Promethean Calibration Crisis!

[phily]

I have a Promethean Activboard which appears to calibrate ok but when in use, the calibration is out. The issue gets worse the lower down the board you draw.

 

e.g Have squared background on screen, draw with pen around one square on the top line, calibration out by half a square. Draw round a square on the bottom line, calibration out by 3 squares.

 

Any help welcomed.

[flyinghaggis]

I've seen his happen where the board's not fitted to a flat wall straight on in front of the projector. Could that be the problem?

[Michael]

Study the surface of the board. Any bumps or dents can cause a whole load of problems. Children throwing pens is one way of causing damage.

[phily]

No, the board has been there for 3 years with no issues.

[Michael]

Is it connected via USB or serial? And have you tried updating the software/driver and used another machine just to be sure?

[elsiegee40]

As suggested earlier do check the board for eveness... we had one that started to de-laminate and that caused all sorts of problems. The board had to be replaced, but luckily was still under guarantee. It was not obviously warped/unven; you really had to look hard to spot it.

 

I am assuming that you have attempted to recalibrate the board yourself.

 

Do try another pen, they do weird things when they're starting to die!

[phily]

Thanks so far...

 

I have re-calibrated the board. Tried a new pen. re-installed the latest driver and changed the connection cables. Problem remains.

 

I read that the issue could be to do with EMF interference. Sounds a bit of a reach but I've re-routed cable nonetheless.

 

The board is connected to a new (2 weeks old) desktop. The problem was there on the old computer too.

 

Connection is via com port.

[elsiegee40]

It does sound very much like the problem might be the board itself... time for a detailed visual inspection, I think

[ricki]

Hi

 

Have you got another board the same in the school

 

If you have move the pc to the working board and check to see if the pc is ok. Then move the working pc to the broken board and check that all the connnections in the usb cable including any extension are connected ok.

 

This should eliminate something. Then try changing any extension cable on the usb for another which works from the working board.

 

Just an idea.

 

Richard

[pbrian49]

We have had a similar issue in the past with the powerpack failing, you could try swapping the powerpack from a board that is working to see if that solves the problem. One of our boards was cured by buying a new powerpack.

[phily]

Thanks all.

I think I'd covered all the bases but always good to have a fresh pair of eyes so to speak.

I bit the bullet and ripped the board off he wall, dragging it to another classroom. Same issue in there. Looks like the board itself.

 

Luckily it's in warranty by, wait for it, 2 days!

 

Thanks for your ideas.

[bandgeekmafia78]

If you ask Promethean support for the latest firmware upgrade CD they'll send it in the post. This has solved the problem for me in the past

[alan-d]

We had one do exactly the same, we were told it's a common problem as the board gets older, I never did get a reason why. This one was over 5 years old. We changed it for a Smartboard

[Curt_LFC]

Ive had similar problems before and the fix was to flash the board with the latest firmware, then update to latest activeboard drivers on pc.

[krisd32]

there's a controller board on the back of the board i've these go nackered.gave all the same symptoms that you have described. if still in warranty promethean will replace it no problem.