Sharp MD-MT161E Service Mode

From Inside Electronics

Entering service mode

To enter test mode hold down Display and Enter, then press Play. The Software version will be displayed, followed by all the symbols on the display and then finally the word 'TEST'. In this state the following buttons can be pressed:

  • << and >> Moves the head - useful if something is trapped underneath
  • + Shows the software version number
  • Disp Initially shows CHG_ON, << and >> for CHG_RT, CHG_CU - Probably different Charging modes.
  • Bass Enters the service menu. This is described below.

The service menu

Once in service mode, press Bass to enter the menu. Use << and >> to move through the items on the menu and press Play to select an item. Press Stop to quit. The function of each item is listed here:

  • Auto1 Appears to calibrate showing AT1 press play to continue to AT2.

It doesn't work on non-recordable discs, but it does on write-protected recordable discs.

  • Auto2 Appears to calibrate showing AT2 press play to continue to T Play. Works on recordable and non-recordable discs
  • T Play Appears to give a quality assessment. While counting press Disp to view
    • AP0060 (Position)
    • CE0012 (Error rate - goes up if you tap device)
    • AE0000 (Error rate - Normally zero but increases when tapped)
    • (non-recordable discs show SQ0000 etc with CE0000 but not AP)
  • While counting press Bass to select 1TR, 10TR, 0384TR
  • While counting press Mode to move to Manu2 (See below)
  • T Rec Would probably be similar to T Play but returns to TEST if disc is write protected
  • DinMon Digital In Monitor. << and >> Change between C, U1 and U2 (cannot be edited)
  • Inner Shows SQFFA9 counting up and looping round, even on recordable discs.

Value keeps dropping back a bit then continuing.

Normal

Selecting normal from the menu (by pressing Play) is probably the most interesting option. The Minidisc player plays as normal showing the Track number, but it also shows other things:

  • The first two digits show the motor speed, which will start and stop if you're using batteries to preserve their life.
  • The remaining digits show the address on the disc currently being read from. The disc starts at 003200.
  • The level indicator shows how full the buffer is. As the level drops the motor spins up and the buffer refills.
    • If the unit is being shaken, it will take longer to refill and this uses more battery power.
    • If the unit is being shaken, the player will not let the buffer drop so low before refilling it.
  • If you get ErAdj. go to T Play and press play. This will automatically run Auto2 if necessary and then show the error rate. Press stop and go straight to Normal and try again.

Settings

The remaining menus contain variables that can be adjusted. I have experimented with them all looking for a way to increase the speed at which the text scrolls across the screen. Unfortunately I didn't find this, but I did find a few others, such as the Contrast level and some Audio properties. Here is the complete list:

Key:

  • '-' Indicates the start of a group.
  • '*' Indicates it can be adjusted.
  • Vol + and - Increment / Decrement value (For starred values)
  • << and >> Change between rows, Disp to change between elements of Row
  • Manu1
    • - TMP 05 (Current temperature of unit)
    • - Ah FCB
    • Bh FBF
    • Eh 001
    • Fh 005
    • - LON P
    • -* RFg 4, AB 3E0 (Disc spins start stop)
    • * Sa 64B, AB 3A0 (Silent)
    • * Sb 64B, AB 3D5
    • -* PTG 2, ef 221 (Disc spins smooth)
    • * PCH 03, ef 220
    • -* GTG 2, ef 1D1 (Head moves)
    • * GCH 02, ef 1CE
    • -* RCG 6, TC 115
    • -* SE 5BC, ei 0E6, EF 072
    • -* SF 5A9, fi 0E8, EF 072
    • -* RFG 4, ab 2EE (Disc spins smooth and Head/Focus wobble)
    • * SA 64B, ab 2EE (Silent)
    • * SB 64B, ab 2EE
    • - AH FC7, (Disp turns Repeat on and off)
    • - BH FC5
    • - EH 002
    • - FH 005
    • - TH FD
    • - AL FED
    • - BL FDD
    • - EL 008
    • - FL 008
  • Manu2
    • - TMP 05 (Current temperature of unit)
    • - LON P
    • -* PE 5C5, ei 106, EF 075
    • -* PF 571, fi 117, EF 075
    • -* La 64F, ab 32F (Falls to 2D0 then resets up to 32F)
    • -* Lb 64F, ab 32F (Head moves)
    • -* GC 1E, TC 110
    • -* GE 5DF, ei 0E5, EF 071
    • -* GF 5B9, fi 0E8, EF 071
    • -* LA 5DE, ab 34F
    • -* LB 64F, ab 34F
  • Rslt1
    • - AH FC7
    • - BH FC5
    • - EH 002
    • - FH 005
    • - AL FED
    • - BL FDD
    • - EL 008
    • - FL 008
    • - TH FD
    • -* PTG 2
    • -* GTG 2
    • -* RCG 6
    • -* RFG 4
    • -* PCH 03
    • -* GCH 02
    • -* SA 64B
    • -* SB 64B
    • -* SE 5BC
    • -* SF 5A9
  • Rslt2
    • -* PE 5C5
    • -* PF 571
    • -* GE 5DF
    • -* GF 5B9
    • -* HA 80C
    • -* HB 80C
    • -* LA 5DE
    • -* LB 64F
    • -* GC 1E
  • E Data
    • - E016, 07 (Hold down Bass to show extra 2 digits)
    • - E116, 07
    • - E216, 07
    • - E316, 07
    • - E416, 07
    • - E516, 0B
    • - E652, 09
    • - E716, 07
    • - E852, 09
    • - E952, 09
  • EEPROM
    • Temp (Play to select group, Disp to go up one level)
    • * TM05A5
    • TPinA2
    • Focus
      • FG B0
      • FF1 70
      • FF2 E8
      • FZH ED
      • FLn 0A
      • DJG 14
      • FLV 33
      • WTf 20
      • FSS E9
    • Track
    • Spin
    • Sled
    • Bass
      • * BS1 3F (Set the amount of Bass boost for each of the 3 levels)
      • * BS2 1F
      • * BS3 E2
    • ADJSET
      • * COK A0
      • * FAT C0
      • * TAT 3E
      • * CAT 20
      • * FAB E0
    • DEQSET
      • * HQ1 90
      • * HQ2 90
      • * HSG 11
      • * HSO FD
      • * LQ1 90
      • * LQ2 90
      • * LSG 11
      • * LSO 00
      • * GQ1 98
      • * GQ2 84
      • * GSG 11
      • * FLp 08
    • CTRL
      • * CT0 05
      • * CT1 11
      • * CT2 7F
      • * CT3 30
      • * RC0 C0
      • * RC1 FE
      • * SYC A6
      • * PWL 03
      • * DR1 92 (Set the battery level for the battery indicator)
      • * DR2 C8
      • * IN1 D3
      • * IN2 64
      • * IN3 D2
      • * INH 64
      • * DRH C8
      • * PLE 1B
      • * RCE 42
      • * ELT 76
      • * SLT 43
      • * SPM 00 - Contrast (If you set FF you won't be able to see the screen to put it back!)
      • * MSL 00
      • * US0 00
      • * US1 00
      • * US2 00