastly, when you turn the system on, do you get any reaction from the TV at all? Is there a flicker or the sudden appearance of snow or artifacts on the screen when you turn the PSX on?