Merit Scorpion DX Sound Issue

Tezareth

New member

Donor 2011
Joined
Jul 10, 2011
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Location
Connecticut
This post is a major shot in the dark, but I'm crossing my fingers in hopes that someone knows what I'm talking about.

I recently purchased a Merit Scorpion DX (2000/2001) dart board in great condition, running software revision 6. At first it seemed like the sound on the machine did not work at all, but I later noticed that it does work, but is extremely quiet no matter how high the volume is set.

I connected a known working speaker from a Scorpion 9000 board and had the same issue, so it is definitely not a bad speaker. There also appears to be nothing wrong with the wiring whatsoever, and all other mechanisms which are connected to the same harness as the speaker work fine.

According to Merit's limited FAQ, this is a known issue, but the solution seems very vague. If I'm reading it correctly, it sounds like they started installing a different sound chip in DX machines starting with software revision 3, and the volume issue can happen from either having a new chip with an old software revision, or an old chip with a new software revision. During boot, a message along the lines of "New sound chip detected" briefly displays, but I cannot tell what the problem is beyond that. I believe I have identified the chip on the mainboard, but it doesn't look replaceable, nor would I likely be able to find a replacement chip anyway.

If anyone has any experience with Merit Scorpion dart boards and is familiar with this issue and/or knows a possible fix, I'd really love some help. Merit's support seems non-existent in 2011.
 
We just recently solved an issue with audio hum / buzz on our DX boards. You need to make sure the software and the sound chip are the same version. I'm guessing that when these were out on route techs may not have changed both chips when upgrading the board software.

Although the FAQ is vague, that's about as specific as it gets. At some point I will dump these files from the ROMs. Best advice I can give in this scenario is to contact your friendly local operator. Chances are they have a cache of parts. If they don't know how to fix it, maybe they'll take some friendly help in exchange for a known-good board.
 
We just recently solved an issue with audio hum / buzz on our DX boards. You need to make sure the software and the sound chip are the same version. I'm guessing that when these were out on route techs may not have changed both chips when upgrading the board software.

Although the FAQ is vague, that's about as specific as it gets. At some point I will dump these files from the ROMs. Best advice I can give in this scenario is to contact your friendly local operator. Chances are they have a cache of parts. If they don't know how to fix it, maybe they'll take some friendly help in exchange for a known-good board.
I recently bought a Scorpion DX and it has an audio hum/buzz. I am very green when it comes to these units, the software, etc. I wouldn't even know where to locate the sound chip? And if they are not the same version do you have any idea where I would be able to find a sound chip? Any help/advice appreciated. Thank you!
 
I recently bought a Scorpion DX and it has an audio hum/buzz. I am very green when it comes to these units, the software, etc. I wouldn't even know where to locate the sound chip? And if they are not the same version do you have any idea where I would be able to find a sound chip? Any help/advice appreciated. Thank you!
If you have an EPROM burner I can get you the ROM images, otherwise I'll see what it'll cost to make you you the chips.
 
I do not have an EPROM burner but would be interested in buying the chips if reasonable. Thank you for the prompt reply!
 
The sound rom is at U54, most current version I have is 4999-02-00 R2C, should be on a label on the chip. Check yours just in case but this does fix most of the buzz most of the time for us.
 
The sound rom is at U54, most current version I have is 4999-02-00 R2C, should be on a label on the chip. Check yours just in case but this does fix most of the buzz most of the time for us.
Thanks for helping me locate this. Please see attached picture. When I start the board up it shows Version 4999-00 R6.2-U on the display.
 

Attachments

  • DXchip.jpg
    DXchip.jpg
    288.3 KB · Views: 8
Last edited:
PM sent. As long as I have access to this eprom burner I can make these, so down the road if anyone needs it I can burn them.
 
I'm having the same sounds issues with my Scorpion DX, my sound rom version is 4999-02-00 R2B, does anyone have the R2C version I can try? I'm able to burn eproms.

Thanks for any help!
 
Back
Top Bottom