Digital Tigers SideCar MMS Series - Manual (Page 78)

74- T ROUBLESHOOTING
cables. When this Y-cable male LFH connector is attached to the SideCar chassis female
LFH connectors, adjacent pins (particularly at the edges and corners of the pin grid) on
the Y-cable connector can very easily be bent and forced into adjacent holes on the
female connector on the SideCar chassis . This can in turn distort the thin plastic walls
between adjacent rows of pins, so even after straightening a pin, a bent wall can bend it
back out of position.
The most common symptom of a bent pin is a single display receiving no signal
while the other displays perform correctly.
Troubleshooting a “dead” display caused by bent cable pins:
o First, confirm that some of the SideCar monitors are working correctly. (If no
monitors are working, the problem is not likely to be bent cable pins.)
o Second, to differentiate from other possible problems, confirm that the
notebook’s Display Properties dialog box indicates that the “dead” display is
active and attached. (See chapter 6 for more on using Display Properties.)
o Third, confirm that the problem is not a bad display (independent of the
SideCar). Try attaching the “dead” display to another SideCar output or other
working computer display output connector.
o If the display is confirmed to be working, the problem may be bent cable pins in
the LFH connection between the Y-cable and the SideCar chassis. Detach the Y-
cable and carefully examine the male pins on the Y-cable base connector.
ƒ If you find the pins on one of your connectors are bent, carefully and
gently bend them back into position with a small tweezer, very small
screwdriver or straight pin. Then check the female connector on the card
and bend the wall back into position carefully and gently.
ƒ If at all possible, leave the Y-cable connected to the SideCar during
transport. Normal DVI and analog connectors are not as susceptible to
this problem, but it is a good idea to keep all male video connectors
covered with their included protective plastic cups whenever they are not
in use. Above all, exercise care in attaching the Y-cable, and tighten the
thumbscrews securely.
Note: Common operational issues (after successful installation) are addressed in
Chapter 12, “Frequently asked questions (FAQs)”.