Color Purity Problem

[opcode]

I just received a new WG D9200 and have it working w/ AdvanceMAME under linux.  Overall the monitor works great, there is just one problem: the seems to be a definite color purity problem w/ red and a smaller problem w/ blue.  When I display a pure red test screen I seed faded red (kind of a pink) in a portion of the screen while most of the rest of the screen is a vibrant red.  

I have degaused the monitor more times than I can count, no deguassing from the built in degaussing circuit was fixing the problem.  My seconds step was to build my own degausser (about 200-300 wraps of magnet wire (in a 6" diameter circle) in series w/ a 60 watt light bulb and switch).  My homemade degausser was definitely working, but no matter what pattern of circles and backing off I tried the red color purity problem remains.  

Can anyone here reccommend anything else to try, or maybe I'm using my degausser wrong.  Or, have any other D9200 users noticed color purity problems.  I'm hoping I don't have to call WG to figure this out, seems like from what I've read color purity problems are almost always the fault of magnetic fields.  

[DeathMonk]

You could try a different VGA cable..

[opcode]

I would be tempted to try that, however the color purity problem even shows up when the 'no signal' screen is up when no cable is plugged in.  The no signal message is in a redish purple rectangle and the color purity problem shows up plain as day on about half of the rectangle.

I'm going to try and move the monitor from where I am testing it to another part of my house to see if its something about the room I have it in (a basement utility/work room) is causing my problems.

Update:

I tried moving the monitor upstairs and hooked it to a different computer, it still has the color purity problem w/ only red.  I think my homemade degausser may not have enough coils (its 2 whole spools of magnet wire at 6" diameter), I'm thinking of taking it to a TV repair shop in town and see if they can fix the problem.

[KevSteele]

Opcode,

I had the same problem (see my MAMEframe II construction diary at: http://retroblast.com/articles/mameframe2.html)

Bottom line: I was able to greatly reduce the color purity problem by lifting the front of the monitor so that the tube was at a 35-45 degree slope, and then degaussing.

Don't ask me why this works, but it did.

Kevin

[opcode]

Yeah I read your construction diary... You're review of the D9200 was what got me interested in getting one  

I have noticed that my discolaration moves down as I tilt the monitor up and up as I tilt the monitor down, no amount of degaussing seems to fix the problem though, angled or not.  I purchased a true degausser from MCM electronics.  I'm going to give that a try tonight, if that doesn't fix it my shadow mask must be damaged, from everything I've read, color purity problems are either from magnetization or screwed up shadow masks.  I'm really hoping it can be degaussed, I'm guessing shipping a D9200 back will cost me 1/6 of the monitors value, then I run the risk of fedex playing football with the second monitor when it gets returned...

[KevSteele]

Opcode,

My purity problem has also just gone away with time, to the point now that it's almost unnoticable. It was very noticable at first, probably as bad as yours is now.

I'd just give it a little bit more time and a few more degaussings.  

Kevin

[_Iz-]

Yeah I read your construction diary... You're review of the D9200 was what got me interested in getting one  

I have noticed that my discolaration moves down as I tilt the monitor up and up as I tilt the monitor down, no amount of degaussing seems to fix the problem though, angled or not.  I purchased a true degausser from MCM electronics.  I'm going to give that a try tonight, if that doesn't fix it my shadow mask must be damaged, from everything I've read, color purity problems are either from magnetization or screwed up shadow masks.  I'm really hoping it can be degaussed, I'm guessing shipping a D9200 back will cost me 1/6 of the monitors value, then I run the risk of fedex playing football with the second monitor when it gets returned...

make sure you don't have any unshielded magnets near the monitor. Try removing any speakers (or any other magnetic items) you have even if you think they're a safe distance...

[opcode]

Ok an update on this.  I used a real degaussing coil from MCM for monitors over 19" and tried to fix my monitor.  That degausser blew my homemade one away, but still the color purity problems didn't change at all even after about 5 3-4 minute degaussing sessions.  

I decided to call WG support this morning, the tech and I pretty much decided fedex had dropped the monitor and screwed up the shadow mask.  He told me to talk to fedex and call WG sales.  

I first called fedex and you can imagine how that went, nothing like getting the run-around, it seems if you're an individual you can expect to get screwed by large companies.  Fedex didn't fail here, told me since the claim was over 10 days old I could mail a claim to some national fedex claims center and they would look into it, yeah right...  Yet again Fedex gives me a reason to not ship through them.

Next, I called WG sales and explained the whole situation including the fedex fiasco.  The WG salesperson I got ahold of was VERY helpful and wanted to fix the problem right away, they are shipping me a replacement via a different carrier than fedex, and they are calling fedex on their end to file a claim for the monitor I have.   Overall I was very impressed with how this was handled so far, I'll keep everyone posted.  

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[_Iz-]

Did you check for and remove any nearby magnets? You need to remove them and wait for awhile to see if the monitor normalizes. I had a pair of stereo speakers hanging on my wall at least 3 - 4 feet from my monitor and they created exactly the problem you mention.

[opcode]

No as I said in an earlier post, I moved the monitor around the house, no matter where i place it or in what orientation the color spot stays (except curiously it moves up or down if the monitor is tilted forwards or backwards).  There are definitely no magnets near the monitor since it is on my workbench all by itself except for the computer that powers it, no speakers anywhere near it.  Also, like I said I moved it to several totally different spots in the house.  

Color purity problems can be caused by magnetism or a problem with the shadow mask (probably among other things).  In my case I can say I am 100% sure its not magnetism causing the problem because a) I deguassed the hell out of it using an external degausser b) I have moved the monitor to many locations in the house.

That and when I recieved the monitor it had pulverized styrofoam on the bottom of the box and a damaged corner on the box.  Me being an optimist on that day was apparently a bad idea, I figured fedex wouldn't drop a 90 lb. box marked fragile right?... wrong.

[opcode]

Well time for an update.  Just received the replacement monitor and it works perfectly!  No color discoloration on any of the 3 primary colors nor white, so my first monitor was definitely broken.  

Now on to rewriting the trident (blade T64) driver for svgalib in linux so I can run my setup in linux using advancemame/advancemenu.  The current blade driver for svgalib just isn't right, I almost have it fixed though (well it syncs at the correct H/V frequencies anyway, which it didn't used to).

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