PE+ Link Down Call Attendant!

[4 Deuces]

Dave’s PE+ On-Screen Progressive Project 

Hi!  Thank you for reading about and helping with my project.  The bottom line is … I’m getting a “Link Down Call Attendantâ€� message and I don’t know what to do next.  I’m trying to include enough information for future reference for others.  And I think it goes without saying that I am a newbie.

I’ve got an old IGT PE+ Double Double Bonus Poker machine and I want to make the jackpot a progressive amount that displays on the screen rather than on an external meter.

Here’s what I’ve got thus far (thanks to the many contributors on this site) …

First, the machine (Yes, I know, the payouts are horrible.  That’s another project for another day.)

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Here is the MPU and Motherboard ...

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Here is the CON1-f and Gateway ...

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The modified DB9 cable … I don’t need to show a picture of the sloppy job I did, but heh, it works!

For those who need to know how …

Here is the topic of “Creating a modified RS232 DB9 cable for Mikohn to PC for use with PSP software� …
http://newlifegames.net/nlg/index.php?topic=106.0

And here is the attached PDF within the topic …
http://newlifegames.net/nlg/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=106.0;attach=131

The PSP v2 Software and Manual …

Software and manual
http://newlifegames.net/nlg/index.php?topic=10155.0

Notes on setting up
http://www.myslotnotes.com/progressive_units.htm

Password = 135642

I setup for SNGL (single) progressive for Machine Type M05 (IGT) with a Jackpot of $$$$ (currency) using $0.25 with appropriate increments.

And just to be thorough, below is a picture of the 2 12V power supplies.

Next post will be my wiring diagram.

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The wires, harnesses and connectors … I made my own of course as follows (thanks to direction from Jay).

I'm reluctantly attaching my childish-looking wiring diagram … hey, we can't all be artists!  

Finally, setting up the progressive through the machine menu options seemed fairly straight-forward:

1.   Make sure no credits are in the game.

2.   Press the white test button until you reach the Progressive menu.

3.   Set the Royal Flush Progressive to “Yesâ€� using the Hold 1 button.

4.   Press the white test button until you reach the Communication Type menu.

5.   Set the Communication Type to “SASâ€� (stand-alone system) using the Jackpot Reset key.

6.   Press the white test button until you reach the Set System Address menu.

7.   Set the machine address to 16 to match the CON1f pin 16 using Jackpot Reset and Deal button (although I’m sure it wasn’t necessary to match numbers – I’m sure 1 would suffice).

<See comments below.  SAS does not mean, "Stand Alone System".  SAS is a protocol and is not a necessary step here.

8.   Press the white test button until you reach the end of the menus to set the machine back to the game.

And that’s when I get the “Testing Progressive Linkâ€� message followed by “Link Down Call Attendantâ€� message.  

Okay, so what did I do wrong and/or what do I do now (besides abandoning the project)?

 

[stayouttadabunker]

I think your drawing is a masterpiece !  
Good good post!  
I see a bunker out the window!
A great machine to play after getting done with a round of golf at your place! 

[4 Deuces]

LOL!  Good eyes.  I'm a terrible golfer, but enjoy watching the golfers.  Alcohol doesn't help my game, but is great for my attitude!

[stayouttadabunker]

Well...that drawing will help members in the future for sure!

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Thank you for the kind words stayouttadabunker!

Gateway Rotary Switches and MPU Dip Switches ...

I also forgot to mention that I also changed the 2 switches on the Gateway to correspond to IGT No Cycling per the PSP manual.  And, I changed a couple of dip switches on the MPU (switch 5 and 8 to ON), also based on information I read.

[jay]

SAS is not stand alone system.

SAS is a unique IGT protocol (look for posts on home made SAS)
SAS is what the machine would use to communicate back to a central computer.

In a real casino setting they know exactly how many bills of which type have been put in, how many coins out etc.
Every aspect of the in/out and wins can be fully audited.

One of the cool things (and the reason for the home made SAS) is so that you can do a ETF
Electronic Funds Transfer and put credits on the machine from a computer.

With the newer machines this is used to manage TITO (Ticket In Ticket Out)
Standalone a S2000 can spit out a ticket but when you try to use that voucher to feed the bill validator its rejected.
The rejection is because the ticket value would be transferred to a computer (via SAS) validated in the database and then credits would be transferred back to the machine. The ticket then becomes invalid.

In short unless you playing with the home made SAS link you can turn this down.

BTW thanks for the excellent documentation on the setup and happy to hear you got it working.

[jay]

Are you still getting link down ??

The usual reason for this is that there is no communication to the PE+
make sure you have the GND from the display connector connected to the GND on the output of the gateway.

You might also want to reset your PE+ - step through all the menus using the white button then close the door.

[Foster]

Actually when a ticket is inserted
The only data transmitted by the machine from the ticket is the voucher or ticket number.
The Validation server looks up the number in a database, if its valid sends back the validation data with the amount from the database.
machine then stacks ticket, once stacked (has to be irretrievable) then the amount loaded on the machine.

The amount of any ticket is stored into a database when the ticket was originally printed.

Now how the ticket number is created, depends on the validation system and validation method.
SAS is not the only TITO protocol, Bally has one as well. I think it is part of the Miser protocol.

[knagl]

I'm moving this to the Mikohn section since it's about interfacing a Mikohn progressive system with a PE+, not an IGT progressive system.

[4 Deuces]

Okay, so here's the latest update.  But first, many thanks to the expertise on this site!    I'm very grateful to find help with this exciting project.  


Yes, still getting error, so I thought I'd go ahead and try my other MPU.  Same type of PE+ MPU, but different set of chips.  It's multi-poker.  I was avoiding this one because I thought multi-poker progressives were more challenging to setup.

What's interesting is ... right out of the gate, the 4000 coins were replaced with the words, "Jackpot 1", which is further than I was before.  The other one never even got that far because it kept Testing Progressive Link.  I'm attributing the difference to different chipsets in how they handle the display of the jackpot.

So, with the multi-poker game installed, I'm going to try setting the Communication Type = None and recheck my wiring.  Then, I'll post back again.  Plus, I think I have to program the CON1 different for multi-poker, yes? I'll have to research that one a little more too.

I'm not ruling out that I might have a bad Gateway.  There are 3 lights on the front, but only one is lit.  Does anyone know what that means?  Any Gateway or CON1 manuals out there?

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Getting closer!   

Now I can see the $1,000.00 starting Jackpot displayed on the screen.  Woo-hoo!   

But, the Jackpot is not incrementing.   

So, I'm hoping it's a simple as the Coin-In pulse is not reaching the CON1? Yes??

Here are the adjustments I made to get this far ...

1)  In PSP software, I changed the Machine Type to M00 from M005 (that was the other option for Player's Edge besides M005).

2)  On the CON1, I changed the wiring on J3 Display Output to Pin 1 (+ hot) and Pin 2 (- ground).  Previously, I used Pins 7 & 8, which are not used according to page 38 of the Mikohn Technician's Pocket Guide.

3)  On the Gateway, I changed the switches to SW1=0 and SW2=5 to mtach the settings defined for Gateway board GWE v2.6 per the Mikohn Technician's Pocket Guide.  Previously, I was using the settings defined for Gateway board GWI v2.5 since I have version 2.2 (I assumed a lower version # would be a better match).  After plugging all back in, I got all 3 lights on the Gateway lit up!

4)  Finally, on the wiring to the J15 slot on the motherboard, I changed the order.  I thought pins 1-4 were left-to-right, but according to the PE+ motherboard schematic (which has proved to be wrong), pin 1 starts from the right.  In fact, pin 1 is square-shaped while pin 2-4 are circular-shaped.  I tried two different J15 pin configurations and landed on this ... pin 1 (square) = Coin In, pin 2 = Ground, pin 3 = Return.  I know Return is in the right place because I get $1,000.00 displayed on the screen.  I know Ground is in the right place because if I put Coin-In on pin 2, I get "Jackpot 1" displayed on the screen instead of $1,000.00.  That leaves pins 1 and 4 as potential Coin-In pins.  I've tried Coin-In wire in both with no success.

Regarding my big bolded, red-colored problem above ... any suggestions for solving what I hope to be the last step?   

[knagl]

I wish I had answers for you, but I've never done what you're doing.  That said, I'm watching very intently as I may want to link my PE+ machines together someday, so I hope you get this resolved.  Thank you and K+ to you for your detailed posts -- I'm sure you'll get this up and running.     

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Thanks anyway Kevin.  I am getting closer yet.  I now have an amount displaying on the screen and it is also progressing. 

But (seems there's always a but), the amount is progressing sporadically without any coin action.  It's as though it's getting too many pulses or mix-matched signals.  As usual, I have no clue what to do. 

I'm still thinking it's a problem between the motherboard and the CON1 because the display is working fine (Gateway).  I'm going to first check to see if my wiring became loose from pulling plugs and re-inserting plugs over and over again on the motherboard.  Then, I'll take a look at the CON1.  There's a switch (SW1) on the CON1, but I've never found any documentation about it.  It's currently set to zero.  I doubt that's it because I'm getting a progressive (albeit sporadic).  It goes up, down, up, down ... it's weird ... kinda like this project with it's ups and downs.

Wish me luck!

[stayouttadabunker]

I will wish you the BEST of luck!
You're doing exactly what I like doing! -
occasionally blowing up stuff to see what happens! 

I hope you get it going 'cause I'd love to hook up my PE+ along with an S+ or two! 
I'm sure that'll create havoc with the progressive display odometers though! 

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Thanks for all the good wishes.  If/when I get this working, I'll come back and document the steps for future progressiver's.

Here is the latest status for the evening ... still not progressing, but I think I've narrowed it down to the CON1.

Here are the things I changed (before I went to Green Valley Ranch casino and lost some money):

1)  I had a loose wire (coin-in) that I had to secure.

2)  I finally got to a point where I believe I have the J15 slot on the motherboard hooked up correctly.

Pin 1 (square shaped) = PROG WINNER = not used
Pin 2 (circular shaped) = PROG IN = Ground (the common ground IN to the machine)
Pin 3 (circular shaped) = PROG RET= Return data from the Gateway that displays the progressive amount
Pin 4 (circular shaped) = PROG OUT = Coin-in pulse OUT to the Controller (CON1)

Where I'm at now is I don't believe I have the connector from the Motherboard to the CON1 correct.  Although I think J15 is right, I don't think where I have the plugs in the CON1 are correct.

From the pictures above, my CON1 has two 18-pin slots.  According to the Mikohn Technician's Pocket Guide, pins 1-16 are for machines 1-16 and 17 and 18 are for B and A respectively (depending on Machine Types).  Also according to the manual, I'm using Machine Type of M00, which corresponds to JP0 on A.  Therefore, I'm using pins 16 and 18.  Basically, I have a 4-pin connector with wires in pins 2 and 4, which line-up to pins 16 and 18.  But, that causes the jackpot to increment and decrement sporadically.  If I join to pins 1 and 2, then the jackpot doesn't increment at all.

Did I fry something?  Have I blown it up?  May I once again beg for suggestions?   

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SUCCESS!!!

Turns out, I had GND and Coin-In reversed on the CON1.  It made sense when I once again looked at page 20 of the Mikohn Technician's Pocket Guide.  I was using Coin-In from the motherboard pin 16 (for machine 16) on the CON1 when the Coin-In should have been connected to the common pin 18.  I was thinking that each machine would contribute it's own coin-in, but actually, each machine just needs to be grounded separately.  The Coin-In is registered on pin 18.

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4000 credits to Jay, Foster, Stayouttadabunker and Knaql for your help, expertise and cheers!

Jay - a lot of your other posts is really what got me working, so thank you!

[stayouttadabunker]

Awessome!  

Now you gotta dust off that old Sony HandyCam.
Remember the monsters you had to put on your shoulder with VHS tapes in them?  
And show us a short video clip of that puppy in action!

[knagl]

Hooray, that's awesome! Congratulations!

[CaptainHappy]

 
Good Job sticking with it!
  KARMA STORM FOR EVERYONE HERE!!!

CH

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Full instructions now located at http://newlifegames.net/nlg/index.php?topic=16903.0