RetroNAS, installing networking cable, writing for RetroRGB – Cathode Ray Podcast #13

Today, Steve and I released the latest episode of the Cathode Ray Podcast. This week it is just Steve and I chatting about what we have been up to in the last week and telling stories about retro computing back in the day.

Check out the episode on YouTube, listen to the podcast on the web or check your podcast app.

0:00 Start
0:30 Steve’s surname, come on
10:30 Should you choose that OLED PVM over a modern OLED?
22:30 Using RetroNAS with a PS2
27:30 Making your own network cables
29:30 Installing network cable in my university share house
41:30 Running a small tech support shop in 2001
52:20 Steve’s experience in writing articles for RetroRGB
01:03:00 Our thoughts on the direction Bob is taking RetroRGB

Converting RGBHV to RGBs for the GBS-Control

The GBS-Control (GBS-C) is an amazing piece of affordable hardware. For around 30 bucks worth of parts, I have a good scaler which does the job for me. It also has excellent down-scaling to 240p which I was hoping to take advantage to hook up a more modern image to a 15khz CRT.

The GBS-Control has a quirk due to it being based on off the self hardware. It only outputs RGBHV, not RGBs. You can enable an experimental component output mode, but for my purposes I need that RGB out.

Whats the difference between RGBHV and RGBs? How the sync signal is encoded. The VGA standard says that sync is carried across 2 wires, one for horizontal sync and the other for vertical sync.… Read the rest

Shipping Large CRTs

It’s 2022 and the biggest challenge facing CRT enthusiasts remains servicing and maintaining their highly valuable analog display sets.  Nowadays there are not many CRT service shops around, and if you do find one more than likely they will not be in your area.  This leaves you with a difficult decision.  Should you pack up your CRT in your vehicle and drive 500 miles each way to the nearest CRT shop?  That is the safest option, but it takes lots of time and leaves you with the costs to travel.  It puts a lot of wear and tear on your vehicle too. 

The other option may be scarier to think about.  Should you ship your CRT to a shop?  This sounds easy and will save a lot of time, but it will cost a lot. … Read the rest

Martin Hejnfelt joins the Podcast

Robotics engineer by day and CRT hacker by night, Martin Hejnfelt joins the Cathode Ray Podcast.  He discusses his newest projects, such as the BKM Controller Replacements for the Sony BVM A series monitors.  He also goes over all of his past CRT projects such as the Sony BKM 68x and Sony BKM 129x clone cards and the JVC RGBS hacks he has performed and documented on his blog site.  We talk about Martin’s passions that drive him to work on electronics, and how everything started with the Commodore 64.  We also talk about CRT nostalgia, good beer, and odd toilets. 

To see Martin’s work, please his website:  immerhax

CRP with Martin Hejnfelt: BVM Input cards, CRTs in Europe & Japanese toilets w/ Martin Hejnfelt – Cathode Ray Podcast #12 – YouTube

Sony OLED PVM-1741

Several weeks ago I got the chance to rent and test a Sony OLED PVM-1741. I had been working at a large live event and found one of these sitting in the technicians backstage. My eyes were instantly drawn to it. From the front it clearly has the shape and lines of a CRT PVM / BVM but it’s flat!

In this video I take a quick look at the screen to see if it’s good for retro gaming purposes. However, beware! This is a 17 inch, VERY high quality OLED screen and while it was produced in 2011 (thats 11 years ago as I write this), it is still a very relevant and usable screen in professional environments. That means it’s price isn’t going down anytime soon.… Read the rest

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