The ethics of using tvs in cabs

[chubsta]

I recently got a space fever cocktail with a non repairable monitor. I have decased a portable tv and connected it up via the scart socket.

In an ideal world we would have access to an unlimited supply of brand new burn free CRT arcade monitors at great prices but that is not going to happen. I would much prefer to have a proper monitor in the cab but ultimately they are just tubes and chassis.

What are people's thoughts on cabs that have tvs in them, would it bother you? As far as I'm concerned I am happy as long as the screen is authentic looking but then again, I don't spend months renovating every last nut and bolt, I am happy for my cabs to have the used look...

 

[arcadematt]

I had a jamma cab with a tv screen fitted and it looked pretty good.

I personally would try an obtain an arcade monitor but if you don't have the funds or not that fussed I would say go for it.

 

[smarty]

I don't have issues with it... Cost is a big factor I guess, Ideal world arcade monitors would be freely available but CRT TV's go for peanuts and Arcade monitors cost a fair whack these days, Its your cab, do it! Its not like you're putting an LCD in

It would bug me I you couldn't get the screen size correct with a TV, may be worth confirming before going to far with de-casing. Having the OSD appear would bug me too but that usually only appears for a few seconds when it switches input.

 

[backflipper]

I have 14" toei chassis and crts from a space invaders cocktail.

I would part with an as is chassis and tube for £40.

 

[cools]

One with a service menu via remote for geometry adjustments would be great

 

[guddler]

I wouldn't want it in one of my cabs, but at the end of the day we're all going to end up with LCDs or whatever it is at the time one day so opinions are a pretty moot point really. You need to do whatever works for you.

Reason I wouldn't want it in one of mine is that if it goes wrong I wouldn't have any schematics or other info to fix it with.

 

[IDCHAPPY]

If it gets the cab working then go for it

 

[neo-geo-mvs]

As long as the TV is the same size as the monitor, then why not. Just hate seeing small TVs in place of a large monitor, like them shame cabs we see

 

[chubsta]

Yeah, it's not ideal but I have so many issues with these things that I can't keep throwing money at them. A monitor dying breaks my heart, but a portable tv dying and I wouldn't bat an eyelid.

Will see how I get on with them over the next few months...

 

[Russ J]

I have a 20" crt TV i'm gonna be using for an arcade moniter at some point....If it allows me to play the game in an 'authentic look' then i'm more than happy

 

[RGP]

Reason I wouldn't want it in one of mine is that if it goes wrong I wouldn't have any schematics or other info to fix it with.

This is why generally i'd say a no but if it gets the game up and running - i've even popped a 17" lcd in one cabaret cab temporarily just to play the game and then exchanged it later.

I like the idea of being able to fix things - at least having a fighting chance of.

 

[Judder]

I'm doing similar with a Space Invaders Deluxe as:

a. the original Black and White monitor was snapped at the neck when I got it and the chassis caked in dust so, like yours, a non-starter with the original monitor whatever I did

b. I happen to live in an area of London where there are lots of hotels, who have recently upgraded their TV systems with the digital switch over so I have 2 x 20" Samsung CRT and 1 x 21" Sony CRTs just sat in the garage hoping to be used for something more useful

Amusingly I picked up a 15" CRT walking the dog last night someone had put out to be recycled - and that's fully working and just gone in as my test bed monitor - so I think it's a justified switch if you have them available.

I'm also a little like you that if any of the monitors go wrong in my machines, I haven't got a chance of fixing them, but replacing another TV is an easy job and everyone's giving them away over the last 12 months.

So.. I'd do it - leave it so that any future owner can rig in an original arcade monitor if they want to - and then everyone kind of wins

 

[grobda]

if its a 14" another option is those little philips monitors that have geometry adjust.

commodore 1084, philips 8833 and archimedes rgb monitor are all the same unit with differnet cases, and can be picked up for £0-£40. schems are on the net.