Jamma to TV screen?

[Shawn]

Hey,

 

I see all the time people making a harness to hook up jamma boards to a normal TV and an external power brick. How would I go about doing this? I'm thinking about building a Mortal Kombat 1 machine but I want to keep costs as low as possible. I've seen different setups and faq's on the net but I figure best to ask here at AtariAge as folks here are top notch. I'm using my friends UMK3 machine to get all the dimensions for the cab itself but I wanna make sure I'm gonna be able to make this thing before I even start buying anything to build the machine or the cab.

 

Shawn

[Reaperman]

so you're building a cabinet for a mortal kombat board?

seems like kind of the wrong way about it, you'll be dropping video quality a bit, spending extra money on parts/labor, and will end up with an inferior product to a mortal kombat 'kabinet'. May just want to keep an eye out for the full game...

or 'konvert' a handy arcade cabinet (with horizontal monitor)

 

but if you insist on scratch building

for the video you'll need a rgb to svideo converter--I forget what the one everybody likes is, but I do remember it's $85...

then you'll need a tv with (probably) a 25" tube (or even better an arcade monitor so you don't need the above doodad)

then you'll need buttons and a control harness

power supply--probably just a PC unit

if you're using a regular TV, you don't need an audio amp/speaker(s)

but you will need tools, wood for the frame, at least three sheets MDF (more expensive than you think), plexiglass, a light or two, paint, decals and time.

a truck to haul above

coin equipment is nice too

 

...or you could just buy one for like--what? $200 +shipping? that's where I'd be. or if you can get anything with a horizontal monitor, you could convert it for WAY less in parts/labor.

Edited December 24, 2008 by Reaperman

[Shawn]

I would just buy a machine but how much it's gonna cost to get it shipped is the killer. How much you think it would cost to ship an arcade machine? I'm to scared to even look at the prices. I'd assume it would be coming from the USA to me in Canada, so it's for sure gonna get hit at customs also.

Edited December 24, 2008 by Shawn Sr.

[Reaperman]

I still think you should lurk around for a local 'hunk o' junk' arcade machine and convert. Or just bite the bullet and get a massive shipping quote

 

...but since you're asking about video conversion--jrok's are about the best way to do it. in that link there should be links for where to buy (expensive) as well as a link to the latest and greatest version with component There are other converters out there, and from what I've heard second hand (from the guy making a consolized mvs I ordered and still haven't gotten) cheaping out on the video converter is a bad move.

 

actually, for something really unique (and easier to build) with a flatpanel lcd, that converter, and very few wooden materials you could get a nice little bartop cabinet. that'd be kind of neat really. give it a joystick port for when there's a player two...

[the.golden.ax]

Personally I think you would have more fun just doing some themed sticks, and hooking it up to the TV. I have some extra TVarators that do the job quite nice if you need one. (convert RGB to S-video and RCA)

 

AX