Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Arcade Collecting => Miscellaneous Arcade Talk => Topic started by: redfivexw on January 29, 2006, 12:59:38 am

Title: Qbert Troubleshooting Question - anyone?
Post by: redfivexw on January 29, 2006, 12:59:38 am
I recently purchased a Qbert machine.  When i got it, the monitor powers up, and the machine says "hello, you have turned me on" and i can hear qbert saying "aaaaah, splat" and "*#!@!" but the picture is scrambled.  I bought a tested and working board off ebay, and when i plugged it in the picture was still scrambled, but no qbert noises, just "hello, you have turned me on".  Does anyone know what else could be wrong to give a scrambled picture.  Is there something in the power supply board that could cause this?  There is a lot of wiring and boards inside this machine, more than most machines i have dealt with.  Surprisingly, the knocker works!  Scared the crap out of me when i turned it on!  Any advice is appreciated.
Title: Re: Qbert Troubleshooting Question - anyone?
Post by: cw on January 29, 2006, 01:14:57 am
a pic of the problem would help... but it soulds like a sync issue....


get a pic of the monitor pcb as well as a pic of the screen.
Title: Re: Qbert Troubleshooting Question - anyone?
Post by: redfivexw on January 29, 2006, 10:02:59 am
ok, will do tonight, please check back, this one is driving me nuts!
Title: Re: Qbert Troubleshooting Question - anyone?
Post by: RayB on January 29, 2006, 12:56:55 pm
You should own a multi-meter (volt meter).

Measure the voltages coming off your power supply.
Measure the voltages at the board connector.

If the voltages are not what they should be, the game won't work properly
Title: Re: Qbert Troubleshooting Question - anyone?
Post by: Q*Bert_OP on January 29, 2006, 05:05:20 pm
I used to own a Qbert machine...Rebuilding your Power Regulator board will doo good in the long run...
Title: Re: Qbert Troubleshooting Question - anyone?
Post by: redfivexw on January 29, 2006, 05:23:48 pm
Here is a photo of the replacement board's picture. 
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/desertbloom1/qbertnewboard.jpg)

Here is a photo of the original board's picture:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/desertbloom1/qbertoriginalboard.jpg)

Title: Re: Qbert Troubleshooting Question - anyone?
Post by: redfivexw on January 29, 2006, 07:23:18 pm
Do you think that even though the power supply comes on, the leds light up, the sound works, the marquee lights up, etc, that the power supply is still the problem?  I really would not know what needed fixing on the power supply.  I will check the leads with the multi meter tonight
Title: Re: Qbert Troubleshooting Question - anyone?
Post by: Q*Bert_OP on January 30, 2006, 06:18:57 pm
where did you get the replacement boards?
Title: Re: Qbert Troubleshooting Question - anyone?
Post by: redfivexw on January 31, 2006, 07:14:20 am
I only replaced the main board, and i was assured that it was working ok, it was an ebay purchase.  The seller even had a photo of it working.  However as the picture shows, i get no picture.  My original board has no picture, but has all the qbert noises playing in demo mode.  I believe this board is in the setup mode, so no noises.  anyway, i am stumped.  Obviously the sound board is ok, because i have good sound.  Someone suggested the "filter board" to me, but i do not find the filter board inside the machine.  I checked all the wiring, and all the wires are attached and original, no rust on the harnesses, etc.  I would not mind sending out my power supply board to be rebuilt, however i really do not want to spend a ton of money on different repairs that may or may not fix the problem. 
Title: Re: Qbert Troubleshooting Question - anyone?
Post by: Q*Bert_OP on January 31, 2006, 11:38:03 am
Please tell us the seller's name because those sound like my boards that I sold.
Title: Re: Qbert Troubleshooting Question - anyone?
Post by: RayB on January 31, 2006, 12:00:45 pm
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS measure voltages before testing boards. If your voltages are too high or unstable, you'll keep destroying whatever boards you plug in there!