Opinions on VectorVGA converter

chuchunesme

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Well, tonight my son broke the neck on my Star Wars K6100 monitor. It was my fault because I had it out on the floor while I was moving some stuff around. Right now I have one working monitor, one dead monitor and the broken one and 3 Vector games. I'm thinking about installing the good monitor in Star Wars and use a VectorVGA with an LCD in Space Duel. I can do that conversion for less than a Vector monitor will cost and that's if I can find one. I found a couple threads talking about it but no real feedback on it. I'm sure some people will just slam it and tell me to just find another 6100 or better yet get an Amp but I don't have $400-800 to spend to get it running. Any help would be appreciated.
 
I can't find where I had read about it, but somewhere on the internet I had read about a few people who had used it and they all were giving it good reviews. Not a 100% perfect solution because nothing beats real vector, but it is very comparable, and you will most likely be happy from my readings.
 
I can't find where I had read about it, but somewhere on the internet I had read about a few people who had used it and they all were giving it good reviews. Not a 100% perfect solution because nothing beats real vector, but it is very comparable, and you will most likely be happy from my readings.

I read some good reviews too but I don't trust most of those, I'd rather get opinions from here. I figure I can do the swap for less than $175 if I can get the converter for $150. I'm bummed about it but this would get me up and running for now.
 
Personally I would look for better deals on the real thing. I've been down the road with different items where I've bought this or that to tide me over or thinking it would be good enough. Time and time again I've spent money only to be disappointed and eventually shell out more money for the real thing.

Just my 2 cents but I would say look harder and make better connections. Complete working color vector games can be had for the price you are assuming you will pay for the replacement monitor. I think if you look enough you can at least find a replacement tube for the price it would cost for the vector vga converter. Personally I think you could find a complete nonworking one at that price and very likely a working one.
 
I've seen a VectorVGA in a Space Duel with an LCD. I was thoroughly unimpressed. Definitely don't go with an LCD... I'm pretty sure that was the biggest factor contributing to the suck. Maybe if you can find a ~20" tube VGA monitor then it will be passable.
 
Just Do it!!! Get the VGA Vector converter. You will have a working game, and you can give us some reviews and opinions about it.

It's a shame about your broken monitor, but if you cannot afford to fix it, then go with a practical (meaning less expensive) solution if you really care about being able to play the game.
 
I say don't do it, but I understand if you do.

With help from KLOV guys we are putting effort into making vector monitors from TVs, so examples (mishaps) like yours, are no big deal.

Amplifone deflection boards are only months away from production, HVs are already available.

The TV screens I am using are the same resolution as the WG6100 Screen and you already have the yoke.

The cost is far less than $800 in any case. Maybe $500.00 all up for an Amp setup (My boards are Kits, IE DIY, so you save $$)

Like I say, I understand if you do use the LCD, but you may be closer than you think to the real deal

I have a PC and LCD running vector games, to use with a ZVG, and the pic on the screen is poor

It is like mame, chalk and cheese
 
If you are going to use a non-vector screen than you might as well just pull the original space duel boards too and replace them with an old PC.

Don't use an LCD monitor though, find an old 21" CRT monitor and decase it, with a little work you can get it in where the original Space Duel monitor was. 21" CRT PC monitors are only a fraction of an inch larger than 19" arcade monitors and way easier to come by than 19" VGA arcade monitors (which always seem to have video poker burn on them anyway).
 
Where do you purchase one of these converters? I might try one when I get some extra birthday cash in april. I have 1 6100 monitor(nonworking) and a Space duel CT and a Gravitar UR. LCD in a CT might not be bad. ok probability but I can always try.:001_ssad:

-Jake
 
If you are going to use a non-vector screen than you might as well just pull the original space duel boards too and replace them with an old PC.

Don't use an LCD monitor though, find an old 21" CRT monitor and decase it, with a little work you can get it in where the original Space Duel monitor was. 21" CRT PC monitors are only a fraction of an inch larger than 19" arcade monitors and way easier to come by than 19" VGA arcade monitors (which always seem to have video poker burn on them anyway).

19" TVs are still very common here. I saw about 12 one day in kerbside collections, I could only fit 3 in my van. I have about 20 x 19" TVs. OK, I am a hoarder. Pity the OP is in a different country, I would send one
 
The good about Vector VGA is that you do not need to make any changes to your vector game cabinet in terms of boards or controls, so it can be a "P&P" so to speak.
The bad is that Vector VGA will not allow adjustments to the actual vectors being drawn like in mame. So running the proper version of mame will actually render vectors much brighter than the Vector VGA, just plain fact but this becomes much, much more complicated to setup as a working cabinet. Now you have to mame your cabinet and this can become very challenging, especially for someone who has not mame'd a cabinet before.
My personal "vector mame" is macmame .056 running in native OS9, going to a Gateway VX900 and it is super duper bright and the vectors look the best of any emulator I have used, including the problematic ZVG/VMame setup. Space Duel looks perfect and Major Havoc is the best I can get without running a real MH setup.
A Gateway VX900 will slip right into a WG6100 opening without cutting any wood, so a Vector VGA going to a Gateway VX900 is the best/EASY solution I could suggest. Good luck!
 
Well, tonight my son broke the neck on my Star Wars K6100 monitor. It was my fault because I had it out on the floor while I was moving some stuff around. Right now I have one working monitor, one dead monitor and the broken one and 3 Vector games. I'm thinking about installing the good monitor in Star Wars and use a VectorVGA with an LCD in Space Duel. I can do that conversion for less than a Vector monitor will cost and that's if I can find one. I found a couple threads talking about it but no real feedback on it. I'm sure some people will just slam it and tell me to just find another 6100 or better yet get an Amp but I don't have $400-800 to spend to get it running. Any help would be appreciated.

I'd say try to find a CRT to use with it instead of an LCD. I say you are better off if you can play the game while saving for a replacement than if you can't.
 
I still have 2 Vector monitors so Tempest and Star Wars will be original, I figured I could live with Space Duel being the one running VGA. I was so mad at myself for leaving that monitor where I did, it was a stupid mistake on my part and now I'm paying for that. My son feels bad but I didn't get mad at him for it. I have other repairs to get Tempest and Space Duel running anyway so I have time to weigh out my options. I appreciate the feedback, it gives me the confidence to at least try it if a Vector doesn't pop up when I'm ready.
 
Hold on to everything (tube wise) until you find a replacement tube. I have so far transplanted 3 100 degree TV tubes in for vector tubes with no issues other than having to rewire the red and blue guns. Will be doing my fourth soon.
 
Hold on to everything (tube wise) until you find a replacement tube. I have so far transplanted 3 100 degree TV tubes in for vector tubes with no issues other than having to rewire the red and blue guns. Will be doing my fourth soon.

If I can figure out how to do that then I'm all over it! Is there any guide on what tubes would work as a replacement Vector?
 
Finding a replacement tube may be kind of tough, I'm afraid. I suffered the same loss and had only myself to blame. Total bummer.

The problem is most 19 inch tubes are 90 degree tubes. The only ones that had 100 degree were the 6100 and the Sega G08 vector monitors - the same tube (19VLUP22). So if you find a dead G08 you could swap yokes, but they're not exactly easy to find.

90 degree tubes are more common, but then you'd need an Amplifone yoke which may be rarer still. There's some talk they may be reproduced some day....

Anyway, if in the long run you go with the vector VGA you could sell the boards (HV and deflection) from your 6100 to recoup a bunch (if not all) of the cost. And the yoke - I would buy the yoke as I need it to for use on a 25" tube.
 
Vector games on a raster display inside an original cabinet are an abomination any way you look at it.
 
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