Fudoh's ode to old display technology

[TheShadowRunner]

Mine is the same, figured it supposed to be that way, it has a heat warning sticker on the back.

Thanks for confirming jedman, on mine I guess the sticker is long gone ^^;

[jedman]

Im impressed by how well built the BVM's are, its like a tank! the picture is totally uniform and bright and colorful and mine has 60k odd hours on.

Does anyone know what aperture does? seems like it effects the sharpness of the picture.

[Kabal2X]

Guys, I will bother you once again with my usual 'is this monitor worth it?' question

A Sony PVM-2030 just popped on my local 'craiglist-like' site. They are asking for US$160 according to XE.com.
I know that Fudoh told me before that a piece of equipment worths as much as I want to spend on it, but these aren't very common around here and still, its a lot of money. I'm planning to play Sega Mega Drive, SNES, NES and maybe arcade games if possible on this monitor.

So, what do you guys think? Worth it?

Some pictures:

http://mlc-s2-p.mlstatic.com/monitor-so ... 2014-F.jpg
http://mlc-s2-p.mlstatic.com/monitor-so ... 2014-F.jpg
http://mlc-s2-p.mlstatic.com/monitor-so ... 2014-F.jpg

[kamiboy]

No RGB input.

[Kabal2X]

Not directly, I think custom cables are needed?

http://www.gamesx.com/wiki/doku.php?id=av:pvm-2030

[Ed Oscuro]

Perhaps you could hack up a SCART to DB-25 cable to make it work.

Not having messed with signals before, I am kind of confused about why they've highlighted (but not underlined) the pin 9 mode select, with "high state / open" and "no connection" seeming to indicate just leave it open (i.e. unconnected), but that's strange. Maybe they shoulda chosen a different color or just not highlighted it, leaving the note to the side.

[Kabal2X]

I think this is the cable / adapter that I need if I choose to use that monitor.

http://www.retrogamingcables.com/sony-p ... erter.html

[nyder]

I think this is the cable / adapter that I need if I choose to use that monitor.

http://www.retrogamingcables.com/sony-p ... erter.html

Yes, thats the cable I have which I use on that monitors bigger sibling the PVM-2530. If you get it get some decent speakers and run it directly into the speaker connectors on the back, its pretty sweet!

Nyd

[MintyTheCat]

Hi all,

is it considered safe to tate the Sony BVM-20F1E?

Cheers.

[Kabal2X]

So, the guy selling the PVM-2030 said "make me an offer" when I asked him about a discount. Hooray! Wish me luck
The guy is also selling video amplifiers, SCART switches, etc., so I suposse he knows the bussiness and the price of the equipment.

[nyder]

So, the guy selling the PVM-2030 said "make me an offer" when I asked him about a discount. Hooray! Wish me luck
The guy is also selling video amplifiers, SCART switches, etc., so I suposse he knows the bussiness and the price of the equipment.

I'd STRONGLY recommend getting a SCART switch thrown in, the cost of importing a good quality one is nuts.

Nyd

[Kabal2X]

Sorry, I just checked and it's a BNC connector switch, National WJ225R - 12 BNC inputs, 1 BNC output. Asking US$110 for it.

Edit: Just got a reply from the seller, he is willing to let it go for US$105, so I'm going for it!!
I'll start preparing myself by making some RGB cables for my consoles, SNES and Megadrive 2. I'll use the Gamesx method by making one cable "adapter" with a DB-25 connector on one end (for the CMPTR input) and with a DB-9 connector on the loose end (http://www.gamesx.com/misctech/mypin.htm).

Any idea on wich cable I need?

[lettuce]

Any thought on the SONY PVM-2950QM monitor been eyeing one up for a while are the as good as the NEC XM29?

[MintyTheCat]

Hi all,

is it considered safe to tate the Sony BVM-20F1E?

Cheers.

Does anyone know?

[nyder]

Hi all,

is it considered safe to tate the Sony BVM-20F1E?

Cheers.

Does anyone know?

I've never heard of a PVM/BVM that couldn't be tated.
They are built like tanks, very robust, heavily shielded.

Nyd

[STG]

Hi all,

is it considered safe to tate the Sony BVM-20F1E?

Cheers.

Does anyone know?

Totally safe, my BVM is in permanent tate mode.

[bobrocks95]

So are BVM's the only option when it comes to CRT displays with full geometry and convergence controls? PVM's don't have quite as extensive ones right? Did NEC or some other manufacturer of RGB displays make any lines with full control?

[MintyTheCat]

Thanks - I thought it best to check first. My BVM cost me a fair amount of $ but it is worth it to me. Picture is awesome and there are more controls than most could imagine ever using

[gone fishin]

Hello guys, I just picked up a PVM 2530 and was wondering if anyone could help me disable the Superimpose function on it.
I've Google searched but couldn't find any info about it. From reading the manual, grounding pin 12 enables the function but seeing as how I haven't got it grounded, I don't know why it's enabled. I included a pic to help illustrate my problem.

Thanks in advance for any info.

[TheShadowRunner]

On my old PVM-2130QM, the superimpose feature was enabled/disabled via a switch on the back panel.
Did you verify there?

[gone fishin]

Thanks for your suggestion. I had a closer look at the back and there doesn't seem to be a switch associated with the Superimpose function. There's SoG On/Off, Line A On/Off, Line B On/Off, S Video / VTR On/Off, at the top there are switches for Manual and Remote controls, that's it.

I double checked Pin 12 with my multimeter and it's not grounded.

Only idea I have now is to wire 5v to Pin 12 but I don't want to do that for fear of frying the port.

EDIT: Nevermind, I just had my Dreamcast connected at the same time and it doesn't seem to be superimposing the picture onto my Xbox in RGB. Though I still wonder if it's normal that 2 inputs are lit while in RGB mode.

Anyway, I'm having second thoughts about keeping this beast of a radiation machine at my place. Am I the only one worried about the numerous X ray warning stickers inside the monitor?

[RGB32E]

Though I still wonder if it's normal that 2 inputs are lit while in RGB mode.

Yes, the PVM-xx30 monitors always have another input selected in with CMPTR. There's no configuration where only CMPTR is selected. You can turn off illumination with one of the switches on the back of the monitor. The LINE A/B/VTR selection with CMPTR input also allows the user to feed stereo audio to one of those inputs and use CMPTR for RGB Video, instead of being forced to use mono audio in the DB25 connector. Grounding CMPTR pin 2 will amplify audio from the selected LINE A/B/VTR input.

The manual exactly describes the functionality of pin 12 - no superimposing if this pin is open (not connected)!

[Asure]

CRT radiation (X-Ray) is blocked by the front side of the screen where the glass is very thick. So, no reason to worry. You get more radiation from a flight between New York & Amsterdam. The warning is there because it is required by laws. And, because the TV repair guy sits at the back of the screen, where there is an EM field which is theorized to be bad for your health.

All modern CRT's have built-in security measures that kick in when a CRT goes bad and for some reason emits even a slightly higher value, turning off the tube.

In short, you have nothing to worry about. The 'fear' you have for this unknown tv-radiation was likely inspired by your parents, who told you not to watch tv all day or your eyes would go bad/square/blind.. etc

[gone fishin]

Ok guys, thank you very much for the info. I appreciate it, it was very helpful.

Now to find out if there's a secret Service Menu on this thing (by pressing specific keys) like on my PVM 14N6U.

EDIT: It's always interesting to me to find out how other people got their PVMs so in turn I'll share my story. Basically I saw an ad in my local Craigslist for a PVM 2530 for $500. I shoot an email offer of $100. Got counter-offered for $200. Then we settled on $125.

The interesting part is that the guy said he was the original owner and that he bought it brand new back in the day from a local high-end electronics boutique for $3000. When asked why he needed such a high end monitor, he claimed to be an Audio/Video-phile. Even showed me his Super VHS player that he used to connect to the PVM. I'm not saying I believe him, but he did seem to be emotionally attached to the thing. In any case, the monitor is in excellent shape despite the geometry issues. Wish there was a way to see the "Operation Time" on it.

[BuckoA51]

He should have been glad it was going to a videogamerphile then

[Traveller]

Hey has anyone seen a PVM sort of forget the settings from the service menu? When I booted it up it had reset to default, but, I noticed that the indicator for where I had saved the settings was still there. When I hit the blue only to read the memory it reset everything back to the way I had it.

Kinda odd.

[bobrocks95]

If you'd like other sources to put the radiation levels in perspective, apparently using a CRT for a year is the equivalent of eating 10 bananas: https://xkcd.com/radiation/

[nyder]

Ok guys, thank you very much for the info. I appreciate it, it was very helpful.

Now to find out if there's a secret Service Menu on this thing (by pressing specific keys) like on my PVM 14N6U.

EDIT: It's always interesting to me to find out how other people got their PVMs so in turn I'll share my story. Basically I saw an ad in my local Craigslist for a PVM 2530 for $500. I shoot an email offer of $100. Got counter-offered for $200. Then we settled on $125.

The interesting part is that the guy said he was the original owner and that he bought it brand new back in the day from a local high-end electronics boutique for $3000. When asked why he needed such a high end monitor, he claimed to be an Audio/Video-phile. Even showed me his Super VHS player that he used to connect to the PVM. I'm not saying I believe him, but he did seem to be emotionally attached to the thing. In any case, the monitor is in excellent shape despite the geometry issues. Wish there was a way to see the "Operation Time" on it.

Thanks for the Story, I always find how people obtained their PVM's fascinating.

I have 2

A PVM-2530 which I obtained from Craigslist for $5.
It was well used but sitll works.

Had to some fine tuning via the POTS on the bacl (No onscreen nothing) scary but worth it.

I also have a more recent PVM-1354q I love this thing, very minty, rarely used. I use it on my work beech, but really am in the market for a 20 inch like it.

I have a local seller who has a Sony PVM-20L2 for $300 and a Sony PVM-20M4U for $450

He has them up on ebay with best offer option, but he is local to me and said I can pick up rather than pay shipping, and seems eager to sell as he has bunch of them. I really have my heart set on the PVM-20M4U. You think an offer of $300 is to much?

BTW if you have a service manual for your 2530 I'd LOVE to get a copy of it.

Cheers,

Nyd

[gone fishin]

Hey what's up Nyder, I've seen your posts regarding your 2530. I plan to do some geometry adjustments at some point and was wondering which pot it is.

The Q series are nice, I used to have a 1944Q. Only thing I didn't like about it was that it was RGsB.

I've owned 4 PVMs now, I think 20" is the best, atleast for my setup. IMO, I wouldn't pay more than $150 for the 20M4U, that guy is dreaming if he thinks anyone's paying him $450. He should really be paying you to get rid of it.

And no, unfortunately I don't have the Service Manual for the 2530, mine only came with the Owner's Manual. If a Service Manual exists, it is a well guarded secret.

[bobrocks95]

So are BVM's the only option when it comes to CRT displays with full geometry and convergence controls? PVM's don't have quite as extensive ones right? Did NEC or some other manufacturer of RGB displays (or potentially just CRTs in general) make any lines with full control?

Bump on this question. It's the only reason I'm considering getting a BVM, but the size drop from my consumer set doesn't sound very appealing (since afaik the largest BVM is 20"?)