BATC Forum

I came to use my Portsdown 4 yesterday after some time in dry storage. The screen shows well defined wide vertical bars, black and white, or is a dull grainy grey. I found by chance that pressing HARD on the right hand side, about half way up, would bring back a perfect display with touch functionality also occasionally working. Carefully using a G clamp allowed me to use the very useful big beacon MER display to fine tune my dish, after it's had a years's settling down period!

I looked inside at the ribbon cables and reseated them, but with no change. Is it knackered? Please say yes, as I ordered a new one, but if there's some magic to reviving it I can build a second Portsdown for a friend with poor hand coordination. Thanks.

Chris 2E0ILY

Hi Chris,

Seems to be a contact issue.
Putting pressure (mechanical stress) onto the right hand side of the screen makes it work.
I take it that the screen glass isn't cracked and the ribbon cable between the controller and screen isn't damaged.

How is the screen mounted, in an 'official case' or screwed onto something not being quite flush?
Have you checked the power connections?

When the new screen arrives you could swap the controller boards as a test to see if the problem still exists.
Probably not much help but I havn't heard of this problem before.

Wolfgang.

Thanks Wolfgang, good idea about the controller, I will try that, but it does seem a physical issue with the screen itself, which is annoying as it has been carefully stored attached to the original Pi mounting case, in a substantial cardboard box, in a nice warm and dry workshop. I haven't read of any other similar issues, so I hope the things are generally reliable, bcause they ain't exactly cheap

It was the screen itself. Not impressed by it going after minimal usage, and careful storage, but hey, the sun's shining and I am off to buy some beer shortly.