Smartboard SB660

[gob]

Hi guys,

 

Got a Smartboard SB660 with a very peculiar problem and wondered if anyone had come accross something similar. Basically the whole board is pretty much always mis-aligned and orienting the board doesn't seem to help.

 

The left side will be off about an inch one direction, the right another, corners and other points will be off too. I have included pictures of by attempts to trace a grid to help clarify - please see attached.

 

Unfortunately board is out of warranty. I've tried upgrading software/firmware, resetting controller, loosening screws, taking board of wall, visibly inspected for dents etc, re imaged machine/tried a different machine but the outcome is always the same.

 

Anyone experienced anything similar to this before?

 

Kind Regards,

 

Andrew

Edited December 19, 2013 by gob

[bodminman]

I had a similar issue a few months back.

 

After removing all the Smart software from the machine and then doing a fresh install the problem went away.

 

Really annoying though!

[Vasriel]

When you do an orientation on the smartboard, how many points are you using?

[bodminman]

When you do an orientation on the smartboard, how many points are you using?

 

When I was orientating the board I was using the 'fine' setting. Can't remember how many points that is.

[crc-ict]

Check to make sure the board isn't being twisted by the mountings on the wall - behind the pen tray there are two brackets which should be screwed back to the wall. If the wall isn't perfect and these are too tight back they can twist the board across its surface which causes a similar effect.

 

The 'step' in the lines part way up could also be caused by interference from cables running behind the board.

 

I've seen similar effects from both of these causes. Unfortunately, I have also seen very much the same from a damaged board, when the membrane starts to come apart inside. This can sometimes be fixed for varying amounts of time by rubbing the surface of board firmly around the edges of the frame (with the board disconnected, and taking care not to scratch it). This can help to get the parts of the membrane back together, although this may or may not last.

[gob]

Hi guys,

 

I had a similar issue a few months back.

 

After removing all the Smart software from the machine and then doing a fresh install the problem went away.

 

Really annoying though!

 

Ahh - unfortunately I've had no luck there, tried upgrading software, re imaging pc, and even a different machine altogether.

 

When you do an orientation on the smartboard, how many points are you using?

 

I have tried the highest one, which i think is a 20 point calibration off the top of my head

 

Check to make sure the board isn't being twisted by the mountings on the wall - behind the pen tray there are two brackets which should be screwed back to the wall. If the wall isn't perfect and these are too tight back they can twist the board across its surface which causes a similar effect.

 

The 'step' in the lines part way up could also be caused by interference from cables running behind the board.

 

I've seen similar effects from both of these causes. Unfortunately, I have also seen very much the same from a damaged board, when the membrane starts to come apart inside. This can sometimes be fixed for varying amounts of time by rubbing the surface of board firmly around the edges of the frame (with the board disconnected, and taking care not to scratch it). This can help to get the parts of the membrane back together, although this may or may not last.

 

I have tried removing the board from the wall and then calibrating whilst it is free standing etc but still same results when I start to draw on it so most likely not related to wire interference or twisting from wall brackets.

 

I may try the membrane suggestion, saw the mentioned somewhere else too.

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys

[DavidCorker]

Sounds like the PCB has had it, you can easily replace these yourself, approx £100 unless the board is still within warranty period (3yrs).

[jonnykewell1]

Hi All, since the summer we have an issue with our Smart boards across school not keeping calibrated. We've checked permissions on folders and registry but nothing we can see has changed from the previous year. We do a clone each summer that gets sent out to all machines, and I think something must be on there that is interfering that wasn't on there last year. Have any of you come across any software that might cause problems with smart boards. Maybe even a windows update? We've re installed and even tried newer versions of smart notebook and product drivers which still doesn't seem to fix it. Can anyone recommend something to try? Thanks

[mikecain]

i have had exactly the same thing myself many times, after much head scratching and messing about with cables, i released the screws at the bottom of the board a little to allow the board to go back into shape and it fixed it straight away. Its becasue the walls are not flush, and by fixing the board to the wall solidly it gets twisted ever so slightly out of shape, so that it will never calibrate.

[jonnykewell1]

I have looked at this previously in other rooms, but I will give it a check in these rooms too. Just seems weird that it's only recently started doing it.

[Techykev]

Jonny, How often do they need re-calibrating? If its happening to a lot of boards have you considered if the projectors are being moved slightly while being cleaned/dusted or even just someone changing the projected image from 4:3 to "Auto" or similar? Are you using Uni-Fi projectors or just ceiling mounted ones?

[jonnykewell1]

It doesn't seem to last long at all, maybe a lesson max. It's been a while since I did the troubleshooting but I've just started looking at it again this morning so will do some tests to see. They are just ceiling mounted projectors so I'm pretty sure it's not from movement of the projectors and boards.