Problem with ArcadeVGA and BilLabs BL27CB0P Monitor

[kaskinen]

I have a BilLabs BL27CB0P Monitor that syncs between 15kHz and 49kHz and should accept the output voltage of 1v that the ArcadeVGA card outputs.

However when using the AVGA card it will not pick up that anything is connected to it.

The monitor works fine with a regular VGA card but of course it runs at 31kHz.

I've tried the AVGA card in a couple of different computers to make sure it wasn't a problem with the machines.  But all indications are that the computers do boot up but the monitor never sees a signal out of the card.

Does anyone else with a BilLabs monitor and an ArcadeVGA card have this problem as well?

There are two inputs on the back of the monitor.  One for VGA (1V) and another for TTL (3V-5V), but I thought that the VGA input should sync down to 15kHz so it should be possible to use that input for all sync rates.

Thanks for any help,
Steve

[KDOG]

did you use the tri sync driver
http://www.ultimarc.com/AVGA_TriSync.exe

[Circo]

Strange I have and arcadevga 9200 and it works beautifully on my new billabs.  I am using the vga input on the monitor as well.  Sorry that this is not much help but it should work.  Which version of the arcade vga are you using the 9200 or the 7000?

[StephenH]

I think it isn' the Billabs Monitor at all.

I would check the following:

1) With the machine with the ArcadeVGA, is there any internal on-board video?   Sometimes there needs to be a BIOS setting that has to be changed to enable a video card?

2) I have heard that some computers have been incompatible with ArcadeVGA.   I hear at sometime that they changed the AGP interface or something.

3) There is a possibly an IRQ or Interrupt conflict with some other device on the board.  Try disabling something on the motherboard that goes to some port or device you are not going to use at all.

4) The fourth possibility is a defective ArcadeVGA card. 


To really verify it is not the Billabs monitor is to try connecting it something else that outputs 15Khz.  But I suspect that it if is working fine at 31Khz, that is not the real problem here.

[mairsil]

I can verify that the VGA port does handle the 15KHz signal using the adapter that is included. Lethal Enforcers looks really sharp on the monitor. 

[kaskinen]

In response:

The Tri-Sync util will do no good as the monitor sees no video signel at all, even during POST.

It's a new AVGA based on the 9200 chip.

I've tried the AVGA in multiple computers, and same issue...no video signal.
Some of those computers had no built-in video, so again I doubt its a computer issue.  The monitor works fine at 31-48kHz, ie. 640x480 up to 1024x768 all looks just fine.

Andy from Ultimarc believes it likely to be a bad card.  So it looks like I'll be exchanging it and see if that fixes the issue.  I'll have to try AdvanceMAME or something in the mean time with a different Video card to see if I can get it to accept a 15kHz signal.

Thanks for the response that it should work with the VGA input as opposed to having to mess with the TTL input.  That was my bigger concern if that was the issue.

Question for Mairsil...you mentioned an adapter?  An adapter for which?  The card or the monitor?

I'll let everyone know how it turns out.

Thanks for the help,
Steve

[mairsil]

The adapter that I was talking about is the one that came with the monitor. It is the small board that connects the JAMMA RGB harness that also came with the monitor, and the VGA cable. In other words:

JAMMA harness -> JAMMA RGB harness -> VGA adapter board -> VGA cable -> monitor

I should have clarified a little bit more. What I meant to say was that the VGA port on the monitor can handle the 15KHz signal as put out by a standard resolution JAMMA game (the manual that came with the monitor was unclear about this). I have not tested an actual ArcadeVGA card outputting a 15KHz signal into the monitor (don't have and don't need one).

[conkerkrusher]

The AVGA from Motorfishes vertical machine output video fine to my billabs, Ms pacman was the game i tested. I know there is some issue with billabs monitor as i cant get my ps2 adapter to work on it but it works fine on the wells d9200.

[Major Rock Hardy]

I'll have to try AdvanceMAME or something in the mean time with a different Video card to see if I can get it to accept a 15kHz signal.

If you do this - please post your results - I am planning to do this w/ the same BL monitor and I'm very curious how you do.

Here's a good reference if you did not have it already:

http://easymamecab.mameworld.net/html/d9200.htm
and especially:
http://easymamecab.mameworld.net/html/monitor1.htm

[mamerocks87]

Is this the exact monitor you have?
http://www.billabs.com/bl27cb0p.htm

I was thinking of getting one to replace my WG standard res..How much was the monitor and shipping ect? Also one thing that throws me off is that it says "Veriflat" ....Does the monitor have any curviture at all?


-Kyle

[mairsil]

That is the monitor that I have. It cost $549 + $160 shipping. I know a lot of people complain about the shipping cost (and the shipper), but the monitor is extremely well packed in formed styrofoam and the box is strapped to a wood shipping pallet.

When they say flat, they mean it. I would say that there is less than a 0.25" curvature if there is any at all.

[mamerocks87]

thats a little to rich for my blood.... dang
also where did you get a bezel for that? I was wanting the model in the retro review:
http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/weiya.html

anybody have any clue where to get it?

[mairsil]

Sadly, I got the bezel with my cabinet kit, but:

1) The (Happs) bezel was not even close to being flat enough. I don't know if the bezel was actually for a flat monitor or not though.
2) Even if it was flat enough, it wouldn't have fit the cabinet. The monitor was deeper than the cabinet would allow, so I had to space it out. I ended up using the bezel, but cutting it down and installing some 1/16" rubber automotive trim around the rough interior edges.

[tetsu96]

I asked this on an earlier thread with the Billabs monitor - but is this a flat shadow mask or using an aperature grill?  Asked differently: are there 2 slightly grey lines against a white background - 1 located about 1/4 screen from the top and 1 1/4 from the bottom?

[kaskinen]

For those who were interested...

This problem has been fixed.  It was a bad AVGA card that Ultimarc replaced for me.  The new one works great with the monitor.

[Atomiswave]

kaskinen:


Could you do a dotcross-hatch test with your monitor, please? I am curious about its geometry. I have this monitor, but with the Wei Ya brand and I am satisfied except the linearity is not correct at the left and right field of the monitor. I can live with it, but I would be happier if it could be fixed.