Newbie,amateur monitor identification

gars943

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Being new to the forum and an amateur at pinball, video game repairs- and who learns moderately fast, I have aquired a "Countertop Champion" from a relative who had it sitting in a barn for a few years. Not knowing a whole lot about monitors, I am trying to find out "HOW" to identify the type of monitor it is- i.e. cga, vga, etc. I have attached several pics of the unit. Also when powered up, I can hear the tube make the normal sound however, neck does not get very bright like other monitors I have, nor is there any type of picture. The unit also makes a beeping sound giving me the impression it's communicating with the game boards.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Gary

EDIT: Now-- I'm reading how to identify monitor types, posted by retrohacker.
 

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It's a Tatung chassis, but I'm not sure which model. If the monitor seems to power up, turn up the brightness on the flyback and see if you are getting raster.

Usually, beeping from the speaker on these types of game means you have a bad RAM card...
 
Thanks Modessitt!

For the quick response. I did try that with no luck. Anything else I can try? A bad RAM card? Can I replace it, on a game this old? 1994 vintage I believe.
 
Depends on what kind they use. I've seen some with SIMM's and others with DIMMs. If you have a used or discount electronics place around, or a computer parts store, you may be able to find one. But you should try reseating it first....
 
Are these pics- bad caps?

Are these pics indicative of leaking/bad capacitors? These are on the chassis, and would these being bad prevent me from having a picture at all?
 

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That is glue used a big caps to keep them from vibrating, but yer - if they are bad it can keep your monitor from operating. You should replace them all, check the fuse(s) on the chassis, then figure out where the HOT (horizontal output transistor) and VR (voltage regulator) are and test them to see if they are bad. If you don't know how to test them, do some searching here on how to properly test a HOT....
 
Bump up...

Okay I have found this monitor chassis as a Tatung VS14439, and according to Tatung techs is a Model 1430, however the schematics they suppied me don't seam to fit. Does anyone here have a schematic they can share for this chassis
Thanks,
Gary
 
Thanks

Ken,
Neither one of those seems to match up to the chassis I have. I was in the process of doing a cap kit, and babysitting three Golden Retrievers. Walked away, from the bench for a while, and one of their tails wiped out my days work. I talked with another member via PM, who has a board that looks very similar, (other than the fixed adjustment pots on mine and his were remote). If the info he gave me regarding position C804, on his and mine i'm in deep doggy do-do. Anyway, thanks for letting me ramble,
Gary
 
Okay now what do I do?

After buying a used chassis and 4GB RAM, I now get a screen (see pic), how do I get the game up and running?
Thanks,
Gary
 

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Replace the onboard battery (CMOS error) .... go into the BIOS (F1) and check the settings for "halt on errors" (no halt on keyboard error).... save settings.

Should look pretty much like any other computer BIOS setup.
 
Kevin,
Remember, "newbie" here. Where is that battery located actually on the board itself or is that the memory battery like on my pinballl machines where it's like a "AA" normnally with a case? How do i hook up a keyboard, would I plug this board into a desktop to use a keyboard? Sorry if these questions are stupid.
Thanks,
Gary
 
The "game board" should be nothing more than an older computer motherboard, the memory battery should be somewhere on there.
There should also be a port for plugging a keyboard into, it might be the older LARGE round port though.

Grab a pic or two of your motherboard and maybe we can "point" at something for ya.
 
Looks like its PC based like a Megatouch. There should be a normal PC motherboard inside with a keyboard plug - you'll have to plug in a keyboard to get it set up.

Also the bios battery is dead, in most cases its a CR2032 and looks like a watch battery the size of a quarter. Should see it on the motherboard somewhere.
 
Okay folks will these pics help me?

I just took these. In Pic 1 note the battery is that the battery your talking about, also is the port middle of pic to right of battery that I plug an old keyboard into?
 

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It looks like your 2032 has been replaced with a AA, so yes. The 5pin DIN plug is for an old keyboard.

A 2032 in socket looks like this;

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Almost there!!!

Got the game screen using an old keyboard, entering date, time, etc. in bios. When the game is turned off, and restarted a blank screen the only access to anything is by hitting either ESC, or F1 when turning on to get back to the game screen. Can't put credits on to play, touch screen does not seem to be activated, but does light up a green light every time it's touched on the touch screen controller (located under the cover). Can someone direct me on how I can get into the game via keyboard to adjust game play and the like, perhaps the touchscreen activation is a part of that? Just guessing!
Thanks,
Gary
 

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When the game is turned off, and restarted a blank screen the only access to anything is by hitting either ESC, or F1 when turning on to get back to the game screen.

Did you find anywhere in the BIOS (F1) to where you can change the "halt on errors" ?

Can't put credits on to play, touch screen does not seem to be activated, but does light up a green light every time it's touched on the touch screen controller (located under the cover). Can someone direct me on how I can get into the game via keyboard to adjust game play and the like, perhaps the touchscreen activation is a part of that? Just guessing!
Thanks,
Gary

There should be two small buttons somewhere inside the machine, usually side by side, one for SETUP, one for CALIBRATION.
Setup will have the coinage menus and such.
Calibration is to calibrate the touchscreen.
 
Not being very well versed...

in bios, to answer your question, No I did not find anything dealing with the "halt on errors". When I went into bios, it gives several ways of entering information, I picked "Standard" entered the only info it asked for date, and time "ESC'd" out and the start screen came up. So I figured I was in good shape, or so I thought. Do I need to go into bios again, and if so how and what do I do?
Anyway there is only one button and it is near the coin box, but when I hit it nothing happens. Is there a certain point in the process, that I hit the button for info to come up? Sorry for the questions and confusing answers.
Thanks,
Gary
 
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