What is this PCB componant?

SB118 · 3 Nov 2008 at 16:30

Had a few capture cards arrive today and as per usual one of them is DOA, the only thing i can find damaged on it is this (only one end is attached to the card) ...

What is it? What rating is it?

I've got a few other pci cards with similar looking items, but all the numbering is different so i don't want to swap out the wrong thing and cook it terminally.

The card detects and installs fine, it just when i try to run a video signal through it the machine locks up

A.N.Other · 3 Nov 2008 at 16:31

I take it you can't just return it, then?

yipyipboo · 3 Nov 2008 at 16:32

could be an oscillator with a freq of 28.6363MHz.

wouldn't it be better to just rma it?

SB118 · 3 Nov 2008 at 16:32

Too much hassle and if i can fix it myself no need either.

SB118 · 3 Nov 2008 at 16:33

yipyipboo said:
could be an oscillator with a freq of 28.6363MHz

Ideal, cheers. I've got another board here with one that's marked up as "27.000" so i'll give it a shot

malef!c · 3 Nov 2008 at 16:35

You might get lucky but those oscillators can be very fussy - boards that want a 28.6363Mhz signal will brain fart on anything but that frequecy.

Damned fussy

David91 · 3 Nov 2008 at 16:35

*awaits pictures of flaming pile of metal formally known as a PC*

p4radox · 3 Nov 2008 at 16:36

Looks like a crystal oscillator to me.

Pinter75 · 3 Nov 2008 at 16:36

Yup that is a crystal oscillator. The board won't work without it as it determins the clock speed of what ever it is attached to.

You can get replacements from any good online electronics retailer. They are not surface mount so out with the old and in with the new. Polarity is not an issue either.

SB118 · 3 Nov 2008 at 16:37

malef!c said:
You might get lucky but those oscillators can be very fussy - boards that want a 28.6363Mhz signal will brain fart on anything but that frequecy.

Damned fussy

Worth a shot, if it has a fit i can always swing passed the highstreet electronics place and order the right item.

Pinter75 · 3 Nov 2008 at 16:50

The place you are thinking of does not sock them. I have checked and only one has them in stock. Starts with a D and ends with a Y. Google 28.6363MHz and you will find more.

Edit, could it be just a dry solder joint? I have the exact same thing on a Sky+ PSU. re solder and works fine. Sometimes the stuff will go through the reflow oven and not solder properly, but they power up good enough for a QC check.

Booza · 3 Nov 2008 at 17:03

As previously stated, its a crystal, or ocsilator.

The thing to be aware of is that the component is mounted to the board using "surface mount technology". You should find where the component originated from on the PCB, and check it hasnt pulled the pad off. IF it has it takes a skilled SMT reworker with the right tools to fix it...easier to RMA it.

SB118 · 3 Nov 2008 at 17:04

The pin has snapped off clean with the base of the unit. I swapped in the "wrong" item and it powered up and ran fine, but didn't give a picture (which is hopefully due to the wrong signal getting through.) At least it doesn't lock up the machine when i run it now though.

Contents insurance covers fire, right?

Pinter75 · 3 Nov 2008 at 17:34

SB118 said:
The pin has snapped off clean with the base of the unit. I swapped in the "wrong" item and it powered up and ran fine, but didn't give a picture (which is hopefully due to the wrong signal getting through.) At least it doesn't lock up the machine when i run it now though.

Contents insurance covers fire, right?

You won't get a pic because I assume that is part of a CCTV cap board? The crystal probably controls the sync of the compressor or something. With no sync it will do nowt.

SB118 · 3 Nov 2008 at 17:54

Booza said:
As previously stated, its a crystal, or ocsilator.

The thing to be aware of is that the component is mounted to the board using "surface mount technology". You should find where the component originated from on the PCB, and check it hasnt pulled the pad off. IF it has it takes a skilled SMT reworker with the right tools to fix it...easier to RMA it.

Thankfully the item was on pins that pass right through the board, meaning it was an easy fix for a butcher in his kitchen with a soldering iron like a blunt chisel and a hot glue gun

Yay, camera pc is back running, i can flog this POS dvr unit now, ebay here i come!

Nabz · 3 Nov 2008 at 18:00

check the cables.

Pinter75 · 3 Nov 2008 at 18:03

Actually I was gonna ask you what are those PCI dvr boards like. I need to get a 4 channel one, running on an AMD 1.8Ghz... any good?

SB118 · 3 Nov 2008 at 18:05

Checked 'em, they're still there

SB118 · 3 Nov 2008 at 18:12

Pinter75 said:
Actually I was gonna ask you what are those PCI dvr boards like. I need to get a 4 channel one, running on an AMD 1.8Ghz... any good?

The uber cheap ones come with knockoff software which falls over on a regular basis (can't see the capture card, won't playback, stops recording at random, etc) They have 25fps shared over 4 channels, but you can get a good enough view with 4fps on each camera, OR you can get 1 camera in real time.
Allow an extra 30 quid for a legit copy of the software (updated, better interface, better scheduling, etc)

Watch out for using the cheap cards in newer machines, the knockoff software will refuse to run point blank. (just gave my folks a 3ghz p4 rig so i could get my hands on their 2ghz semperon rig!)

If you go for the more expensive 50fps cards, the software is dire, runs in some odd mpeg4 codec that only the dvr software will playback, so when the old bill want a copy of the footage, you need to give them a copy of the playback software too.

Have i got an email from you in the last few days? (had a few over the weekend and i've not had the time to sit down and write some stuff out)

Pinter75 · 3 Nov 2008 at 18:21

No mail from me, but thanks for the advice. On the bay I see uk sellers on about how the el'cheapo cards from overseas are no good, but there are... bla bla bla.

I guess as long as I don't get one from the place you do (dodgy crystals) I will be ok ;-)