Is ArcadeVGA my best choice?

[leapinlew]

I am not real comfortable working with real arcade monitors. The one I have now is in a dedicated MKII cabinet which I recently purchased. It has a 25" monitor in it. It's a RCA tube and has a VGA plug on it. It has a PCIe ArcadeVGA card, but I haven't hooked anything up yet. Before I do, I wanted to check.

Can I plug this directly into a regular VGA video card from a computer or does it have to be from a ArcadeVGA card?

[Nephasth]

Got any pics of the monitor? If the monitor has a VGA plug in the back you should be able to just hook it up to a standard VGA card.

[leapinlew]

Could it hurt the monitor or PC to plug a PC up to it? Just curious. I want to test the monitor before ordering another Arcade VGA - assuming thats what I need.

[leapinlew]

Here are some pics of the monitor:

best I can tell, it's a 25" hantarex




The white molex plug (near the Midway sticker in the pic) is the wires connected to the other end of the VGA plug. Is this safe to plug into a computer? Also the warning sticker says something about having to use a isolation transformer. How do I know if I have that?





Also, what is this thing?

[Nephasth]

Well, that monitor doesn't have a VGA connection. What you have pictured is a VGA breakout harness. Go with the ArcadeVGA since you already have it.

EDIT: Just saw you said you would have to order another ArcadeVGA. Might be a good time to try out Soft 15khz if you haven't yet. Also, it's "safe" to plug into a computer, but it won't display any image.

This is an isolation transformer (to the left of the blue power supply):
Long link to Google shortened --- saint

[leapinlew]

Well, that monitor doesn't have a VGA connection. What you have pictured is a VGA breakout harness. Go with the ArcadeVGA since you already have it.

EDIT: Just saw you said you would have to order another ArcadeVGA. Might be a good time to try out Soft 15hz if you haven't yet. Also, it's "safe" to plug into a computer, but it won't display any image.

Ok. Thanks for the info.

So, is there anything I can do to test the monitor before ordering a card?

[Nephasth]

Was this machine already MAME'd when you got it?

If the isolation transformer is present, you can test the monitor for neck glow. Disconnect the power supply (last pic in your other post) from 110V AC while still having the isolation transformer connected to 110V AC and running to the monitor's power connector. Then plug it in. The monitor should power up and you should be able to hear it hum and see some orange neck glow on the back of the monitor (and in a darkish room the monitor will be blank, but should still be able to tell it's on). If it has neck glow while powered on, chances are good there isn't anything wrong with the monitor and would be worth ordering the card IMO. If the monitor doesn't power up (you can't hear it hum or see neck glow), check to make sure voltage is coming out of the isolation transformer and making it to the monitor.

[leapinlew]

Was this machine already MAME'd when you got it?

If the isolation transformer is present, you can test the monitor for neck glow. Disconnect the power supply (last pic in your other post) from 110V AC while still having the isolation transformer connected to 110V AC and running to the monitor's power connector. Then plug it in. The monitor should power up and you should be able to hear it hum and see some orange neck glow on the back of the monitor (and in a darkish room the monitor will be blank, but should still be able to tell it's on). If it has neck glow while powered on, chances are good there isn't anything wrong with the monitor and would be worth ordering the card IMO. If the monitor doesn't power up (you can't hear it hum or see neck glow), check to make sure voltage is coming out of the isolation transformer and making it to the monitor.

Thanks for all your assistance Nephasth. I will report back how it goes!

[Nephasth]

I don't know what model your monitor is, but I checked the manual for an MTC9110 and it says the monitor accepts signal voltages from 1-5V, meaning that a video amp (which boosts the signal voltage to 5V) isn't needed. But if your particular monitor won't accept a signal voltage of 1V, you'll have to get a video amp. Chances are that you won't have a perfect/nice picture after hooking it up to the ArcadeVGA, but don't let that discourage you. Make sure you remove any ATI drivers on your computer before installing the drivers for the ArcadeVGA. Also, before hooking the computer up to the monitor make sure you have your resolution set to what your arcade monitor can handle (640x480 works well on my 19" monitors). It's likely you'll have adjust the contrast, brightness, V-size, H-size, V-position, and H-position pots on the monitor once you get the display up.

[leapinlew]

I don't know what model your monitor is, but I checked the manual for an MTC9110 and it says the monitor accepts signal voltages from 1-5V, meaning that a video amp (which boosts the signal voltage to 5V) isn't needed. But if your particular monitor won't accept a signal voltage of 1V, you'll have to get a video amp. Chances are that you won't have a perfect/nice picture after hooking it up to the ArcadeVGA, but don't let that discourage you. Make sure you remove any ATI drivers on your computer before installing the drivers for the ArcadeVGA. Also, before hooking the computer up to the monitor make sure you have your resolution set to what your arcade monitor can handle (640x480 works well on my 19" monitors). It's likely you'll have adjust the contrast, brightness, V-size, H-size, V-position, and H-position pots on the monitor once you get the display up.

Ok. I need this explained to me at a very basic level. These are the steps I'm going to take

1. Order a new ArcadeVGA card
2. Install card in a computer/install the drivers/set resolution to 640x480 or 800x600 to start
3. Check monitor to ensure isolation transformer is there and that when powered on the neck glows
4. Plug monitor into the ArcadeVGA port
5. Make adjustments to the monitor as needed

Sound right? Am I missing any steps or need to be extra careful on any of the steps?

[Nephasth]

I would go:

1. Check monitor to ensure isolations transformer is ther and that when powered on the neck glows.
2. Make sure your model of monitor will accept a signal voltage of 1V (if not order video amp when ordering ArcadeVGA).
3. Order ArcadeVGA (and video amp if needed).
4. Remove any old ATI drivers before installing ArcadeVGA.
5. Install ArcadeVGA and its drivers, set proper resolution.
6. Plug arcade monitor into ArcadeVGA (do not have computer monitor plugged into DVI port of ArcadeVGA, this will over ride VGA port).
7. Make adjustments to monitor as needed.

[Nephasth]

If the Arcade VGA doesn't have an amp built into it, then what's the point?  You can get $10 video cards that'll output NTSC....

 

The ArcadeVGA sends an RGB signal to arcade monitors. But he could use a cheap VGA card with Soft-15khz to get a display on the arcade monitor.

[leapinlew]

According to one of the guys at KLOV it's a Wells Gardner K7000. I did some research and assuming it is a Wells Gardner, it would seem the boost isn't necessary.

[Nephasth]

Yep. If it's a WG you're good to go. Where did you get Hantarex from? It would be a good idea to positively ID the monitor and download the appropriate manual.

[leapinlew]

Yep. If it's a WG you're good to go. Where did you get Hantarex from?

Got that from not knowing. I found a RCA Number on the tube, so I plugged that into Google and the first site came up listing it as a Hatarex or Polo monitor. I think it was Ken Laytons site, so I assumed... How could I confirm what it is?

[Nephasth]

Might be able to find a tag with model number on the frame or around the chassis. If it is a WG K7000, you'll find a number starting with 25K7xxx.

[Hoopz]

Thanks for fixing the link Saint!

[Flake]

Hey!  Your the bastard that beat me to this CL listing!  What a steal this was.  $200.  Damn you Lew!

O Fallon is my neighborhood!

[leapinlew]

Hey!  Your the bastard that beat me to this CL listing!  What a steal this was.  $200.  Damn you Lew!

O Fallon is my neighborhood!

It's shaping up to be a good deal. The ArcadeVGA card he sold with it was dead, so count that out. If the monitor is bad, it'll be just the box. I actually talked to this guy when it was $500 and I just so happened to check Craigslist about 15 minutes after he posted the ad.

[Flake]

So are you in STL or IL area?

I sent him a response - that I thought was pretty quick - but he never got back with me so I figured someone beat me to the punch.

[leapinlew]

So are you in STL or IL area?

I sent him a response - that I thought was pretty quick - but he never got back with me so I figured someone beat me to the punch.

IL, but I work in Missouri. I don't normally look for cabs, but recently I've  been looking for a replacement for my showcase. This is a good candidate. This time, no trackball. I'm going with some novagems and keeping it MKII themed, assuming I can figure out the CP artwork (wanting 6 buttons).

[Flake]

IL, but I work in Missouri.

Same here.

My cab is the same type of Midway cab (mine was originally a KI cab though).  They work really well for mame cabs.

[AndyWarne]

If the Arcade VGA doesn't have an amp built into it, then what's the point?  You can get $10 video cards that'll output NTSC....

 

No arcade monitors use NTSC. Wells-Gardner monitors dont need the amp. The ArcadeVGA card would connect to this directly.