CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[NFG]

So I built a quick screen out of some shiny white paint and a couple of pieces of plywood. It would cause a lot of fussy folk to have an aneurysm I'm sure, but I was tired of not getting something more permanent and awesome made up and the projector just gathering dust. (I tried wrapping it with tinfoil, and the image was -amazing- but boy did it have some insane kind of sweet spot! I took the tinfoil off...)

And so I hooked a Dreamcast up to it, a nice 640x480 VGA signal, and tuned the video until it was proper awesome. Played a few games, and then plugged in a Megadrive (Sega Genesis) with its 15kHz 320x240 signal.

Naturally I had to re-tune the thing, but I thought I could save some time by copying the setup I'd stored for the Dreamcast. It copied fine, took a handful of seconds and changed the name of the new signal number, but the picture was still rubbish and I basically had to start again.

Question one: Should I be able to copy the setup for a 31kHz signal to a 15kHz one?

Because it didn't work I figured I'd just re-calibrate the whole screen. The focus was done and some coarse skew adjustments got me close, but after doing the coarse and medium point adustments the screen went a little weird (horizontal line movement) and the thing dropped me out of adjustment mode, and I had to start over, wasting half an hour. Not sure what's up with that.

Question two: What's up with that?

And the burn-in on the blue is really annoying, previous owner used to leave the news channel running all day or something, so even with very low hours it's still got a rectangle in the middle where everything goes a bit yellow.

Question three: burn in sucks. =(

[CasetheCorvetteman]

Yep, but you didnt set the PHASE correctly. If you did, then the new input would only really require setting of the PHASE, then maybe some very minor touchups.

What's up with it is you did it all wrong. Everything must start with the PHASE being correctly set. This tells the machine where the center of the screen is for each source, so from there it knows where to put everything else.


Question three isnt even a question. Post pics of the tube faces.

[NFG]

Well, since the positioning was all correct, I assumed saving that config would include it.

Not sure the phase setting has anything to do with the system essentially crashing on me, but I defer to your far greater knowledge. ^_^

Haha, I know it's not a question. =P

I'm gonna go play with it now.

Right, so it says ~2600 hours on the tubes, but the burn-in is really bad. I didn't check the tubes when I bought it because the image he showed me - which was small and probably entirely within the burned area - looked even and consistent. So there's that. I've got pics, red is fine, green is noticeable, blue is bad.

I had a look at the phase adjustments. I don't see anything that needs to change in that respect.

[Nashou66]

Worse use of phosphor I have ever seen!!!!

Those are toasted !!!!! you need some jelly with them !

nashou

[jbmeyer13]

Go to the buy/sell forum and purchase CIR's tubes. As Nash said; it's toast!!

[CasetheCorvetteman]

Tubes are f***cked, set up WAY too far back. I dont have a blue, ive got a better green, and a better red cause that red is f***ed in every sense of the word. If you keep inside the burned area itll probably look reasonable. That wear is from the small tube face area they used to do the setup. Pull those lenses off, its four screws on each, then get us a pic of them direct.

Positioning the machine is critical, however you still need to set it up correctly, and as ive said already, that starts by getting PHASE set. Never assume the machine will do anything for you, that isnt how it works. Ive written out the procedure on this forum so many times it shouldnt be too hard to find.

I can drive there and show you how to do it properly, but thatll cost you a tank of 98 octane fuel or something else retro gaming wise of simular value.

[NFG]

I think, Case, it's a matter of not knowing what I don't know. I didn't think I was having trouble with the setup, I was able to dial the convergence down to be about as clear as a CRT through about 75% of the screen, with some issues with corner focus, because I didn't mess with the spacers.

But yeah. Tubes are f*ck***, I think it was a bit of a con by the seller. I'm not into it for too much money, so I'm able to remain a little philosophical about it. =)

You say the red is bad? I find that surprising. It looks fine on the screen, I don't notice the difference like I do the blue.

[CasetheCorvetteman]

Its bad mate for sure. Im happy to cone and show you all you need to know when youre ready, and youll easily get flawless perfection corner to corner when we're done.

[Nashou66]

yeah the raster looks like it only used about a 1/3 of the phosphor. That burn should be twice as large.

Nashou

[CasetheCorvetteman]

Yeah Nash, it sure does look like that eh, either way all 3 tubes will need replacing cause even the red is cooked.

Ive got a 6-7/10 red XG tube in an AC housing here good to go straight in, 16:9 wear but most of the tube face used so its not a lost cause.

If i go ahead with converting my XG to LC i will have a spare of each colour ready to go straight into that machine if NFG wants to go that way.

[CasetheCorvetteman]

Looks like this one: http://www.curtpalme.com/TubeCondition_PoorInstall.shtm

[CasetheCorvetteman]

I havent got a pic of the red, but it looks simular in wear pattern, just not as dark. This is a green i have that still threw a perfectly usable 16:9 image:

[the big E]

I also will agree with the others that those tubes are toast the only ones I have seen that are worse is the ones in my samsung projection tv and yes the red WILL have wear

Case is right about starting with the phase setting first

[NFG]

Unfortunately I missed out on CIR's tubes and so I'll be retiring the projector for the foreseeable future.

If anyone finds a set of minty fresh tubes at a reasonable price, let me know, and then we can talk again about my phase adjustments. =)

[Curt Palme]

BTW, the red tube lasts the longest, and while your tube is worn, it is probably useable. Thing is, finding good G and B tubes is the key, everyone (including me) has good reds. For some reason, even though it's clear to see that the red has wear, it is most likely throwing a decent image.

[Curt Palme]

BTW, the red tube lasts the longest, and while your tube is worn, it is probably useable. Thing is, finding good G and B tubes is the key, everyone (including me) has good reds. For some reason, even though it's clear to see that the red has wear, it is most likely throwing a decent image.

[NFG]

Yeah, I can see that it has some wear, but I did a lot of reading up on this before buying it (not enough to actually shine a light on the tubes first, obviously) and I know the red phosphors are particularly hard wearing. That's why I was surprised to hear Case say that my red looked really bad as well. I mean, it's hardly visibly worn and shows no sign of image degradation.

And yeah, the G and B tubes are key, that's why I'm particularly gutted about missing out on CIR's, and why I'm just gonna retire the whole dream for now. I'll either hunt down a megaview CRT or hope some NEC tubes come across my radar sometime.

I certainly do appreciate the help, you guys are awesome.

[macgyver655]

There is no reason why you cannot use it the way it is. It will probably display a decent picture. You wont have to worry about damaging them any worse then they are and you can learn how to set it up and enjoy watching some flicks while waiting for some tubes or a different projector.

[AnalogRocks]

I'd agree with Mac, my D50 is toasty but we use the hell out of it anyways. Still makes for a decent big screen picture.

[AnalogRocks]

I'd agree with Mac, my D50 is toasty but we use the hell out of it anyways. Still makes for a decent big screen picture.

[NFG]

I thought that at first too, but while some things can be played without any trouble, every time there's a white screen, or a significant amount of blue, I get what you see below. And while I'm sure I don't need to tell anyone here about CRT burn, I can live with some of it to get the benefits of a huge CRT image. But this is a lot. And sitting next to this is a 21" NEC FP2141, which seems to be one of the best CRTs ever made. Huge, loud and burned vs silent, small perfection. I'd fight for weeks to get the projector running if the end image was worthwhile, but as it stands, it's not.



Maybe I'll feel better after I go for a ride, I just fixed my bike and I'm staring wistfully out the window, feeling bummed about buying this badly burned unit and missing out on some tubes.

'cause I do love me some cathode ray goodness.

[macgyver655]

Run it within the wear pattern.