Vectrex Display Problems

On Dec 27, 9:01 pm, Eric Smith <e... DeleteThis @brouhaha.com> wrote:
> "TimLLeh...@gmail.com" <TimLLeh... DeleteThis @gmail.com> writes:
> > The graphics display, but every object is connected to a dot in the
> > center of the screen by a line. Also the text appears as a series of
> > horizontal lines instead of text. I have pictures if anyone wants a
> > look. I've tried adjusting the brightness but that did not work.
> > Everything else seems to work fine sound, cart slot, etc......
>
> Does the brightness control have any effect?  The control itself might
> be broken.

Yes the brightness control works.

I just opened it up to see if I could see anything. I found nothing
and closed it back up. When I turned it back on it worked perfectly.
Then I turned it off, put in a cart and now its back to the problem I
described earlier. So I'm guessing a cold solder joint some where, I
just don't know where!

Once again, any hints or ideas are appreciated!

-Tim
 >> Stay informed about: Vectrex Display Problems 

On Dec 28, 3:30 am, "TimLLeh...@gmail.com" <TimLLeh... RemoveThis @gmail.com>
wrote:
> On Dec 27, 9:01 pm, Eric Smith <e... RemoveThis @brouhaha.com> wrote:
>
> > "TimLLeh...@gmail.com" <TimLLeh... RemoveThis @gmail.com> writes:
> > > The graphics display, but every object is connected to a dot in the
> > > center of the screen by a line. Also the text appears as a series of
> > > horizontal lines instead of text. I have pictures if anyone wants a
> > > look. I've tried adjusting the brightness but that did not work.
> > > Everything else seems to work fine sound, cart slot, etc......
>
> > Does the brightness control have any effect?  The control itself might
> > be broken.
>
> Yes the brightness control works.
>
> I just opened it up to see if I could see anything. I found nothing
> and closed it back up. When I turned it back on it worked perfectly.
> Then I turned it off, put in a cart and now its back to the problem I
> described earlier. So I'm guessing a cold solder joint some where, I
> just don't know where!
>
> Once again, any hints or ideas are appreciated!
>
> -Tim

If you press (apply force) on the brightness control whilst a
cartridge program is running does anything change on the screen?
VectrexMad!
 >> Stay informed about: Vectrex Display Problems 

On Dec 28, 11:42 am, vectrex....RemoveThis@fastmail.fm wrote:
> On Dec 28, 3:30 am, "TimLLeh...@gmail.com" <TimLLeh....RemoveThis@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Dec 27, 9:01 pm, Eric Smith <e....RemoveThis@brouhaha.com> wrote:
>
> > > "TimLLeh...@gmail.com" <TimLLeh....RemoveThis@gmail.com> writes:
> > > > The graphics display, but every object is connected to a dot in the
> > > > center of the screen by a line. Also the text appears as a series of
> > > > horizontal lines instead of text. I have pictures if anyone wants a
> > > > look. I've tried adjusting the brightness but that did not work.
> > > > Everything else seems to work fine sound, cart slot, etc......
>
> > > Does the brightness control have any effect?  The control itself might
> > > be broken.
>
> > Yes the brightness control works.
>
> > I just opened it up to see if I could see anything. I found nothing
> > and closed it back up. When I turned it back on it worked perfectly.
> > Then I turned it off, put in a cart and now its back to the problem I
> > described earlier. So I'm guessing a cold solder joint some where, I
> > just don't know where!
>
> > Once again, any hints or ideas are appreciated!
>
> > -Tim
>
> If you press (apply force) on the brightness control whilst a
> cartridge program is running does anything change on the screen?
> VectrexMad!

No, nothing changes.

When I got home from work today I put in a cart and it fired up
perfectly 100%. Turned it off took the cart out and its back to its
old tricks with or without the cart...???
-TIM
 >> Stay informed about: Vectrex Display Problems 

Ok, new development. Seems that if I leave it turned off for about 30
min it works perfectly for one power cycle. If I turn it off and back
on it will go back to the strange behavior I posted originally....
 >> Stay informed about: Vectrex Display Problems 

On Dec 29, 1:12 am, "TimLLeh...@gmail.com" <TimLLeh....DeleteThis@gmail.com>
wrote:
> Ok, new development. Seems that if I leave it turned off for about 30
> min it works perfectly for one power cycle. If I turn it off and back
> on it will go back to the strange behavior I posted originally....

Ok, I was thinking maybe something was not connecting well on the
analogue PCB and pushing on the brightness might have verified it, but
from what you are saying it sounds like a more complex problem. Since
the problem seems to be time related? I wonder if the problem is
related to a misfunctioning capacitor(s)? - it may mean having to
replace or the capacitors to be sure - I have read in other posts
about 25 year old capacitors not behaving well, and capacitor kits
being available.
I'm just guessing now....
VectrexMad!

p.s. are you saying that when you see the lines connected to the
centre dot, no matter how much you reduce the brightness you still see
the lines connected to the centre dot? - on my systems I can too see
lines connected to the centre dot, but thats only when I have the
brightness fully turned to maximum.
 >> Stay informed about: Vectrex Display Problems 

On Dec 29, 1:37 pm, vectrex....TakeThisOut@fastmail.fm wrote:
> On Dec 29, 1:12 am, "TimLLeh...@gmail.com" <TimLLeh....TakeThisOut@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Ok, new development. Seems that if I leave it turned off for about 30
> > min it works perfectly for one power cycle. If I turn it off and back
> > on it will go back to the strange behavior I posted originally....
>
> Ok, I was thinking maybe something was not connecting well on the
> analogue PCB and pushing on the brightness might have verified it, but
> from what you are saying it sounds like a more complex problem. Since
> the problem seems to be time related? I wonder if the problem is
> related to a misfunctioning capacitor(s)?  - it may mean having to
> replace or the capacitors to be sure - I have read in other posts
> about 25 year old capacitors not behaving well, and capacitor kits
> being available.
> I'm just guessing now....
> VectrexMad!
>
> p.s. are you saying that when you see the lines connected to the
> centre dot, no matter how much you reduce the brightness you still see
> the lines connected to the centre dot? - on my systems I can too see
> lines connected to the centre dot, but thats only when I have the
> brightness fully turned to maximum.

If I turn the brightness down to where I can no longer see the lines,
I also can no longer see the graphics.
 >> Stay informed about: Vectrex Display Problems 

On Dec 30 2007, 12:21 am, "TimLLeh...@gmail.com"
<TimLLeh....RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Dec 29, 1:37 pm, vectrex....RemoveThis@fastmail.fm wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Dec 29, 1:12 am, "TimLLeh...@gmail.com" <TimLLeh....RemoveThis@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
>
> > > Ok, new development. Seems that if I leave it turned off for about 30
> > > min it works perfectly for one power cycle. If I turn it off and back
> > > on it will go back to the strange behavior I posted originally....
>
> > Ok, I was thinking maybe something was not connecting well on the
> > analogue PCB and pushing on the brightness might have verified it, but
> > from what you are saying it sounds like a more complex problem. Since
> > the problem seems to be time related? I wonder if the problem is
> > related to a misfunctioning capacitor(s)?  - it may mean having to
> > replace or the capacitors to be sure - I have read in other posts
> > about 25 year old capacitors not behaving well, and capacitor kits
> > being available.
> > I'm just guessing now....
> > VectrexMad!
>
> > p.s. are you saying that when you see the lines connected to the
> > centre dot, no matter how much you reduce the brightness you still see
> > the lines connected to the centre dot? - on my systems I can too see
> > lines connected to the centre dot, but thats only when I have the
> > brightness fully turned to maximum.
>
> If I turn the brightness down to where I can no longer see the lines,
> I also can no longer see the graphics.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

here's a link for the capacitor kit, showing how to do it -
http://lukesandel.com/techgallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=906 - if you
click on the first image, you can make out what the capacitor values
should be.
This fix is not for the faint hearted, and only somebody familair
with electronics and soldering should do it.
As I said before, replacing all the components might still not fix the
problem, however capacitors are more likely to go first compared to
the other components.
Easier still, sell your current Vectrex as parts on ebay, and buy
another one.
regards
VectrexMad!
 >> Stay informed about: Vectrex Display Problems 

If you install a cap kit, bear in mind that the factory schematics do
NOT match the "as built" vectrex, and if you buy a cap kit from
someone who built it based on the schematics instead of the actual
as-built vectrex, you won't have all the right stuff.

The Zanen kits had this problem, at least until recently. I had a
lengthy conversation with the owner, who said he had not had anyone
else notify him that his kits were wrong. Since there were previous
posts in this group about his kits being wrong, I had presumed he had
been told, but he said he had not. He sent me the correct parts
-very- quickly, and at no charge to me, and was absolutely wonderful
in dealing with the issue. I believe he intended to update his kits
in the future to include both the caps per the original schematic, as
well as the ones that were "as built" in mine...

- Greg

On Wed, 2 Jan 2008 11:29:28 -0800 (PST), vectrexmad RemoveThis @fastmail.fm wrote:

>On Dec 30 2007, 12:21 am, "TimLLeh...@gmail.com"
><TimLLeh... RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Dec 29, 1:37 pm, vectrex... RemoveThis @fastmail.fm wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > On Dec 29, 1:12 am, "TimLLeh...@gmail.com" <TimLLeh... RemoveThis @gmail.com>
>> > wrote:
>>
>> > > Ok, new development. Seems that if I leave it turned off for about 30
>> > > min it works perfectly for one power cycle. If I turn it off and back
>> > > on it will go back to the strange behavior I posted originally....
>>
>> > Ok, I was thinking maybe something was not connecting well on the
>> > analogue PCB and pushing on the brightness might have verified it, but
>> > from what you are saying it sounds like a more complex problem. Since
>> > the problem seems to be time related? I wonder if the problem is
>> > related to a misfunctioning capacitor(s)?  - it may mean having to
>> > replace or the capacitors to be sure - I have read in other posts
>> > about 25 year old capacitors not behaving well, and capacitor kits
>> > being available.
>> > I'm just guessing now....
>> > VectrexMad!
>>
>> > p.s. are you saying that when you see the lines connected to the
>> > centre dot, no matter how much you reduce the brightness you still see
>> > the lines connected to the centre dot? - on my systems I can too see
>> > lines connected to the centre dot, but thats only when I have the
>> > brightness fully turned to maximum.
>>
>> If I turn the brightness down to where I can no longer see the lines,
>> I also can no longer see the graphics.- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
>here's a link for the capacitor kit, showing how to do it -
>http://lukesandel.com/techgallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=906 - if you
>click on the first image, you can make out what the capacitor values
>should be.
>This fix is not for the faint hearted, and only somebody familair
>with electronics and soldering should do it.
>As I said before, replacing all the components might still not fix the
>problem, however capacitors are more likely to go first compared to
>the other components.
>Easier still, sell your current Vectrex as parts on ebay, and buy
>another one.
>regards
>VectrexMad!
Greg Kemnitz - KB0OSO - +1.763.548.2600 - gk RemoveThis @skypoint.com
 >> Stay informed about: Vectrex Display Problems 

Hello Greg,
I'm contemplating doing the capacitor changes for one of my Vectrex
consoles which has a very shimmery display compared to my other
console.
Question is, when you did your capacitor change did you notice any
visible improvement in the image display? Was the text improved?
I suppose the other thing to change would be the DAC?
regards
VectrexMad!
 >> Stay informed about: Vectrex Display Problems 

I was disappointed to find that after all the work and hassle, the
issues I was trying to fix were not materially affected. I needed a
rather significant improvement, and did not get one. Whether or not
there was a small improvement in either sound or display was not
material at that point, and I don't recall the subtleties...

That vec has become a parts donor, and at least three vecs now are
recipients of parts from it. I hate to see one parted, but livesaving
efforts sometimes fail... and in that event, at least the vecs going
through my shop carry donor cards....

- Greg

On Fri, 4 Jan 2008 04:43:15 -0800 (PST), vectrexmad.DeleteThis@fastmail.fm wrote:

>Hello Greg,
>I'm contemplating doing the capacitor changes for one of my Vectrex
>consoles which has a very shimmery display compared to my other
>console.
>Question is, when you did your capacitor change did you notice any
>visible improvement in the image display? Was the text improved?
>I suppose the other thing to change would be the DAC?
>regards
>VectrexMad!
Greg Kemnitz - KB0OSO - +1.763.548.2600 - gk.DeleteThis@skypoint.com
 >> Stay informed about: Vectrex Display Problems