Dragon's Lair Fans - Arcade Lifestyle

General Chat => Technical Area => Topic started by: level42 on August 29, 2013, 11:19:14 PM

Title: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: level42 on August 29, 2013, 11:19:14 PM
Visited Robin this evening with a small request for a good cause that I can hopefully tell more about next Saturday.....

anyway, for this cause we needed a B/W monitor of (hopefully) the right size. We know how hard to find these are....so I still had one of the 17" TVs I had bought while I thought they were 19" that came in handy now...

However B/W TVs don't have video inputs. They have useless antenna plugs....

So we needed to add one. I asked Robin to help and I was baffled that he had found the correct spot to insert the video signal within like 2 minutes........no schematics and just using his scope ! :spaceace: :spaceace:

So he added a little input...using just a small 1uF elco to seperate the input. You can't see it, it's nearly hacked on the component side of the board ;)

He also cut the trace which comes from the TV's IF section which produced the original video signal.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7390/9625649914_bab041439f_c.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/level_42/9625649914/)
image (http://www.flickr.com/photos/level_42/9625649914/) by Level_42 (http://www.flickr.com/people/level_42/), on Flickr

Robin used a separate digital TV tuner to produce a test signal and it worked great right away !!

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5541/9625649998_ef08593c98_c.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/level_42/9625649998/)
image (http://www.flickr.com/photos/level_42/9625649998/) by Level_42 (http://www.flickr.com/people/level_42/), on Flickr

So we decided to get rid of some now useless parts....we don't need any sound anymore, nor the power switch, nor the mechanical channel selector, which Philips thank god connected with one big connector. We did still want to keep the brightness and contrast controls and the mains filter, but not at the side of the tube anymore.....

So here it is....great !

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7312/9625650128_a449ec8bb1_c.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/level_42/9625650128/)
image (http://www.flickr.com/photos/level_42/9625650128/) by Level_42 (http://www.flickr.com/people/level_42/), on Flickr

The screen looks a bit stretched because of the 16:9 format that TV is nowadays, but we don't have to,worry about that.

The input wire was also neatly glue-gunned to the PCB so the solders won't get loose.

It's ready, hopefully more next Saturday.....let's hope that it fits !!!!!!!
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: gyruss on August 29, 2013, 11:24:40 PM
 :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace:

Great work guys!
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on August 30, 2013, 06:04:20 AM
(https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/6518039552/hF9D46601/)
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: xentraz on August 30, 2013, 07:44:06 AM
Very nice! I guess this is good news for the walls down cab ;D
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: Luigi on August 30, 2013, 08:23:45 AM
Amazing. I wish I'd have that much knowledge of electronics  :-\
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: ckong on August 30, 2013, 08:44:57 AM
 :spaceace: :spaceace:
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: anunaki on August 30, 2013, 10:04:50 AM
you wizards :spaceace:

just came to mind my mom still has a B/W TV at her attic. Maybe it comes in handy sometimes?
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: level42 on August 30, 2013, 10:10:31 AM
Size is important.

There are quite a few different tube sizes used in games and TVs. A number of Atari cabs used 23" b/w raster monitors. The vector monitors (for which you can ONLY use the bare tube, but it works great as you can see on my Lunar Lander thread) used 19" tubes but it is pretty damn hard to find 19" B/W TVs.

The video input hack only works for raster games of course, but indeed Xentraz, this is definitely an option for you. You'll have to find a working one of the correct size (marktplaats) and the more modern it is, the easier it is to find the correct spot to insert the video signal.

Of course, as a last option, you could also use a color TV to replace a B/W TV. However there are a couple of drawbacks on doing this:
- B/W tubes have a higher resolution than color one's. You can see it with your bare eyes when you look at the screen. Color tubes have rather large "dots", where B/W tubes didn't need those
- color tubes have often small convergence problems in the corners. Normally, with a color picture (TV or game) this is not so recognizable, but since you want a white picture only (or grayscale at some games) you will get color spots (red/blue) in the corners

All in all, this gives quite a bit of a different look.
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: anunaki on August 30, 2013, 10:14:55 AM
I'll be at my moms place later today and will measure and test it
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: anunaki on August 30, 2013, 01:48:06 PM
it wasn't a B/W
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: level42 on August 31, 2013, 01:43:54 PM
I love it when a plan comes together !!!!

Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: level42 on August 31, 2013, 01:45:39 PM
Some minor things:

picture is a bit darker on the top for some reason and.......we should have also hacked in an audio input after all........but a simple old amped PC speaker will solve that.....(Etienne.....?  ;D ;D)

Now we need to fix it nicely :)
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: Robinholland on August 31, 2013, 01:56:18 PM
Cool  8)
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: gyruss on August 31, 2013, 02:34:46 PM
 :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace:

You guys are simply amazing, i'm so jealous of your skills!
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on August 31, 2013, 05:41:43 PM
Some minor things:

picture is a bit darker on the top for some reason and.......we should have also hacked in an audio input after all........but a simple old amped PC speaker will solve that.....(Etienne.....?  ;D ;D)

Now we need to fix it nicely :)

Is tuesday after work a good delivery time for ya ?  ;D
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: Luigi on August 31, 2013, 07:55:05 PM
OMG....do you really want to tell me that this is....  :o
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: Q*ris on August 31, 2013, 09:39:27 PM
Wow, just wow...
You make it seem so easy...
 :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace:
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: level42 on August 31, 2013, 09:41:06 PM
...a Computer Space ? Yes of course it is ! We dont put cabs on our list for Eurocade unless we are relatively sure about them :)

Etienne, you rock :):)

Tulip input ?

Tuesday is OK can you also bring the shrink foil ? ;D
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: level42 on August 31, 2013, 09:46:30 PM
Now, if anyone can sponsor the bezel ??

http://www.flippers.com/catalog/product_info.php/csshroud-p-38


 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on September 01, 2013, 09:47:11 AM
...a Computer Space ? Yes of course it is ! We dont put cabs on our list for Eurocade unless we are relatively sure about them :)

Etienne, you rock :):)

Tulip input ?

Tuesday is OK can you also bring the shrink foil ? ;D

no and yes

it has a 3.5mm jackplug like all computer speaker sets
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: level42 on September 01, 2013, 10:22:21 AM
Alrighty.....I'll see if I can dig up  a 3,5mm plug....you see Sijmen made two tulip plugs coming out of the CS hardware.
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on September 01, 2013, 12:51:04 PM
is this what's needed to be included ? :

(http://www.lunashops.com/images/upload/Image/3_5mm-female-rca-female--4.jpg)

This is whats on the speakerset now:

(http://www.getprice.com.au/images/content_images/blog-glossary-3-5mm-cable-jack-connector.jpg)

I think i have some "verloopjes"  here  ;)
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: level42 on September 01, 2013, 02:54:45 PM
Yes we now have a male RCA out for sound so I guess that adapter should work.
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on September 01, 2013, 03:24:21 PM
The jackplug was at both sides of the input cable, so i removed that and inserted this plug that i found
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: level42 on September 01, 2013, 04:29:51 PM
Why do you remind me of Rico from the Penguins of Magagascar ?  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D   :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace:
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on September 01, 2013, 08:16:27 PM
Why do you remind me of Rico from the Penguins of Magagascar ?  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D   :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace:

I have no idea, you need to explain that one to me, as i have never seen the penguins of madagascar

my son has though, but i never payed attention to the series..
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: Luigi on September 01, 2013, 09:59:05 PM
Why do you remind me of Rico from the Penguins of Magagascar ?  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D   :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace:

I have no idea, you need to explain that one to me, as i have never seen the penguins of madagascar

my son has though, but i never payed attention to the series..


Rico is the McGyver of the penguins ;)
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on September 01, 2013, 10:01:14 PM
Ah !   ;D   
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: level42 on September 01, 2013, 10:50:20 PM
Yep, and he always has handy items "cropped up" which he (usually) coughs out at the right moment  ;D ;D ;D

Oh, and you should watch it one time with your son, it's pretty funny, I love King Julian  ;D
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: Vond on September 02, 2013, 10:13:30 AM
Thank you so much for sharing all this!
I'm pretty sure im forced to do the same thing to get my Walls Down cab working again.
I know some people that can most definitely help me figure out where to input the video signal!
This post of yours was a great inspiration and help!
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on September 02, 2013, 11:13:23 AM
I guess you only need one speaker right ?  its a mono game i persume  :D
Title: Re: Adding a video input to a B/W TV...
Post by: level42 on September 02, 2013, 02:04:20 PM
No it's B/W but has DTS surround sound................. ;D ;D