New D9200 alternative

[Patent Doc]

I was at the Superauction in ATL this past weekend and found something unexpected.  The possible answer to all our monitor dreams.  The guy there represented a company called billabs based our of GA.  Anyway, they sell 15", 19", and 27" "autosync^TM" monitors. 

http://www.billabs.com/crts.htm

They even claim one of the two 27" monitors supports up to SVGA resolutions.  All the autosync monitors will do CGA, EGA, and VGA syncing 15-31kHz (upto 38kHz for the monitor doing SVGA).  The two 27" monitors wer being quoted at $400 (VGA) and $425 (SVGA).  They looked great on demo, but obviously I have no idea how long they will perform under real world conditions.  Anyway, these definitely look like they are worth a try.  Hell they can't be any worse.

Patent Doc

[Barkuti]

Those look like rebranded Wei-Ya monitors.


Cheers

[Patent Doc]

I don't know enough about monitors to verify this, but the president of the company said they are the OEM (he may not have understood the question).  Not sure if this was true or not.  Website says something about manufacturing taking place in Taiwan.  If these are Wei-Ya monitors rebadged, your guess would probably be better than mine.

[Lord Hiryu]

Hi Barkuti......nice to see you here!!!
  - Les he escrito hoy, para saber cuanto puede costar un monitor de 19" y 27" multifrequencia....(que supongo que ser

[Pepeto]

Hey! Lord Hiryu, tu por aqui

Ya me diras precios (a Zaragoza no se cuanto sera mas o menos igual). A ver como esta ese de 27"

English

Hi Lord Hiryu

Do you tell me the price? (I'm from Zaragoza, and it costs the same) The 27" model...

Regards

[Barkuti]

Wow! Spanish fellas everywhere!

Ok. As you may be interested, here's the the last email I exchanged with Claudia from Wei-Ya a couple weeks ago (email information has been edited to prevent spam & protect privacy):

From: Claudia/Wei-Ya
To: Barkuti
Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2005 7:18 AM
Subject: Re: European distributors/resellers info


Dear Salvador,
 
Thanks for your e-mail.
 
Please find M29XX 15~38K/15~48K is our new design and we not yet start to produce them in rough q'ty. So it isn't possible to get such item from Europe.
 
Their price is USD 10.oo/pc extra for 30~38K/30~48K and just available export from Taiwan.
 
If you have any question, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Best Regards,
Claudia
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Barkuti
To: Claudia/Wei-Ya
Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2005 9:07 PM
Subject: Re: European distributors/resellers info


    Hello again Claudia:
 
    Thanks for the reply. There has been a little misunderstanding here, tough. I'm not looking to import some large number of monitors. I just need a single unit, hence the reason to get contact details on possible resellers and/or distributors for your products in Spain/Europe. I wouldn't mind direct shipping from taiwan if a cheap method is available; let me know in such a case.
    Regarding the product information, I need confirmation for those numbers. According to website, M29XX series are digital/OSD/autosync compatible with CGA and EGA video, 15-38 or 15-48 KHz, and you state 30-38/48 KHz. Would you be able to clarify on this? I need 15-38/48 KHz scan range.
 
Thanks again.
Regards,
 
    Salvador Barqueros Provencio
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Claudia/Wei-Ya
To: Barkuti
Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2005 10:49 AM
Subject: Re: European distributors/resellers info


Dear Sirs,
 
Thanks for your e-mail.
 
Regarding your inquiry for 29" CRT Monitor, here please find our quotation of below.
 
M2929D-82  29" 30~38K Monitor (True Flat)  USD 234/pc
M2929D-62  29" 30~48K Monitor (True Flat)  USD 270/pc

[elvis]

I've also contacted these guys enquiring on possible freght/conversion to/for Australia.  I'll post back when I hear something.

[Patent Doc]

OK...I just did some searching on the Wei Ya website.  the picture of the billabs monitor 27" is the exact same picture used for the M31 series monitor.  Also, if you type in www.wei-ya.com you get billabs.  Well, I think this pretty much confirms it.

Oh by the way for you aussies I ran across this site

http://www.zax.com.au/spare_parts/monitor-chassis.html

they carry wei ya

[Ken Layton]

The correct website for Wei-Ya/Huai I Electronics is:

www.weiya.com.tw/

[elvis]

Oh by the way for you aussies I ran across this site

http://www.zax.com.au/spare_parts/monitor-chassis.html

they carry wei ya

They're  (a) chassis only, (b) generally second hand (very few new, and only 30 day warranties) and (c) rediculously overpriced (like everything else in this country).

[Ken Layton]

Don't forget that Alva Amusement in Florida also carries Wei-ya complete monitors as well as replacement chassis.

[KDOG]

Since they are Wei-a monitors, does anyone know how the compare to the D9200 or the Betson?

[Barkuti]

Ok guys. I have news for you.

I've finally decided to plunge the cash on a Wei-Ya unit. Just ordered a M2929DC-62 sample unit directly from Huai I Electronics, Taiwan. A nice big 29" Dynaflat CRT monitor.

Delivery time will be around 2 weeks after payment. So expect a review of it soon!


Cheers

[Ken Layton]

Excellent! Looking forward to a detailed review. Don't forget to review how it's packed/shipped too as I'm sure everyone will want to know how it fares on it's trip from Taiwan.

[AmericanDemon]

If you dont mind, do you have a total after shipping for the 29" monitor? 

[Barkuti]

Claudia, from Wei-Ya, quoted me $330 for the shipment, using UPS. The model is $280 per piece ex works.So my total (unconfirmed yet) would be $610. I ordered today. I expect to receive the proforma invoice and payment details next week.

Bear in mind the shipping cost varies a lot depending on where you live.


Cheers

[monitor_guy]

Hello fellas, after a phone conversation with "Patent Doc", I've decided to poke my head out, and see what's lurking in this message board.  Afterall, I used to
depend on BBS Bulletin boards back when I was fixin' monitors in college, in the good ole days of the video game heyday.  I'm marveled at the messages herein,
and buying monitors from Taiwan, wow!  Just pray it doesn't fail on you, 'cause
that freight gets to be brutal...

My first question:  Why are you guys needing SVGA monitors?  What game are we dealing with here??

But first things first.  Billabs products are North-America friendly.  OEM'd monitors
from Wei-Ya are not friendly in a multitude of aspects.  One would have a hard time fitting the US standards with a raw Asian monitor.  Billabs is a company based in Atlanta, GA that has taken the kinks out of Taiwanese monitors.
Monitors purchased thru Billabs would carry a one-year warranty, supported by
our tech dept.  Schematics would be provided upon request.


Should anyone need more info, please feel free to contact any of our distributors:
West Coast:  Mountain Coin Distributors
East Coast:  Billabs HQ, Greater Southern

or communicate with me directly. 

[Barkuti]

Hi monitor_guy. Welcome to the boards!
Tomorrow I received a reply from "Jenny", from bilLABS Latin American Sales dept. She already knew I had agreed with Claudia for a shipment from TW HQ. Very professional!
Wow! You've come here faster than I speak!

Regarding your first statement, you're assuming I'm from the states. I'm not.
I live in Spain. We're speaking about some major geographical location difference you know.
And BTW here in europe we're screwed, OSD arcade monitor wise that is. I've been researching on this for quite some time and if I really wanted that level of specs, I had no better option. Give or take.

My first question:  Why are you guys needing SVGA monitors?  What game are we dealing with here??

Because we're computer freaks, don't you love that?

Seriously speaking, a 600 useable line mode is the bare minimum for standard operation in a GUI OS. That's what a D9200/KT-2914 can provide.
But 768 lines, well, it's very nice. You start to get a comfortable experience in a GUI with such a vertical resolution. 1024x768 @ 60 Hz on a 27" useable screen looks great on paper, as long as the electronics provide for a sharp picture and the tube resolution stands up more or less. I hope your monitor does that.

Why? Flexibility. Excellent for retrogaming and movies, comfortable for OS GUI usage, fully capable for all HDTV standards through a digital tuner (spec wise thinking 720p @ 60 Hz requires 46+ KHz Hsync freq). And let's not forget some computer games look gorgeous at 1024/1280x768 in a 27" display!
A lot of the magic comes from the fact of using a std res CRT, fine dot pitches make low resolution modes look awful.

Oh! I almost forgot. Want one more particular reason? Even with all the overhead costs, I'd still pay more for a Hantarex Polo Star 25" std tube monitor here in my country.

Well, that's all I had to say for now. Thanks for all the support again.
Can't wait to review it!


Cheers

[Frosty]

Wow.

[Frosty]

Updates, updates:

After speaking with one of the techs at bilLABS, he informed me that they're backordered (quote: "it's a very popular monitor") about 3 weeks on the multi-sync 19".  That model runs $275 (without shipping).

He also told me that they're thinking about discontinuing that model as some of the components for it have become more scarce.  Instead, they're looking to add a CGA/EGA/VGA/SVGA monitor to replace it.  That one would be about $285.

[Ken Layton]

Alva Amusement also sells Wei-Ya monitors.

[Barkuti]

Well, after an additional day of waiting for customs' clearance, the damn thing has finally arrived today at 16:30 local time (15:30 GMT).

Can't spell good things about the freight (UPS express service), it seems the more "fragile" signs a box has, the more blows it receives. Just by looking at how the freight guy dropped the box over the floor by my door scared the hell of me. What a bunch of jackasses all of them are.

Luckily the thing came well packed, double boxed, because some smartass made a hole big enough in the package as to break the two boxes, by the side the screen was facing.

The plug has two flat blades with a round one for ground. I'll have to change that.

A pic to whet you appetite.

Oh, btw, customs charged me

[Ken Layton]

I notice the monitor was placed in the box on it's side. Anytime I have received a monitor boxed that way the main circuit board usually cracks or breaks under it's own weight. Double check and look closely at the main board, neck board, and remote control board for cracks/breaks in the boards and foil.

[Barkuti]

Yes that was so. The only thing that wasn't right/in its place was the remote control board. See that small bubble wrap bag in the pic? I think it was meant to carry it inside, but the thing slipped out of it.

After the initial overall inspection it seems the thing isn't damaged. I'll take a closer look at it as soon as I get a pal to put that brick over the "review table".

LG-Philips picture tube baby. Gotta love it! Grey color. Can't understand why nowadays CRTs aren't all dark/black coated for improved contrast. I still have a 15+ years old 29" Philips TV and it has a fairly dark surface tube.

More details coming soon. Or maybe I'll just make you wait 2 or 3 days for the full review.


Cheers

[telengard]

Yes that was so. The only thing that wasn't right/in its place was the remote control board. See that small bubble wrap bag in the pic? I think it was meant to carry it inside, but the thing slipped out of it.

After the initial overall inspection it seems the thing isn't damaged. I'll take a closer look at it as soon as I get a pal to put that brick over the "review table".

LG-Philips picture tube baby. Gotta love it! Grey color. Can't understand why nowadays CRTs aren't all dark/black coated for improved contrast. I still have a 15+ years old 29" Philips TV and it has a fairly dark surface tube.

More details coming soon. Or maybe I'll just make you wait 2 or 3 days for the full review.


Cheers

Aww man, a couple more days??     

I'll be curious to see how well it handles switching modes and how well stuff like windows and vector games look on it.  Also, any defects if you (hopefully not) find any.

~telengard

[Ken Layton]

Attention guys: Just got the latest sales flyer from Amusements Plus. Seems they are now selling a tri-mode automatic switching monitor from a new company I never heard of before.

Stock # NVD4327 Nieman 27" tri-mode (CGA/EGA/VGA) $449

Stock # NVD4332 Nieman 32" tri-mode (CGA/EGA/VGA) $645

For those need a smaller dual res monitor try this one:

Stock # MV2425 Makvision 25" CGA/EGA manual switchable monitor $375

All of the above are in Universal mount frames

Amusements Plus
107-H Norris Drive
Rochester, N.Y. 14610
Phone: 1-800-377-7729 or (585) 244-2420
Fax: (585) 244-4535
Email: Amusemen@Rochester.rr.com
No website!

Other branch offices:
Ohio phone 1-888-789-4637
Ohio fax: (216) 228-7467

Syracuse, NY branch office:
Phone: 1-888-789-1111
Fax: (315) 699-0451
Email: BSBK5477@aol.com

[Barkuti]

Back again. Just stopped by to say hello.

Many commitments/engagements lately. Lack of sleep. But finally some preliminary work done.

All I can say about the M2929DC-62/bilLABS BL27CA1K so far is... GET THAT MONITOR!


Cheers

[Ken Layton]

Why not shop around to the other Wei-ya distributors like Alva Amusement to see if you can buy it cheaper?

[Barkuti]

Hello fellas.

The review of the Wei-Ya M2929DC-62 was finished and submitted to Kevin Steele, RetroBlast!'s webmaster, today at 1:19 GMT. I already had agreed with Kevin for him to host my review.
Received Kevin's reply at 13:31 GMT. Told me he has other reviews to post, but he's gonna try to get it up before the weekend.

The wait is almost over. Hope you enjoy it!


Cheers

[Barkuti]

WOW!

Well, just received another email from Kevin. Seems I did a good job with the format, layout and pics, so it has been an easy task to get it up!

Check it out here: Wei-Ya M2929DC-62 / bilLABS BL27CA1K monitor review


Enjoy!


P.D.: edited to correct a typo

[Patent Doc]

Barkuti

Just read your review.  Geat JOB!!!  I can't believe the monitor claims 15-50kHz.  That's amazing!! Better than there webiste says.  Were you able to correct your convergence problems?

Thanks for taking time to do the review.  I for one appreciate it.  Billabs here I come.

Woo hoo

[whammoed]

Excellent review.
What is the curve of the tube like?  Is it totally flat or simply flatter than a normal crt?  I am wondering if either happ bezel will fit it correctly?

[Barkuti]

Doc, adjusting dynamic convergence is a complex process, and would require acces to some kind of OSD service adjustments' menu. I would not dare to try it without getting as much information about the process as possible.

I am not bothered by that insignificant problem. The gun deviates considerably near the corner, but the area is too small to be worth considering doing any fixup. Believe me, most TV sets and arcade monitors are likely to show overall worser convergence than mine did.


whammoed, from a physical standpoint, the screen surface of the CRT is straight flat.


Cheers

[whammoed]

cool, the flat screen happs bezel should work then, or any piece of cardboard, plastic, etc. since its perfectly flat.

I wouldn't worry about the convergence either.  From what I can tell it is better than the competition already.

[Frosty]

This is sweet.  Can't wait for the 19" version of this to come off of backorder!!

[Goobzilla]

Nice review, now I'm even more torn about which one to buy.

Ron

[Barkuti]

According to Kevin, billLABS has changed its monitor's model number; now it's BL27CA1Q. Price is $475. The M2929DC-62 is the final production model (the speec sheets on Wei-Ya's website just speak about a "M2929D-72"), and when asking for info about the monitor I was told these had just came out of the oven, so that BL27CA1Q is probably its direct USA final production counterpart.

BTW, according to specs, the 19" billLABS CRT has not digital electronics. It's an autosync tri-mode monitor, with potentiometer adjustments (like a Hantarex Polo Star). Matches with Wei-Ya's M31 series (M3119-21).

And c'mon, none of you is daring to buy a BL27CA1Q? At $475, it is barely more expensive than WG's D9200/Betson Imperial, yet much better value IMHO.

Brave american/canadian guy wanted: for him to get one of those bilLABS models, so he can tell everyone which differences are to be found between it and the M2929DC-62.


Cheers

[Frosty]

BTW, according to specs, the 19" billLABS CRT has not digital electronics. It's an autosync tri-mode monitor, with potentiometer adjustments (like a Hantarex Polo Star). Matches with Wei-Ya's M31 series (M3119-21).

How does this work exactly? (I have a CGA monitor now and have no experience with a tri-mode).  Does that mean that without the digital electronics that each time the mode is changed you need to make potentiometer adjustments?  Thanks....

[Barkuti]

How does this work exactly? (I have a CGA monitor now and have no experience with a tri-mode).  Does that mean that without the digital electronics that each time the mode is changed you need to make potentiometer adjustments?  Thanks....

Most likely. Unless you set a "main" mode and then take the time to adjust the other modelines to match the screen size and position of that "main" one, to avoid pot adjustments as much as possible.


Cheers

[Rickn]

Hi guys, want a complete update, I can give you one.

Nieman Video Displays....

I have worked for companies like Makvision, Pentranic, Electrohome, Imagetel and now own Nieman Video Displays ( Niemandisplays.com)

We offer 24.8" Tri-res,  (Amuusements Plus, Struve, Moss and BIrmingham), also 27" standard res, Tri-res.
As well as 32" standard res and 39" Tri-Res monitors.

Replacement boards and solutions.

I can give you the scoop on Wei-Ya Bil Lab and even mine, they all look very similar there are so many knock off's.

Just doing what we enjoy best...

Rick@niemandisplays.com

We however at least six mod's to our boards to improve relaibility and performance.

Yes 1 year warranty.
Yes North American Product and support.

We offer all kinds of support, even if it is not our monitor, not our problem..

Not meant to be a plug, just want to set things right.