Ok, this is just a sanity check really, consider it a dumb question that I should really know the answer to: As JAMMA uses RGB video singnals, I assume I don't need to worry about PAL or NTSC colour coding differences? That only applies to composite signals right so it doesn't apply for JAMMA PCB's ? I'm only just getting into collecting Jamma boards and I need to be sure that I don't need to worry about purchasing PCB's from the US or Japan. The language difference for Japanese games won't be a problem (and obviously for some people makes them even more collectable). Ta, Mark.
Great! thanks. A quick question to Japanese speakers: I'd like to print jamma as a word in katakana on my supergun (even though it's an acronym and not a real word) would this make sense: ジャッマ Cheers, Mark.
But there is a difference between "NTSC" and "PAL" devices when running through RGB. If you are running standard resolution games, they can follow the NTSC standard of 525 lines at 30Hz or they can follow the PAL standard of 625 lines at 25Hz. Even though NTSC/PAL color transmission is irrelevant when using RGB, the makeup of the picture is not. That said, many games, even in Europe, follow the "NTSC" format of 525 lines (which turns into 263 line progressive fields), so if your display can cope with 525 lines at 30Hz, you're set for a lot of games. If your display can also cope with the odd standard of 525 lines at 25Hz, then you're set for most games. If your set can cope with 525 lines at 60Hz ("33kHz video"), you're set for almost all recent games. Another thing to consider is that the arcade RGB signal level is not necessarily the same as the level your TV likes. Console (TV) RGB is always more or less 0.7Vpp into 75 ohms with 0.3Vpp into 75 ohm composite sync. Arcade RGB on the other hand is like 0.7-2.0Vpp into 75-5000 ohms, and sync may be composite sync (0.3V or 3/5V TTL) or it may be separate sync (which is often 3/5V TTL like a VGA card). Also yes your Japanese JAMMA is right if were to make sense
