How to bring up a 6100 color vector monitor (A PDF guide)

andrewb

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How to bring up a 6100 color vector monitor (A PDF guide)

Hi all,

I've seen a number of folks with questions lately about bringing up 6100 monitors. On that topic, I have a set of notes that I'd been compiling and adding to over time, with info I've learned (sometimes the hard way) from repairing many 6100 monitors and boardsets. I have been providing these notes informally for some time to folks who have purchased or had boards repaired by me, but I figure it would be better to fill the list out with additional info I've been wanting to add for a while now, clean it up, and post it publicly, for everyone to use and point to (including me). So here it is. (Click the thumbnail to download PDF.)

This guide is by no means all-inclusive, and I'd be happy to continue to expand it, if folks have ideas for modifications that will make it more helpful. It did grow to be longer than I expected, but I put as much info into it as possible, as I figure every bit that could potentially save you from problems is worth including. But this is the basic procedure I use when I bring up my bench 6100, usually after repairing boards. (I use the same procedure every time, whether I'm repairing one board, or assembling an entire monitor from scratch.)

Also, this guide focuses on the practical aspects of bringing the monitor up, assuming all of the parts (boards, tube, yoke, etc) are generally working. It does not go deeply into the details of troubleshooting or repairing bad boards, or other issues surrounding various modes of 6100 failure, outside of issues you might run into when trying to bring a 6100 up. It is an installation guide, not a repair guide. For more on debugging and repair-related info, refer to the 6100 manual and FAQ (see links in the document to the latest versions).

If there are any questions, comments, suggestions, etc, feel free to post them in this thread, or PM me directly. Also, this started out as very long post, however I eventually decided to put it into a separate file. This makes it portable, allows folks to print it out, and also makes it easier for me to revise it, as the version number is indicated by the date in the filename.

Sorry it's not a fancier document, with pics etc, but I just wanted to post the info as simply as possible, in a generic format that anyone can access, which can also be posted as an attachment here. Perhaps it can be evolved into something 'prettier' in the longer term, but for now I just want to make the content available, to help folks get their 6100s working, while steering you clear of most common problems.

-Andy
 

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  • How to Bring Up a 6100 Monitor - v20170517.pdf
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Awesome! Thanks Andrew!

We should just tack this onto the 6100FAQ... Does anyone even maintain that anymore?
 
Thank you! I tried giving you some rep points, but said I couldn't give you any more. Hope others do.
 
Thanks for your time on this. My Gravitar 'should' work and be ready to push to the wall, but I've been putting off going over the 6100 and firing it up for the 1st time since 'everything' has been repaired or rebuilt.
 
Thanks, guys. I hope it gets some visibility here in the monitor forum (which is not as popular), even though this is technically where it should be.

I need some guinea pigs to try it out, and see how clear it is. I've used the procedures myself for years (just from my head), but that's not the same as someone else trying to interpret detailed technical steps from a document. So, any constructive feedback is welcome, once anyone actually tries using it.
 
Thanks, guys. I hope it gets some visibility here in the monitor forum (which is not as popular), even though this is technically where it should be.

I need some guinea pigs to try it out, and see how clear it is. I've used the procedures myself for years (just from my head), but that's not the same as someone else trying to interpret detailed technical steps from a document. So, any constructive feedback is welcome, once anyone actually tries using it.

I can give you some feedback very soon. May start on this tonight.
 
Sure thing! Send me a 6100 and I'll get started right away! :D

Thanks for making this available. More vector info is always a plus!



Cool, I'm running a special package deal this week:

6100 PDF setup guide - $0
Box of 6100 parts to test guide out with - $1000

Not sold in stores. Get yours today!
 
Thanks for the write-up, Andrew.

I'll spend some time going through it as well.

Scott C.
 
Cool, I'm running a special package deal this week:

6100 PDF setup guide - $0
Box of 6100 parts to test guide out with - $1000

Not sold in stores. Get yours today!
OOF! Can't blame me for trying! :D
If only I had a 2nd color vector game in need of a monitor....
 
Great Job! Super informative guide that will help many people.
Thanks.
 
I have a project 6100 that I need to rebuild at some point. I also have my Space Duel and Tempest open at the back right now working on the Tempest boardset. This might be the right time to drag out that old 6100 and get it working. If I do I'll provide what feedback I can on the guide.

Thanks for doing this. Rep provided gladly.
 
Read this the other night. Very thorough. This is about as basic a guide as a noob could ask for. Step by step troubleshooting. I admit I don't follow every step mentioned here and tend to bring my monitors up a little bit faster but this guide will keep you from ruining some of your work. This should probably be added as a sticky. I really want to make some short 5 minute videos on how to go about repairing these monitors to assist others. I commend you for asking all the right questions and regret that I cannot be of any more assistance. All of the advice you have gotten here is pretty much rock solid. It seems very difficult to get vector monitors working but after you've done lots of them, it gets a lot easier. I still have my issues on some monitors and have a deflection board I refuse to give up on. I probably have over 20 hours in it troubleshooting. I'm sure it will turn out to be something very minor and I will kick myself when I discover it. I think it is great that you have documented all of your work as it is easy to forget what you have and have not done in repairing your monitor and if you set it aside you forget where you left off. I have just about everything you need to troubleshoot it as far as parts go. Unfortunately work is keeping me extremely busy and I have not been home to work on my own stuff as well as some repairs I have promised to people. No rest in the near future but hope to get back to repairs soon.

If I can help you out with parts, let me know and I will set some stuff aside for you if you want to drive over and get some things to continue troubleshooting.
 
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Any plans to write up one for B/W vectors?


No, as they don't really have the same issues as the 6100. Most common issues with G05's and v2000's are already known and documented, between the FAQ and multiple threads, so you can typically find most answers with a little searching around.

Also, some of the guide's info also does apply identically to b/w's (e.g., checking the frame transistors, the procedure is the same), and you could use the same general procedure for bringing one up, though it's somewhat overkill (and the HV levels are different, see the manuals for the respective values).

But generally speaking, b/w's are forgiving enough that you don't need to bring them up as carefully, as if there are problems, worst-case they'll usually just pop a fuse, and not nuke both sets of boards and multiple frame transistors (unless they're already blown, in which case you see burns on the board). The voltages and currents in the b/w's are lower than the 6100's, so all of the risks are lower, and they're less temperamental as a result.
 
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