Spektrum DX7 LCD screen problem

GotrekGurnisson · May 20, 2007, 11:45 PM

I have a DX7 that has developed a problem with the LCD screen. I got it around Xmas, but have hardly touched it as I have been away and busy with other things. I've never taken it flying as yet - it has only been switched on for periods of a few minutes about a dozen times since I bought it to test the features, bind some Rxs, and setup a couple of planes. It worked fine when I first got it, but the last couple of times I have turned it on I have noticed that the LCD screen has developed several rows of inactive or dead pixels.

In most cases I know this would be a simple return under warranty, however I have a problem with that too. I'm in Australia and I bought my DX7 from a hobby store in the US via eBay when they were first released. I doubt the warranty applies in my case, but even if it did it would no doubt require shipping the DX7 back to the US, which isn't exactly practical.

I just wanted to know if anyone if familar with this problem - what the cause of it is and, more importantly, how fixable it is. If it's something relatively easy I can probably get some local electronics guy to repair it, but if it is a major issue then I'm not sure what my options are.

alan0899 · May 21, 2007, 02:14 AM

G'day Mate,
Your DX7 TX won't have a "C" tick so it's no legal to use in Australia, anyway have you charged it, & tryed adjusting the screen contrast.

GotrekGurnisson · May 21, 2007, 04:24 AM

Well I'm not in a club, so c tick approval isn't a big concern at this point.

The screen's problem is unrelated to the battery. The NiMH battery that came with it has been charged (using a Swallow) without any change in the screen. I even used a different pack from my old JR Tx and the screen still had the same issue.

Changing the contrast had no effect, other than to more clearly show the problem. Even at the maximum contrast, at which point the screen is pretty much a purple rectangle, the non-functioning areas show no signs of life.

Attached are some photos. You can clearly see the issue. There are at least 4 dead rows - the 3 clearly visible in the lower half of the screen plus the very bottom row. I also think there may be an additional (i.e. 5th) dead row at the bottom, based on some menu screens.

pldaniels · May 21, 2007, 04:51 AM

Gotrek,

Bummer about that :-( Does it still function at least (the TX).

I'm asking around with various people who know LCD's quite well as to the possible causes.

Paul.

GotrekGurnisson · May 21, 2007, 05:03 AM

Yeah the radio still works fine. Some menu screens are obviously obscured though. There is the concern that it may progress further as well.

byrdscarer · May 21, 2007, 05:53 AM

gotrekgurnisson

this might help

http://compreviews.about.com/od/mult...xelDefects.htm

GotrekGurnisson · May 21, 2007, 06:20 AM

Not really, but thanks.

pldaniels · May 21, 2007, 06:54 AM

Gotrek,

Okay, due to the nature of your screen problem, it's probably a (adeptly named) line driver in the display 'chip' itself. It _could_ be a simple connector issue (if you open the beast up and push the board around it could get better/worse

)

I wonder if you can order a replacement display?

Paul.

RobinBennett · May 21, 2007, 05:38 PM

Your local distributor may be able to fix it, even if it's not covered by the warranty.

GotrekGurnisson · May 22, 2007, 01:06 AM

Yeah I'll have to contact them and see what they say, although to be honest if it's a fairly easy fix I'd rather just get someone in Qld to do it as opposed to sending it to Modelflight in SA.

mac_man · May 22, 2007, 04:33 AM

As its the DX7, Spektrum only have the one single repair point and that is in the USA. Although the DX7 shares part of its heritage with the 7202/2720, it is a possibility that the local Distributor MAY have spare display units, BUT I wouldnt hold my breath.

GotrekGurnisson · May 22, 2007, 06:31 AM

Yeah I assume if I had bought it here in Australia then they would probably just replace the entire thing under warranty. Unfortunately I'm not in that position.

I still haven't heard back from the hobby shop in the US that I bought it from. I'll give them until the end of the week, but after that I'll have to try and find someone local to take a look at it.

Ron Williams · May 22, 2007, 09:03 AM

Send an email to Horizon and ask them about warranty/repairs. Shipping it to them and return should not be a problem.

GotrekGurnisson · May 23, 2007, 01:29 AM

OK, I heard back from the hobby store in the US I bought it from. They said I'm covered by the warranty, although it will require sending it back to the US. I also looked over the warranty terms & conditions and couldn't see any mention of having it shipped overseas invalidating the warranty. I've sent an email to Horizon's service department to notify them of the issue and clarify the proceedure for getting it repaired.

GotrekGurnisson · May 29, 2007, 08:01 AM

Sent the Tx off to Horizon today. $35 postage for a 1.4kg package via airmail plus $16 insurance. I took the opportunity to send back an unopened v1 AR6100 Rx for firmware upgrading.

May 20, 2007, 11:45 PM	#1
GotrekGurnisson It's a trap! Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,097	Spektrum DX7 LCD screen problem I have a DX7 that has developed a problem with the LCD screen. I got it around Xmas, but have hardly touched it as I have been away and busy with other things. I've never taken it flying as yet - it has only been switched on for periods of a few minutes about a dozen times since I bought it to test the features, bind some Rxs, and setup a couple of planes. It worked fine when I first got it, but the last couple of times I have turned it on I have noticed that the LCD screen has developed several rows of inactive or dead pixels. In most cases I know this would be a simple return under warranty, however I have a problem with that too. I'm in Australia and I bought my DX7 from a hobby store in the US via eBay when they were first released. I doubt the warranty applies in my case, but even if it did it would no doubt require shipping the DX7 back to the US, which isn't exactly practical. I just wanted to know if anyone if familar with this problem - what the cause of it is and, more importantly, how fixable it is. If it's something relatively easy I can probably get some local electronics guy to repair it, but if it is a major issue then I'm not sure what my options are.

May 21, 2007, 04:24 AM	#3
GotrekGurnisson It's a trap! Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,097	Well I'm not in a club, so c tick approval isn't a big concern at this point. The screen's problem is unrelated to the battery. The NiMH battery that came with it has been charged (using a Swallow) without any change in the screen. I even used a different pack from my old JR Tx and the screen still had the same issue. Changing the contrast had no effect, other than to more clearly show the problem. Even at the maximum contrast, at which point the screen is pretty much a purple rectangle, the non-functioning areas show no signs of life. Attached are some photos. You can clearly see the issue. There are at least 4 dead rows - the 3 clearly visible in the lower half of the screen plus the very bottom row. I also think there may be an additional (i.e. 5th) dead row at the bottom, based on some menu screens. Attached Thumbnails 38.9 KB · Views: 69 75.5 KB · Views: 64 Last edited by GotrekGurnisson; May 23, 2007 at 03:05 AM. Reason: Better photos

May 22, 2007, 06:31 AM	#12
GotrekGurnisson It's a trap! Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,097	Yeah I assume if I had bought it here in Australia then they would probably just replace the entire thing under warranty. Unfortunately I'm not in that position. I still haven't heard back from the hobby shop in the US that I bought it from. I'll give them until the end of the week, but after that I'll have to try and find someone local to take a look at it. Last edited by GotrekGurnisson; May 22, 2007 at 10:31 AM.

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May 21, 2007, 02:14 AM	#2
alan0899 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cundletown New South Wales, Australia Posts: 132	G'day Mate, Your DX7 TX won't have a "C" tick so it's no legal to use in Australia, anyway have you charged it, & tryed adjusting the screen contrast.

May 21, 2007, 04:51 AM	#4
pldaniels http://nqrc.com Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Australia, QLD, Charters Towers Posts: 12,845	Gotrek, Bummer about that :-( Does it still function at least (the TX). I'm asking around with various people who know LCD's quite well as to the possible causes. Paul.

May 21, 2007, 05:03 AM	#5
GotrekGurnisson It's a trap! Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,097	Yeah the radio still works fine. Some menu screens are obviously obscured though. There is the concern that it may progress further as well.

May 21, 2007, 05:53 AM	#6
byrdscarer Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: mulwala Posts: 122	gotrekgurnisson this might help http://compreviews.about.com/od/mult...xelDefects.htm

May 21, 2007, 06:20 AM	#7
GotrekGurnisson It's a trap! Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,097	Not really, but thanks.

May 21, 2007, 06:54 AM	#8
pldaniels http://nqrc.com Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Australia, QLD, Charters Towers Posts: 12,845	Gotrek, Okay, due to the nature of your screen problem, it's probably a (adeptly named) line driver in the display 'chip' itself. It _could_ be a simple connector issue (if you open the beast up and push the board around it could get better/worse ) I wonder if you can order a replacement display? Paul.

May 21, 2007, 05:38 PM	#9
RobinBennett Sussex, UK Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Crawley, West Sussex, UK Posts: 5,606	Your local distributor may be able to fix it, even if it's not covered by the warranty.

May 22, 2007, 01:06 AM	#10
GotrekGurnisson It's a trap! Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,097	Yeah I'll have to contact them and see what they say, although to be honest if it's a fairly easy fix I'd rather just get someone in Qld to do it as opposed to sending it to Modelflight in SA.

May 22, 2007, 04:33 AM	#11
mac_man Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: UK Posts: 1,487	As its the DX7, Spektrum only have the one single repair point and that is in the USA. Although the DX7 shares part of its heritage with the 7202/2720, it is a possibility that the local Distributor MAY have spare display units, BUT I wouldnt hold my breath.

May 22, 2007, 09:03 AM	#13
Ron Williams slow but inefficient Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Riverhead NY USA Posts: 2,671	Send an email to Horizon and ask them about warranty/repairs. Shipping it to them and return should not be a problem.

May 23, 2007, 01:29 AM	#14
GotrekGurnisson It's a trap! Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,097	OK, I heard back from the hobby store in the US I bought it from. They said I'm covered by the warranty, although it will require sending it back to the US. I also looked over the warranty terms & conditions and couldn't see any mention of having it shipped overseas invalidating the warranty. I've sent an email to Horizon's service department to notify them of the issue and clarify the proceedure for getting it repaired.

May 29, 2007, 08:01 AM	#15
GotrekGurnisson It's a trap! Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,097	Sent the Tx off to Horizon today. $35 postage for a 1.4kg package via airmail plus $16 insurance. I took the opportunity to send back an unopened v1 AR6100 Rx for firmware upgrading.