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DM500 Mods

The document summarizes a modification to the DM500 device involving replacing and adding capacitors near the ethernet chip. It replaces an existing 33uF capacitor with a 220uF capacitor, and adds parallel 4.7uF capacitors to two existing small capacitors. This is done to improve the power delivery to the ethernet chip and minimize the chance of network problems by providing better current buffering for short high current demands from long network cables. Diagrams show the locations and orientations of the replaced and added capacitors.

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127 views3 pages

DM500 Mods

The document summarizes a modification to the DM500 device involving replacing and adding capacitors near the ethernet chip. It replaces an existing 33uF capacitor with a 220uF capacitor, and adds parallel 4.7uF capacitors to two existing small capacitors. This is done to improve the power delivery to the ethernet chip and minimize the chance of network problems by providing better current buffering for short high current demands from long network cables. Diagrams show the locations and orientations of the replaced and added capacitors.

Uploaded by

ostroveanuemilia
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Modifying your DM500

The Cause: The DM500 is equipped with a 10/100MBit ethernet interface. This interface consists of 1 chip on the mainboard and a couple of surrounding components. (on the bottom left hand of the board). This chip handles the network connection, and (low level) traffic management. Mostly this is an ASIX AX88796. This chip needs the surrounding components to function correctly. Recently a discovery was made that 3 surrounding capacitors did not quite meet the specifications given by the manufacturer of the network chip. First of all there is a capacitor of 33uF/16V just above the chip (on the right side). This capacitor serves as a current buffer for the ASIX and makes sure that sudden short high current demands can be handled propertly, without the voltage dropping too low for this chip to operate. You have to understand that network cabling can be very long, so it takes a lot of energy to send a signal over these wires. If this energy cannot be delivered in a very short time, network problems can arrise. The discoverer of this mod found a value of 220uF/16v (Low Impedance/ESR!) better then the standard 33uF. With a bigger buffer, the chance of power problems are minimized. I totally agree with him. Then there are 2 VERY SMALL SMD capacitors just above the network chip. The function of these capacitors is not totally clear to me, but also have to do with delivering sufficient energy to the network. Luckely these SMD capacitors can stay in place, and only need a 'backpack' of 2 parallel capacitors. The Solution: - Replace capacitor C65 (33uF/16V) (the 'big' one) by a 220uF/16V Low Impedance/ESR type. - Solder a 4,7 uF/16V TENTAL! capacitor in parallel with C17. Watch the polarisation! - Solder a 4,7 uF/16V TENTAL! capacitor in parallel with C23. Watch the polarisation! Use a temperature of about 350 degrees celcius, and a very small tip! Especially C17 an C23 are very small! Below a picture with polarisation of a 4,7 uF Tental capacitor.

Replace by a 220uF/16V Low Impadance/ESR

Parallel solder the 4,7uF/16V tental capacitors on top of these two.


When you have done this correctly, the mod will look something like this:

References: http://www.sat4all.com http://www.pli-images.org http://www.siennacountach.net/gallery/dreambox http://www.dreamboxonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1983 http://www.siennacountach.net/media/LAN_DM500.pdf

Author: Hans van Essen

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