[XCSSA] Getting another CRT

[X-otic Computer Systems of San Antonio]

On Jun 10, 2009, at 3:43 PM, X-otic Computer Systems of San Antonio  
wrote:

> I've been researching the options.  Almost all LCD computer monitors
> use "TN" LCD technology which has limited contrast, viewing angle,
> and color accuracy (though it's been getting better).  Only a few
> computer monitors use better technology, such as IP*, at twice the
> price and up, and only in sizes 24" widescreen (shortscreen) and up.
> Even then, no LCD computer monitors are specd at more than 1:1000
> static contrast (LCD TV's above 32 inches can do twice that, and
> Plasmas do 20x that, thanks to blacker blacks, LCD is plenty
> bright).  Dynamic contrast is BS.

IP* panels are quite expensive, but I've heard that they are worth it.  
Is this just a kitchen monitor though? If so, are you really going to  
notice the short-comings of a TN panel? The viewing angle for most  
modestly sized TNs seems to be decent (much better than they were  
before). So unless you really need very good color accuracy, a TN will  
likely work. Particularly a new one.

I personal like IP* panels myself, but they are quite cost  
prohibitive :/

>
> And what about fixing CRT's ???  The picture tubes last forever on
> the good and unabused ones, it's power supplies, V/H amplifiers, and
> flyback transformers that always fail first.  Anybody fix these
> things?  I'm thinking of mothballing the 21PS in case someday I can
> get it fixed, though that's treading water on such an old unit.  My
> Viewsonic P810 ("professional" series, I paid $1900 in 1999) is still
> going strong and just as sharp and bright as new, but eventually it
> will probably need refurbing too.
>

My guess is that if you want to fix it, you'll have to learn how. Good  
CRT TV repair guys are hard to find already, after all.

A friend of mine and myself were able to restore the Wells Gardner  
4600 in my Ms. Pac-Man cab just by replacing some of the electrolytic  
caps. Only cost $6.00 and an evenings worth of work. Granted, he had  
some good tools (an HV probe for one, to help detect and discharge the  
flyback and an O-scope, though we didn't need to use the latter). The  
color was noticeably better after that, and the bend in the screen was  
almost fixed. The only problem I have is that the red is misaligned a  
bit, however fixing that requires working on the monitor while it's  
on. No thanks. Instead, I'm getting myself a WG D7700 at some point.

That was a CGA arcade monitor though. Modern CRTs are much more  
complex, but the basic idea is there. The problem you will run into is  
finding schematics of your monitor, though I'm sure they exist  
somewhere. My guess is that your problem is more than just caps but I  
agree with you that it's probably something that's fixable.

On the other hand, you can always mount an LCD on an arm and them have  
a cool rotatable LCD screen for your kitchen. That was my plan a while  
ago (I was going to use a Mac Mini and mount the LCD under a cabinet  
with an arm and use a Bluetooh mouse and keyboard).

Good luck :) Let us know what you end up doing!

Tim S.