Vectrex question.

"T. Rivet" <none.RemoveThis@none.net> wrote in message
news:sJy6l.57955$sC4.55358@newsfe04.iad...
> Impmon wrote:
>> I remember reading an old FAQ that Vectrex was originally designed
>> with 5" CRT display but was pressured to use bigger CRT when Milton
>> took over Vectrex project. It is quite likely this is what lead to
>> high failure rate with the dual op amp chip that drives the yoke, it
>> was probably fine for the original 5" spec, not the current 9" design.
>>
>> Theorically can one adapt a Vectrex to use the 5" CRT? with the
>> upcoming law requing all analog NTSC signal to end in USA, there will
>> be many portable TV that would end up in landfill or very cheap at
>> Goodwill. I got a working 5" portable TV for only $0.25 and if I can
>> figure the pinout of the 5" CRT, adjust the HV transformer (or replace
>> with smaller ones from TV) for lower voltage output, and get the yoke
>> done right it should be possible to make Vectrex smaller.
>
>
> I have no technical knowledge what-so-ever regarding this, but the Vectrex
> uses a vector monitor while TV's use a raster monitor. I know vector
> graphics can be "simulated" on a raster, but it's not quite the same.

Raster vs. vector is in the chasis electronics, picture tubes are the same.
It's possible to put a clean b&w tube in a game like Asteroids but normally
it's a swap for one of identical size because the old tube has burn in.
Not sure how things will work out when you change the picture tube size and
yoke?

In article <sJy6l.57955$sC4.55358@newsfe04.iad>,
"T. Rivet" <none DeleteThis @none.net> wrote:

> BTW, I take it the r.g.v is dead? This would be a perfect discussion
> for there, but no new posts for MONTHS..

There has been some traffic here, very light in the last three weeks,
but a little bit. Over the last six months, the traffic has been
lighter than the good ole days, but visible.

But compared to what we remember, it is near death. Many of the old
gang moved on to other hobbies, the eBay bubble killed a lot of the fun
even though the prices have dropped to lower than pre-eBay for the most
part, and others have moved to the web forums such as Digital Press,
where moderation keeps out unwanted riff-raff that has driven some away.

On that last point, iNet newbies today do everything through the browser
(as noted by how many new names in this forum seemed to be based out of
google groups, today's answer to aol and hotmail). Plain text with no
animated smileys and custom avatars is no fun for them.

jt

On Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:15:24 -0600, "Turbo Torch"
<vairxpert.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Raster vs. vector is in the chasis electronics, picture tubes are the same.

yes, and generally mono CRT has no mask internally so the tube can
easily be used both as raster and vector display. Color tube has mask
and would not do vector very well as it'd display jaggies.

Trying to get a smaller CRT into Vectrex would be a challenge since
I'd have to compensate for voltage differences. I'm not even sure if
the yoke from a portable TV can be used as is or if I'd need a custom
built one. I don't have the expertise or knowledge to make a custom
yoke.