can you use a CRT TV to replace an arcade monitor?

[John Bennett]

Really helpful info here. Thanks

I've just seen there's this thing called a supergun... e.g. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Arcade-Supergun-Jamma-Full-Set-Up/362546286401 that looks like it can connect any jamma pcb up to any a standard CRT TV. If that's the case but some TV's aren't compatible with refresh rates etc, how does that work? Are they really only compatible with *some* tvs or pcbs, and you have to be careful what you get?

Thanks again - learning lots!

James

There's no active video circuit in a supergun. For the video it's just the same as making your own cable or using something like in the first reply, so just some in-line resistors. If the TV doesn't like the refresh rate, it wont work with any of the setups.

I've always had TV tubes and never had a JAMMA board not work, so been as good as an arcade monitor for me.

Definitely don't go crazy paying for something gamers love like a Sony - wait for a bargain. Many of these TVs are sophisticated and old, so if it breaks, it could be scrap. Same applies to broadcast monitors, really. Picture perfection though.

 

[tb2000]

Is there much benefit to keeping normal/consumer TVs and PC
monitors from the 90s and early 00s. I have the following

Sony 29 inch TV

Panasonic 28 inch TV widescreen

Philips 28 inch TV widescreen

2 x Fujitsu 21 inch monitors (VGA and BNC inputs)

Compaq 17 inch monitor

2 x 14 inch monitors

14 inch monitor not working

15 inch monitor not working

I might hold onto everything (for MAME and retro consoles) apart from the two widescreen TVs and the non working monitors?

I
don't see many CRTs disposed of in the recycling centre these days
which suggests that the great CRT cull has already thinned out numbers
considerably (while still leaving plenty hoarded in people's attic etc. -
for now)

I got rid of about 20 tvs from my garage as they were taking up too much space, the likes of ALBA, goodmans or anything that didnt work were all thrown as they're no good, test them and get rid of any cheap makes as nobody will want them.

Any computer monitors (apart from RGB ones) are only really any good if they're collectible (like paackard bell for instance which match/go in a set with a desktop) or if they're Trinitron or the likes of Mitsubishi diamondtron which use an apature grill rather than a shadow mask as the picture is much clearer/sharper.

Another thing that makes a tv desireable is the ability to enter its service menu and alter the factory settings to your choice to get that perfect picture on whatever you are using it for.

Anything with BNC connectors is worth keeping and are sought after, the 2 monitors you mentioned are good monitors and are worth keeping.

Widescreen tvs are hit and miss, panasonics, some good some bad, in my games room i have a 36" top of the line widescreen which has outstanding quality all round, something iv'e waited years for.

Sony are good also, but at the moment theres not a lot of value in widescreens.

If the 29" Sony you have is a 4:3 format there will always be a buyer out there, thats a keeper.

Anything that works on both PAL/NTSC 50/60HZ are highly sought after.

Bare in mind that high end CRT monitors can also be used as console monitors you couldn't do that with a normal CRT pc monitor.

I would go through your collection, test all for quality/low tubes ect and get rid of any crap.

Sorry Stevros but, with regards to the TV's, that's not quite accurate.

If you're looking for a TV just to plug consoles or whatever into, then yes I agree that Sony Trinitron, Panasonic Quintrix, Philips Matchline or something along those lines should have a better picture than a cheaper end of the range TV. That said, any TV with an RGB scart should have a very good picture anyway. As far as TV's for tubes, in actual fact you usually find cheaper end of the range TV's have tubes which are perfect for arcade tube replacements, with yoke readings that are spot on or close enough to work fine, so no, I wouldn't throw any of them away! I've found the likes of Beko, Alba, Goodmans, Digihome, etc to all have perfect tubes for transplant. More often than not, Beko 19" tv's use Samsung tubes. I've found all manner of good makes inside cheaper TV's from Orion to Samsung, etc. Even the cheaper later tube makes like Barayo are perfectly fine. Indeed, i've seen Hanty Polo 3 monitors using Barayo tubes. I tend to try and keep a decent stock of TV's whatever the make, but i've not got many 19" left (still got a decent amount of 14" and a couple of 25" and 28"). I'd pick them up from the local recycle centre/tidy tip, but as said above they won't let you take them due to 'health and safety' cobblers (i'd be happy to take them even if they didn't work!) Haven't seen any round my way on eBay for sale for ages really. Also, if you pick up a 28" or 29" 100hz 4:3 tv (I think some Philips Matchline tvs were 100hz) then they 99.9% of the time have compatible tubes for tri-sync monitors.

 

[Stevros]

Forgive me TB, i forgot this is an arcade forum, i use mine mainly for consoles and picture perfection/sound perfection is what i look for, it's not set up at the moment but my 22" 1983 B&O through RGB scart is unbelievable and the sound quality outstanding.

Quite right on the tube side of things for arcade monitors.

 

[tb2000]

Forgive me TB, i forgot this is an arcade forum, i use mine mainly for consoles and picture perfection/sound perfection is what i look for, it's not set up at the moment but my 22" 1983 B&O through RGB scart is unbelievable and the sound quality outstanding.

Quite right on the tube side of things for arcade monitors.

I thought you probably were just talking about the console/computer side of things. Just didn't want to see people looking for arcade compatible tubes skipping TV's with good tubes.

tb20002019-02-02 12:59:19

 

[Aido]

I got rid of about 20 tvs from my garage as they were taking up too much space, the likes of ALBA, goodmans or anything that didnt work were all thrown as they're no good, test them and get rid of any cheap makes as nobody will want them.
Any computer monitors (apart from RGB ones) are only really any good if they're collectible (like paackard bell for instance which match/go in a set with a desktop) or if they're Trinitron or the likes of Mitsubishi diamondtron which use an apature grill rather than a shadow mask as the picture is much clearer/sharper.

Another thing that makes a tv desireable is the ability to enter its service menu and alter the factory settings to your choice to get that perfect picture on whatever you are using it for.

Anything with BNC connectors is worth keeping and are sought after, the 2 monitors you mentioned are good monitors and are worth keeping.

Widescreen tvs are hit and miss, panasonics, some good some bad, in my games room i have a 36" top of the line widescreen which has outstanding quality all round, something iv'e waited years for.

Sony are good also, but at the moment theres not a lot of value in widescreens.

If the 29" Sony you have is a 4:3 format there will always be a buyer out there, thats a keeper.

Many thanks for those comments - I will definitely keep the Sony 29 inch TV (yes it is 4:3) and the two 21 inch monitors with BNC. Also, I could see the smaller PC monitors being useful and they aren't much hassle to store.

My thinking on this is that in years to come it is going to become increasingly difficult and expensive to buy and maintain arcade CRTs. The following may be options for a somewhat authentic arcade experience:

-Original hardware + CRT TV in a repro cabinet

-Supergun + CRT TV in a repro cabinet

-MAME PC + CRT PC Monitor in a repro cabinet

 

[minwah]

<div style="color: rgb58, 113, 59; : rgb249, 252, 255;">-Original hardware + CRT TV in a repro cabinet
<div style="color: rgb58, 113, 59; : rgb249, 252, 255;">-Supergun + CRT TV in a repro cabinet 
<div style="color: rgb58, 113, 59; : rgb249, 252, 255;">-MAME PC + CRT PC Monitor in a repro cabinet

Also...MAME PC + CRT TV

That's what I use for my scratch built cabinets.

 

[Ropi Jo]

Also...MAME PC + CRT TV

That's what I use for my scratch built cabinets.

Wot he said.