PE+ CRT to LCD conversion

[TZtech]

Hi

Info from http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/vidconv.htm#nvcctv

CGA to VGA
This requires both converting the signal levels from TTL to analog as well as doubling the scan rate since modern VGA monitors will not go down below 31 kHz H. CGA is around 15.7 kHz. If you aren't fussy about how the colors map, the signal level conversion may be just some resistors. However, the scan rate conversion requires capturing the data on each line and spitting it out twice in one line time, and providing the proper H sync to match. This would consist of a double buffer digital line memory (for the CGA TTL bits) and timing logic to store line n while reading out line n-1 twice at double the rate. It's all doable but not a project for a digital novice.

Ceronix LCD is currently $371 - This is a bit steep for home users but for a casino well worth the expense as You are getting in My opinion the best monitor on the market.
Should be a drop in replacement but be aware that there are 2 styles of monitor connector on the PE+ (Normally depend if you have the IBA/non IBA type). Have ordered both spares and CRT's/LCD from Ceronix in the state and shipped to Tanzania with no hassles.

Ian

[Big_D]

You know pictures would have been a great idea, why didn't I think of that...

I will take some pictures tomarrow when I get home from work. I would do it today but with it being Valentines Day there are other priorities.

[dougskenya]

HI
Thanks TZ TECH,BIG D and everyone participating on the project,,,,,,,i go with your opinion $371 aint small for an indoor  machine
,,,better for a casino but also no cheap as you will require several pieces for uniformity purpose.LETS GO FOR THE MODIFIED OPTION.

  :97-LETs wait for the photos as promised by big d................to all of us HAPPY Valentines....dedicate sometime for someone now.
dougs

[reho33]

This would be a huge boon to home users as we could recycle old LCD monitors, etc for flat screens (I think).

[Big_D]

Sorry for the delay in posting, had a medical hickup that had me in the hospital a few days.  But its all good now.

Anyway, here are two quick pictures to give a rough idea of what I did.
I will work on cleaning it up and mounting inside the cabnet.

One interesting point, although the CGA/VGA converter says 5volts in I had to use a adjustable power supply that output 7.5 volts to get it to catch the video.

I also have a short video I took with my cell phone but I need to convert it into a normal format.

[Big_D]

Oh and yes I know its actually a screen from keno not poker, I was converting it when the monitor died. But now I can finish it.

[knagl]

That's great, thanks.  Hopefully I'll be able to figure out how to get that mess of wires into my machine...    (Glad you're doing okay, too!)

One interesting point, although the CGA/VGA converter says 5volts in I had to use a adjustable power supply that output 7.5 volts to get it to catch the video.

One note on the GBS-8220 converter: it calls for (and needs darn close to) 5vdc at 2.0 amps.  Most "wall wart" converters don't output anywhere near 2 amps, so the end result is that the thing dies when you feed video through it because it's not getting enough amperage.  If your power supply isn't outputting 2 or more amps, I'd consider looking for one that does (even though your fix of setting it to 7.5v is working for now).

I also have a short video I took with my cell phone but I need to convert it into a normal format.

More than likely, Youtube will let you upload it in its current format and will convert it for you, then if you just paste the Youtube URL into a post here, it will embed the video for you.

[jay]

Will the Keno light pen work with a LCD screen ?
I think it needs the scan line info.

[knagl]

Will the Keno light pen work with a LCD screen ?
I think it needs the scan line info.

I agree, Jay, I don't think the keno pen will work.  Every other game (including Keno with the keno keyboard) would work, however.

[Big_D]

Jay,  knagl is right, light pens wont work with LCD's.
The unit I'm converting has the keno keyboard, that I remove to replace with belly glass.  As well as add all the buttons for poker.
I have done 2 other keno to poker converstions, One for Dad, and one for my brother.  This was my 3rd convert for myself.
I have 3 extra keno keyboards if any one wants them.

knagl,  I will try to make a nice clean (and easy) design of it all and share it when done.  That will hopefully make it easy for everyone to repeat the process.

[knagl]

knagl,  I will try to make a nice clean (and easy) design of it all and share it when done.  That will hopefully make it easy for everyone to repeat the process.

That's fantastic!  K+ in advance -- I look forward to it.  I already bought one of those GBS-8220 boards, so I'm very interested in finishing my first machine (and then doing the same to my second machine).

[reho33]

But if you used a real touch screen would that work with the pen? Not with light but with a regular stylus to touch the numbers?

[knagl]

Although I've seen a mention of "touchscreen" on a PE+ schematic, I've never seen a PE+ with a touchscreen, so the short answer is no, it wouldn't work.  The long answer is that you might be able to re-invent the wheel and figure out a way to get a touchscreen to work with a PE+, but that seems like an awful lot of work with next to nothing of available documentation on how to implement it, for very little benefit.  The easier solution to run keno on a PE+ with a LCD conversion would be to use a keno keyboard.

[jay]

I have seen that same schematic and reference.
The problem however is the software support for the PE+ which even if the hardware support is there the software support is probably non existant.

I purchased some ELO touch screen monitors and built myself a touch screen jukebox with a PC. The USB interface from the monitor escentially mimics a mouse.

It should be possible to build a custom interface board that simply divides the screen into 5 sections - one for each card.  This would allow you to touch the cards or anything in the 1/5th of the screen. Then outputs to a momentary touch which would go in parallel to the buttons. The other two buttons are deal and cash out.

[CaptainHappy]

knagl,  I will try to make a nice clean (and easy) design of it all and share it when done.  That will hopefully make it easy for everyone to repeat the process.

That's fantastic!  K+ in advance -- I look forward to it.  I already bought one of those GBS-8220 boards, so I'm very interested in finishing my first machine (and then doing the same to my second machine).

  I am so happy to read this as this has been a challenge for many of us for quite some time!!! K+ from me too! Tahnks for such great effort and sharing with everyone here!

CaptainHappy

[knagl]

Big_D: Are the colors correct when you have a video poker program in there (ie. hearts are red, spades are black, and the default background is blue)?  My concern is the red background from the keno screen you showed.  While it's possible to change the background color, I know that red isn't the default.  I'm kinda hoping that you had changed it to red, and not that there's a color conversion issue with your process.

[Big_D]

Good Question knagl,

I'm pretty sure I changed the background, but I will make it a point to switch the ROMS this weekend and post a pic of the poker screen.

[dougskenya]

hallllloos
Thanks big D FOR YOUR HELPFULL HANDS,
hope not to me alone... .this is becoming a long journey...there has never been anything easy out of this
small machine.IGT PLAYER EDGE PLUUUUS...where can i get the parts that big D used TO Get things sorted
i mean the two video cards and the Synch cooking I.C  :79-and at how much.,.;'/i would like them delivered to KENYA.

DOUGLAS

[Big_D]

knagl, I put the poker roms in this weekend to check the color, odd thing though, all the colors had a washed out look to them.

Now maybe it's just that I have the wrong color prom, maybe??? I will look into that.

I'll keep digging and let you know what I find.

[knagl]

Thanks for the update.  Hopefully you'll have some good news to report.

[knagl]

Another thought I had -- the self test screens should display a red, blue, and green test screen (it's near the end of all of the test/menu stuff) -- just keep pushing the self test button and it should bring you to those screens.  Are those correct?

[knagl]

Just a bump to see if anyone has made any progress.  I saw these pictures on another site and it reminded me of what I want my PE+ bartops to look like.

(No, the real-life casino wins pictured here were NOT by me.)

Let's get our LCDs working with the PE+!

[alex666]

So glad I've finally found this subject. I have plenty of 15 inch lcd monitors available @$20 each all brands. I have the cga to vga jammaboard paid $47 total
from Jammaboards.com.
 I have a 1991 25 cent IGT Multi Poker and a 1983 IGT Dollar Poker. Both are Ceronix 1492 monitors. As I see this issue we need a does all simple signal processor board that converts/inverts everything in 1 or 2 chips.
I build electronics and will be looking for the IC/s we can use, then make a few for those who want them.  I'm retired with plenty of spare time. Sounds like a simple enough problem. I just learned of the inversion problem tonite. I get "NO SIGNAL" on a Dell 15 monitor with Chinese graphics from the 8220 board is all now. The one available they want $31 thats too much for me.
Looking to find English menu on this jammaboard also anyone know?  bye!

[knagl]

Welcome to the site!

I'm always excited when someone bumps this thread.

Which exact board do you have? A picture or a link to the product page with a picture of it would be great. If it's the one I have there is an English menu and I can figure out how to get to it for you.

[alex666]

I have the latest Jamma GBS8220. Also I have 3- 3906
emmiter follower inverted RGB outputs being fed by IC
hc374 ? looks like. So the base is being driven by a non-inverted signal I think. Going to the scope now I'll see whats what.