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Main => Monitor/Video Forum => Topic started by: captainpotato on June 18, 2004, 10:39:21 am

Title: Australians: where to buy a TV for my cab?
Post by: captainpotato on June 18, 2004, 10:39:21 am
Fellow aussies,

Does anyone have any idea where I can get a decent new TV for my cab - preferably in Adelaide? It needs to meet these specs:

- 21"-23" screen (to fit horizontally in a Pac-Man cab, which is 23" wide internally);
- SCART input (if not, then S-VHS);
- No speakers on the side (so it's not too wide);
- Not ridiculously expensive.

I've had a look around a few shops, but cannot find any with SCART or S-VHS in the size range I want, let alone the rest :P Any ideas are much appreciated.
Title: Re:Australians: where to buy a TV for my cab?
Post by: Ekstreme on June 18, 2004, 11:52:58 pm
I'm about the face the same Dilema, but i was thinking maybe cash converters as most new stuff is flat screen, with side speakers etc
Title: Re:Australians: where to buy a TV for my cab?
Post by: wboy on June 19, 2004, 09:09:52 pm
If you want a TV with scart adapter support, your best bet is to go to Audio & Video specialists that carry/import European model TVs such as Loewe, Grundig and the like...

Several exist in Melbourne, not sure about Adelaide though.

Being a high quality european TV, there is a quite hefty price attached in most cases.

From the sounds of things you plan to use a ArcadeVGA?

If so, you are better approaching arcade retailers in your local area and getting a proper arcade monitor IMO.  

The Horz/Vert/Size etc controls to adjust the monitor will be easily accessable making it alot less of a head ache to adjust when required!

Probably work out cheaper too!
Title: Re:Australians: where to buy a TV for my cab?
Post by: captainpotato on June 20, 2004, 04:09:01 am
Hi Wonderboy,

Thanks for the advice. I had been planning to get a standard PC video card (ATI most likely) and use that to drive the TV.

I assumed that the TV option would be cheaper, but from what you are saying, that may not be the case :P I know a guy who runs an arcade machine business, so I might have to ask him.

Ekstreme: that thought occurred to me as well, but I'd prefer new if possible, but if not, then so be it.
Title: Re:Australians: where to buy a TV for my cab?
Post by: wboy on June 20, 2004, 09:00:13 am
Arcade monitor is the only way to go in my opinion (and you won't regret it).

If that was not an option, I'd probably use a PC monitor over a TV from my own experience in messing with video card TV outs and their limitations.
Title: Re:Australians: where to buy a TV for my cab?
Post by: captainpotato on June 20, 2004, 10:29:16 am
Okay, sounds that it might be the way to go.

Time to start a new thread along the same lines, but for arcade monitors :)
Title: Re:Australians: where to buy a TV for my cab?
Post by: RetroBorg on June 22, 2004, 09:20:28 am
captainpotato,

I picked up a 21 inch computer monitor for $170 at MGS auctions on Torrens Road, perhaps a computer monitor might be the go.

WWW: http://www.mgs.net.au/
Title: Re:Australians: where to buy a TV for my cab?
Post by: captainpotato on June 22, 2004, 09:29:41 am
Retroborg,

I imagine that an older monitor is probably is a little blurry anyway, isn't it - assuming that it is actually older? I've got an old 19" monitor that has lost colour contrast, but it's not so old, so it's just pale and too crisp for a cabinet.

At least the next MGS auction doesn't have any large monitors, seeing that I cannot make it ;)