|
Modem Problems
So, you love your TiVo but the Modem has gone
bad  .
We have solutions that can help without returning your TiVo to Philips or Sony
and loosing all of your recorded programming and your season passes, etc.
Using an External Modem
This is a cable and adaptor kit used to install an external Modem to your TiVo.
This is the kit you need if you have an external serial modem that you'd like to
use with your TiVo. It has a 1/8" mini stereo plug on one end of a 6' cable to
plug into the serial port on the TiVo, and a DB9-DB25 adaptor on the other end
to plug into the modem.
If your internal TiVo modem has failed, a standard external modem (9.6K to 56K)
can be configured to work with a TiVo. We'll include instructions on how to
accomplish this.
The software version on your TiVo does need to be 3.0 or above. This can be seen
on the system information screen.
ElectricLegs Modem Repair Our Official ElectricLegs Modem Repair Kit includes the parts required to repair
just about any modem problem with your TiVo. We offer several different kits depending on the damage to the modem circuit.
The Modem
Repair Diagram can help you determine what you need. There
you will find a very simple test that will determine if our kits will be able to
fix the problem and a few others to determine the parts needed. A properly
installed Repair Kit will fix about 85% of the modem problems without any
testing or diagnostics.
The Basic TiVo Modem Repair Kit
includes transistors and diodes. Please note that
these kits require de-soldering and soldering surface mount components and should
not be attempted by a beginner. If you are not comfortable with this type
soldering, consider taking your TiVo and parts kit to a local electronics shop
for them to perform the repair. These same parts have been used to repair
many TiVo's, but we can offer no warranty of any kind on these kits due to the
Tivo's damage and kit installation being beyond our control. Although
unlikely, these parts may be unable to repair damage to your TiVo if the damage
went beyond the external modem circuit. This is a "no diagnosis"
repair, therefore no diagnostic help or warranty is available from ElectricLegs or
9thTee and NO RETURNS are allowed. The information on the diagram along with good soldering skills should be enough to diagnose and repair the problems.
As with any electrical repair, it is always recommended to check all connections
for continuity and the K2 chip legs for shorts with a meter before powering the
circuit.
| Quantity |
Part Number |
Description |
Your Cost |
Click To Buy |
|
|
Here are a few notes
from ElectricLegs on soldering
Let's start with tools-
A 15-25 watt iron with a freshly sharpened long pointy tip. Pitted tips hold too much solder and you'll end up connecting a bunch-O-legs.
Moist sponge to clean the iron's tip. -Do it often!
LIQUID FLUX !!! Get it and don't leave home without it!!! Use it generously and often.
Flux remover. Can you guess?
Small diameter solder. (rosin or solid)
Solder removal tool or solder wick to get excess solder off components.
Digital Volt Meter... duh? What's that for? <-It helps to sharpen the tips of the leads so the don't slip and short the connections.
Tweezers or miniature needle nose pliers for chip placement. ***** Not removal! *****
Keen eyes or a trained monkey.
Technique- <--Here's where we separate the men from the boys.
For the itty-bitty transistors and diodes I add a small bit of solder to each leg to increase the mass. Then I lay my iron lengthwise across the 2 legs on one side so it touches both then I rock the iron a little parallel to to board until I see the transistor moving with it then I quickly touch the other single leg and slide it off it's pads. It should be hot enough to stick to the iron. Too much heat is better than not enough since the board traces are what you're trying to save. At this time I prefer to flick it at the cat but you may want to keep it for testing or a trophy. -Don't try pulling on the chips - you'll only pull up the board traces.
For the larger transistor add solder to all 3 legs and heat them all until it slides off with the iron. Flick this one at the dog.
To install- Put a drop of "LIQUID FLUX!" on the pads and place the new chip as close as possible. Using the solder that's already on the pad and holding the chip with the tweezers solder ONLY ONE LEG of the 2 leg side checking for alignment with the pads. When it looks good heat the other leg of the 2 leg side while pushing down on the chip, then the first leg again. I almost never have to add solder to these when installing them.
K2 chips <--Here's where we separate the gorilla's from the men.
Put some LIQUID FLUX on all the legs then "load" all the legs on both sides with solder making sure to get the end ones. Heat both sides until molten and slide the chip off it pads with the iron.
To install- Clean as much solder off the pads as possible. Put a load of flux on the pads and place the chip. Without adding solder yet get a single corner leg tacked so it holds the chip in place. This initial positioning is all-important in getting these chips in correctly. Heat and reheat that one leg until it's perfect then tack the other corner on the same side making sure it perfect again. It helps to look at the dark spaces between the legs in a shadow to look for alignment. To solder the legs touch the iron to the pad and slide it to the chip leg and back off. Instead of adding solder to the joint add it to the iron and use the iron to apply it to the joint with this slide technique. Only solder about 6 legs and let them cool for about 15 seconds before continuing. Let the chip cool between every few legs and be generous with the flux. Check the legs with a magnifying glass and the DVM to check for opens and shorts. Backlighting the board with a flashlight makes it easy to look for legs that are shorted together.
Go smoke a cigarette now and get dressed.
|
