Color/brightness problem => Is Cap Kit the solution?

[chairhome]

Hi everyone,
I have a WAR Final Assault Cab that was inop, but I finally had someone recently fix it.  The game works great, except its really dark or really blurry.  I can adjust the contrast (I think) to make the video sharper, but its really only sharp when its really dark.  If I turn up the brightness, the picture gets really blurry.  I've made adjustments in both test mode and while running the game.

I've never used a cap kit, so I don't know if that would solve this problem.  I'm thinking that it probably would though.  Any suggestions?  And if a cap kit is needed, how difficult would it be to install myself?  Thanks in advance.

EDIT: Oh yeah, its a WG monitor, but I'm not sure what model, I'll have to check when I get home...  I know its 25" and medium res, if that helps.

[Ken Layton]

You did not give us the make & model of the monitor in question so I can only answer in generalities:

Remember that with ALL brands/models of monitors controls such as brightness/contrast/screen all interact with each other and some fussing around with them may be necessary to get the picture right.

However if you have consistent color 'bleeding' and keeping the contrast turned all the way down is the only way to stop it then you likely have a bad picture tube. The Wells-Gardner 25" k7191 is known for this.

[chairhome]

Thanks for the quick reply!  It is a 25" Wells Gardner, I'll confirm the model later tonight.  I guess a cap kit would be useless then, can I get the tube replaced if this is the problem?

[Ken Layton]

Currently 25" replacement tubes as well as 25" medium res monitors are very very hard to find. Wells-Gardner won't have any of the replacement 24.8" medium res tubes or monitors until the end of the year.

[chairhome]

Man, that sucks.  I guess I'll have to wait a bit then.  Thank you for the reply though!

[grantspain]

worth just checking your adjustments first before giving up,may be all your colour gains or backgrounds are too high with maladjusted focus,brightness and contrast

[chairhome]

Thanks, its worth giving a try.  Just a little scared to go back there to adjust those pots while the monitor is on.  I need to buy some good gloves.

[grantspain]

just set up a mirror so you don't have to stretch and use an insulated screwdriver,easy job

[StephenH]

If you wanted to consider replacing the monitor, if medium res are not available, you may want to consider one of those multisync billabs or betson models, that can handle multiple scan rates.  For example, if you get one from 15-31Khz, it can certanily handle medium res as it can do CGA-VGA.   There are even some that can handle CGA-XGA today.