On the Road to a working PMP120

[Captain Pike]

Finally, the PMP120 arrived, and as described, it doesn't turn on, and there are zero accessories... but what's this? Pry marks on the outside casing? Gah! Check the shipping paperwork, yes Canada Border Services had "opened" the unit. Say it with me folks... ugh. I do work for an international company, and I've had to catalog, photograph and record the damages done during "inspections". My tax dollars at work... anyways, enough ranting.

So I've got a replacement battery, popped it in, hit the power, nothing on the screen. Hmm... are the batteries shipped from iRiver charged? Must find out later tonight with multimeter. Next question for all you fine folks out there, is the adapter from the PMC120 compatible? I'm imagining it would possibly be for voltages, but what end type is it? I can probably find an adapter for the ac adapter if need be.

And finally, what's the maximum hard drive that can go into the PMP120? As well, I'd like to find out the dimensions on these hard drives, I imagine these are flash drives. Anyone have any manufacturer part numbers they'd like to share?

I know, a whole lot of questions and not much actual tinkering, I'm just hoping I'm asking the right questions to get the right information.

[brgc]

Some battteries that I have bought from iRiver america for my PMC-120 have come precharged and once one didnt. So I think it depends...
The chargers from the PMC and PMP are different.
The hard drives are not flash drives they are indeed HARD DRIVES. U can install any size that U can find that of course is compatible. There are some threads on this forum that tell U where U can get them. I dont remember the sites name right now. Just search in the forum.

Good luck.

[Captain Pike]

Thanks for the info on the hard drives, it may come to me ordering a new one. But first, I still have to go get an adapter for the ac adapter... my wife, (darling that she is) bought one for me, as she knew I was getting the PMP120, and she got the one for the PMC120. So still no power.

Allright, took the thing apart, removed all 3 screws... yep 3 screws that's it, and fingerprints on the LCD, not mine. The main logic board wasn't screwed down. Preliminary check, no residue from water, no burned out circuits or components. Everything looks fine other than that, the USB door latch is broken though. I may want to take it into work, take a look at it under the soldering microscope that we have there.

Is there grounding that goes off of those screws or are they more for just holding everything into place?

[ShamrockMan]

The iRiver uses a standard 5v power supply. The screws internally are just for holding it together. The problem with the PMP is that when it is dissasembled, the spring that rests the latch on the USB door can go flying off, never to be found again.

The hard-drives that the PMP uses is fairly standard for electronic devices, and people on this forum have reported success in placing 60GB drives in it.

[Captain Pike]

Thanks for the information, I'll have to dig some more in the forums. Now all I have to find is a schematic for the board and layout, then I can start checking this puppy over. Mmmm... 60GB.

[EdrickVelLorin]

No accessories? So no USB cable? Even if you get it working, you may have trouble getting anything on it unless you already have some cables. iRiverAmerica still has the various accessories (except of course the elusive remote) for sale, though the regular USB cable is listed under Ultra Portable Accessories.

As far as the AC adapter, you could try this one:
http://store.l-f-l.com/cgi-bin/cp-ap...7_SW10_S050_10
I did a search for the model number on my AC adapter and found that.

[Captain Pike]

I actually picked up a USB cable, and TV out cable from my local dollar store for 2 bucks a piece. There's no way that I'm going to spend shipping money, when I can stroll on down to the local dollar store, pick one up, and spend the remainder on ice mochaccino. The USB cable is nice as it will work for digital cameras as well. I haven't had any problems with any other cables I've got there either. Including a 20 ft USB 2.0 extender.

As for the ac adapter, I am going to hunt around and see if there is an end adapter for the adapter, so it can fit into the PMP... but I have my doubts. If I can't find anything, I'll have to order that adapter that you had linked Edrick. Thanks for the info!

I'm feeling a bit frugal as of late, then again my next two projects involve...
-Building my own PVR
-Network streams for the house to all TV's, including remotes. All wireless.

[Captain Pike]

Progress!

I took some extra time at my work place, cracked open the PMP, very carefully as per Shamrockman (guides rock!), and hooked up the unit to one of our custom power supply units. Nothing comes up on the screen when powering it up, I didn't manage to feel out any vibration from the hard drive either.... So, I put my best idea forward, bribed one of our in house electronic technicians to take a look at it.

Igor! To the laboratory! We shall make it live! Muahahahahaaa!

Sorry, just a dramatic moment of glee. I was at one point, (back in the day) able to troubleshoot these things out. It's amazing how much middle management positions tend to eat away at that knowledge.

Now I am really looking for a schematic for the circuit board. I've got a multimeter ready to go, and the probes are itching to find out what's going on. Has there ever been a schematic for this thing? Is iRiver even supporting these units anymore? They aren't on the multimedia players listing on the main site.