Vectrex Discussion

[jay_red]

Having just picked up my very own Vectrex, I wanted to get a little discussion going about it. Who has one, what games are best, what Homebrew is worth looking at etc...

First I have a question about my console, I has posted in the "deals" thread about how I got a scare about it being dead only minutes after getting it, but it turned out to be the cart seated wrong, but last night I got another weird issue. I had a friend over, and went to show it to him, and turned it on, I got sound, but no video. Removed the cart and same thing. I turned the brightness knob all theg way and got a bright dot in the middle of the screen. The only thing I did differently from the last time I played was move it to a different plug in the wall. Well I moved it back, and it was fine? Then I took it back to the "problem" plug and it was also fine? Strange that I am unable to replicate the issue, maybe my Vec is haunted? Are these prone to finicky issues like this or what?

[fastbilly1]

its a 30 year old vector monitor, they have issues sometimes. Mine doesnt work randomly aswell, I know I just need to take it apart and see whats doing it but I just dont have the time to do it.

[MrPopo]

I've had a similar problem, where the plug gets finicky.

[Hatta]

Yeah, mine has an iffy cart port. Needs to be shimmed up before the cart will work. Controller has issues too, I already opened it up and repaired a couple dome switches with some silicon sealent. But now it's getting intermittant again. Fortunately the monitor on mine is never a problem.

[jay_red]

Well its good to know its somewhat normal, just wanted to make sure it wasnt a sign of it about to go out on me or something!

[fastbilly1]

That reminds me, I have a 3d imager with the 3d minestorm disc that I need to sell.

[jay_red]

That reminds me, I have a 3d imager with the 3d minestorm disc that I need to sell.

shoot me a PM about that!

[CRTGAMER]

Well its good to know its somewhat normal, just wanted to make sure it wasnt a sign of it about to go out on me or something!

I have three and never had an issue of the screen momentarily not working then working again. I suspect as others mentioned, the cart and cart slot contacts.

Does your Vectrex ever give a blank screen with no cart inserted? Also can you still hear the buzz indicating it has power even with a blank screen? Have care, just like a CRT there is high voltage even when unplugged inside.

A simple mod once you get the power issues resolved is throw in a power switch. This way you do not have to adjust the volume ever time you power on.

[jay_red]

It gave me the 2 issues mentioned, once there was no picture or sound, no buzz, once I removed the cart and reseated it, it was fine. The second time, I got sound, but no picture, if I adjusted the brightness knob I could get a single bright dot in the middle. Plugging it into a different outliet "seemed" to fix it. It has not given me any issues since. If i I have to open it up, thats fine, I know how to deal with CRT's, I have decassed quite a few recently, and know how to discharge them.

[CRTGAMER]

It gave me the 2 issues mentioned, once there was no picture or sound, no buzz, once I removed the cart and reseated it, it was fine. The second time, I got sound, but no picture, if I adjusted the brightness knob I could get a single bright dot in the middle. Plugging it into a different outliet "seemed" to fix it. It has not given me any issues since. If i I have to open it up, thats fine, I know how to deal with CRT's, I have decassed quite a few recently, and know how to discharge them.

Did the picture ever not work without a game cart plugged in?

I avoid manually discharging the tube, the surge might damage the capacitors. I just let it sit for a few weeks and still avoid the Flyback area.