Asteroids Deluxe Monitor Brightness

Samelak

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I have two different levels of brightness for the images on my AD. The ship and asteroids are fairly dim, but the "bullets" are nice and bright. Is there an adjustment on the board to brighten the dim images? I can still play fine, but it can be tough to see with black light on. By the way, the monitor has been serviced. I tried adjusting the flyback, but that is for overall brightness.
 
Use the brightness and contrast pots on the monitor's deflection board. Turn both to max, then back brightness off until the retrace lines disappear. Then back contrast off to taste. (I leave mine all the way up, but it's your choice.)
 
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By design, different objects in the game have different levels of brightness.
The shots are the brightest.
The ship and saucers are bright.
The asteroids are "dim".
The scores are relative to the 'stoids.

If playing on an upright with the mirrored background ... make sure you have cleaned all dirt/dust off of the mirror.

As mentioned, optimizing the brightness and contrast (and focus) is key ...

ast1.png
 
If playing on an upright with the mirrored background ... make sure you have cleaned all dirt/dust off of the mirror.

LOL, when I got my AD from a guy whose house isn't very clean, my screen was really dim. After cleaning both sides of the bezel, the mirror, both sides of the gel screen and the monitor, it was a huge difference. Oh yea and the black light bulb!! 7 layers of filth!
 
Use the brightness and contrast pots on the monitor's deflection board. Turn both to max, then back brightness off until the retrace lines disappear. Then back contrast off to taste. (I leave mine all the way up, but it's your choice.)

I have a question....how tough is the phosphorus? I adjusted my upright the other day like you said...and it looks amazing!! But the bullets are so bright I'm super paranoid it's gonna burn the monitor. Should that be a concern, or is it a non issue since they are moving and not stationary?
 
There's a hole on the back of the HV cage (On my G02 that's where it is at least). Mine is labeled too.

Nice, no idea why I never knew about that. Question, would adjusting this a little help with "jaggies", or smooth the lines out on an asteroids?
 
Nice, no idea why I never knew about that. Question, would adjusting this a little help with "jaggies", or smooth the lines out on an asteroids?

Honestly, i don't know, someone else would have to chime in...but play with it anyways. I "thought" mine was in focus, until i messed with it a tad and man it made a difference! It's crazy how your eye can tell the smallest difference when given a chance to compare.
 
Having shown the above, the OP, if he owns a HV PROBE, should also validate the HV is in spec. [14.5kV +/-5% for 19"]
But ideally, the solution is to just tweak the brightness and contrast POTs.
 
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Vector Newbs. :001_stongue: [VN]

But realistically, any CRT has a "screen and focus" type adjustment. Go fish ... R909 (on a G05 or V2000; G05 shown below).

Yeah I looked at this after reading your focus comment. Used to this adjustment being on a flyback that's obvious to spot, and not burried in a cage. :)
 
I'll try messing with it again. I was hoping there would be a board adjustment to equalize the different characters. I put in a new background and with the black light, some images are tough to see.
 
I have a question....how tough is the phosphorus? I adjusted my upright the other day like you said...and it looks amazing!! But the bullets are so bright I'm super paranoid it's gonna burn the monitor. Should that be a concern, or is it a non issue since they are moving and not stationary?


It isn't really a concern unless the image is stationary. I use my cab for testing boards that I repair, and it's on for long hours, and having the brightness cranked doesn't seem to have had any impact on the tube.

I think Asteroids/AD were designed to have the bullets be bright, so I say crank 'em up.
 
It isn't really a concern unless the image is stationary. I use my cab for testing boards that I repair, and it's on for long hours, and having the brightness cranked doesn't seem to have had any impact on the tube.

I think Asteroids/AD were designed to have the bullets be bright, so I say crank 'em up.

Good to know thanks!
 
Took another shot at brightening the screen up. Between the two adjustment pots, took it all the way up to the draw lines and then back just enough to make them disappear. Unfortunately, as brightness increased, the less focused the images became (particularly towards the outer edges of the playfield. I tried adjusting the focus near the flyback, but could not really tell if the pot was moving. There wasn't any change and I cannot get a really good look at what is happening inside the cage. I just messed with the two pots again and went for the best compromise on brightness and focus.
 
Sounds like you might have an HV problem. Recap the cage and get a new diode, and you'll likely be all set. You'll also need an HV probe to calibrate the HV level, as if you haven't measured it, it could be way off. (Maybe try that first, as it might just be that.)

Also, the focus adjustments on these b/w's never seems to do much. I don't know what the deal is, but I've never had one make much of a difference, in all of the monitors I've owned.
 
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