CompuServe Thread

Multisync Decay?

14 messages in this thread
#15250From: TIM STONISFeb 16, 1991 12:48 PM
Hi… I am experiencing what I think to be a problem. I bought a NEC MultiSynch 2A monitor about a year ago and I am using it with a flickerfixer and 1meg agnus. However, I have noticed just recently that the brightness of the monitor has decreased to the point where dark shades are no longer distinguishable from each other. I fooled aroun with the contrast and brightness controls all I could with no luck. I checked to see if it was receiving enough voltage by plugging it into a different socket but no luck. Does it have something to do with my newly installed Agnus? HELP! I hate black! -Tim Stonis
#15295From: David ArtFeb 16, 1991 11:27 PM
Tim, If the brighness/contrast has been fading slowly, chances are that it's the monitor or the monitor cable. It's not the AGNUS chip, since AGNUS only moves the data around. DENISE or the video hybrid, or the Flicker Fixer itself would be a more likely culprit if it really is the computer. Try the monitor on the normal RGB connector. If you can easily try the monitor on another computer, that could also be a good next step. David
#15300From: Don Curtis/SYSOPFeb 17, 1991 1:44 AM
Tim, Have you tried cleaning the face of the monitor? They collect lots of dirt and it doesn't come off with a simple wipe. You'll need something like Windex to do the job. If that doesn't work…it could simply be the monitor is getting old and "tired". No, AGNUS should have nothing to do with it. Don
#15330From: TIM STONISFeb 17, 1991 1:09 PM
Thanks for your help, I'll try things out… -Tim Stonis
#15353From: Karl SparklinFeb 17, 1991 5:06 PM
Tim, It's more likely it's the monitor than the computer, but who knows? I'd guess a low filament voltage on the CRT, but that's just a guess. If you do clean the CRT as was suggested here, do so with the monitor off after the static has dissipated: less likely to damage Ami with kilovolts that way. Karl
#15409From: TIM STONISFeb 18, 1991 2:33 PM
Karl, I think you are right, it is a low filament voltage because I hooked up a regular monitor and all of the color looked fine. It also might be something wrong with the flickerfixer, nut I don't know. What should I do about the voltage problem? I tried different plugs and everything… Service man? -Tim Stonis
#15424From: Karl SparklinFeb 18, 1991 9:08 PM
Tim, A monitor is not something you want to go poking around in if you're not skilled at it. Many thousands of volts in spots can send you flying. (Old flyback joke in there somewhere.) I can't imagine how the flicker-fixer could cause the symptom you describe, but I'm certainly no expert at those. Any decent TV technician could measure the filament voltage for you: should be about 6v. Is picture size correct? Did this happen all at once or gradually? Does the dark area stay put if you rotate the display around? Precisely which area is darker (top half, left side, etc)? Karl
#15492From: TIM STONISFeb 19, 1991 7:10 PM
Karl, The whole display itself dropped about 5 shades to the point where almost all of the darker colors are black. I am definintely sure that it is the monitor because the black areas around the border of the screen are totally black when the brightness is full. Previously, when the brightness was full , the dark border would be grey. I called NEC and they don't repair monitors and the dealers that do repair charge a flat rate of $242. I refuse to pay that, I'd rather live with dark colors. Back to the problem, rotation has no effect. I don't understand. IS there any hope? -Tim
#15500From: Karl SparklinFeb 19, 1991 8:41 PM
Timothy, Hmm. Well, if it was the filament supply, your whole display would become darker, as you described. But you said earlier that one area was darker than another, which doesn't jive. That's why I was asking WHERE it was darker. Difference in brightness can also be due to sweep speed, or linearity, such that the left edge or left half of the image, say, would be different than the rest of the tube. $242?!? Where do you live?? I got a dealer that will at least LOOK ar monitors here for a lot less than that. And if he can't fix them, he knows of a house that does. NEC3Ds are nice units; you shouldn't have to put up with missing imagery. Karl
#15558From: TIM STONISFeb 20, 1991 7:03 PM
Karl, What I meant by it being darker in some areas was that it was only darker with the dark shades of colors, like dark red and blue would appear black. I live in New Jersey. The places I called said it was so expensive to repair the monitor because they are so dangerous to work with. I was going to buy the 3D at the time, but I wimped out. I friend of mine has one. I might be upgrading to a 3000 soon so I may just buy another monitor to support the higher reses. What kind of monitor should I buy so I won't have to buy another monitor for a long time? I saw some Iiyama flatscreens that support up to 1280×1280. I sure wouldn't mind one of them… Thanks for your help! -Tim
#15607From: Don Curtis/SYSOPFeb 21, 1991 2:40 AM
Tim, Who'd you call? A monitor is no more dangerous than a TV, in fact if I were looking for a place to repair a monitor…the first place I'd call would be a TV repair shop. Don
#15625From: John PendergrassFeb 21, 1991 12:37 PM
Don, when my Magnavox Multisync went dead about a year ago I could find -0shops to look at it. TV, Computer, Video, etc. All the repair shops said they do not work on them. I must have tried a dozen or so shops in the Seattle area. (even large computer stores with repair facilities turned it down) I finally had to send it back to Magnavox support in L.A. There must be a difficulty difference between multisyncs and regular monitors? Or else multisyncs are still too new to have made it to the regular repair shops yet? –jp–seattle–
#15637From: TIM STONISFeb 21, 1991 6:42 PM
Don, I called NEC support and they gave me some dealers around me. All of them said $242. I refuse to pay. Should I call TV repair places to have them take a look at it? -Tim
#15629From: Karl SparklinFeb 21, 1991 4:00 PM
Tim, A multirate capable of 15 and 31 kHz is a must, and should do you for a long time on the Amiga platform, I'd think, from available information. Actually, I am impressed with the 1950 that CBM sells with the 3000. Beyond that, I don't keep up with commercial displays. Karl