Adjusting vertical linearity

While fiddling with the E3000 chassis recently, I came to reaslise how important vertical linearity is to the attainment of good overall geometry.

I decided to experiment with creating my own test patterns to check the linearity of my Calida 5072. I created a black and white bitmap in MS Paint with 5 equally distributed lines. I used an odd number of lines so that I can get the 5 lines equally spaced. Since I play so many 224 lines games, I created a 225 line mode to use for testing:

225 line linearity test screen

I used Arcade_OSD to access my test modeline and then displayed my test image fullscreen. Next, I used a small ruler to measure the space between each line. Much to my surprise, my even looking lines had up to 15mm difference in the spacing between them!

I got thinking... there had to be a way of getting this accurate. Here's the solution I came up with:

Paper mask with equidistant marker lines

Close-up of the mask

I prepared an A3 paper mask to help me line up the 5 test lines. I had to juggle between V-Amp, V-Pos, V-Lin and V-Sym in the Service Menu. Changing one value will most likely require an adjustment of the other. However, despite the interaction, it only took me around 10 minutes to get this as close to perfect as possible.

After that, I loaded up regular cross hatch and adjusted the horizontal size and centring. Next, I fiddled with the EW and Trap controls. The resulting grid wasn't perfect but it was extremely close for a CRT!

The benefit of all this fiddling is how good the games now look, especially when you have a vertical scroll effect. So even and smooth now!

Exploring the Loewe E3000 chassis

Recently the flyback on my prized Blaupunkt fried itself. It was pretty crazy because my girlfriend and I were watching r a g e at the time. The screen starting shaky, the colors got freaky and then a big cloud of evil black smoke started coming out the back. Luckily I was quick on my feet and cut the power before things got too crazy. Pretty sad day though... I'm surprised I didn't actually cry after that event! I've ordered a replacement flyback through Dönberg so hopefully that unit can be brought back to life

In the meantime, I picked up a super-rare Loewe Calida 5072. I've only seen one other specimen like this in 2 years of daily searching. This TV features a semi-flat 68cm Philips tube and the fabled E3000 chassis. I paid premium for this beauty and the picture quality is a amazing!

Street Fighter III

Calida 5072 (E3000 chassis)

The images produces are super-crisp and stable. The only problem is that while the E3000 produces a superb picture, it's extremely fussing about the signals it gets sent. There are certain refresh rates that won't sync and it crops lines from many games.

After some intense testing I have learned that the TV has two basic modes: PAL and NTSC. The Service Mode allows you to set separate geometry values for each mode.

The PAL mode will show a maximum of 285 lines and will sync up to 52 Hz.
The NTSC mode will show a maximum of 233 lines (pretty poor) and will sync down to 57 Hz.

This means that the TV is far from ideal when it comes to running native resolutions and refresh rates for the wide range found in MAME. However, the awesome picture quality makes the TV worth persevering with... especially for the quality it can bring to 224 line arcade games.

I'm currently in the process of confirming these observations and constructing a thorough set of monitor specs for use with GroovyMAME. I'll be reporting back here shortly...

Grab yourself an Extron!

Picked up an Extron RGB 201 Rxi from eBay last week.

This unit was recommended to me as a way of centering the picture horizontally on my Blaupunkt which doesn't actually feature a H position pot on the chassis.

This crafty little unit only cost me $20 but it can do some amazing things! Firstly, it does the desired H position control very well. There is a HUGE range of adjustment available. There is also a V position control that shifts the image up or down one scanline at a time. Really cool. As a bonus, there is a Level Boost pot and a Peak Control.

The Level Boost is really cool for controlling how dark the scanlines are. With the control up high, the image tends to saturate and bleed. With the control down low, the scanlines are far more defined. Neat!

Extron RGB 201 Rxi

The unit also features a horizontal and vertical frequency readout on the front LCD. Very cool for confirming that your GroovyMAME modelines are delivering what they advertise:

Horizontal and vertical frequency readout

Around the back, the unit features RGBHV on BNC connectors. It can also run RGBS meaning that I can possibly ditch my UMSA adapter in the future (provided I make up a BNC to SCART cable).

Overall, a very cool tool for those that are running native res and refresh. Highly recommended!

Street Fighter III looking seriously awesome after Extron tweaking

SOLD! Sony KV-C27 going REAL cheap!

SOLD!

I have a knocked about Sony KV-C27 sitting in my lounge room (in Melbourne, Australia) that I need to get rid of in a hurry. It was promised to another avid retrogamer but he can no longer collect it due to personal hardship.

If you're local and want to get your hands on a killer SCART television for retrogaming purposes, get in touch! I really need to move this sucker and want it to go to a good home.

The Gumtree ad is here.

For more on the Sony KV-C27, check out Rob's excellent video here.

The following screenshots show the actual unit in action:

Golden Axe

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Metal Slug

Street Fighter II

MAME menu

Windows desktop

Chassis

Chassis... again!

Case damage

Internal trim pots

More internal trim pots

B&O for sale: $100,000.00

I found this on eBay today. This has got to be the funniest eBay listing ever:

B&O LX 5500

$100,000.00! Hmm, last one I bought cost $20!

Bang & Olufsen Beovision LX 5500 & matching VCR. Stunning condition. 1992.

Funky!! Comes with digital reception box/beolink 1000

This was given to me by a friend that bought a plasma......  BORING!!!!!  B&O plasmas are stunning.  Their LCD's are not so good (everyone is entitled to their opinion, I have an Avant and I think the picture kills LCD - grab one secondhand if you can.  (The sound is STUNNING, basically the same as 2 beoalb 4000's, it's crazy that they are going so cheap now, why do you need a flat-screen unless you are wall mounting, mine is in a corner, so who cares??)

I absolutely LOVE it, but unfortunately enough televisions.  Stunning piece of functional design.

This thing was the Shite in its day.  The sound is absolutely stunning.   I watched the voice on it the other day on the white beauty. 
That Delta woman I tell you is a musical genius like Joel (pass the bucket.)  She has a nice soprano voice though.

You can connect your CD or iPhone or airport through it.  I have had my phone playing music through it.
I took the speaker covers off it and it has some meaty woofers and tweeters on each side.

It looks like something out of the ski lodge in 'The Shining'.  It looks CRAZAY!!!!  The design is just stunning.  One for all you retro freaks.

It would look stunning in a warehouse, or a hairdressing salon playing film clips etc.

I have had it set up at my place, and everyone comes in & comments or laughs or says WTF??  It really is a collectible piece.

Motorized stand & VCR (not sure how to use, I just hooked up the digital box & that's it.

Picture quality is great.  Tube is still excellent, as the person that gave it to me wasn't a big piglet couch potata that sat on the couch all day watching Judge Judy & dr Phil / County Practice & bold & the Beautiful etc).
http://youtu.be/70ypTkptkg0  That episode was in this sexyWhite Fang's vintage.  I think she has had a bit of surgery since then. 
........ Ridge..... "Close your eyes & blow"  ... Bit dodge.  That women looks like something from The Dark Crystal now.  I have never said that to anyone.  How upfront. 
All the young ones now probably say it 3 times a week on the first date after one sugar crap drink.  SHUDDER!!!!

http://youtu.be/nHM4VVpu9uw  Funny.....  Go JUDY!!  PSYCHO!!!  Episode about fake HOOTERS!!  PRHOOAAR!!!!  http://youtu.be/QJxMNzzx3vE

Speaking of fake hooters - http://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/20-gorgeous-photos-from-anna-nicole-smiths-guess-campaign
It's a real shame how drugs and booze destroy people lives.  She was a bit of a fox in the early 90's, then went to absolute trailor park shite with her addictions and bizarre behavior.

http://beophile.com/?page_id=1355

Enough yapping & Judy Judy for now.  I'm off to watch Days of our lives......

If you are interested, feel welcome to make an offer.  I have no idea of value as it is a bit eccentric. 

The good old days......
http://youtu.be/fbRpa6KAc4g
http://youtu.be/b3ugRWd3-XU (family)
http://youtu.be/-n7oTdzyRkM

I can deliver and set up for no expense (inner Melbourne.)