Question: is it safe to adjust Focus and Screen while unit is on?

[Dutsk]

Is it safe to adjust the Focus and Screen buttons on a CRT TV while the unit is on?

[Dutsk]

I found http://www.arcaderepairtips.com/2009/10/14/adjusting-an-arcade-monitor/ and was instructed to use a mirror for focus, hence the machine will be on during focusing. It is safe I believe.

[RandyT]

There's really no other way to do it

But as a TV repairman friend of mine always says, don't touch anything but the control, and keep the other hand in your pocket.

[matsadona]

Isolated tools and the second hand in the pocket.

Removing any kind of metallic necklaces etc. is also a good idea. Sooner or later you will bend over the circuitry and the necklace will fall out of the shirt and could fall down on parts you don't want to be in contact with...

[adder]

little tip for adjusting the focus and screen controls
make sure the tv is on for at least 15 minutes before doing anything as the picture should be 'warmed up' (analog technology)
when adjusting the focus, you might find that you can either get the middle area of the screen in focus but the sides not as good, or the sides in focus but the middle not as good. you should adjust focus so that you compromise between the sides/edges and the middle of the screen (ie. adjust the focus for the best result looking across the entire screen instead of just focusing on one point)

[RandyT]

Also, the screen control may affect the focus and the geometry (probably X-ray emissions as well).  When adjusting the screen control, you don't want to crank it up too high.  I usually set the brightness (not the screen) right about at the middle point, or just past, and adjust the screen control to give a nice, contrasty picture with good blacks.  Then, try adjusting the brightness control, to make sure it has good range, and doesn't cause the image to "bloom" or lose focus. 

When my RGB monitor died a while back, I pulled another one from my basement and did a quick adjustment just to get up and running.  The picture was a bit fuzzy, and couldn't be sharpened fully with the focus, so I thought perhaps the monitor had more wear than the previous one.  After upgrading my system, I decided to take another whack at it, and found that my screen control was not properly adjusted.  It's beautiful now, with sharp, readable small text across the entire screen at 640x480i desktop resolution, bright colors and deep blacks.  Be patient (and careful!), and  go back and forth between the controls until you get it right.  It's worth the extra time it takes.

[Dutsk]

Thanks guys!

After a couple minutes I have a WAYYYY better picture than before in my SKINS golf game. I was starting to think the monitor just had blurry ness or was too burned in. Looks good now.

Do you guys prefer the old monitors to the new LCD and LED ones people have been Mameing?

[matsadona]

Well, is it important for you that it looks and feel as it did back then, crt is the only way. I'm in that religion, thus doing everything I can to keep my old stuff alive