Aussies: where to get an arcade monitor?

[captainpotato]

Fellow Aussies,

Now that it seems that getting a SCART tv is not really going to be an option, where is the best place to get an arcade monitor for a decent price. I'd prefer Adelaide, but that's not so important. I suppose. I'd also prefer new as well.

I'm mainly wanting it for games up to around the Street Fighter II (1990ish) time, and even then, mainly mostly Gauntlet II and earlier. IT's to go in a Pac-Man cab, and as it's going to be an arcade monitor, I'll probably aim to have it rotate as well.

I assume that it would come with a chassis, so in addition, I'll need an ArcadeVGA and signal booster, plus cabling (what type?). Is there anything else I've forgotten?

[bloodyviking77]

just to clarify, you don't *need* an arcadevga - it just makes things a lot easier.

Provided you have a card that advancemame supports (check its docs), advancemame, IMO, gives a very good result for a fraction of the cost . I've also recently got Raine's arcade monitor mode working (directly through my trident blade card) and am very happy with the display obtained with that method.

As far as hardware goes, yes, you'll probably need a video amp. Buy from ultimarc (or specs are out there to BYO). Ultimarc's amp also comes with a vga cable, meaning you'll just need a cable to go from the amp's "out" screw terminals to the connector on the monitor chassis. This will probably merely be a matter of hacking together your own cable with the appropriate connector for your monitor.

Regarding purchasing a monitor, bumper action www.bumper.com.au (in Melbourne) were selling some new cga monitors a while back fairly cheap- check their parts pages. You'd probably be better off trying somewhere in Adelaide though - check the yellowpages under "amusements"

Also,  Jomac in perth (I think) sells re-furbs- they fixed my chassis at a reasonable price anyway . . .

I'm sure you'll turn something up. Good luck!!

[Fuzzguitar]

You could try these guys:  http//www.zax.com.au/amusementmachines
they stock Wells Gardner which a lot of people here use, I've just noticed they have what I need too - a 19" monitor and chassis. Hmmm might think about this overnight and call them tomorrow.

The biggest mistake I ever made was removing and throwing away the arcade monitor inside my cab. Don't ask why, I was a newbie in rush and lacking funds, plus the old wiring scared me at the time I think. Sure it needing degaussing badly but man...

Now I can afford to (months later) I'm re-doing my cab properly, fixing all the things I did cheaply the first time around. I want an arcade monitor over my current pc monitor but like you I'm unsure how to go about it here in OZ.

$150 seems ok but then again it's gotta get here (Sydney)from Melbourne and I've seen cab's go for less on ebay with similar working monitors. The thing that really sucks about my lowboy is that it won't fit a brand new monitor easily (they are all too big nowadays) and the correct sizes are usually old/second hand.

Let me know how you go okay. I need to think longer and will probably approach the place I got my cab from in the first place for a monitor price too.

[bloodyviking77]

I think filtek is in Sydney (and by the way they are pro-mame - Guru is associated with them in some way)

may be worth checking out: http://www.arcadegames.net/parts_video.htm

[captainpotato]

Thanks people, the information's much appreciated. Whilst I get the software side done (was using Linux & AdvanceMAME, but I'm going to try FreeDOS on the old machine that I plan to use at this stage), I'll think long and hard and look at the options given so far. Hmm, so many choices, so little money

[RetroBorg]

In Adelaide there are quite a few places that you could pick up a monitor. Here are a few.

Southern Star Electronics.
Unit 4 / 93 Research Road
POORAKA

Phone: 8359 5600

Amusement Worx
393 - 395 Magill Road
St Morris

Phone: 8332 2796

WWW: http://www.amusementworx.com.au/index.htm

Dickeson's Amusements
1056 South Road
Edwardstown

Phone: 8277 1755

WWW: http://www.dickesons.com.au/1.html

[captainpotato]

Retroborg,

Thanks for the tips. I'll have to take a week off work some time soon to investigate the places (godammit, I hate working 9-5 when places like this do likewise).

[RetroBorg]

I guess that's one of the bonuses of working to 2 AM and on weekends, plenty of spare time to do stuff especially by myself.

[spriggy]

Just for reference.  'Filtek' is in Perth.

As a trial, I priced bringing in a single new arcade monitor in from the US

The best price I have 'so far' is a Vision Pro 19" CGA to Perth for about $400aus from Happs.

[Fuzzguitar]

Yes, but if you look in the WG section at Happs you'll see a similar model on sale from just under $300 US to $199US until end of next month I think. This would be almost identical price to the Vision Pro you mentioned. It's all tempting, but then I need an Arcade VGA too. Oh how the costs can mount up!

Here's the WG no: WGM1972-HOGS66F 19" Std Resolution
Horizontal Mount 49-0536-00
 

[darklegion]

Arcade monitors are very expensive for what they are,$400AU for what is essentially a $200AU TV with some extra picture controls no Tv tuner and no composite/svideo support.There was a thread about hacking a TV to accept RGB,it was deleted however.By far the cheapest method of doing this but the safety concerns are somehwhat understandable......although are minimal on modern TVS and are probably safer then any arcade monitor that doesn't use a SMPS power supply.....which is most of them.I've gotten several different TV's working with this...3 to be exact which costed me less then buying 1 arcade monitor.

[spriggy]

Point taken and each to their own I suppose.

My preference for Mame cabs, I use new 19' CRT computer monitors with casing stripped off.

I am about to start building replica 80's dedicated 19" US cabs for myself (I'm currently compiling parts for a 'Jungle Hunt' UR, hence the costing of new 19" arcade monitors).  Because the cabs will be new in construction, I want the internals to be like-wise.  I'd prefer to have piece of mind for $200 more than hacking old TV's.

However, the different options available will have merit with different individuals for different reasons ($$ in a lot of cases).  Hence, the importance of threads such as these.  

Don't you just love the enthusiasm of Arcade nuts??

Bring it on!!  
 

[Fuzzguitar]

Ok, my emails weren't returned so screw the first option.

I then contacted a local arcade place who wanted $200 for a second hand (maybe 20+ years old) monitor or $250 for a Nanoa, plus I would have to get the isolation tranformer etc, just not worth it. I could easily buy another cab with a working monitor for that. Plus I'd still need a Arcade VGA. The cost was exceeding $400 AUD.

Luckily, a bargain appeared - I scored a near new 19" PC CRT monitor for only $100 AUD at work. It's a Benq V991 and the great bonus is bieng a current model it's reasonably light. I've moved countless 19" PC monitors that are older and seem to weigh double ( I work in a second hand dealers ).

It's the absolute biggest I can squeeze into my upright (it's a very old/small Lowboy style) and unlike the 17" PC CRT that was in there, it will need to be removed from the case and mounted properly.

Sooo, I'm off to research opening one up, discharging (do I need to do this just to mount it?) but I was hoping Spriggy could give me a quick run down on how to approach this.

Then it's off to find Oscars (from memory) post I once saw on mounting monitors in wood.

Thanks in advance.

[spriggy]

Have received your email and replying as we speak (....type!!)

Game On!

[Fuzzguitar]

Made the bezel recently and have begun adding a chassis support to complete the frame...was going well but gees - the lack of room is really a big problem in my cab. This job would be fairly straightforward otherwise!

Also upon cracking open my monitor discovered the power and adjustable controls at the front aren't detachable (opposite to what most people have posted) and are actually part of the chassis pcb. Need to drill holes  to expose them from the top for access. Bummer.

Trying to squeeze it all in without letting the chassis touch the tube or monitor poke out the cabinet's back is tricky, plus I'm constantly needing someone to help me lift the tube/chasis together and 90% i'm working on my own too. Doh!

I think i can get it to work but it may take more than one attempt. I'll let you know how it works out.

Oh, and there was a small piece of copper metal which connected to the pcb's metal frame on one end and directly to the tube's outer rim on the other. There was some foil like tape between it and the tube too....is this needed once i've discarded the platic case?