EricDeLee Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 Sick Vectrex... Please offer advise. Hello everyone. I bought a Vectrex off of ebay a few months ago and also got 7 games with it (Star Castle, Web Wars, Star Trek, etc.). However, I am having problems with the actual Vectrex system. At first, the thing worked perfectly. I was zooming along in Vector lust! No problems at all. Then while playing, I noticed that the entire picture/screen doubled in size (everything on the picture doubled) and grew dimmer than normal. Than it simply dissappeared. If I tap the side of the machine or give it a good whack the picture returns to normal. (keep in mind... when I say a little whack I mean just that... I don't abuse my systems!!!!) Sometimes it'll stay like that for a looong time and other times it will keep fading. Any suggestions as to what is wrong with it? I know nothing about monitors nor re-capping. This is one reason why I don't mess with arcade games too much... I'm deathly afraid of the monitors. (even though I have them in my house... I avoid anything at all when it comes to the arcade monitors, Heck, my Space Invaders monitor scares the crap out of me!) If anyone can lend any advise, please post here! If anyone can actually look at it at the OKGE... please let me know! I will be buying a backup after a little while, but would choose to have this one running correctly as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricDeLee Posted July 25, 2004 Author Share Posted July 25, 2004 Could this possibly be the answer to my problems??? Q. My Vectrex just shows a white dot when I turn it on. I can hear the game playing but there is no picture. Can I fix it? There is 1 common problem that will cause this symptom. Inside the unit there is a 4-wire power connector connecting the side board to the bottom board. Often units with no picture have bad solder joints on this connector. Try resoldering the pins and see if that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricDeLee Posted July 25, 2004 Author Share Posted July 25, 2004 Well... I guess I can strike that off the list of things to check. All connections look to be solid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Han Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 Well, it does sound like you have a bad solder in there somewhere. I have never seen the inside of an Vectrex... come to think of it, I have never actually seen the outside of an Vectrex either, except on photos But check if there is a power transformer on the mainboard, and check if the solder points looks ok. You could also try and carefully tap on the solder points(with a plastic item, not your fingers ) to see if the picture returns. Just be careful so you don’t get an electric shock. You should also check the CRT (the tube) connectrions in both ends... Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 Yah. Sounds like a bad connection. I can testify that a good Vectrex can take a fair bit of abuse. As a kid, mine kind of got knocked off a table. Years later, I realied the brightness knob is no longer in the hole. But the thing still works and, aside from a worn-out volume knob and a tired fire button, it's as good as new. (I assume since it still works that the brightness knob was merely bent back into the case as opposed to broken off) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricDeLee Posted July 25, 2004 Author Share Posted July 25, 2004 (I assume since it still works that the brightness knob was merely bent back into the case as opposed to broken off) When I first got my Vectrex... I was dissappointed because I thought my Brightness knob was broken off. But it too was bent out of place and not lined up with the hole. Still works (now that I got it in the right place). I forgot to mention a few things: As for the problem I'm having: The sound still works when the picture fades out. So I don't think it would be a power issue. Can someone tell me what I SHOULD NOT touch inside of a Vectrex? I'm alergic to high-voltage currents running through my body... for some reason my body doesn't agree with them. I think I can explore everything a little better if Iwasn't too woried about getting zapped. Do you think I should take it to a TV guy and see if they'll discharge the monitor for me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tantone56 Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 it's a bitch man mines out of comission to You constntly want to beat that high score on mine storm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Tomlin Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 Well... I guess I can strike that off the list of things to check. All connections look to be solid. That's not good enough. A bad solder joint will look just fine except upon really close (magnifying glass) inspection, you may notice a circular crack around the pin. Just get in there and reflow all the solder joints for the plug connectors. Those cold solder joints are as annoying as hell. I first learned about them when my old original Macintosh video would simply flip off. Beating on it would eventually bring it back. Eventually I noticed the ring crack on the pin for the video signal and figured out what was going on. One time I found a broken Genesis 2 that was flaky as hell. Upon opening it up, I could see that half of the connector pins (power AND video AND joystick) had bad solder joints. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricDeLee Posted July 26, 2004 Author Share Posted July 26, 2004 I didn't see any cracks around any of the soldering... but I'll take a look at it again. But ummm... what should I AVOID touching? I'm still worried about that! I've worked on Ataris and stuff... but they don't have high votage stored in them like monitors do! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Han Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 But ummm... what should I AVOID touching? I'm still worried about that! I've worked on Ataris and stuff... but they don't have high votage stored in them like monitors do! lol Oh don't worry about that... You will find that out when you actually touch it ... Pretty much don’t touch anything that conducts electricity, and watch out so you don't short circuit anything. In other words don't poke around with the metal end of a screwdriver ... Pretty obvious answer, but you just have to be carfull... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricDeLee Posted July 26, 2004 Author Share Posted July 26, 2004 Okay.... I'll take my chances! lol I'll research a little more before I start poking and prodding... Thanks for any info you guys have given me though. I'll be looking for loose solder areas tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+5-11under Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 There's several potentiometers that allow you to change the picture size, etc. Sorry, I can't remember which one(s) specifically. 5-11under Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Han Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 So Eric how's it going with your Vectrex? Have you been able to cure it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 I suggest you contact Mark DiLuciano of Sunmark. I know he has reconditioned many Vectrex units (he sold several at PhillyClassic 5 and the Midwest Gaming Classic) and may be able to help you out. ..Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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