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HDD activity causing video/sound interference?

New MessageHDD activity causing video/sound interference? (modified 0 times) Brian|S|
Strange...
I'm using the CompUSA ISA IDE controller, and when using a standard UDMA 33 IDE cable, I hear hisses in the speakers whenever there is hard drive activity. I then switched to an ATA66 cable, and that problem almost entirely went away. I seem to still be having problems with video interference though... there are very slight distortions when using the VGA output, but things really go sour when using tv-out. Whenever there's HDD activity, the screen on the tv will flash red. This is obviously extremely annoying. If anyone else has experienced/solved this problem, or has any general advice on what to check in this situation, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!
-Brian

05-20-2000 11:08:52

New MessageRE:HDD activity causing video/sound interference? (modified 0 times) Datoyminaytah
I have about the same problem. I'm hoping it's just the lack of shielding on the IDE cable. I'm splitting one up so I can make a "round" cable that I'll wrap some shielding around. I'll let you know if it works.
05-20-2000 19:47:46

New MessageRE:HDD activity causing video/sound interference? (modified 0 times) Brian|S|
Yeah, that's what the solution seems to be. But I find it strange that the components in this box are so sensitive. Anyway, I thought about doing the same thing... but no sense in both of us messing up our cables for no reason :) Let us know how it works out for you. Also, I find it strange that apparently only a couple of us have this problem? These machines should be clones of eachother and many people are running hard drives inside the case. The other problem I thought of though, was if the ISA bus was causing interference with the audio/video due to the controller card. I'm not sure if that one has any merit though... Thanks for the Reply Dato, and good luck.

-Brian

05-21-2000 06:17:55

New MessageRE:HDD activity causing video/sound interference? (modified 0 times) Brian|S|
Ok... getting stranger...
Today I hooked up a peltier to the WSP, just to make sure the power supply could handle both that and the 3.5 inch drive. I've got my power for the drive, etc, coming from the main power supply - I spliced it. Now get this, with the peltier and the drive running, video interference was cut *dramatically*. And, now that I think of it, I do remember reading a post in which someone with video interference noticed that with the power supply under a heavier load, the video interference was lessened. Any ideas? Anyone?? heh... This is very strange. If someone's running an HDD with spliced power from the main power supply connector, at least let us know that it's working fine. I'd like to eliminate some factors here...
Thanks alot for any input,

-Brian

05-21-2000 18:29:35

New MessageRE:HDD activity causing video/sound interference? (modified 0 times) ckbone
Here's what I have running off the surfer's own power supply....Quantum 5.25" hard drive, standard cdrom, internally mounted Sony 2 watt amplifier and speakers. To lessen the heat 2 extra small cpu fans are also hooked up. The power supply handles the whole setup ok....no interference problems. My hard drive sits over the power supply, using a std ide cable. For the power I tapped into the main power supply cables...everything is soldered. I suggest you try a different hard drive......
05-21-2000 19:37:22

New MessageRE:HDD activity causing video/sound interference? (modified 0 times) Brian|S|
Thanks for the reply ck. Well, why that peltier made the interference lessen is beyond me... However, I found *another* thing which had a positive impact on the interference- the 33mhz bus as opposed to 30. I've tried 200mhz cpu speed using both a 33 and a 30mhz bus and when using the 33, the video only has a *very* slight interference (as opposed to the red flashes of yore...) You're probably right that it's the hard drive; good thing is that the one I'm using is only temporary. Well I'm running that puppy at 266mhz now, so I'm happy about that. Now to figure out how to use the 9x and 10x multiplier and put that peltier to use :)
thanks,
-Brian
05-21-2000 19:49:15

New MessageRE:HDD activity causing video/sound interference? (modified 0 times) George-I-O
Possible causes of the interference:
1. Wrong point of the power tap. Make sure that power cable for HD connected right to the power terminal on the power supply. 5 and 12 volt.
2. Ground loop inside WSP. Power and the ground wires must be tapped at the same point! The best choice again – connector at the power supply.
3. External ground loop. In my setup when RCA audio output connected to the external amp that plugged in different outlet – ground loop caused extra noise on the video and the audio. To eliminate – use two-prong adapter on one side or rout all cables (power and audio) in the same bundle.
4. HD drawing too much current. Obviously you need to find HD with less power consumption.
05-22-2000 14:37:26

New MessageRE:HDD activity causing video/sound interference? (modified 0 times) gr8_brit
Another source (speculation at this time) of your troubles.

The WSP uses a cheap switching PSU. When these aren't driven to high loads, the switching circuits slow down the switching rates of the outputs to conserve power. When the power level out is high, the circuit switches faster to counteract.

If the supply load is small (as it would appear from some of the comment above), then there is sometimes a source of 'beat' frequencies between the Video cicuitry and the switching PSU noise on the supply lines.

I've noticed that there are a number of positions on the WSP PCB for additional filtering circuitry parts which aren't actually fitted with anything. Don't forget that the WSP is designed to a price (not a function) and small items like $0.20c filtering parts aren't fitted if the circuit runs fine for most machines.

It could be that the PSU is just generating noise that's getting through the (cheap?) filtering on the board.

Compare the price of a $200 Matrox WIZZ2K (or whatever) video card with a $50 WSP and you see the point?

That's not to say that the WSP shouldn't work on a TV - it's meant too after all.

05-22-2000 17:42:16

New MessageRE:HDD activity causing video/sound interference? (modified 0 times) goatboy
A couple thoughts... gr8_brit is right about the switching supplies frequencies harmonics being the same as the video or bus. You might be able to cram an aluminum shield between the PS board and the MB, make sure it has good electrical contact to the case for grounding, use star washers or dielectric grease. That might help... Another thing that might help is throwing some filtering capacitors on the output, if the noise is comming through the power cable. I'll post the values after I figure em out... it's been a while since I actually built anything electronic...
The UDMA66 cables might help too... since they are twisted pair, one "side" of the pair ballances and cancels noise introduced from the other side of the pair.
I'm running an allwell 3036N box (www.gct-allwell.com), slightly different from a websurfer (motherboard w/LAN, IDE, HDD mounting cage, etc.), but I'm working on resolving the same noise issues using a 15G 3.5" drive. I'll post when I try out the above and let everyone know what works.

BTW, if anyone wants pics of chips or whatever on the 3036N board so you can see what you need to get onboard LAN running or what ever, let me know and I'll U/L and post links.

05-26-2000 09:29:59

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