Question for those of you that own a Vectrex...

[tugboat450]

I was looking through some Vectrexes on ebay, and came across one with a screen that looked like this:

 

 

Is that white dot and the lines a defect? Or is it somehow related to the startup screen?

 

Thanks for any help!

[BigO]

I can make a similar pattern appear on my Vectrex by cranking up the brightness. But, I have seen mention (I think here at AA) of a defective Vectrex that showed that pattern regardless of the brightness.

 

You might be able to search around and see if they reported a resolution to the problem.

 

 

 

[EDIT]: Here's the discussion I remember: http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...=vectrex++lines

Edited January 15, 2009 by BigO

[uosipa llamxew]

I've not seen anything like that on mine. My guess is that it's a photo defect - combination of blur and camera flash. You may want to seek clarification with the seller.

 

/edit/ I just saw BigO's response. I guess that rules out my own.

Edited January 15, 2009 by mojofltr

[shadow460]

I never did get a chance to look into the Vectrex BigO mentioned, otherwise I could probably shed some light on the subject.

[+remowilliams]

I was looking through some Vectrexes on ebay, and came across one with a screen that looked like this:

There definitely should not be a white dot in the center. However due to the poor quality of that picture it is difficult to tell if that is a camera flash problem or not.

 

[EDIT]: Here's the discussion I remember: http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...=vectrex++lines

Wow, that thing was messed up. Looks like a vector unit problem.

[Jess Ragan]

That white dot is always there in some capacity... it's the starting point for the device that draws all the lines on the screen. I'm not sure about the ghost lines... my guess is that they're afterimages from previously drawn vectors.

[highinfidelity]

I confirm that the same "effect" appears on every Vectrex when the brightness is set to very high levels. However you should definitely verify with the seller that brightness was actually set too high when the picture was taken. Otherwise that would mean that the unit for sale is defective.

 

Just to give you an idea: one should be able to achieve a VERY BRIGHT image on the screen, but still with no central dot, even in sunny rooms.

[tugboat450]

Alright, thanks to everyone for the help. Since it doesn't seem as extreme as that one guy's, I'll ask him if it goes away when he turns down the brightness.

Thanks!

[tugboat450]

He emailed me back with some pictures, looks like he had the brightness set too high.