Bad Times W/ Billabs!

[Cajole]

So I wanted to get a new monitor for my mame machine and do away with the S-Video Driven 24"Apex. I ordered a BL27CA1Q 27" with some confusion over newer models. Got the monitor and found no manual... I hooked it up to my Radeon 9700 card at 640X480 at 60hz and only got the Windows boot screen... I asked for tech help and the rep said he was out of town... Asked for a link for the monitor manual and there was not one... 2 days later I got the manual via email... Very standard manual at that.... 4 pages... Still did not help my problem... Then I got Windows to come up at 800x600 under 8bit color... Looked at the monitor 15 pins and saw there was one missing. I then e-mailed the rep asking her if that was the problem and got no answer... Then emailed her to get a new cable for the 15 pin hookup and got this....

We shipped all of the components w/this monitor.  Are you trying to hook
this monitor up to your PC?  This is an arcade monitor that is meant to
be used for arcade machines.

Regards,

Kristin

So now it's Arcade Only monitor? Yet the site says it's SVGA and VGA?? Then I hear that it can't even do 1024X768!?!!??! WTF!?!!?!?!?

[thebrownshow]

Check me if I'm wrong, but isn't 1024x768 actually "XGA"?  So unless it says it's XGA, it SHOULDN'T do 1024x768.

http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?s=xvga&gwp=13

[Cajole]

Thanks for the response... Here's the specs on that monitor, looks like it is a lie since there is no XGA mentioned on the top but is does say 1024X768 in the res...http://www.billabs.com/images/monitor_27_specs.pdf

[moonpatrol 4 lyfe]

Pin number 9 is a 5 volt power supply.  It wasn't available on older VGA cards, and it isn't used on some applications. So, some cables/cards have it blanked out.

In your case, either a.)  Your missing pin is supposed to be missing.  or b.) You had a monitor that came with all 15 pins, but its missing one that isn't supposed to be missing.

If your windows boot screen came up, then I really doubt the pin is the problem.  It wouldnt kill you to check it out though.



Andy, please forgive me for stealing your VGA diagram   

When checking for the missing pin, please be careful not to confuse male and female.  It will throw you off as the male/female sides are backwards.

Hope this helps.
Bill

[Cajole]

Looking at the monitor's cable end (pins sticking out) it would be the 7th (2nd row, 2nd pin starting from the right) in the diagram from above... There is a hole in there and not blanked... anymore info would really help... thanks in advance

[Barkuti]

Hi guys, what's up?

It's been a long time and the bilLABS site is still all messed up . Someone should ask them for a job as webmaster...

After rechecking the old bilLABS monitor thread, BILLABS 1024x768 monitor, seems clear you've got the 38 KHz standard "TruFlat" version, BL27CA1Q. Look in the thread, MikeQ was told the 50 KHz model was going to be BL27CB1P.
If all your problems are limited to your monitor not being able to do 1024x768 non interlaced, then it's all fine.

And about your monitor's Sub D15 cable pinout, if it's working right then it's like it should be. My own arcade monitor is missing pins 4 and 9. Look at any VGA pinout diagram and you'll see there's no problem with it.
Having missing/unused connections or pins is pretty common in almost every bus/connector. That doesn't mean they are bad!

How much did you paid for your unit?


Cheers

[Cajole]

Thanks for your reply Barkuti, I paid $630 including S&H... Just to let u know, I swapped my Radeon 9700 Pro to a 9600... I got a picture at 640X480 at 32 color... Using the same drivers... The only thing that I could attribute the lack of picture on the the 9700 pro is that it used a supplemental power connection other than the AGP slot that the 9600 does not... The picture looks a lot nicer than the 24" TV without any spot jiggles, flicker, and bouncy eye strains... better than arcade perfect with the HQ2x filters on... Downsides, looks nasty at 800x600 and this model DOES NOT do 1024X768!!! All in all I can live with it... Billabs needs to work on their PR big time! Question for you arcade monitor owners... Do I need to turn of the monitor when not in use or is the stand by good enough?? I did notice the "Energy Star" on the site or is that another lie...?

[Major Rock Hardy]

Cajole,

good to hear  you got it working - at least 640x480 with one of your cards...  have you had a chance to try lots of different resolutions yet using advancemame?  It would be great to hear a review of the domestic model.

Cheers,
Rock

[bent98]

Can you tell me the actual hight width and depth of this monitor. I have a apex 24 inch TV and am looking to get rid of it and get one of these. I want to make sure the thing isnt to deep for my cabinet. Also my system for cabinet is a pci xpress mobo and nvidia 6800GT wondering how would I take advantage of monitors resoultions? Advanced mame? I emailed Andy over at ultimarc.com to see if there is going to be a pci express version of ati card and he said its being looked at but nothing yet.