PVM-8220 Screen Rolling

[bBiz]

The title says it all, I picked up a PVM-8220 for free on craigslist with a carrying case. The guy said it worked perfectly and honestly no reason for him to lie.
I got a BNC connector and plugged in my gamecube, the video comes on but the screen rolls and is in black and white. I have tried adjusting the v hold but it doesn't make any difference. I've also switched the exit/sync and nothing happened.

Any simple solution for this? I'm not really too tech saavy to start cracking it open and fixing parts, plus I've heard about potential for getting electrocuted so I'd like to avoid that.

Please help!

[juci]

It sounds like you are using 50hz, my old composite only pvm wouldnt work with 50hz.
do you have a picture of the screen n how you have it connected?

[bBiz]

So a 50hz power cord might not work with this pvm? No pictures unfortunately but as I said, the screen rolls down in black and white. There isn't much going on with the connections aside from the yellow composite cable going into the bnc adapter that is connected to the monitor.

[Fudoh]

He meant your source signal's format. PAL 50Hz vs. NTSC 60Hz. If you're in Europe the PVM might only work with 50Hz PAL composite. If you're in the US only with NTSC 60Hz.

[bBiz]

I'm in the US, so how would I fix this problem? somewhat of a newbie to all this so please bear with me.

[Ed Oscuro]

Hmm, I've managed to get just a b&w picture out of a GameCube before. Wasn't rolling though, and it was before I got my Wega or component cables...might have been S-Video and composite related. You can see this phenomenon if you try to plug the luma cable of YPbPr component cables into a composite port. The same might happen if you somehow can plug in one part of an S-Video signal.

I've found a user manual for this model here.

Let's start from the top. What kind of connector are you using? And this is a standard US GameCube, right?

If you are trying to get component (YPbPr) or S-Video, this is not the monitor for you. Note that each pair of plugs on the back is marked INPUT and OUTPUT - in other words, you can only plug one cable in for one input. There's no way to plug component signals or S-Video into this monitor. And, all said, this is a pretty so-so monitor even in the best of times. If you still want to press on:

Look at the back panel of the set. Between each pair of connectors for the inputs and the sync, there's a switch. Turn that switch ON for the inputs (sync probably doesn't matter and can be left OFF since you're not using it). Make sure nothing is plugged into the outputs. Only plug a cable into the first plug of the first input. Don't plug anything into the second input; that's supposed to be another "channel." I'm not sure how the sync is meant to be used here, but it certainly won't be any help with video game consoles.

Look at the image of the front panel on page 4 of the manual. There are a few switches and knobs you can try adjusting:

First, release the button labeled SYNC (so it's popped out, rather than pushed in). You're not using an RGB signal here and I don't think you have any way to generate a separate sync signal anyway.

Next, try pushing the H/V DELAY button.

Next, try turning the V HOLD knob (note where it starts at so you can put it back) at the far left of the bank of knobs. If that doesn't work, try pushing the following buttons in or out, one at a time: Scan mode select (this controls over/underscan, making the image bigger or smaller), and the sync switch again (I don't think the sync on this monitor will help, but you can try).

The final user controls on the PVM-8220 that seem possibly useful are the RGB pots, but I am fairly sure these will do nothing to resolve rolling. In case a monitor expert wants to look it over, the PVM-8220 has pots on the back for RGB "BKG" and drive, which I don't think are helpful here.

[bBiz]

This is a standard US gamecube, I am using regular composite cables but since the monitor doesn't have sound inputs the red and white plugs are not connected. The video composite cable is connected to a bnc adapter that I got for the PVM.

I turned on the switch in the back for the corresponding input, I tried adjusting anything that I could and tried every possible button, knob, switch combination before I posted on here. But I did try your series of instruction in the hopes that it would make the screen stop rolling or give me color.
I released the sync button, and teh H/V delay and tried to adjust the v hold but none of this seemed to help at all.

I did notice the RGB and BKG holes on the back but I am pretty sure that's just for more color correction?

Does this conclude that my monitor is busted?

[Ed Oscuro]

Did vertical hold change the level of rolling at all?

Given the controls on this monitor I don't think that there is much you could be doing wrong there. Looking at the manual again, all the following buttons should be released (popped out): INPUT select, SCAN, B-ONLY, SYNC.

And another thing occurs to me...you're not holding "B" on startup to get progressive scan, are you? I'd try another composite source, though, a 480i one like a VHS player or a 240p one like a SNES.

It sounds like everything is good except for that...it ought to be fixable if the right person looked at it. Maybe the internal sync is broken, maybe it's related to the vertical hold. But at the moment, I'm going with "busted."

[bBiz]

The vertical hold did nothing. Also I made sure to release the input, scan, b-only, and sync. But unfortunately when I turn on my gamecube all I get is a distorted rolling black and white image of what I should actually be seeing. Could it be a specific setting within the game? I'm not holding down B for progressive scan. I can try a VHS player as I am unsure of where my NES power cord is.

I'll try the VHS player and report back with results.

[Ed Oscuro]

Yeah, I've got nothing new for you at this time. The default video output of the GC should be just 480i in this case, which the PVM should support. But let's try another signal for now.

Do you have any leads what you'll do next, if it's clear the PVM's at fault (which it most likely is)? Are you still within a return window or have the ability to get it serviced?

[bBiz]

Yea I just tried hooking up my VCR player and it had the same issue as the gamecube. Used the same cables on my 20 inch trinitron and everything works fine so I know it isn't an issue with the cables.

I would say that its definitely the PVM at fault here. I got it off craigslist for free so there is no return window. And I don't want to get it serviced as I'd rather not put money into something that I don't intend to keep for a very long period. Had this been a 14 inch monitor I wouldn't have a problem with getting it serviced.

In any case, what do you think would be a reasonable asking price for this on craigslist? I also have a portabrace carrying case for the monitor which definitely has to increase the value of the monitor. I was thinking of asking for 30 dollars on cragislist. I would obviously label the monitor as semi broken and describe the problem, maybe call it a good "project" or "for parts" monitor.

Let me know what you guys think, or if any other suggestions let me know. I'd rather just get it out of the house now, it's taking up too much space in my room.