Adding an RGB input to a cheap generic NTSC TV

Only danger of jolts is from the anode really, as long as you leave the TV off a little while.

Interesting but I live in Europe, yay.

 

Look for a Sony Wega on Yahoo. They're not that old, and you can always find them working. I would give you a link w/ a nice list but RGB hopsice is down.

Anyway, just don't get the 16:9 screen one, as it upscales 15khz. Any of the others (that have AV-Multi) will work. Then you'll need to get an AV-Multi to 21-pin RGB converter. There's a guy on YJ that sells them for like 2500 yen or something. I've got one you could borrow indefinitely until you got your own if it's an issue.

Your other options are Arcade monitor in a box: these have fabulous pictures, but for consoles, there are some hurdles. You will probably need an XRGB-2, or similar device to handle the sync (maybe not worth the hassle). They don't have speakers, and the boxes are sometimes iffy. They're almost always well used, but still look nice.

Last but not least, you could wait for a "Pro Feel Pro" which is the Japanese equivalent of the Sony PVM. The upside is the production line lasted longer so you can newer ones, and they have 21-pin RGB in the back. Pretty sure the 25" models, like the US models, have no speakers, while the smaller ones do. Maybe Shou can chime in here, as he has 3 of them so he can play Ninja Warriors. (Read below for caveat)

TV monitors, no, Arcade monitors, yes.

The PVM models which are readily available in the US (but probably not in all areas, and are pricey to ship) have a TATE issue with them, and don't have the best geometry. They're not awful compared to most CRTs, but there's a nice splotch of "purple" on part of the screen when it's supposed to be painted red. The internal degauss is not good enough to get rid of it. Apparently external helps, or if you kill the power, TATE it for a few hours, then turn it on it will be gone. If you're going back and forth you will notice difference.

 

I used to have a Samsung Tantus CRT that had beautiful colour to it.

I don't know, but maybe there's one overseas that's similar to that and has RGB?

Component looked nice enough on it, and composite was very nice as well. For near-blind NTSC-region poor dumb fucks like me, it was good enough, but I've come to know it was an exceptional CRT.

 

Most of them will only have new old stock left (most made over 5 years ago) rather then making them new. Most arcade manufacturers have moved over to LCD/LED screens anyway so the little demand for CRTs is dwindling.

I know for a fact that two of the biggest taiwanese makers of arcade monitors (Wei-ya and Rodotron) no longer make CRT or even CRT arcade monitor chassises) nor do Hanatrex, which is the largest european maker of arcade monitors...

Of the Japanese companies Nanao stopped making CRTs many many years ago, as did Sanwa, Hitachi and Toei... In america Wells Gardner still sell them but they are NOS and once they sell out then they are not going to make anymore.... in fact they already have Retrofit LCD chassis for replacing CRT screens...

So what's left?

 

Whichever one I just bought. Forgot the name though. It's not Weiya... but another Chinese company. Obviously not as good as a Nanao, but it'll do, assuming it doesn't die.　It could be NOS.

 

Nice skills and everything as mentioned few times before, but in terms of money, it probably would be cheaper to buy 1. a nice RGB CRT from Europe, 2. buy a Sony CRT and make an easy RGB to scartplug adaptor (with the PSone adaptor, GP told me once). Sure option two is only for us living in the east NTSC-land.

 

You can often still find cheapo CRT TVs in Asda and supermarkets, maxing out at around 21". They are no name brands, but hell, for the prices, they are very good- RGB looks awesome on pretty much any CRT.

 

Indeed they're pretty good for gaming. Some of these support stereo audio via SCART, although they don't carry NICAM on the analogue tuner.

The two CRT TV's I have are quite old, one dating from 1986 (28") and the other from 1989 (24"). They both use the same type Videocolor manufactured tubes as Hantarex Polo monitors, giving excellent results over RGB.

As for PVM's, as mentioned it can be quite hard to find them in decent condition, and some of the models are almost 20 years old.
There are some newer models floating around (from the likes of Ikegami, Barco, Panasonic and JVC), these often have component video input as well as RGBS.

The cream of the crop is probably the Sony BVM broadcast series. Pisses all over the PVM range and anything else for that matter, but definitely overkill for sure!

 

Just because you bought one, doesn't mean they are still making them. Unless you can show a manufacturing date of late 2009 or later...

A lot of places do have a lot of old stock. Wei-Ya dont make them anymore but I can buy a NOS 26" monitor and chassis quite easily...

 

With RGB SCART input? Buy me one

 

Feel free to check out River Service. They have a seemingly endless supply. They're flat screen though which ain't the greatest. I haven't even TATE'd the thing yet, so I've obviously not gone digging for manufacturing dates. I'm on a gaming hiatus as it were.

They generally have DSUB15, so you'd need to make or have made a converter cable. It's quite easy though. VGA is basically RGB. There's almost no magic going on under the sheets.

 

http://www.8liners.com/parts.htm

This site comes up in the arcade realm a lot. Arcade monitors have gotten more scarce, but theres piles of thrift store TVs out there. They can apparently provide an arcade style RGB input chassis for any tube out there.

Never done it myself, but something worth considering.

 

If they will stick it in a box for you, thats awesome. Everyone should bide their time, buy trisynch, and soak in the love.

 

Where is my soldering iron ;-) Modification to the extreme!

 

It's more like: You describe the Tube and the pins on the back of it (how many and configuration) and they mail you a chassis that will work for it. You can put that chassis wherever you want.

My thought was that if one had an Old TV that they didn't care for anymore, they can rip out anything that isn't the tube, add one of these chassis inside the new space created in the case and then simply pass the power and RGB inputs through the back of the TV. TV would only be useful for RGB from then on, but it might look better than an arcade monitor in a wooden box---provided you could in fact fit the chassis in there properly.

 

User : I'll just remove this rubber cap to install my new charrrrrrgghhhhhhhh!