Dart Information

(Q) I have a Dodge City video poker machine and need to replace the bill acceptor so the new bills can be used.  The one I have now is a Mars brand.

(Q) Can you please supply me with the DIP switch settings for a 1984 Riviera Video Poker Upright?  The board is #50772 and has IC U5 marked 2131-08.

(A) The settings are:

1. off disable auto hold - on enable auto hold
2. off disable bonus - on enable bonus
3. not used
4. off disable raise - on enable raise
5. off 1 point per coin - on 5 points per coin
6. disable double up - on enable double up
7. 7 & 8 maximum points played per hand
8. off - off - 20
9. off - on - 10
10. on - off - 50
11. on - on - 99

(Q) My DX runs slowly when players are settling up league play.

(A) Disconnect the barcode reader.

(Q) If I add a substitute to a match, what stats does it use for that player?

(A)

• If the player has a number and has played in this particular league before, the DX will use his current stats in this league.


• If the player has a number, but has only played in other current leagues, the DX will use the highest stats among those leagues.


• If the player does not have a number, the DX will use the default stat set up by the operator in League Tracker for the first game.  The player will then be adjusted, or "float", for the rest of the match based on actual performance.

(A) This can occur when league players drop all the money in the machine before starting the league sequence, and that amount may not be consistent with the actual game pricing.  Check that the games and options are chosen correctly.

• League discount is enabled.
• O1' options cost extra setting.
• One or more of the games is set to "Split Stats" in league and there are 2 players on 2 scores.  The cost is halved for those games.

(Q) When I look at the morning call log, I see that when it dialed one location, the "Authentication error" message appeared and it did not send the league information.  What happened?

(A)

1. The serial number at that location did not correspond to the serial number in Tracker.


2. Another phone line device answered the phone.

(Q) When I call a DX, the screen says "Dialing..." and I here it start to connect with the DX, but then stops.

(A) Another phone line device answered the phone.  Try changing the initialization string in League Communicator. Go to Communicator Settings tab.  In the lower right you will see the Init String field. Change the "&F1..." at the beginning to "&F0".

(Q) League Communicator can't find my modem.

(A) Click on "Communicator Settings" and change the Serial Port to the correct modem port.

(Q) Why does it say "Waiting for Call" after doing a Call Now?

(A) Currently, the program assumes that after doing a Call Now, you may receive calls back from a DX.  Just exit out of the dialer screen after doing a Call Now.

(Q) In the Upload Error Screen, it tells me that the match date is not scheduled.  How do I find the correct date?

(A) Double-click on the match date and then select "Get more".

(Q) How do I save a match in Upload Errors when there is a substitute for one (or more) of the teams?

(A) Highlight all of the text in the "Errors:" box and delete it, then click Save.  You can also double-click on the "Home Team" or "Away Team" text in the black boxes to bring up the team screen.  From there, you can create and add players to the team. You can then replace the sub number with the new player number before saving.

(Q) I get an "Out of Memory" error when uploading matches from a PC card.

(A)

1. Windows 95 is required to perform PC Card functions in Tracker.  The PC Card features will not work correctly in Windows 3.1.


2. You may be uploading a large number of matches at one time. Try uploading 10 at a time by moving some the MATCHXXX.FAX files from your PC card DONELEAG directory into a temporary directory on your computer.

(Q) How many times will Tracker retry if it fails to call a DX?

(Q) My DX does not fax out at night.

(A)

1. Make sure that the phone number is correct.


2. ls it a long distance call from the location to the operator's PC? If so, be sure to add the "1" to the beginning of your dial string.


3. Check the connections.  The latest version of the DX code now has a Phone Line Test in operator setup. Running this test will put the dial tone through the speaker.  This is the ONLY WAY to ensure that the DX is properly connected to the phone line.


4. If the DX is set up to fax late at night (early morning) make sure that the time is set correctly in the TIME SETTINGS menu.


5. Make sure that the location is not turning the machine off at night.

(Q) My DX faxes out, but I cannot transfer new league information back to it.

(Q) Can a Valley IQ and DX co-exist on the same phone line?

(A) Yes, we offer enough communications options (i.e. time scheduling, DX dials Tracker, Tracker dialing DX etc..) whereby almost any conflict can be resolved.

(Q) I am getting an "Unexpected Clean Hang-up" message when sending a fax or test fax to Tracker.

(A)

1. Make sure that there are no other devices set up to answer phone/fax calls.


2. Make sure that no one started using a phone in the location that is tied into the same line as the DX modem.


3. Make sure that Bitware is "Waiting for Calls".

(Q) The DX won't answer when I do a "Call Now".

(A)

1. Make sure that it is turned on.


2. Make sure that the Auto Answer function is enabled.


3. Make sure that the DX modem phone line is not in use.


4. You may have a modem initialization problem.  Try changing the initialization string in League Communicator. Go to Communicator Settings tab. In the lower right you will see the Init String field. Change the "&F1. ." at the beginning to "&F0".

(Q) How will the DX retry sending a match to Tracker?

(A) The DX will retry 5 times in Timed Fax mode. 

(Q) Is it better to use "Immediate Fax" or "Timed Fax"?

(A) Timed Fax is recommended because you will have a better chance of using a non-dedicated phone line when no one else should be using it (i.e. after 3 am).  There are also more retries built into the program when you use Timed Fax.  Immediate Fax is good if you have a dedicated line, or are assured that no one will use the phone line immediately following match play.

(A)

1.  
   1. First, check the ribbon cable connections between the matrix and the logic board.  The cable from the matrix connects to a 20-pin header on the RDP07 board.  A 24-pin ribbon cable connects the RDP07 to the RDP01 logic board.
   2. Also check how the bulls eye segment is seated in the matrix.  There are slots on the side of the outer bull segment that should line up with the grooves on the spider.  If these do not line up, the feet on the bull will not contact the matrix in the correct location.
   3. If the bullseye still will not score, the matrix will have to be replaced.  It can be purchased through your local authorized Merit distributor.
    
2. To remove the caps on the catch ring, hold a screwdriver parallel to the target door with the tip of the screwdriver touching the cap just below the point.  Tap the handle of the screwdriver and the cap should pop out.

(Q) I have a old version of your PUB TIME DARTS machine from 1989.  When I turn on the dart machine, the display shows the text: "TARGET d14".  What is wrong with my device?

(A) The double 14 segment is stuck. There may be a broken tip keeping the double 14 segment pressed against the switch matrix located behind the target.  You should remove the matrix and clean the broken tips from behind the target, also check the double 14 segment for damage.

(Q) I have an electronic PubTime Premier Edition dart game from 1988 and the monitor is not functioning properly.  Can you send schematics?

(Q) I am having trouble using my PC Card.

(A) Every time a PC card is inserted into the DX (and the DX is ON) the user should hear two tone beeps.  If a single flat beep is heard, then there is a problem with the PC Card.  If no sound is heard there is a problem with either the PCMCIA connector (bad solder joint or bent pin within the connector) OR there is an elan board problem.

(Q) I am having trouble loading new software in my DX from a PC card.

(Q) I received the message "Error. Wrong Version of Tracker" when trying to load league data onto DX.

(Q) I installed my internal PC card reader unit, but It doesn't give me a drive letter in Windows Explorer.

1. Click the Start button, then Settings then Control Panel.
2. Double-click the System icon.
3. Click Device Manager.
4. Double-click Hard Disk Controllers.
5. Double-click Sun Disk ATA Flash disk.
6. Click the Resources tab.
7. Unchecked "Use Automatic Settings".
8. Highlight "Basic Configuration XXXX"; choose one that offers you a single l/O address with an Interrupt Request - you may see a conflict in the Conflicting Device List.
9. Highlight l/O Address.
10. Click "Change Setting".
11. Adjust the l/O Address by scrolling down and choosing an address of either 0500-050F or higher; it should say "No devices are conflicting".
12. Click OK.
13. Go to Windows Explorer and check for new drive letter.  This will be your PC card drive letter.

(A)

1. Make sure that the cable connecting the machines is the Merit-provided cable.  REGULAR PHONE LINE CABLE CANNOT BE USED!
2. If a live phone line is plugged into the network connectors, then U2 and the COMM board will be destroyed and the COMM board will have to be replaced. You can confirm this by looking at U2; it will usually have a toasted spot in the center of it.
3. All linked DX machines must have the same software version (preferably R3A or later).
4. Ensure that all DX's are linked by placing each DX into operator test mode and running the "Communications View" test. In this test, the serial numbers of each machine should be displayed every 15 seconds. If a given machine serial number does not appear on the display then check the cable to that particular machine. Since the network is a serial configuration, all machines after a bad connection will not be seen.

(Q) I am not able to go past the missed dart detector test in factory test mode.   It was not registering missed darts.

(A) Check the target ribbon cable to ensure that there is a good connection and that there are no "nicks" in it.

(Q) The DX is misscoring.

(A)

1. Open the target panel and clean out all broken tips; check that all segments move freely.
   
2. Check that the matrix bolts are only finger-tight.

(Q) The barcode readers are not reading the barcode cards correctly.

(A)

1. Make sure that the ribbon cable going to the barcode reader is securely attached.


2. You may not have the League Tracker version that enables the correct printout of cards. Check to see that your Tracker version is 1.9 or greater.

(Q) Is the serial number in DX Operator Setup Menu important?

(A) Yes, for the DX's to communicate reliably each one must have the correct serial number entered in the operator setup menu.

(Q) My game is locking up. What could the problem be?

(A) Check for loose/bent pins in the harness from the coin mech to the main board.

(Q) The menu response is slow when the players are setting up a league match.

(A)

1. Update the software to version R3 or later.


2. Try disconnecting the barcode reader ribbon cable. During league setup, the DX software is looking at both the keypad and the barcode reader for data entry. If electrical noise is interfering with the barcode reader, the software "thinks" that someone is constantly trying swipe a bar-coded card. Remove the barcode ribbon cable and have the barcode reader replaced.

(Q) Static is resetting the dart machine.

(A)

1. Ensure that the stay cable on the front panel is the nylon cord and NOT the insulated steel cable. If you have a steel cable, it is likely that grounding improvements have not been performed on this machine. Contact Merit to get additional ground straps.
2. Static problems occur if the panel latch does not make electrical contact to the latch bracket (which is grounded). Adjust the bracket so that the latch makes a good contact.

(Q) I can't see anything on my LCD display. The LCD display is dim.

(A)

1. If the LCD display is illuminated, the contrast may not be adjusted properly.
2. If the panel is dark, look behind the front panel and verify that the two wire high voltage harness to the LCD fluorescent panel are connected. If the tube is not lit, there is a problem with either the tube or the high voltage board.
3. Verify the elan board is functioning by dropping a coin in the machine to see if it makes the credit sound and that the overhead functions properly. If the board is not functioning, there is a problem with the power supply or elan board.
4. If the board is functioning, check that the large 60-pin ribbon cable is plugged in correctly between the front control panel and the elan board. Also check that the small ribbon cable between the front panel and the LCD display is connected properly.
5. Run the factory test by holding in the test button while the machine powers up. The factory test will then cycle the contrast through its full range of settings until he user presses a key when the display is at the correct setting.

(Q) The contrast will not stay on one settling and varies all by itself.

(A)

1. You may have a failing power supply. This may be caused by a shorted front panel cable (or other harness).
2. Check for an intermittent connection in either the 60-pin ribbon cable or the small cable between the LCD display.
3. The LCD panels are temperature sensitive. Machines that have been stored in cold temperatures should be given about a half hour to adjust.

(Q) The display on my DX has lines running through it and the text is hard to read.

(A) This is a symptom of the video clock signals to LCD being attenuated or shorted. Try removing the 60-pin ribbon connector from the barcode reader or from the left ATM button panel. If this improves the situation, replace the cable.

(Q) There is no sound on my DX.

(A)

1. Check for proper speaker/harness connection.
2. Check for sound circuit failure (audio amp section).

(Q) The sound on my DX is not loud enough, no matter how I adjust it.

(A) Either the elan board does not have the ECN 2549A sound change and is running the software designed for the sound ECN change OR the board does have the hardware sound change but is running software revision prior to R3.

(Q) The DX beeps when the machine powers up but then there is no sound during the game. The message "stuck in song wait" occasionally appears on the display.

(A)

1. The sound EPROM (U54) is not plugged in correctly (possible damaging other parts of the circuit).
2. There is a failure in the sound circuit (digital) (U52, Y3, U53, U56, U57).

(Q) I'm having a problem with getting quarters to go down the chute and register.

(A) Check that the coin mech pin is not bent.

(Q) My DX clone mechs do not work.

(A)

1. Check that jumper JP2 is set for correct coin mech polarity by moving it to each position and testing the coin mech.


2. Check that the coin mech harness is wired correctly.

(Q) I have a Scorpion machine and have lost the keys for the dart panel and the panel at the illuminated buttons. I have keys CC002 & CC019 for the change box and coin return panels. Can I purchase those from you?

(A) Merit does not keep any records involving keys for any game for security reasons. If you have lost the keys, then you will have to drill out the locks.