On May 30, 2018, i bought a brand new Blackstar ID:CORE Super-Wide Stereo, 2x10, 100 watt Guitar Combo Amplifier ($349.00) for use with my DoubleNeck. It's been a very good amp and i used it extensively with my music students and for small jam sessions.
Not long ago, it started switching from "dirty" to "clean" without knob movement. I reached out to Blackstar and they advised the firmware needed to be updated from v1.3 to v1.4.
I ordered up a quality USB to Mini USB cable - 6 feet long - expressly for this task.
As many of you know, KFRG FM 97.1 has a 50,000 watt transmitter 1.2 miles east of us (along the same hillside) and 1,200 feet higher than us.
I've frequently experienced that radio station playing through my amps and I've posted YouTube videos to prove it.
@Don installed an RFI/EMI filter assembly, which replaced the AC input on my 1993 Marshall Valvestate Bi-Chorus 200, that knocked this problem completely, however, both my DSL40C'S, a Germino Lead 55, a Marshall 2203 and 2204, plus a Triple Rectifier Mesa and a Mesa Fillmore 50 watt combo all exhibited the same radio transmitter anomalie.
This persisted even after running all amps through a Fuhrman P-2400 IT conditioner.
To that end, Ferrite cable loops are used on all my electronic equipment, but sometimes, this anomaly is more prevalent than at other times, and we've encou tered it at other venues with nearby FM radio stations.
We've also had amps and the PA pick up and trasmit FM radio stations, cell phone conversations and video game music from the electronic menus at different venues, so it doesn't just happen at my home.
Several recording studios in this area suffer from FM and Cell/Nextel traffic coming through on recordi.gs, despite all the latest RFI blocking equipment.
I had a lot of trouble with this update. The progress meter would "freeze" at 3% or 16% and just stop. All the time, i could hear "Constant Country K-Frog" being broadcasted through the amp clearly.
I began to consider that this FM transmission might be causing a signal disruption that was affecring the update.
As an experiment, i switched to several different AC cables (also with looped ferrite rings) and heard no change in the volume of the FM radio broadcast.
i then wrapped the entire AC cable with aluminum foil and immediately noticed an audible reduction in broadcast volume. However, the update still would freeze up and the progress meter (on my PC screen) would kind of "pulse" or "flash" visually during the update, which ended without success at least 8 times.
Finally, i put a wrap of aluminum foil around the closed-back amp cabinet, 360°, and further volume reduction was observed in the FM broadcast.
However, this had no effect on the update.
Interestingly, when i wrapped the entire length of the 6 foot mini USB cable, the pulsing/flashing display stopped and the update went through successfully in 2 minutes without a glitch.
Thought you guys might find this of interest...
Not long ago, it started switching from "dirty" to "clean" without knob movement. I reached out to Blackstar and they advised the firmware needed to be updated from v1.3 to v1.4.
I ordered up a quality USB to Mini USB cable - 6 feet long - expressly for this task.
As many of you know, KFRG FM 97.1 has a 50,000 watt transmitter 1.2 miles east of us (along the same hillside) and 1,200 feet higher than us.
I've frequently experienced that radio station playing through my amps and I've posted YouTube videos to prove it.
@Don installed an RFI/EMI filter assembly, which replaced the AC input on my 1993 Marshall Valvestate Bi-Chorus 200, that knocked this problem completely, however, both my DSL40C'S, a Germino Lead 55, a Marshall 2203 and 2204, plus a Triple Rectifier Mesa and a Mesa Fillmore 50 watt combo all exhibited the same radio transmitter anomalie.
This persisted even after running all amps through a Fuhrman P-2400 IT conditioner.
To that end, Ferrite cable loops are used on all my electronic equipment, but sometimes, this anomaly is more prevalent than at other times, and we've encou tered it at other venues with nearby FM radio stations.
We've also had amps and the PA pick up and trasmit FM radio stations, cell phone conversations and video game music from the electronic menus at different venues, so it doesn't just happen at my home.
Several recording studios in this area suffer from FM and Cell/Nextel traffic coming through on recordi.gs, despite all the latest RFI blocking equipment.
I had a lot of trouble with this update. The progress meter would "freeze" at 3% or 16% and just stop. All the time, i could hear "Constant Country K-Frog" being broadcasted through the amp clearly.
I began to consider that this FM transmission might be causing a signal disruption that was affecring the update.
As an experiment, i switched to several different AC cables (also with looped ferrite rings) and heard no change in the volume of the FM radio broadcast.
i then wrapped the entire AC cable with aluminum foil and immediately noticed an audible reduction in broadcast volume. However, the update still would freeze up and the progress meter (on my PC screen) would kind of "pulse" or "flash" visually during the update, which ended without success at least 8 times.
Finally, i put a wrap of aluminum foil around the closed-back amp cabinet, 360°, and further volume reduction was observed in the FM broadcast.
However, this had no effect on the update.
Interestingly, when i wrapped the entire length of the 6 foot mini USB cable, the pulsing/flashing display stopped and the update went through successfully in 2 minutes without a glitch.
Thought you guys might find this of interest...
