Help, I've Bricked my Ferguson CRT TV model FTVD521T! - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Fordy160 · 5th Feb 2024, 6:04 pm

I discovered this thread from this site here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=194151 which pretty much describes the current situation I'm in. However, I cant even interact with the TV with either the buttons on the unit or the remote, and there is nothing but a black image with no OSD at all. Only the standby button works on both remote and unit. I tried an Orion universal remote via a mobile phone app with an IR blaster but didn't have any success either. My best guess is that I have inadvertantly wiped the EEPROM using the Volume down on the unit and 8 button on the remote rather than display the power on time, which is what I was hoping for and was lead to believe would do so after discovering that this is an Orion unit rebranded. See this thread for more info: https://www.reddit.com/r/crtgaming/c...bricked_my_tv/
My question is, is it possible to re-flash the EEPROM of this TV and how would one go abour doing so? I cannot find the service manual for this TV, nor its EEPROM file. Closest I have found is this one here: https://elektrotanya.com/ferguson_ft.../download.html which is the 14 inch version of the same model. Any suggestions, advise or input would be greatly appreciated as I would hate to scrap this unit from my own stupidity when all the components inside are fine.
The only other responce from the unit I get is when I press volume down on the unit and hold 8, it reboots itself to the same state. Other combinations yeild nothing so far, but something remains in there.

Maarten · 5th Feb 2024, 8:00 pm

The advice in the first thread seems sound. Find an Orion remote and set the options by hand. However I don't know how easy that would be without a service manual of this or a similar model.

Second best would be to program a new EEPROM with the 14" parameters, put it in your set and go from there. At least the remote would be correct again.

Fordy160 · 6th Feb 2024, 7:07 pm

As per my OP, the problem is that I am not able to enter the codes as there is no response from the unit at all when inputting the service code to program the EPPROM, volume down on the unit+6 on the remote. I have tried several different numbers on the remote which all are unresponsive, apart from 8, which restarts the TV into the same black screen state. There is no OSD, No sounds from inputs, no snow, just the 60hz high pitched whine from the TV being powered on.

Maarten · 7th Feb 2024, 3:30 pm

I understand that's when using the Ferguson remote? If so, I stand by my advice to try an Orion remote, or use the 14" EEPROM contents which will make your set respond to the Ferguson remote again, so you can then adjust it back to 21" settings.

hamid_1 · 11th Feb 2024, 11:38 pm

Looks like the OP solved the problem by reprogramming the EEPROM with a copy from the 14 inch model.
https://www.reddit.com/r/crtgaming/c...bricked_my_tv/

A happy ending!

5th Feb 2024, 6:04 pm	#1
Fordy160 Diode Join Date: Feb 2024 Location: Surrey, UK. Posts: 2	Help, I've Bricked my Ferguson CRT TV model FTVD521T! I discovered this thread from this site here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=194151 which pretty much describes the current situation I'm in. However, I cant even interact with the TV with either the buttons on the unit or the remote, and there is nothing but a black image with no OSD at all. Only the standby button works on both remote and unit. I tried an Orion universal remote via a mobile phone app with an IR blaster but didn't have any success either. My best guess is that I have inadvertantly wiped the EEPROM using the Volume down on the unit and 8 button on the remote rather than display the power on time, which is what I was hoping for and was lead to believe would do so after discovering that this is an Orion unit rebranded. See this thread for more info: https://www.reddit.com/r/crtgaming/c...bricked_my_tv/ My question is, is it possible to re-flash the EEPROM of this TV and how would one go abour doing so? I cannot find the service manual for this TV, nor its EEPROM file. Closest I have found is this one here: https://elektrotanya.com/ferguson_ft.../download.html which is the 14 inch version of the same model. Any suggestions, advise or input would be greatly appreciated as I would hate to scrap this unit from my own stupidity when all the components inside are fine. The only other responce from the unit I get is when I press volume down on the unit and hold 8, it reboots itself to the same state. Other combinations yeild nothing so far, but something remains in there. Last edited by Fordy160; 5th Feb 2024 at 6:20 pm.

5th Feb 2024, 8:00 pm	#2
Maarten Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haarlem, Netherlands Posts: 4,205	Re: Help, I've Bricked my Ferguson CRT TV model FTVD521T! The advice in the first thread seems sound. Find an Orion remote and set the options by hand. However I don't know how easy that would be without a service manual of this or a similar model. Second best would be to program a new EEPROM with the 14" parameters, put it in your set and go from there. At least the remote would be correct again.

6th Feb 2024, 7:07 pm	#3
Fordy160 Diode Join Date: Feb 2024 Location: Surrey, UK. Posts: 2	Re: Help, I've Bricked my Ferguson CRT TV model FTVD521T! As per my OP, the problem is that I am not able to enter the codes as there is no response from the unit at all when inputting the service code to program the EPPROM, volume down on the unit+6 on the remote. I have tried several different numbers on the remote which all are unresponsive, apart from 8, which restarts the TV into the same black screen state. There is no OSD, No sounds from inputs, no snow, just the 60hz high pitched whine from the TV being powered on.

7th Feb 2024, 3:30 pm	#4
Maarten Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haarlem, Netherlands Posts: 4,205	Re: Help, I've Bricked my Ferguson CRT TV model FTVD521T! I understand that's when using the Ferguson remote? If so, I stand by my advice to try an Orion remote, or use the 14" EEPROM contents which will make your set respond to the Ferguson remote again, so you can then adjust it back to 21" settings.

11th Feb 2024, 11:38 pm	#5
hamid_1 Heptode Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: High Wycombe, Bucks. UK. Posts: 811	Re: Help, I've Bricked my Ferguson CRT TV model FTVD521T! Looks like the OP solved the problem by reprogramming the EEPROM with a copy from the 14 inch model. https://www.reddit.com/r/crtgaming/c...bricked_my_tv/ A happy ending!