Tevion cable coming apart: options?

[BarryTheCrab]

What are my options to repair my Tevion breakout cable?
It works, but it can’t be good for the signal going through nor will it last in that precarious situation.

[aramkolt]

You could always solder input cables directly to the board, but that's some pretty fine soldering most likely unless there are some larger soldering points inside. If it was me, I'd probably look into that along with mounting the unit on something solid so that the cable can't flex anywhere near the actual adapter and also run at least a short USB extension cable so that stress isn't being put on the USB end either.

Other options could be just resoldering a new cable at the point where it's breaking and getting some access to more of the cable by shaving off some of the existing stress relief.

[latreche34]

What device model? Have you already looked for replacement?

[lordsmurf]

There is something very different about the Tevion cable vs. the ATI/Hauppauge. If you lose that cable, you're probably screwed. I've yet to find a good replacement, and I have several extra cable-less Tevions.

And before anybody starts to Google ... don't. Been there, done that. This needs something custom.

[BarryTheCrab]

A Tevion with no cable is like a jet with no wings. Very sad.
I will probably put it aside and open a new one.
Maybe my TV tech can do something, I need to see him for my JVC 4800 anyway.

[aramkolt]

At this point, it look like the outer ground wires on the video that look like they've broken through are shared by the other grounds from audio, so electrically nothing is probably broken yet. I'd probably just mount it to something so it can't flex at that spot and run a short USB extension cable to the computer so nothing else gets damaged further.

[lordsmurf]

I agree, it just looks like shielding separation so far, not wires. Of course, the internal wires my be loose.

Barry, you're putting stress on your wires and gear. Fix that. Something about your setup, your gear config, needs adjustment so you're not stressing wires and connections. It can be a simple as taping something to something, or putting a book under something. If I had a fuller picture of the complete setup, I cold make suggestions.

Don't feel too bad, I've learned this the hard way too. More than once I've had to get s-video ports resoldered, and I've lost at least one ATI cable over the decades.

[BarryTheCrab]

I will certainly be more aware of hanging dangling wires n cables as I chase the next workflow. I have more Tevions but I hate to see this gear go "bad", every bit of quality legacy gear matters now.
Question: does that shielding matter? A lot or a little?

[lordsmurf]

Shielding matters. Lot/little depends on external factors. Mostly "a lot".

Now you see how/why gear fails. You can make a single mistake, and it's gone. That's how I lost AVT-8710s, JVCs, and other gear. I'm extremely careful, but it still happens. When abusive hamfisted brutes handle gear, or even just mail gear, that's why it turns to trash so quickly.

I'm somewhat of a gear hoarder. I know you have become one as well. This is why.
When we lose gear, it just pisses us off, it doesn't end us.

Just don't over-hoard. For example, last week, I let a sweet A+ minty setup go. I was really tempted to keep it for myself. "My precious!" It was every bit as good as my current in-use gear (and some backups). But this site needs funding, and I hate seeing it just age on a shelf. So now it's out there, tackling a huge 100s-tape project for somebody, as (nature?) intended.

[BarryTheCrab]

I’d say I’m pre-hoarder, just covering my arse.
So, what are those options? Are they worth it? I do not solder, but…

[lordsmurf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryTheCrab

I’d say I’m pre-hoarder, just covering my arse.

That's how it begins.

Quote:

So, what are those options? Are they worth it? I do not solder, but…

Next weekend, let me contact somebody. You'll send him your stuff, I'll send him some of mine, and perhaps we can get him to design a better-quality replacement. It's not something I can't physically do anymore, but I think he can.

[latreche34]

Just use another cable you have and try not to put tension on it, Not worth fixing, That's what replacements are for, so you don't have to fix something not meant to be fixed.

[lordsmurf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by latreche34

That's what replacements are for,

None exist. This cable is proprietary. There's actually two versions of this stick, each with a different cable.

[latreche34]

He mentioned that he has more Tevions, Wouldn't that mean they all have cables?

[BarryTheCrab]

Yes, they all have cables, and I can throw away my damaged unit, or put it in a drawer.
If I can keep this unit in working condition without spending stupid money then that would be preferable.

[BW37]

If the cable is still working electrically/functionally as well as ever, you might be able to salvage it by capturing and holding the wires where they are by slathering on some flexible glue/adhesive or silicone to create a new “stress relief”. I’d use Something with body like Shoe Goo or E-6000 or maybe best, an electrical grade silicone (non corrosive unlike most silicones). I’d extend the “glue” up and partially over the existing plug, into its grooves to hold better. Once cured, you might wrap it with some tape or something. 3M makes “Scotch Tough Duct Tape” that I find particularly useful for something like this. It’s fairly flexible and most importantly the adhesive doesn’t get gooey or dry out and crack over time like typical duct tapes.

My 2 cents…
BW

[BarryTheCrab]

I think I’ll take up the idea of farming it out as suggested by LS, for now I’ll put it in a safe space.
I do not want to be guilty of technicide.