sigma draw poker machine

[vegasmax]

Hello all, I'm new to the forum and just got my first machine. Ive got an older sigma .25 cent video draw poker machine model B-9. When I plug it in all the lights light up except the top call attendant and all the hold, deal/draw buttons.  The main problem I have is the screen is just blue 'snow' like a tv not on a viewable channel. I see the screen adjustments but I have not turned them for fear of making it worse.

I have no experience working on video machines/slots, but I have repaired many computers. I was expecting to see computer parts inside like a cd rom, memory etc. but this machine must be to old.

Any help appreciated, here are a couple pictures.

[vegasmax]

For some reason the other picture didn't post,,,,here is the front.

[vegasmax]

Any ideas? bad monitor? bad chip on board?

[Yoeddy1]

As a general rule, I would power the machine off, and maybe stick your head inside of the machine with a flashlight.  Ensure that all plugs are firmly seated to the board.  If the board comes out, ensure that all chips are firmly seated to the board...sometimes you might find that a chip has not been fully seated in the socket or a couple of the chip's metal legs are not in the socket. 

Do you get any sound?  If you drop a coin in, does it register with a 'ding?'

Just some things to get you started.  I'm sure others will chime in.

Thanks,
Jason

[Buzz]

Welcome To our happy forum!!

I have a machine that looks a lot like yours, I think mine might be a little older. Well let me put it this way, if my machine came off a Cruise Ship that Ships name would have to be the Mayflower.

Enough BS  You say you just got the machine, which means it has been moved. Any time I move a machine that has the MPU board installed flat, before I turn on the power I remove the board and shake it just in case a screw, washer, nut, etc has fallen onto the board. While I have the board out I always try to check the battery. 9 times out of 10 the battery will be dead. With the board out take a look at all the pins where it plugs in for any bent or missing, make sure all the chips are nice and tight install the board and see what you have

[vegasmax]

Thanks for the replies. I took the top board out today (it lays flat) pulled all the proms and reseated them. In this picture there are places for 2 proms that are not there. Not sure if they are suppose to be. Left side middle, 2 blue slots. I looked for any loose hardware laying on the board, all looked good except dust. I don't see any battery like a big watch battery on a computer motherboard. I put the board back in and have the same results, lights on the front except deal, hold, bet buttons, the top exhaust fan comes on and "blue snow" on the screen.

There is another board mounted to the left side bottom of machine. I slid the coin catcher out, unplugged all the wires on that board and removed it also. There are no removable proms on it. Put it back in, plugged it in and "red snow" was on the screen and for the first time I heard sound. Just a BONG,,,,,BONG,,,,,BONG ever 3 seconds or so. I unplugged the power, plugged back in and no BONG sound and back to "blue snow" on screen, not red.

There is a big ribbon cable that connects to the smaller bottom board and goes up the back of machine and plugs into the top board. It was a smashed up in the back of machine and I'm wondering if it may have a broken wire in it. I have seen computers with bad ribbon cables where a hard drive wouldn't work.

What do you think?
Thanks.

[vegasmax]

Oh forgot to mention I was asked about a sound when a quarter was inserted. There is no sound and the quarter falls into the payout tray on the outside of machine. Only time I have heard any sound was today after I took the bottom board out and reinstalled it. But that sound quit after I unplugged it and plugged it back in.

[Yoeddy1]

Vegasmax,

I've never owned a Sigma machine, but I can tell you that I had a vintage CEI poker machine that I screwed up a few months ago.  I ended up sending a jolt of static electricity through the system that ended up popping a couple of resistors on the gameboard.  The results:

Blank screen
Fan, top and belly glass lights, and motherboard powered up
Little bit of monitor signal would come on
No button lights
Coins would fall to the tray.
No sound

I had to have some of the forum members help me understand what was going on with my predicament as well, and ultimately, I had to send my game board to be tested by dormi...CEI poker machine expert and member out here.  Once the resistors were repaired, my game was restored good as new.  The game board controls all of the button functions, coin functions, etc.

Anyway, I noticed that your board also has several dipswitches.  If these are similar to my old CEI, these may control number of coins bet, etc, but on mine there were a few that controlled video horizontal/vertical sync.  If those were messed with, I'd get a messed up screen.  I would see if somebody out here has a manual for a Sigma machine so that you can understand these functions.

Honestly though, I would guess your problem is with your gameboard somewhere, but maybe a Sigma guru will chime in.

Thanks,
Jason

[Buzz]

I took a look at my board and it looks just like yours. Numbers to the left of ribbon cable are 6246B.    I am also missing those two eproms and my machine was working yesterday. Dip switch settings below at location JB are  There is another dip switch at SW 1 settings are Off ON ON   last one at   SW 2  OFF OFF OFF ON
#1  Off                 
#2  ON
#3  ON
#4  OFF
#5  ON
#6  OFF
#7  OFF
#8  ON
This machine I have is a nickel machine, anything else might change the dip switch settings. I'm pretty sure I have a extra set of game chips if you think yours are bad. But the glass won't match.

[Yoeddy1]

I took a look at my board and it looks just like yours. Numbers to the left of ribbon cable are 6246B.    I am also missing those two eproms and my machine was working yesterday. Dip switch settings below at location JB are  There is another dip switch at SW 1 settings are Off ON ON   last one at   SW 2  OFF OFF OFF ON
#1  Off                 
#2  ON
#3  ON
#4  OFF
#5  ON
#6  OFF
#7  OFF
#8  ON
This machine I have is a nickel machine, anything else might change the dip switch settings. I'm pretty sure I have a extra set of game chips if you think yours are bad. But the glass won't match.

Somebody buy this man a beer!! 

[StatFreak]

I took a look at my board and it looks just like yours. Numbers to the left of ribbon cable are 6246B.    I am also missing those two eproms and my machine was working yesterday. Dip switch settings below at location JB are  There is another dip switch at SW 1 settings are Off ON ON   last one at   SW 2  OFF OFF OFF ON
#1  Off                 
#2  ON
#3  ON
#4  OFF
#5  ON
#6  OFF
#7  OFF
#8  ON
This machine I have is a nickel machine, anything else might change the dip switch settings. I'm pretty sure I have a extra set of game chips if you think yours are bad. But the glass won't match.

Somebody buy this man a beer COFFEE!! 

I made a slight beverage correction for you, Buzz.    

[Buzz]

Thanks David   I did take a swallow of beer the 4th of July in honor of Joe (Thorr) he  couldn't be at the BBQ so I told him I would have a Beer for him.

Do you remember this Sigma machine I have? A fellow I know was trying to sell it to me ( I had never seen it and didn't even know what it was) long story I moved his Backhoe for him and took the machine for payment. When I first saw this thing I thought OH sh*t Sigma Japan, now not trying to piss off all you Sigma fans but doesn't the word Sigma sound like something that would need a shot of penicillin to get rid of !! like in    Well now I have this thing, had to drill the lock to get the door open, check out the machine and it didn't work I don't remember the error, so it's been setting for about 6 months. Yesterday when this thread started I plugged it in and the damn thing booted up and was playing, until I hit cash out, HOPPER ERROR. I've figured out what to do with it, Uniman has been wanting a Game King I'm going to pawn this thing off on him and tell him it's a Game King and the touch screen doesn't work and it has a hopper error.  We should have some fun with him with this one, hey Jim post Pic. Jim you probably need a key 17, Jim sorry the Devil made me do it. 

[Yoeddy1]

Whoops...sorry about the "beer" comment Buzz...my bad.

[Buzz]

Jason   No problem    I didn't always not drink. When I was in the Navy I drank too much, when I was in the Air Force I married a women that had 3 Kids, we then had 2 more kids. 5 Kids and a Wife, I couldn't afford to drink. Over the years I just never went back to it. Oh and another plus I never had to go to any meetings!! 

[Yoeddy1]

Commendable my friend.  Good for you Buzz. 

[uniman]

Thanks David   I did take a swallow of beer the 4th of July in honor of Joe (Thorr) he  couldn't be at the BBQ so I told him I would have a Beer for him.

Do you remember this Sigma machine I have? A fellow I know was trying to sell it to me ( I had never seen it and didn't even know what it was) long story I moved his Backhoe for him and took the machine for payment. When I first saw this thing I thought OH sh*t Sigma Japan, now not trying to piss off all you Sigma fans but doesn't the word Sigma sound like something that would need a shot of penicillin to get rid of !! like in    Well now I have this thing, had to drill the lock to get the door open, check out the machine and it didn't work I don't remember the error, so it's been setting for about 6 months. Yesterday when this thread started I plugged it in and the damn thing booted up and was playing, until I hit cash out, HOPPER ERROR. I've figured out what to do with it, Uniman has been wanting a Game King I'm going to pawn this thing off on him and tell him it's a Game King and the touch screen doesn't work and it has a hopper error.  We should have some fun with him with this one, hey Jim post Pic. Jim you probably need a key 17, Jim sorry the Devil made me do it.  

Ok, so this is how you want to play now. A Sigma GameKing??  
I wasn't stupid enough to take an Aussie Uni, why do you think I'd take a Sigma?    

Σσς      Speak Greek or         

[Buzz]

I gotta give my JUNK a good home some where !!!!!   ( I hope you bought a BIG house cuzz I think your gonna need it ) can I talk you into a CDS reel deal or how about a P&M Coin ( good looking touch screen machine it should be a easy one to fix, it doesn't have any buttons to give you problems )

[StatFreak]

Ok, so this is how you want to play now. A Sigma GameKing?? 
I wasn't stupid enough to take an Aussie Uni, why do you think I'd take a Sigma?   

Σσς       Speak Greek or         

I thought they only took women?  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigma_Sigma_Sigma

Maybe we could start a business selling them Σ slots for their dorm rooms!       


Stat


<ADD> They have a cool badge & logo

[uniman]

I gotta give my JUNK a good home some where !!!!!   ( I hope you bought a BIG house cuzz I think your gonna need it ) can I talk you into a CDS reel deal or how about a P&M Coin ( good looking touch screen machine it should be a easy one to fix, it doesn't have any buttons to give you problems )

Oh, I get it now. You gotta get rid of your junk so a Universal owner would be the obvious choice. Nice, real nice.

Actually we just moved into our new home. I have one bedroom dedicated as my game room. Only about 12x12. My wife says that will keep me in check. Yeah, right! 
Slots are collecting dust in the garage until new carpet. Room has been repainted and I added a ceiling fan. Going to look nice when it's done. And it has a 10' ceiling, so maybe a nice tall slot in my future! Thinking Bally Monte Carlo.
Sorry, no CDS. Do like a few Sigma video games though, but no poker. And P&M Coin, ahh don't think so.
Right now the house is a money pit! New flooring throughout, painting every room, landscaping, water heater, water softener, and the list goes on & on! 
The joy of home ownership! 

[Buzz]

.

[uniman]

That's a good looking machine Buzz! And look, Uni used the blue vacuum display long before the S2000. Wonder where IGT got that idea?? Hmmmm?

Buzz, I think those Aussie Uni's had a Dallas key chip on the board. If it is missing, good luck!

[Buzz]

That's a good looking machine Buzz! And look, Uni used the blue vacuum display long before the S2000. Wonder where IGT got that idea?? Hmmmm?

Buzz, I think those Aussie Uni's had a Dallas key chip on the board. If it is missing, good luck!

Seeing as how I don't know what a Dallas Key chip is, you had better start looking for one now !!

[uniman]

That's a good looking machine Buzz! And look, Uni used the blue vacuum display long before the S2000. Wonder where IGT got that idea?? Hmmmm?

Buzz, I think those Aussie Uni's had a Dallas key chip on the board. If it is missing, good luck!

Seeing as how I don't know what a Dallas Key chip is, you had better start looking for one now !!

Do you plan on putting that on my porch, ring my doorbell and then run? 

Actually, let me know next time your going to Joey's. I'll take it.

[Buzz]

I'll do that. I just sent you a couple of emails. 

[vegasmax]

I took a look at my board and it looks just like yours. Numbers to the left of ribbon cable are 6246B.    I am also missing those two eproms and my machine was working yesterday. Dip switch settings below at location JB are  There is another dip switch at SW 1 settings are Off ON ON   last one at   SW 2  OFF OFF OFF ON
#1  Off                 
#2  ON
#3  ON
#4  OFF
#5  ON
#6  OFF
#7  OFF
#8  ON
This machine I have is a nickel machine, anything else might change the dip switch settings. I'm pretty sure I have a extra set of game chips if you think yours are bad. But the glass won't match.

Thanks for reply. Yes the number on my board is the same as yours. I don't understand what  the dip switch is and where it is at, or how to check it. Can you explain it to me please?