Need help with settings for Aristocrat Coin Bill Validator, Inc. Model IDS

[ucanwin]

Hi,
Does anybody have any info on how to set bill denomination acceptance on an Aristocrat Video slot machine (Kenny Rogers "Gambler") from July 1997 ????
It has a bill acceptor made by Coin Bill Validator, Inc. and the model # is IDS. The machine accepts the real old bills.....the $1 and $20 bills, but nothing else.
I was wondering what the dip switch settings should be, to also accept $5 and $10 bills. Also, is there any way to update this bill acceptor to take the newest $1, $5, $10 and $20 bills? Also, I am unable to access the audit information. Turning the audit key on the machine only gives info on last game played and number of times a gamble has been made.  Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Jerry

Just wondering........is anybody out there????? Two days have gone by, and not one reply. Surely, there must be someone out there that knows something about Aristocrat machines.

[TZtech]

Hello Jerry

Strange seeing that theme in an Aristocrat game. I am assuming you are talking about US$ although as far as I was aware the US Aristocrat never came out with CBV validator. (Can you post a pic of the BV ?) There is normally a sticker on the BV that details the SW version. The denoms can be individually be enabled/disabled by dipswitches and depends on what SW is loaded.

You can download some manuals here - http://www.gptworld.com/GPT.htm
You can try and do the video level procedure as per the specific manual but I think your BV has a very old program loaded and the internal database has not been updated for the newer notes. You need to install SW on your PC to talk to the BV and you also need a download dongle as well as the latest relevant file to downoad to the BV (Unfotunately cant advise what it should be as I use other currencies)

I dont know if they are Home Owner friendly but send them a mail and see what happens.

Ian

[ucanwin]

Hi Ian,
Thank you, for your reply to my problem. First, let me say this, regarding this game version.....my understanding is that, Kenny Roger's name and picture were used on this machine by Aristocrat, without obtaining naming rights. Therefore, all of the Kenny Roger's "The Gambler" machines had to be removed from the casinos. Currently, IGT has obtained the naming rights, and has come out with their version of the Kenny Roger's "The Gambler" machine. Yesterday, I was at a casino and saw the current version of my Aristocrat machine. They have changed the name to Gamblin' Jack and the picture on the belly glass is now of a different gambler. Basically, the glass is the same as on my machine, with those minor alterations. The game play, is the same.
Regarding the bill validator on this machine.......I don't know what the correct switch settings are for the machine to accept the $1, $5, $10 and $20 bills that I would like to have on this machine. Currently, the dip switch settings are as follows, and the machine will accept $1 and our old, old, $20 U.S. bills..........#1 through 6 are down towards the numbers that are showing (I am assuming that these are in the off position), # 7 through 10 are in the up positions.
I am wondering, if in addition to the correct dip switch settings on the bill validator, there might be additional settings that would have to be made by changing data on the video screen menu, if I were able to access that, which I am currently not able to bring up on screen. Check out the enclosed pictures of my bill validator.
I will try to download the manual as you have suggested, and see if it will help me.
Thanks again Ian,
Best regards,
Jerry

[TZtech]

Hello Jerry

Its been a while since I have worked on on of those. From what I remember (And bear in mind that the ones I worked on were for South African Rand) Dipswitches 1 to 6 were to enable disable particular notes. Smallest denom was normally at position 1. You can also enable /disable notes via the RS232 software which overrides the dipswitch settings. Dipswitch 9 is to enable Video Level adjustment (Basically cut a piece of plain printing paper to the same size as your notes - Now with the the BV powered up flip dip 9 to the on position and open/close the head. Insert the paper into the BV. It should feed in most of it and the slowly step it out. When done flip dip back 9 to off position. The white label at the bottom of your BV is the SW revision but may not necessarily be what loaded on the head as techs dont always change the labels after flashing the SW.

Ian

[ucanwin]

Hello Ian,
Thank you, for your additional information.
Please bear with me, as I am not electronics savy. You mentioned a couple of things in your previous reply that I don't understand. Can you please inform me what you mean by ....install SW on my PC, and also what is meant by ......download dongle. I hate to sound stupid, but I guess that I am, when it comes to technical terms such as the ones that you mentioned. I know how to plug the machine in, turn it on, and insert coins, and that's about it, I'm afraid.
Jerry

[TZtech]

Hi Jerry

You can connect the Validator directly to a computer to do diagnostics on the validator and to upload new programs. However to do this you will need to install the relevant sw and a extra piece of hardware to do download (The dongle). I dont think GPT actually support this model anymore and not sure if thy will sell the hardware to home users if they did. Unfortunately this limits your options to doing a video level procedure and hoping that it improves acceptance or to track down somebody with the required hardware and software to do the software upgrade  for you. Your other alternative is to upgrade to another validator make (JCM is the most common in the USA). The vendors listed at the top of the page may be able to give you more advice on what this would entail.

Ian

[ucanwin]

Hello Ian,
Thank you for the explanation of the terms that I inquired about. I guess that route wouldn't be in my future. I guess, all I can hope for is to find out what dip switch settings would do what I want to do. I did download some info on an Aristocrt MAV500 slot, but that seems to be a manual for a newer version machine than what I have. I can't find a model mumber on my machine. All it says is the manufacture date is JUL 97. The machine that I saw in the casino yesterday, was a model MAV500 as noted on a plate on the side of the machine. Do you have any idea what the model might be for a machine that was made in 1997 might be? If I can find the model number, I might be able to hunt down a manual and find out what the dip switch settings shoul be.
Jerry

[TZtech]

Hello Jerry

Well the Dipswitches on your validator unit are correct (all enabled) as per the picture you sent me. There may also be a setting on the machine where you can enable and disable notes individually. Please send me a pic of the inside of the machine and well and also the processor tray if its accessible. It may be a MK4. Normally there is a plate on the right hand side with the serial number and sometimes model number stamped on. Agian the US models are a bit different form those we have here but I think I have manuals (US and OZ variants) for most of the Aristocrat platforms.

Did the BV take $5 and $10 before ?

Ian

[ucanwin]

Hello Ian,
I don't know if the machine accepted $5 and $10 bills before. I only purchased the machine last week.
I wiill attempt to enclose 4 photos of the items that you requested, but I think the site will only allow 2 photos, so I may have to enclose them in another reply.
Jerry

[ucanwin]

Hello again, Ian,
Here are the other 2 photos.
Jerry

[TZtech]

Hello Jerry

Did you recieve the relevant keys to fit the switches on the side of the machine?.
To enter diagnostic power down machine and while holding down the 2 leftmost buttons (looking into machine) power up again. This will get you into Robot test and I think you can view setting from there as well. I will post some info from manuals as soon as Iget home.

Based on the Age of he machine and the BV I think its simply a case of a very old BV database program on your validator. I am not sure if your machine can actually read the program version from the BV - will check for that as well.

Ian

[ucanwin]

Hi Ian,
I do have keys for the Audit and Jackpot reset switches that are located on the lower right side of the machine.
I powered down the machine, and started it up while holding the two buttons on the left, as you suggested, and the machine ran through a series of color tests and one screen with numerous squares and another with a series of apparent test options, but it repeatedly scrolled through  the various screens, over and over.
There are also several holes on the right side of the upper box area, one of which is for a lock, which is missing.
Jerry

[TZtech]

Hello Jerry

Ok - you will have to force it into a memory error in order to get o the settings menu. Its quite tricky and I would not really recommend it. I think your best bet is just to perform a video level procedure on the validator and see if that helps. I have mailed the manual to email in your profile.

Ian

[ucanwin]

Good Morning Ian,
Thank you for sending me the manual. I really appreciate it.
I tried the video level proceedure, but it did nothing as far as accepting any of the other bills that I would like it to accept.
I am in the process of printing out the manual now. It will be easier to read rather than trying to scroll on the computer. Maybe, I'll find something that will help as I go through it.
Thank you for all your help Ian, you are a credit to all of the the helpful people on this site. God Bless!
Best regards,
Jerry

[TZtech]

Hello Jerry

No problem - sorry we could not resolve the issue. The problem with old machines like this is that manufacturers dont release any updates in order to "Kill off" thes machines and force casinos to buy new ones.

Ian