Cinelabs Amplifone Flyback Replacement
xx.g...@cinelabs.com
It's been almost 2 months since the announcement of the replacement
Amplifone flyback transformer, and time for a status update! Please
note there haven't been any previous updates, as there was nothing
significant to report.
As you may already know, Cinelabs is pleased to announce a replacement
for the Atari Amplifone Vector video display Flyback Transformer (aka
the "Dead Red").
The new flybacks have been manufactured and shipped, and we now have
production units in our possession!
A beta test program is getting underway, and most of the beta units
have shipped.
The beta test includes both 19" and 25" monitors.
In addition, Cinelabs will perform objective testing, followed by
burn-in testing, which consists of two parts:
1) The unit is run in a game (Star Wars) for 7 days, 24 hours a day, so
at the end of the test the part has 168 continuous hours on it.
2) Then the unit is run in a game for 7 days, 24 hours a day, cycling
on for one hour, followed by off for one hour. At the end of the 7
days, the part has 84 power-up cycles and another 84 on hours,
intermixed 50/50 with 84 hours of off time.
We will also be putting together a manual during this time.
Stock has been sent to Arcadeshop. However, they have been instructed
_not_ to ship any product, until we have results from the beta test
program. We hope market forces allow us to complete the beta testing,
before we ship any product. If required, we are ready to ship at any
time.
As a reminder, this new flyback will be distributed from the USA by our
long-standing partner, Arcadeshop.com.
For ordering information, please see:
http://www.arcadeshop.com/amp-fb/amp-fb.htm
Arcadeshop is taking pre-orders at this time.
Technical questions can be directed to: info @ cinelabs dt com.
Thanks to everyone for their support,
Mark Shostak
*****************************************************************
The rest of this message is reposted from the original announcement,
for those who may not have seen it.
This part is a "drop-in" replacement for Atari / Ampliphone part number
A201005-01, as well as the existing substitute version, PennTran /
Wintron / VDC / Lexel part number 926862802, as used in Star Wars,
Empire Strikes Back and Major Havoc.
Installation follows Atari's original service literature, and is simply
a matter of removing the original part and installing the replacement
part. When Atari recommends adjusting the high voltage, and shutdown,
we do as well.
This unit has been designed from the ground up specifically for the
Atari Amplifone HV unit, and is *not* a surplus TV flyback that was
"forced to fit and painted to match" for the occasion.
Also, unlike the Wintron replacement, this unit solders directly to the
original PC board mounting holes, and only requires the original focus
and heater wires be connected individually (i.e. no harness to deal
with).
For ordering information, please see Arcadeshop's web site at:
http://www.arcadeshop.com/amp-fb/amp-fb.htm
Thanks,
Mark Shostak
Pat D.
Pat D.
xx.g...@cinelabs.com
- ....and the target price is?
$99 USD
LouiSurfer
Cyrus Cosmo
xx.g...@cinelabs.com
- Is this the same Hovey replacement that costs $18?
Hi Cyrus,
Here are some points to give you my perspective, but the main intent of
this thread was just to give a status update to people, trying not to
rehash the previous thread.
My thinking is, given the options of:
* the Wintron for anywhere from $190 to >$250, even in quantities of
100, if you can get it
* a single unit on ebay for >$300
* an entire replacement HV module (not including harness) for roughly
$150 (IIRC)
Given the above, I believe this part is reasonably priced in the market
at $99. Many potential customers seem to agree.
- As much as I love this hobby, I've started to value my spare time
and investment and can't put that much into something and not get
compensated. This is consistent with most projects around rgvac. For
example, does an AVG replacement cost $35 in parts? Probably more like
$5, but it's still a reasonable price, given the volume.
- With the low volume involved, $99 allows recovery of the time, space
and $ investment of the last 5 years (started this in 2002). Wouldn't
you want to be compensated if you put your effort into making something
for the community?
- The lower cost posted previously was for a large quantity. $99 is the
single quantity price - if you need more or want to be a distributor,
than send us an email.
- The lower cost posted previously was supposed to represent the cost
of goods. It doesn't include other costs, such as: customs, shipping,
order processing/fulfillment, tax, development, test, real-estate, web
hosting, electricity, etc. All of these items take time, money or both.
- I realize a lot of us are on the, uh, frugal side, but at the end of
the day, rgvac is not fatwallet. There are no rebates or stackable
coupons. :-)
- In reality, my cost was more than twice what was posted in the
previous thread. Unfortunately what that thread did was set unrealistic
expectations. If the value of an item was just the cost of the
materials that went into making it, people wouldn't have lined up to
buy the Wintron at $250. Those same people thought $99 was a great
price for the new replacement. Then, someone said this part only cost x
to produce, and all of the sudden some people started to believe that's
what the part was worth, as opposed to the value of a working Star
Wars, ESB, etc. X happened to be less than 1/2 my cost, so now the part
is only worth half of its wholesale cost. So, if we sell them at half
our cost, than we... make it up in volume?!?! :-\ I believe the value
is in getting a part that works, when you want it, for a reasonable
price (but not at cost), from a source you can rely on. And again, no
one is forcing you to buy it.
- Based on the "feedback" in the previous thread, I negotiated an
exclusive deal with the manufacturer where they say they will only sell
to myself and one other party. Anyone who looked at their web site
before, will now notice the part has been removed. Although nothing is
air-tight with these guys, it seems to have had some effect as I've had
people say they were referred to me.
- Also, by purchasing this directly from the manufacturer, one is
effectively making it so that the people who were responsible for
making the project a reality, don't get compensated. I see that kind of
as synonymous to stealing. I would hope you wouldn't steal.
- There is value in being able to simply order something, get it in a
few days, having documentation, "plugging it in" and just having it
work. That's part of what we do. Also, if there is an issue, having
someone who can help them resolve it. Can you picture a time you wished
you hadn't saved a buck, that ended up costing more in the long run?
Finally, I just wanted to let people know what's going on, as lots of
people have been asking. Once again, I'd ask people not to make this a
repeat of the last thread, which degraded into more of a mud slinging
exercise, than a productive discussion.
Anyone is welcome to email me (info at cinelabs dt com) to discuss it
further, but let's try and keep things "mud free".
Thanks,
-Mark
someotherguy
I left the entire text intact, but wanted to comment specifically on
that paragraph. If the people putting the effort forth to bring such
products to market aren't compensated, then there will be less
products in the future. That, you can count on. So you get to choose
which is more important. Saving some money on one item by
undercutting the people that are responsible for bringing you that
item... or support the people bringing you much-needed products.
We all like getting good prices on things, but I'm not gonna bite the
hand that feeds me.
Richard
syn...@gmail.com
the testing regiment?
Is it pretty much a matter of keeping the HV below 30kV? Have you guys
explored the limits of what to expect with this HV unit?
I've got a dead red just waiting for a replacement :-)
Mike Doyle
xx.g...@cinelabs.com
- What is being done to ensure safe operation regarding soft X-rays in
the testing regiment?
-
- Is it pretty much a matter of keeping the HV below 30kV? Have you
guys explored the limits of what to expect with this HV unit?
Mike,
The original Amplifone circuit incorporates x-ray protection. A pot on
the HV unit PCB allows adjustment of the shutdown voltage.
Regarding the test data, the maximum voltage produced by the production
version of the replacement is roughly 24KV @ 0i, which is well below
the red line. That value was measured with the regulators and pass
resistors in-circuit. Additional testing in a worse case scenario (i.e.
both regulators shorted) will also be performed and evaluated.
Thanks,
-Mark
Mark C. Spaeth
: - As much as I love this hobby, I've started to value my spare time
: and investment and can't put that much into something and not get
: compensated. This is consistent with most projects around rgvac. For
: example, does an AVG replacement cost $35 in parts? Probably more like
: $5, but it's still a reasonable price, given the volume.
Since you decided to pick on one of my products...
Yes $5-10 in TTL, depending on qty purchased.
... but unlike your product, I have to assemble and test everything I ship,
which doesn't figure at all into the "cost"... I don't just drop ship
100 to distributor and collect profit.
--
Mark Spaeth msp...@mtl.mit.edu
50 Vassar St., #38.265 msp...@mit.edu
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 452-2354 http://rgvac.978.org/~mspaeth
Scott Caldwell
testing. I'd be fibbing if I didn't say this crossed my mind
too.
Scott C.