Audio, hi-fi and car audio - Flaky volume control QUAD 66

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Flaky volume control QUAD 66

Cheers!

My old Quad 66 has a very flaky volume control: sometimes it works
fine, sometimes not. All other controls on the remote works fine. The
volume control signals does not seem to reach the pre-amp, as the
display does not react. When it does work, the display and gain is
synchronized fine. I'd rather not send it off for service, as it
probably cost more to fix than to replace with modern gear.

However, I do own some screwdrivers and technical insight. Is there
anything I should try, in order to fit it, before dumping the unit?

Could I replace the remote with one of those learning things, perhaps?
This would really be nasty thing to do, I know, but it would save me
some money if nothing else.

Per.

Flaky volume control QUAD 66

On 11 Sep, 14:19, "Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:

Quad servicing - unlike most others - is still available and at a
reasonable price. Contact them for details. I'd be most surprised if you
could buy anything new approaching its quality for the cost of fixing it.

You are probably right. Perhaps I am just trying to talk myself into
buying new gear! But I do like the Quad remote, the only one my old
mother can operate without any instructions!

I am nonetheless very interested if anyone has any insight into what
might be the fault of the unit.

Per.

Flaky volume control QUAD 66

perstromgren wrote

Quad servicing - unlike most others - is still available
and at a
reasonable price. Contact them for details. I'd be most
surprised if you
could buy anything new approaching its quality for the
cost of fixing it.

You are probably right. Perhaps I am just trying to talk
myself into
buying new gear! But I do like the Quad remote, the only
one my old
mother can operate without any instructions!

I am nonetheless very interested if anyone has any insight
into what
might be the fault of the unit.

No special knowledge (be warned!), but it seems to me that
the problem must be in whatever the knob on the remote is
attached to.

This assumes that the buttons and knobs are inputs to a
microprocessor. From what you say, everything after those
mechanical controls is working OK, and very unlikely to
suffer intermittent faults peculiar to one control function.
Similarly, if a key on your computer keyboard fails to
excite a response, the fault almost certainly lies in the
key mechanism itself, or in its connection to its circuit.

The Quad remote is peculiar in that one user control is used
for both volume up and volume down. Is the control attached
to a pot or a rotary encoder? Whatever, the pole, or
connection common to both directions, is likely to be open.
Maybe a broken circuit track or loose pin connection, or a
worn out controller. In any case, Quad should be able to
deal with it in a jiffy. If it's a broken track or pin
connection you might be able to find it and repair it
yourself if you can solder. Look at how the relevant rotary
component is attached to the board, and check its
connections and tracks for continuity. Wiggle it and look
for wobbles or cracks. Use a magnifying glass if you have
one.

A replacement Quad controller might be worth looking
for...how much do Quad charge? Or they may be able to
repair, perhaps on an exchange basis. Check out the options
before you dump (!) it. Even if you decide to get rid, it
may be worth fixing the problem so you can sell it.

Finally, a brief googling reveals quite a history of folk
having difficulty getting learning remotes to grasp whatever
the Quad control is on about. Perhaps they have difficulty
with the rotary controls because their use presumably
results in streams of data packets, rather than single
blips. Or maybe the Quad coding system, or carrier
frequency, is simply outside the scope of some learning
remotes. Whatever, you wouldn't be the first to have
problems.

Ian

Flaky volume control QUAD 66

"perstromgren" wrote in message
...
Cheers!

My old Quad 66 has a very flaky volume control: sometimes it works
fine, sometimes not. All other controls on the remote works fine. The
volume control signals does not seem to reach the pre-amp, as the
display does not react. When it does work, the display and gain is
synchronized fine. I'd rather not send it off for service, as it
probably cost more to fix than to replace with modern gear.

However, I do own some screwdrivers and technical insight. Is there
anything I should try, in order to fit it, before dumping the unit?

Could I replace the remote with one of those learning things, perhaps?
This would really be nasty thing to do, I know, but it would save me
some money if nothing else.

**I've never worked on a Quad 66, but if it uses a rotary encoder (digital
volume control) for volume, the solution is not usually a major problem. A
new encoder would typically cost around 10-20 Squid. Alternatively, I've had
some success stripping the encoders down and cleaning the dirty contacts.
Worth a try, if you're a dab hand with a screwdriver.

BTW: I assume the fault is not with the remote? IOW: It works OK with the
remote, but not manually?

--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au

Flaky volume control QUAD 66

In article ,
perstromgren wrote:
Cheers!

My old Quad 66 has a very flaky volume control: sometimes it works fine,
sometimes not. All other controls on the remote works fine. The volume
control signals does not seem to reach the pre-amp, as the display does
not react. When it does work, the display and gain is synchronized fine.
I'd rather not send it off for service, as it probably cost more to fix
than to replace with modern gear.

I'd suggest asking quad as your assumption about cost may be quite
inaccurate. :-)

Slainte,

Jim

I have recently repaired a 66 Remote and can tell you that there are two
I/R codes generated by the Remote. One is RC5 for the CD and Tuner and the
other a special Quad code for the 66 pre-amp (e.g. Display ,Tilt, Input
selection, Volume & Balance). It sometimes happens that one one code works
and one does not, but this doesn't appear to be the case here.As it is the
volume control that is intermittent,it is very likely the digital rotary
pot is faulty, however it may also be the IC for the special Quad code that
is borderline. Note that this IC has to be optimised by tweaking a trim pot
and Quad have a special jig to do just that.
You have a couple of choices - 1)Get Quad to fix it - cost about UKP48.00
plus parts or 2) buy the smaller alternative remote from them for UKP35.00
plus P & P. Your choice as to which to do.

Flaky volume control QUAD 66

On 12 Sep, 04:29, "Ian Iveson"
wrote:
perstromgren wrote

Quadservicing - unlike most others - is still available
and at a
reasonable price. Contact them for details. I'd be most
surprised if you
could buy anything new approaching its quality for the
cost of fixing it.

You are probably right. Perhaps I am just trying to talk
myself into
buying new gear! But I do like theQuadremote, the only
one my old
mother can operate without any instructions!

I am nonetheless very interested if anyone has any insight
into what
might be the fault of the unit.

No special knowledge (be warned!), but it seems to me that
the problem must be in whatever the knob on theremoteis
attached to.

I just learned a clever way of troubleshooting remote controls: use a
digital camera to check when the infra red LED are excited! By this
method I do know now that it is indeed the remote that is faulty. I
have opened the unit and look around, but did not see anything obvious
wrong.

I will let the local Quad service workshop have a look at it.

Thanks for all hints!

Per.