TV to arcade monitor conversion?

[vidmouse]

Have no idea if this is even possible, but I thought I'd ask the question.

I just scored another cab off ebay that is complete except for
a monitor and a back panel.  Was wondering if I can take my
old 19" tv that only has coaxial cable inputs and turn it into
a monitor for this cab w/o really MAME-ing it?  (it comes with
the oriignal boards and roms but don't know 100% if they're
working)

As a second option (ie if they don't work), I could MAME it but then I'd need a way to
hook into the coaxial cable inputs -- some help here would be
great too!

This is the cab I got:


http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9700

Thanks for any help!

[ahofle]

It's possible, but not exactly easy.  You will need a chassis to convert your TV to an arcade monitor.  Something like this:

http://www.8liners.com/datatech/monitor.html

[fa001]

Has anyone tried one of these 8-liners chassis?
I would be interested in a review or impressions.

- Fred

[ahofle]

There's a big thread somewhere in the monitor forum.  Rick from niemandisplays.com may also be able to help.

[vidmouse]

Thanks.  Just taking a look at it ,  it seems more than what I'd want to get into.

Another thought, maybe if I MAME it I can use my 19" as a monitor by
using an RF modulator to accept my PC's s-video input.  ANy better
way to do this than buy an RF modulator?  (note my tv is old, has
only a coaxial cable input)

What did those old game boxes do that came with Atari's?... seemed like you plugged in a single cable  to this box and you could screw in the box terminals to a coax cable converter...  can't remmber how it all worked though.

[ahofle]

Yeah that's an RF modulator.  It's pretty much the worst possible way to run a video signal to your TV.  You will probably want to avoid that route.  Personally I wouldn't go any less than S-Video for MAME purposes.  Maybe you could try your local craigslist or Goodwill type stores.  Used CRTs seem to be going for cheap these days.

[Ummon]

Yeah that's an RF modulator.  It's pretty much the worst possible way to run a video signal to your TV. 

You know, I remember the picture looking pretty decent back then, though. Maybe not really?

[Mr. Gone]

Yeah, I remember it being not terrible either. Then I tried it a few years ago. It's really not bad if you're used to playing games in a snow storm. I also didn't feel like VHS was so bad when DVD came out, but it's damn terrible. Then again, the tapes are getting older as well.

I sometimes wonder if the more modern advancements will seem like such tremendous leaps in hindsight, even though component and dolby 5.1 are more than enough for me at the moment.

[Turnarcades]

I'd advise away from monitor conversion if at this stage you know nothing about it. I'd rarely advise even if you were competent at electronics. For such a cab with a broken monitor, I'd MAME it into a nice multi-game upright machine. If all you have is a co-ax input, you should get a step-down unit like we use to have in the UK back in the day. Before we all had SCART TV's, if we bought an input SNES or NEO-GEO we had to buy a converter that changed a SCART signal to co-ax. No idea where to get one though.

[vidmouse]

Thanks for the warnings.

Actually, I do have an RF modulator, but it's not exactly a spare... it's running
on my family room set right now w/ an older TV that also has only coax inputs
(was my wife's unit before we got married, go figure)

I might just test out an s-video conversion and see how much I can stand.
Probably not much. 

[vitalsfading]

i have an rca fr modulator with s-video it doesn't do a bad job it looks good it you use scanlines. tested it on a 13 inch tv, 50 inch projection and a 30 inch tube tv looks best on the 30 the text is a littl messed up but all in all  if its all you got it works good

[Jack Burton]

Forget the TV if your are going with MAME.  Look around on craigslist and visit some local electronic and computer repair places.  You will find a 19-21" pc monitor for less than 50$, often for free.

[vidmouse]

I'm guessing at the monitor size right now.  That's a good idea, we'll see what it is when I get it on Friday.  Could be a 17-incher  (if so, should I keep the bezel art -- whaddya think?)