Vectrex display problem
Chad Hendrickson
Almost all the text is slightly flattened and some smaller fonts are even
upside down. Leaving most all of it illegible. (It is most noticable on
Vecmania because of the small fonts used.)
Also, the text that is readable is italicized. It is really weird. The
graphics are all fine but the text is bad.
Do you know what my problem may be? Is there an adjustment I could try
adjusting?
I had a second Vectrex that I traded that had the same problem. Also, I
emailed John Dondzila and he says that one of his three Vectrex units has a
similar problem.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Chad Hendrickson
P.S. please remove the REMOVE from my email address if you are going to
reply directly to me.
John Dondzila
>upside down. Leaving most all of it illegible. (It is most noticable on
>Vecmania because of the small fonts used.)
>
>Also, the text that is readable is italicized. It is really weird. The
>graphics are all fine but the text is bad.
>
>Do you know what my problem may be? Is there an adjustment I could try
>adjusting?
>
>I had a second Vectrex that I traded that had the same problem. Also, I
>emailed John Dondzila and he says that one of his three Vectrex units has a
>similar problem.
Well, I fixed mine (more or less).
Here's what I did:
*** WARNING - THE FOLLOWING SHOULD BE PERFORMED ONLY
BY AN EXPERIENCED TECHNICIAN - THERE ARE SERIOUS HIGH VOLTAGES
INSIDE A VECTREX WHICH CAN SERIOUSLY HARM OR KILL YOU IF
YOU COME INTO CONTACT WITH THEM ***
I used the Vectrex test cartridge to do the alignment, since not too many people
have one, this may prove difficult to do without it.
You'll need a plastic TV alignment screwdriver. Radio Shack sells a kit,
the red one included will work fine.
UNPLUG THE VECTREX, remove the 5 screws on the back and carefully remove the
back cover. The first adjustment is on the power board, which is the vertically
mounted board on the side of the unit. On the board near the tube is a small
potentiometer labeled R525. Use the plastic screwdriver to rotate the pot
clockwise as far as it will go. Be careful not to touch the picture tube, even
unplugged, a picture tube can still hold enough voltage to give you a helluva
shock.
Replace the cover and turn the Vectrex back on. If the picture is too small,
unplug the unit, remove the cover and turn R525 slightly counter clockwise.
Replace the cover, power on and check the picture.
This is all that should be necessary, if you have a test cart (I can provide
a loaner) you can further fine tune the screen with the two thumbwheel pots
on the lower board by the transformer.
*** Again, I cannot stress enough that this should only be done by a qualified
technician. If you trash your Vectrex or injure yourself, I will not be held
accountable.
This took care of most of the display problems. Both my units are still in need
of cap kits, but that's for another day.
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Remove the * from *pcj...@monmouth.com
to send E-Mail.
MikeHaas99
>upside down. Leaving most all of it illegible. (It is most noticable on
>Vecmania because of the small fonts used.)
>
>Also, the text that is readable is italicized. It is really weird. The
>graphics are all fine but the text is bad.
>
>Do you know what my problem may be? Is there an adjustment I could try
>adjusting?
>
>I had a second Vectrex that I traded that had the same problem. Also, I
>emailed John Dondzila and he says that one of his three Vectrex units has a
>similar problem.
Well, I fixed mine (more or less).
Here's what I did: ... >>
I love this Newsgroup!!
The text is NOT supposed to be italicized?
How else would I have know about this, if it were not for this group?
I though it was programmed that way (in Vecmania, by John).
I can do that repair John described. I have the tools too.
And the Multicart with the "test program" on that!
I was also wondering if there was a "focus" on the tube like real
TVs/Videogames?
I never wanted to "open the case" because mine has hardly been used at all
until recently (the past year or so).
I can't thank John enough. Thank you!
-Michael
vairxpert
>
>I love this Newsgroup!!
>The text is NOT supposed to be italicized?
>How else would I have know about this, if it were not for this group?
>I though it was programmed that way (in Vecmania, by John).
That's what I thought too! The game title and scrolling words at the
bottom of the screen are tilted to the left.
Now in the actual games I don't see that problem everywhere, the stat
screen that appears in Repulse (after you get killed) looks normal.
Also all my original Vec games look normal or at least VERY close.
What's strange is one game will say PLAYER 1 with a very slight tilt
to the right while another game will display PLAYER 1 in the same spot
with a very slight tilt to the left. Then again other games will be
perfectly vertical.
I always assumed it was in the programming of the game.
George
http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/vairxprt/index.htm
Remove killspam. to reply
John Dondzila
It didn't completely cure the italicized part, but at least the
upside down letters are gone. I had the same problem with
Clay's Moon lander demo. The demo words were upside down.
I thought it was on his end until I tried it in another machine.
John Dondzila
>the manual says that the DAC adjust of these two pots should be done
>first and only with an oscilloscope ... I hope to track down an oscope
>and get my three Vectri adjusted and cure the letter tilt ...
>
On the test cart with the grid screen, there are two lines, one on top of
the screen and one on the bottom. You can eyeball the adjustments
of the pots with these lines, however your Vec will not be truly tuned
unless you put in a cap kit.
Of course then you'll have to re-adjust all the pots !
solde...@my-deja.com
>>you can further fine tune the screen with the two thumbwheel
pots on the lower board by the transformer.<<
Yes I have also done this ... Sean showed me how the first time ... but
the manual says that the DAC adjust of these two pots should be done
first and only with an oscilloscope ... I hope to track down an oscope
and get my three Vectri adjusted and cure the letter tilt ...
Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
MikeHaas99
Well, a whole lot better than before.
Some text still slants a bit to the left, while other text slants a little to
the right, but overall a BIG improvement.
And I didn't touch a thing on the Power Supply Board. I couldn't find a match
for R525. There were 2 yellow pots but had different numbers.
So I went right for the "thumbwheel" adjustment on the bottom board.
You just about have to do this with the machine on to watch the tilt of the
text.
JUST USE EXTREME CAUTION. And only 1 hand. With high voltage you don't need to
actually touch the wrong thing to get shocked. You can get shocked by just
getting too close. (I guess that's why they are required to put all those
warning stickers.)
I've had experience troubleshooting arcade video games and know enough to stay
away from the picture tube section unless it's been grounded.
-Michael
Chad Hendrickson
pots on the bottom that you are talking about. This is so much nicer now!
I can play Vecmania!!!
"MikeHaas99" <mikeh...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19991224235327...@ng-fc1.aol.com...
baronvr
left missile launcher in Patriots is off screen). You mentioned that
adjusting R525 would shrink the picture, but I only see R401 and R408.
Will adjusting those help, or I guess I should be asking where is R525?
I have the test cart and the grid looks terrible...a horizontal line
barely on-screen at top, the grid going off-screen to the left and
butted up against the right edge of the screen, and the grid comes
pretty close to the bottom of the screen. Hopefully, I can correct some
of this...
Thanks,
cc
In article <qtNjONBbfFZ4HJ...@4ax.com>,
John Dondzila <*pcj...@monmouth.com> wrote:
>
> Well, I fixed mine (more or less).
>
> Here's what I did:
>
> a loaner) you can further fine tune the screen with the two
thumbwheel pots
> on the lower board by the transformer.
>
> *** Again, I cannot stress enough that this should only be done by a
qualified
> technician. If you trash your Vectrex or injure yourself, I will not
be held
> accountable.
>
> This took care of most of the display problems. Both my units are
still in need
> of cap kits, but that's for another day.
>
> Anti SPAM In Use !
> Remove the * from *pcj...@monmouth.com
> to send E-Mail.
>
--
"Spike's Big Vectrex Page"
http://vectrex.vintagegaming.com
REPLY TO: baronvr @ usa.net (not dejanews!)
news:rec.games.vectrex
John Dondzila
>left missile launcher in Patriots is off screen). You mentioned that
>adjusting R525 would shrink the picture, but I only see R401 and R408.
>Will adjusting those help, or I guess I should be asking where is R525?
>I have the test cart and the grid looks terrible...a horizontal line
>barely on-screen at top, the grid going off-screen to the left and
>butted up against the right edge of the screen, and the grid comes
>pretty close to the bottom of the screen. Hopefully, I can correct some
>of this...
Look at the power board (vertical mounted one) ...
See the long rectangular heat sink ? Start at the top, go down about 2.5
inches and R525 is to the right. It's a little bitty pot and you need one of
those plastic TV adjuster screwdrivers to get at it from the top of the
board. That's why I warn everyone, because it's right next to the tube and
the HV transformer wire.
It appears to adjust the overall size. There a couple other pots
on the bottom of the board but I didn't want to touch them as they
appear to be part of the voltage regulation circuitry.
JD
solde...@my-deja.com
see R401 and R408. Will adjusting those help, or I guess I should be
asking where is R525?<<
R401 is called X-size and R408 is called Y-size ... R525 shifts
everything diagonally for me ...
I have the plastic TV alignment screwdriver kit from Radio Shack
... recommended!!!
Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA
baronvr
heart all the horror stories about touching the picture tube) and once
I get the Radio Shack kit I'll give it a try...
cc
In article <847uih$6vp$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
--
"Spike's Big Vectrex Page"
http://vectrex.vintagegaming.com
REPLY TO: baronvr @ usa.net (not dejanews!)
news:rec.games.vectrex
solde...@my-deja.com
>>Cool. I've just bought the yellow rubber cleaning gloves (I've taken to
heart all the horror stories about touching the picture tube) and once I get
the Radio Shack kit I'll give it a try...<<
For everybody: Hey! Yellow rubber cleaning gloves will not protect you from
the voltages of the picture tube ... do not touch the picture tube unless you
have discharged its potential voltage!! You must know what you are doing!
If you wish to adjust the picture, you can access the pots (R401 & R408) from
the outside of the vertical power board. the R525 can be accessed from the
top of the board. Again you should not touch any other component when making
these adjustments.
baronvr
> For everybody: Hey! Yellow rubber cleaning gloves will not
protect you from
> the voltages of the picture tube ... do not touch the picture tube
unless you
> have discharged its potential voltage!! You must know what you are
doing!
Yeah, I wouldn't have touched the tube anyhow, but I figured I was
better off with them than without them. You know, it's probably a good
thing I didn't own my own Vectrex as a kid. I used to open up
everything I owned and poke around inside to see how it worked. I sure
dodged that bullet!
cc
--
"Spike's Big Vectrex Page"
http://vectrex.vintagegaming.com
REPLY TO: baronvr @ usa.net (not dejanews!)
news:rec.games.vectrex
Brett Walach
Rob wrote:
>>Cool. I've just bought the yellow rubber cleaning gloves (I've taken to
>> heart all the horror stories about touching the picture tube) and once I
>> get the Radio Shack kit I'll give it a try...
> For everybody: Hey! Yellow rubber cleaning gloves will not protect you
from
> the voltages of the picture tube ... do not touch the picture tube unless
you
> have discharged its potential voltage!! You must know what you are doing!
I didn't know for sure, but I figured these were kind of a weak insulator.
ZZZZAP!
Thanks Rob.
Sincerely,
Brett Walach
/*******************************\
|* "Brett's Vectrex Preserve"
|* Coming Sat. Jan. 15th 2000
|* Vec...@inil.com
|* Hangout @ Rec.Games.Vectrex
\*******************************/
John Dondzila
>ZZZZAP!
>
Flame Fodder:
Actually rubber gloves are a perfect insulator, but
you must first coat them with Vaseline.
JD
... no one really bought that, did they ?