This week a cooling fan inside the computer started grinding and wranging, so this morning we disassembled the desktop and went in.
Using a stehoscope we identified the CPU fan as the noise-maker, so disconnected everything and got the fan and its cooling fins underneath a strong lamp where it was deeply cleaned and oiled. Fresh heat-synch grease was applied to the top of the CPU chip for heat dissipation through the metalic fin assembly.
It all went back together and booted right up but the three KDX streams refused to start because of blocked ports.
It took awhile to consider all the possibilities and the secret was found in the router which had swapped the computers IP address for another device that attaches to the router.
Encoder and server configurations were corrected to reflect the new layout, and we returned to streaming as of 1:55 PM CST.
The fan is now running smoothly and quietly.
are the good old days when all that was needed was a new tube here and there and a little carbon tet on the pots.
Glad you were able to handle this.
Neil
Yes, it's much more difficult to repair equipment now.
Take your PC for instance. Usually a power supply swap, a dry fan bearing or an electrolytic cap or two can be remidied with conventional tools.
Unfortunately, most of the equipment has surface mount components. If you can see them, some times you can remove/replace with conventional tools but it's difficult. You really need a hot-air removal tool to remove/replace the IC's as you need to heat all the leads at once.
I've only replace surface mounted IC's a few times. At home with my trusty Weller pencil soldering iron a quad op-amp in our Soundcraft 40 channel mixer was replaced. Of course after the IC was installed I had to go back and jump a trace that disappeared in the process.
At work we have a hot-air tool. A much easier way to remove IC's without removing traces. Only problem is sometimes nearby components unsolder and move. I need more practice!
I noticed you were using the word "we." Did you have a mouse in your pocket to assist?
I happen to work with other people. We have a hot-air work station.