Is my monitor broken? There's no image anymore.

Hey guys,

Here's my problem: there's no image on the monitor of my cab. It just went out while I was playing. I turned it off, and it worked again a few hours later when I turned it back on. Now, a couple days later, it's just out and it won't come up again, no matter how much I fiddle with the cable (I don't know which one it is, but it seemed to work when the image was fuzzy some time ago). I'm freaked out. Sound is perfect, and everything else is just as usual. Oh yeah, and when I do turn off the cab, there's that "turning off effect" on the monitor (you know, with the dot in the middle), which gives me some hope that it's not a desperate situation. Anyway, help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Dji

Probably more to do with the monitor receiving a signal.

Check the pins on the Jamma connector/harness. There is usually only 5 pins which are red, green, blue, sync and ground.. Check ground especially since that would give you a black picture I would think if it were not connecting.


Usually when the monitor is going you would hear funny noises, so the monitor is still drawing power which is a good thing.

Sounds like the monitor isn't totally shot based on your description. When you power it on, can you hear high voltage going into the tube? Do you see the neck area of the tube glowing? If it's a JAMMA cab, can you try out a different PCB and see if it works? If you can get the model number of the monitor (look on the monitor's chassis and not the tube itself) that might help figure out the problem.

I think that from what you're saying the connection at your monitor has come loose. I don't think it would be at your harness, as other pins would also not be getting connection as well (unless the pins [red, green, blue, video ground, and vertical sync] have all rubbed off) Also, all of them would have to be rubbed off, otherwise you'd get something... even if it looked really crappy. so... I'd check the back of the monitor (be carefull... don't touch the wrong things) trace the harness that should have 5 wires to a connector on the chasis. being carefull not to touch anything else, push that connection into the chasis. If it moves, that may have solved your problem... if it didn't, then it may be something else.

Also make sure the wires to the Isolation Transformer are on /not loose or corroded..(if you have one)

What type of cab do you have....US-Japanese..?

Here's a pic of my cab: http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/Djister/Cab.jpg

It's a U.S. 4-slot, version 2.

Check the pins on the Jamma connector/harness. There is usually only 5 pins which are red, green, blue, sync and ground.. Check ground especially since that would give you a black picture I would think if it were not connecting.

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I have no idea where to find that, I'm a total tech noob...

When you power it on, can you hear high voltage going into the tube? Do you see the neck area of the tube glowing?

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I do hear a noise when I power it on. In fact I hear it as long as it's powered on, which I always did. Also, I can sometimes see some kind of a reaction on the screen when I power it on, but it's barely noticeable and it doesn't always happen. Or maybe I'm hallucinating.

I'd check the back of the monitor (be carefull... don't touch the wrong things) trace the harness that should have 5 wires to a connector on the chasis. being carefull not to touch anything else, push that connection into the chasis. If it moves, that may have solved your problem... if it didn't, then it may be something else.

Click to expand...

Is there a way to solve my problem without doing anything dangerous? I'm sure I'd get myself killed...

Thanks for your help guys, I really do appreciate it, but I don't understand half of the terms you use.

The jamma connector/harness which connects your motherboard to the cab has pinout on the RIGHT hand side on this diagram :

http://www.hardmvs.com/manuals/Jamma2NeoGeo4SlotPinout.pdf


Make sure they all connect nicely. As I said its the Red, green, blue, Sync and video ground wires are important for this problem. Its N P 12, 13, 14.


Take a note of their colors.. Follow them around the cab to the monitor itself and see if you can see any problems. Its not likely to be red green or blue, because if one of those were not connecting you would still see the other colors. Of course your MVS motherboard could be broken as well.. I dont suppose you have any other board you can stick in there?


Its basic stuff, and you will only hurt yourself if you touch the back of the monitor.. The wires should not go very near this area, maybe quite near but not near enough for you to worry about shocking yourself. Be careful though all the same.

do you see the crt heaters glowing a yellow/orange colour in the neck of the picture tube ?

Hey guys,

Thanks for your help. One of my tech-savvy friends just came over, looked at your posts, and fixed the cab in no time. It turns out it was just some cables behind the monitor who were loose. Everything's perfect now... for the moment. Let's just hope it'll work this well for a while yet!

Dji