videogame monitor pattern generator

Vectorman

Well-known member

Donor 2011
Joined
Sep 20, 2005
Messages
1,567
Reaction score
132
Location
McLean, Illinois
Do any of you know where I can get a pattern generator for testing monitors more easily? eBay is full of NTSC ones, but I'd like one for videogame monitors.

What do you guys use?

Thanks,
John
 
Do any of you know where I can get a pattern generator for testing monitors more easily? eBay is full of NTSC ones, but I'd like one for videogame monitors.

What do you guys use?

Thanks,
John

I don't know if you need more than this, but I just use a jamma game pcb. Most of the atari pcbs at least have rgb intensity, purity setup screens, and all the crosshatch screens you would ever need for convergence. I used to use my stun runner, but now I have a dedicated setup that uses a primal rage pcb, switching power supply, control box for navigating the menus, and a quick hookup cable.
 
Yeah, I may have to resort to this. I just remember a decade or two ago I saw some little plastic box that might have even run on batteries, that you could just plug into a monitor and it had all the test patterns. It was too expensive for me at the time, but maybe it's cheaper now. I just wish I could remember who made it or sold it.

John
 
That is the one I have. I use it all the time. However, it only generates positive sync. Most of the major monitor models like the G07, 4600, 4900, 7000 have a set of terminals for positive sync.

You'll need to make your own video cable to go from the pattern generator to the monitor.

Cool, I just ordered it.

Would you like to make me the cable and sell it to me?

John
 
That is the one I have. I use it all the time. However, it only generates positive sync. Most of the major monitor models like the G07, 4600, 4900, 7000 have a set of terminals for positive sync.

You'll need to make your own video cable to go from the pattern generator to the monitor.

What do you guys recommend for the connector on the cable to be the most flexible for different monitors? A three pin for the RGB and the two pin for the sync?? I am going to get a 15pin Dsub and hack one end.
 
Would you like to make me the cable and sell it to me?

John

I've had some requests to build these cables. I will be getting a shipment of the needed connectors on Thursday. Once those come in, I can make the cable for the MT830A monitor Pattern Generator. It will also work with the B&K model 1275 and Wells-Gardner "Genie" unit.

I plan on making the cable 10 to 12 feet long. That way you can plug it into the monitor in the game cabinet and the cable will be plenty long so you can stand in front of the machine to operate the generator.
 
I have been too busy to make my own, even though I have all the parts sitting right here. So count me in as long as the price is reasonable.

Thanks!
John
 
Just finished making 4 of these cables. Will be testing them out today.

$23 each shipped.

Edit:

All have been tested and confirmed working on my MT830 pattern generator with it connected to an Electrohome G07-CBO.
 
Last edited:
Just finished making 4 of these cables. Will be testing them out today.

$23 each shipped.

Edit:

All have been tested and confirmed working on my MT830 pattern generator with it connected to an Electrohome G07-CBO.

Sold. Send me your paypal address. I know I have it somewhere already. ....

John
 
I use that tester too and it works great. The nice thing is, it also does VGA which you'd think you'd never use, until you have to test a newer megatouch VGA monitor :)

Tequipment.net had some old questionable reviews, but I bought several things from them including my Hakko 808 and never had a problem.
 
Here's pictures of the Genie, the B & K model 1275 pattern generators, and the GME model MT-830A. Look pretty similar, don't they? Only the Wells-Gardner Genie unit comes with a ready made cable to plug into arcade monitors. The other two units don't have one and you'd have to make a cable.
 

Attachments

  • Genie pattern generator.jpg
    Genie pattern generator.jpg
    39.2 KB · Views: 15
  • BK1275.jpg
    BK1275.jpg
    40 KB · Views: 13
  • MT_830 picture.jpg
    MT_830 picture.jpg
    29.2 KB · Views: 10
Last edited:
Back in early 1993 I had a small card that would plug into the JAMMA connector and it produced color bars onto the monitor.
I drew the schematic and I think it contained 3 TTL chips and possibly a crystal to generate the clock.
It was simple but I have no recollection of what the circuit may have looked like now.
 
Back
Top Bottom