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

Thanks!

I capped my 6100 last night and today I went poking around to find this exact information...and here it is.

I will be using this tonight and hopefully playing Tempest again.
 
Awesome, thanks for the link.


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
 
Wrong HV board referenced.

Working on 6100's today and following the guide! :) I think you have a technical typo on page 9. I believe you mean P329 vice P316 in the second paragraph below.

"Note that the above paragraph holds if you have a revision P316 HV board. The later P329 was modified with an additional HV limiting circuit, which allows you to set a cutoff threshold using a second pot, and the circuit will disable the HV circuitry if the HV exceeds this cutoff level. The circuit was added for safety reasons, as excessive HV can emit x-rays, and other electromagnetic interference, so it's better to shut the HV down if there are problems that cause it to rise to unsafe levels.

If you have a P316 HV board, you must perform the calibration procedure for the cutoff level, using the second pot on the HV cage. This procedure is found on the page labeled page 9 in the Atari TM-183 6100 Manual, 3rd Printing (see URL earlier in this document.) You will need to read it before powering the monitor on, and perform the procedure after powering it on. (The remainder of the procedure below assumes you have a P316, without the HV cutoff circuitry).
 
Minor necro bump here-

First off thanks! Used it tonight to start the process of bringing up a pair of 6100s that I just completely rebuilt. With any luck I'll be done with these monitors this weekend.

On the edit's note:
"Step 5: Test the deflection system and neck board"
Listing all the connections to make before testing doesn't mention reconnecting the 4 black ground wires to the frame which might leave some folks wondering if they should or should not.

Thanks again!
 
Minor necro bump here-

First off thanks! Used it tonight to start the process of bringing up a pair of 6100s that I just completely rebuilt. With any luck I'll be done with these monitors this weekend.

On the edit's note:
"Step 5: Test the deflection system and neck board"
Listing all the connections to make before testing doesn't mention reconnecting the 4 black ground wires to the frame which might leave some folks wondering if they should or should not.

Thanks again!


Thanks! That's a good note. I have about a dozen other minor edits in the list at this point, so maybe I should rev the doc, as it's been a while.

Thanks for the feedback. If you find any more as you're using it, post em.
 
This guide is absolutely essential IMHO. Your methodical approach saved me from a lot of frustration this weekend. The whole time I was using it, I had that Paul Simon song going through my head, because: "the answer is easy if you take it logically". Thank you!
 
I will be using this guide in the next month or so when i get to my tempest project that arrives this weekend. Thanks for the time put into this document to help people out.
 
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Thank you for making this. I fixed my deflection board with your guide!
 

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Printed the faq v1.0 last night only to find that there is a v1.1. However can't seem to find the file. The ion site referenced isn't up anymore. Anyone have a copy? What info was updated?
 
Printed the faq v1.0 last night only to find that there is a v1.1. However can't seem to find the file. The ion site referenced isn't up anymore. Anyone have a copy? What info was updated?

Here ya go. The differences are minimal, though I don't remember exactly what was changed. (I did look at the differences once, but it was too long ago.)

The FAQ is interesting and worth reading from a historical perspective, but from a practical perspective, my guide will help you more.

 
Printed the faq v1.0 last night only to find that there is a v1.1. However can't seem to find the file. The ion site referenced isn't up anymore. Anyone have a copy? What info was updated?

Ionpool is now archived on arcarc (with other old sites).


Specifically, here it is -> (and the COLOR XY FAQ REV1.1. is there in the monitor subsection)

 
Don't you worry. I have your guide, the faq, the 6100 manual V2 and V3.

I agree your guide makes the most sense. It's a step by step of checking, hooking, checking, hooking. Seems a lot easier to follow.

My objective is to just learn what I can about these beauties. Thanks for all your help.
 
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