Shaky screen
Jindrich Kubec
I've got my first Vectrex yesterday, and I have few technical questions:
1) Sound is not good, lots of noise - I've found something in the FAQ,
will try to solve it
2) Screen - it's a bit shaky
3) Screen - I can't see the score in Mine Storm. It's like the beam
drawing multiple lines on one line. Is there an easy way how to 'repair'
this. Is there inside some kind of potentiometer which could make it
better? (Are there any instructions how to open the Vectrex - 5 screws
or more?)
3) Screen - is the bright white dot in the center okay?
--
Jindroush <kub...@asw.cz>
See http://www.asw.cz/~kubecj for Atari 8bit utils!
Milan Pollé
"Jindrich Kubec" <kub...@asw.cz> schreef in bericht
news:3AB9E646...@asw.cz...
> Hi!
>
> I've got my first Vectrex yesterday, and I have few technical questions:
> 1) Sound is not good, lots of noise - I've found something in the FAQ,
> will try to solve it
A constant buzzing is normal, unless like me you've got one of the later
systems with no buzzing.
> 2) Screen - it's a bit shaky
Yes, here too, I noticed the screen starts to shake a little bit as soon as
I start moving my ship in MineStorm. Shaking is normal, but I have no idea
how much shaking is normal. Replacing the electrolytes might help there.
> 3) Screen - I can't see the score in Mine Storm. It's like the beam
> drawing multiple lines on one line. Is there an easy way how to 'repair'
> this. Is there inside some kind of potentiometer which could make it
> better? (Are there any instructions how to open the Vectrex - 5 screws
> or more?)
Is your display centered correctly ? This can be adjusted with a
potentiometer.
> 3) Screen - is the bright white dot in the center okay?
When do you have that ? Try lowering the brightness a bit, a white dot in
the center will eventually burn the fosfor and should only happen when the
display is set too bright. Otherwise you might have to exchange an IC.
Check here under the link "shoptalk"
http://www.inil.com/users/vectrex/index_f.htm
best wishes,
Milan
Jindrich Kubec
> Is your display centered correctly ? This can be adjusted with a
> potentiometer.
Is it somewhere inside? Should I open the device?
> When do you have that ?
Constantly.
> Try lowering the brightness a bit.
Will try it...
> Milan
Hm, a Slavic name in Holland? :)
Jindrich Kubec
>
> "Milan Pollé" wrote:
> > Is your display centered correctly ? This can be adjusted with a
> > potentiometer.
>
> Is it somewhere inside? Should I open the device?
>
> > When do you have that ?
> Constantly.
>
> > Try lowering the brightness a bit.
>
> Will try it...
>
> > Milan
>
> Hm, a Slavic name in Holland? :)
I found out another problem:
1) The 'emulator' and 'real' versions of MineStorm look different -
maily because of 'unconnected' vectors on the 'real' screen
2) The title screen reads 'Vectrex', 'GCE', 'Entertaining' upwards down!
and 'new ideas' very compressed, I can't read it...
Richard Hutchinson
>and 'new ideas' very compressed, I can't read it...
Definitely an adjustment problem, the 2 pots on the left of the logic board
should cure this. If you want a precision adjustment use the test cart with
the screen with diamonds with crosses in.
Richard H.
Cparsonsuk
There should be a brightness knob on the back of the Vectrex. Turn it down
till the white dot just dissapears.
cNp
Milan Pollé
>> Is your display centered correctly ? This can be adjusted with a
>> potentiometer.
>Is it somewhere inside? Should I open the device?
Yes, in the middle at the back of the horizontal board. I don't remember any
specific details about opening the Veccy, I think it should be no problem.
Discharging the tube is always strongly advised, there is a method described
at Bretts page for doing that. Though I was always told to just turn a
device on when unplugged would accomplish the same thing. It seems to work,
I got no pop or spark with the screwdriver method, but I'm not totally sure,
can anyone confirm this ?
>> When do you have that ?
>Constantly.
>> Try lowering the brightness a bit.
>Will try it...
If this doesn't help, something is probably wrong with, I think the
6522(?)CIA, you might be able to rip one from a dead C64.
>> Milan
>Hm, a Slavic name in Holland? :)
Yes :^) Definitly not a Dutch name, though it's gaining popularity here. My
grandfather was Czech, though I never knew him, he died I think when my
father was little, so I think he never really knew him either. My
grandmother (mother's side) saw the name in the credits of some tv-program
(my wife got her name from a name in moviecredits :^) My mother thought it
was a neat idea to give me a Czech name. My second name is Sergej, my last
name might be Czech as well, maybe French, I'm not sure.
best wishes,
Milan
Rob Mitchell
I STRONGLY suggest discharging the picture tube before servicing the
Vectrex! Instructions for doing so can be found on Brett's Vectrex
Preserve.
After servicing the following can be done with the unit powered on. Be
careful to avoid touching the high voltage section and high voltage wire
coming from the metal box on the vertical Power Board. All adjustments
are best done according to the instructions outlined in the service
manual which can be downloaded from Brett's Vectrex Preserve and Spike's
Big Vectrex Page. Also the Test Cart program is helpful. This is found
on Vectrex Multicarts.
Vector alignment and letter slant can be adjusted by turning the
thumbwheel potentiometers labelled R333 and R335 and located at the
right on the horizontal Logic Board near the power transformer.
Picture alignment can be done by adjusting the X size pot (R401) and Y
size pot (R408) on the vertical Power Board. Small holes are present
for easy access from the solder side (outside) via insulated
screwdriver.
Diagonal picture alignment can be done by adjusting potentiometer R302
at the back center of the horizontal Logic Board.
Be careful with these potentiometers as they are old and could break if
forced to turn.
Hope that helps.
Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA
Milan Pollé
news:3ABCBAE5...@my-deja.com...
> Vector alignment and letter slant can be adjusted by turning the
> thumbwheel potentiometers labelled R333 and R335 and located at the
> right on the horizontal Logic Board near the power transformer.
>
> Picture alignment can be done by adjusting the X size pot (R401) and Y
> size pot (R408) on the vertical Power Board. Small holes are present
> for easy access from the solder side (outside) via insulated
> screwdriver.
>
> Diagonal picture alignment can be done by adjusting potentiometer R302
> at the back center of the horizontal Logic Board.
I didn't get any spark or pop, after turning the Vectrex on while unplugged
and then doing the discharge trick. I think turning it on while unplugged
might also drain the caps ?
I think I'm going to try replacing my IC301 (MC1408 DAC), I guess I could
use those Philips replacement IC's, but I'm not sure. Text display on my
system is a bit shaky, but also more slanted on the left side of the screen
than on the right side. I gathered from the troubleshooting guide IC301
might need replacing.
I want to do a full electrolyte replacement, but I'm not sure I want to risk
ruining my only Vectrex.
best wishes,
Milan
Silvestri, Chris
Just wanted to let you know that I live in the Kennesaw area in Atlanta and
just picked up a mint Vectrex w/14 games all boxes, manuals and overlays
this past weekend for $20!!!
I've been wanting one for a long time, but never had the cash to buy one off
of eBay... Finally got one!
Anyway, just wanted to say "Hi" to a local collector!
-Chris
csil...@metricse.com
--
Posted from mail.jajones.com [166.82.83.10]
via Mailgate.ORG Server - http://www.Mailgate.ORG
Silvestri, Chris
other hobby) and I agree with Richard. Only other thing I can think of is,
that if you can't adjust the screen properly and fix your problem, you might
want to replace some, if not all of the capacitors inside the Vectrex. This
is common on old arcade games that are left on all the time, or get high
usage, etc..... Guess it just depends on how much your unit has been used
over the years.
-Chris
Richard Hutchinson
Vectrex.
Richard H.
Milan Pollé
"Richard Hutchinson" <r...@dial.pipex.com> schreef in bericht
news:3ac0c639$0$12245$cc9e...@news.dial.pipex.com...
> Another reason for someone to put together a much needed 'cap-kit' for the
> Vectrex.
Yes! And someone to do the refurbishing for you :^)
best wishes,
Milan
Brett Walach
Milan Pollé wrote:
>
>"Richard Hutchinson"
>> Another reason for someone to put together a much needed 'cap-kit' for
the
>> Vectrex.
>
>Yes! And someone to do the refurbishing for you :^)
I agree...it's definitely a decent project to tackle...Not mind-bending,
just tedious. But well worth it I'm sure.
I think a Cap-Kit should come with a complete How-To with nice illustrations
and a Test Cart...'cause after the surgery is complete it'll need some
rehabilitation.
Sincerely,
Brett Walach
/*******************************\
|* "Brett's Vectrex Preserve"
|* http://www.PlayVectrex.com
|* Vec...@inil.com
|* Hangout @ Rec.Games.Vectrex
\*******************************/
Rob Mitchell
Hey hey hey! The Atlanta GA area Vectrex club has a new member!
Congratulations! I work north of Kennesaw so I drive through there all
the time! There is another guy who is big into Vectrex in Kennesaw ..
but he and I have lost touch .. I will email you privately .. so maybe
we can get on the phone and talk! Plus I wanna hear your story about
how you found an instant collection!
Rob Mitchell, Clairmont and LaVista, Atlanta, GA
Rob Mitchell
>> Just wanted to let you know that I live in the Kennesaw area in Atlanta and just picked up a mint Vectrex w/14 games all boxes, manuals and overlays this past weekend for $20!!!<<
Hey hey hey! The Atlanta GA area Vectrex club has a new member!
Congratulations! I work north of Kennesaw so I drive through there all
the time! There is another guy who is big into Vectrex in Kennesaw ..
but he and I have lost touch .. I'll try to get in touch with him
again. Other Vectrex owners in the Atlanta area are my 10 yo nephew and
his friend.
lawndart
--
Dale Windsor
LawnDart Rocketry
Webstore: www.lawndartrocketry.com
Project LawnDart: www.greenman.org/~keith/lawndart/
NAR #12081, TRA # 1795, cert Level 3
Rob Mitchell
Hi Dale:
I can see a meeting of all Atlanta area Vectrex owners happening in the
near future! :)
Silvestri, Chris
Cool! I live off of Jiles Rd. in Legacy Park.... Small world Huh?
-Chris
Chris Silvestri
678.354.8747
Rob Mitchell
Ok Chris and Dale .. we have to get together ! I drive up I-75/575 to
go to work so I go by Kennesaw often!
Rob Mitchell, Clairmont and LaVista, Dekalb Co, Atlanta, GA