Rescue Tron! Monitor / Video Questions

[RetroJames]

Rescue Tron Thread with pics of current video output

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,32479.0.html


In trying to get a Tron up and running, I plugged in a monitor from a galaxian to see if i got any video output.

[Ken Layton]

Make & model of monitor in the Tron game now is.....??


Make & model of monitor from the Galaxian is...

Be aware that 4 different models of monitors were used in Galaxian during the production run and some had the video input/sync connector wired differently (colors moved to different pins, positive sync only, etc.).

In general any time you have color bleeding (or as you say dripping) it's because either the black level, brightness, screen, or contrast is adjusted a bit too high.

[RetroJames]

Make & model of monitor in the Tron game now is.....??


Make & model of monitor from the Galaxian is...

Be aware that 4 different models of monitors were used in Galaxian during the production run and some had the video input/sync connector wired differently (colors moved to different pins, positive sync only, etc.).

In general any time you have color bleeding (or as you say dripping) it's because either the black level, brightness, screen, or contrast is adjusted a bit too high.

Sorry...duh

From memory...I will double check at lunch


Make & model of monitor in the Tron game now is.....??

WG19k4906


Make & model of monitor from the Galaxian is...

WG19k4606

[MonitorGuru]

Also, keep in mind Tron pushed the monitor to it's limits as compared with most other games like Galaxian.

Most bally games used a 224x256 resolution at 60.60 Hz refresh rate.

Tron (and all MCR games like Tapper, Kickman, Satan's Hollow, etc..) used a 480 x 512 resolution (interlace) at a 30 Hz refresh rate.

That is a significant change and may require adjustments to your frequency coils, and a nice clean set of capacitors to handle it.


I've had mixed luck getting these games to reproduce on an arcade monitor through a VGA card in AdvanceMame.

And on the opposite hand, I've had problems getting KICK  (from an arcade board) to work right on a Commodore 1902 monitor hacked to accept arcade signals to display without a significant "curl" on the right side of the screen.


Good luck... I wish I had your "problems"  

[RetroJames]

Also, keep in mind Tron pushed the monitor to it's limits as compared with most other games like Galaxian.

Most bally games used a 224x256 resolution at 60.60 Hz refresh rate.

Tron (and all MCR games like Tapper, Kickman, Satan's Hollow, etc..) used a 480 x 512 resolution (interlace) at a 30 Hz refresh rate.

That is a significant change and may require adjustments to your frequency coils, and a nice clean set of capacitors to handle it.


I've had mixed luck getting these games to reproduce on an arcade monitor through a VGA card in AdvanceMame.

And on the opposite hand, I've had problems getting KICK

[Ken Layton]

Well the first thing I would do is recap BOTH of those monitors and check for bad solder joints (especially that 4900 series monitor since they are well known for that). You need a known working monitor if you want to troubleshoot any more on those games.

[RetroJames]

Well the first thing I would do is recap BOTH of those monitors and check for bad solder joints (especially that 4900 series monitor since they are well known for that). You need a known working monitor if you want to troubleshoot any more on those games.

Awww...c'mon Ken.  It's fun to troubleshoot with multiple variables.  It's the "chaos" control group theory in action! 

Of course you are correct. 

I may try to locate someone local with a Tron that will allow me to plugin the boards.

Also, I suppose it is time to pull the Tron monitor and run through Randy's flowchart. 


Lastly, any ideas on this sound issue?

"Thinking Out loud - Re: Sound Issues
I am looking at my PS test table again ( http://home.earthlink.net/~rescuetron/docs/pstest.htm ) , and noticing that I recorded +16.60V from the connector labeled "Audio." The cabinet schematic did not specify a voltage for that connection. I wonder if that has anything to do with my sound problems (no sound except an occasional bleep and some static). +16.60V is not really a standard voltage I would think. Maybe it is supposed to be +12V.

Anyway, thinking out loud. "

[MonitorGuru]

While I wouldn't "Kill" for a Tron, it is a neat game with 4 games in one, plus I like the blacklight effects.  Therefore that's why I wish I had your problems of having one and just having to do some work to fix it.

As far as chaos theory----perhaps you will end up making them interact at some quantum level and not just only fix the thing, you'll be transported into the MCR board and BE the MCP    Hey... it COULD happen....

The best thing you could do is plug the board into a known fully working machine of someone elses (and hope it doesn't have a flaw that fries their power board/etc..)

Be aware that MCR boards are tempormental... I am attempting to bring a Kickman/Kick board to full life. I had 2 board sets and swapped EVERY board and socketed chip and cable and narrowed down to 3 "should be working" boards in the stack.  Everything seems fine except the audio isn't quite right (one channel seems sort of missing) and there are 2 balloons in the attract screen that are missing a couple columns of pixels. THe rest of the game seems fine.

The thing I found though is MCR boards require a LOT of CLEAN ground connectors. If I only fed into a few of the grounds to test, most sprites were missing or had lines missing... got it down to only a couple now.  I'm sure it could affect Tron in a similar way.  Polish the card edge and clean/tighten/polish the harness connector. Also it needs a clean -5v supply or it won't boot.

To debug your lack of blue (though it also looks like you have a lack of Red in some ways too glancing at your pictures) swap the RGB cables before they go into the monitor.. THat will determine if it's the board or the monitor.

[RetroJames]

What can you recommend for cleaning the connectors? 

Good suggestion on the monitor color too!

[MonitorGuru]

I forgot... these MCRs use pin connectors instead of card edge ones   So, that makes it harder, but here's what I'd do:

Take an emory cloth and loop it around each pin and clean breifly.

For the connector pins, thats a lot tougher.. I'd just clean with electronic contact cleaner (soak in it a few times then while wet, connect and disconnect rapidly a few times from the board connector, then clean the connector again as I'm sure it will pick up some oxidation crud

Electronic contact cleaner is available at most stores that sell "GB" brand electronic connectors and stuff. My Menards home improvement store (upper midwest) has it for $5 a 12 ounce can. HD and Lowes should have it as well, but probably more expensive.

Also check for "LPS" brand "CFC Free Electronic Contact Cleaner". It's in a green+white+red can of 11 ounces for about $7 to $12 at most places like auto stores or some smaller hardware/farm stores.


Make sure every ground is connected somewhere that it's not just a dead wire leading nowhere.