[Asterisk-Users] Major problems with TDM400 and specifictelephones: suggestions?

[John Novack]

Rich Adamson wrote:

>For the record & archives, there are apparently about eight different revisions of the TDM card (observed via pci id revisions in driver code),and this mod only impacts one of apparently multiple problems. Since digium is very tight lipped about problems, there is a high probability that other issues abound on early versions of the card.
>  
>
And they flat out refuse any exchange of a card that has certain 
problems, and their answer to a card that can't be seen by a Motherboard 
that is clearly PCI 2.2 is "try it in another machine", and if it works, 
you're stuck
The reporting of revision E/f on a board that is marked rev H physically 
is not seen as a problem that warrents exchange.

Best use other hardware unless the TDM400 is the only solution.

John Novack


>It should also be noted the digium TDM card has a two year warranty,
>therefore take advantage of that warranty to address the design problems
>if problems continue to impact your system. The warranty will expire on
>the initially shipped TDM cards within about twelve months or so.
>
>Rich
>------------------------
>  
>
>>I did the modification that Rich explains in his email on March 23rd below. 
>>I believe it works for me, because before this mod I was getting "Ouch, part 
>>reset..." errors at least once a week, rendering * unsuitable for production 
>>systems. After this mod, the system is running flawlessly for almost a month 
>>now.
>>
>>The closest capacitor value I was able to find was 100nF though, but it 
>>seems ok. And I had empty module slots, so I did not have to solder 
>>anything, I just inserted the pins firmly to the slot (capacitors usually 
>>have long legs). Very simple.
>>
>>Now I am quite happy with TDM400, and I recommend Rich's mod to everyone 
>>having such problems.
>>
>>Thanks Rich...
>>
>>----- Original Message ----- 
>>From: "Rich Adamson" <radamson at routers.com>
>>To: "Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion" 
>><asterisk-users at lists.digium.com>; <jnovack at stromberg-carlson.org>
>>Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2005 1:32 AM
>>Subject: Re: [Asterisk-Users] Major problems with TDM400 and 
>>specifictelephones: suggestions?
>>
>>
>>    
>>
>>>>>I've improved the stability of my card by adding a capacitor on the
>>>>>reset line. Hasn't taken a hit in over two weeks.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>>>Is this the E/F or revised H card? Where and what cap did you install?
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>My card reports as E/F; only have one, so not sure what the differences
>>>are between the various revisions.
>>>
>>>Adding the capacitor seems to have corrected the "my TDM card goes
>>>out to lunch about every two weeks, and the only way to correct it
>>>is to reload the drivers or reboot the machine" problem.
>>>
>>>Trying the following will likely void any digium warranty.
>>>
>>>Remove the TDM card from the PC and look closely at the pins associated
>>>with the four fxs/fxo modules. The pins are labeled on the modules as
>>>1, 2, 19, and 20. The "reset" line is pin #2 while ground is pin #20.
>>>Carefully solder a .02 ufd capacitor between pin #2 and #20 on one
>>>module. Solder it onto a "single" module; no need to add one for each
>>>module. Install the card and boot up. Nothing more to it.
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>>>Also, when the driver is loaded, my system reports an E/F card, but the
>>>>board clearly says "H". Anyone know for sure which is correct.
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>Best guess is the driver reports the E/F based on the pci controller
>>>ID, which may or may not have been changed when revisions to the
>>>physical card were made. (That guess can be verified by checking
>>>the code; I remember seeing it, but don't remember which file.)
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>>>As illustrated by the problems this card has with PCI slots. Even some
>>>>motherboards which clearly are PCI 2.2 can't see the card in ANY slot.
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>Yes, but the flacky pci bus issue is a motherboard problem that
>>>really has nothing to do with the digium card design. (The pci bus
>>>issue is fairly well understood by those involved with heavy audio
>>>apps. It just so happens to impact how the TDM card is used as well.)
>>>      
>>>