-
loopback tests fail
I’m not able to play any of my timelines. I get a sfcons_video_timeout error on my source monitors. I’m running an old ABVB Media Composer 7.2v. I ran the diagnostics test and all my loopback/playback tests failed. I’m trying to figure out which piece of hardware went bad. I’ve replaced the scsi cables connecting the drives, the scsci card, and the motherboard. Trying to find the other cards unless someone has a better lead as to what causes the loopback errors and the sfcons error.
Thanks a bunch!!
-
4 Replies
-
What are the specs of your machine (OS version, RAM, type of machine)? Were you able to play timelines before? Did you change anything? You said you changed the SCSI card – why? What did you change it to?
A complete rundown of your system is essential to troubleshooting your problem.
Jon
“So you want to throw out the old you – but the old you is old enough to know it won’t make it better”
Del Amitri – “Make it Better” -
Thanks for the reply. I’ve been troubleshooting it for awhile and was hoping there may be a simple answer as to why the loopback tests failed instead of going through the details. Such as the failure is usually due to the fx board for example.
I’m running OS 8.1, Media Composer 7.2v. The system had been running perfect for 4 years now. We had a power failure a few weeks ago though and the system didn’t turn on, so I replaced the power supply. It came on but the drives weren’t there. After troubleshooting with cables, i finally replaced the scsi card and could see all the drives. Opened Media Composer and everything is there but there’s an error saying sfcons_video_timeout. I can’t seem to find the reason for that error so i’m troubleshooting each card, cable or whatever. Ran the diagnostics and got a ‘fail’ on all loopback tests. so I replace the motherboard and ribbon cable since not just one card failed, but that didn’t seem to be the problem. I’m looking to replace the fx boardset but thought i’d ask if there was a simple answer to the loopback failure. Plus, I have 6 drives daisy-chained and the 2 terminators are still an amber color when everything is on, but I can see all the drives and everything still on them. So I figure the loopback failure is causing the terminators to stay amber so I need to find out which piece of hardware got shorted. Plus it’s hard to find the pieces I need without spending too much for the whole thing which we don’t need. And all I could find in the Knowledge Base was to unseat it, if that doesn’t work replace it.
We have an in-house engineer and is going to do a voltage test on all the hardware before I buy more stuff I don’t need. Unless someone has had a similar problem.Sorry for the winded explanation. Just letting you know the problems if it helps.
Thanks!
-
When you replaced the SCSI card, specifically what brand?
Those systems were notoriously picky regarding hardware. I’m pretty sure you need an ATTO UL3 SCSI card (check the one that came out of the machine). You may have to do an ebay purchase, but make sure its the same type of card.
Jon
“So you want to throw out the old you – but the old you is old enough to know it won’t make it better”
Del Amitri – “Make it Better” -
The scsi card is pretty much identical to the one I replaced. It uses ATTO ExpressPCI UltraSCSI. I tested it with a UL3 Card that we had in house from another machine before I had bought this new one on ebay and it didn’t work. Like I said, before I replaced the scsi card I was unable to see any of the drives. After purchasing the new one, I can see the drives which led me to believe that this new card is working.
Is it possible that it lets me see the drives but isn’t allowing any video to pass through and I should get a new one?
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up