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RGB Tuner

SuntharAbout 3 minCRT RGB mod

RGB Tuner

If you want the best possible RGB output from your CRT and don't want to try various resistor values and build blanking divider circuits, then this RGB tuner is for you. I mean who wants to sweat over an RGB mod? 😃

Some CRTs don't give the best possible RGB output with the calculated values. With some chroma chips R, G, B inputs only go through cutoff adjustments. This is where it is nice to have an apparatus to fine tune the injected RGB signal.

Also, it's nice to have a device to test various RGB resistance values, especially if the chroma chip blanks at weird voltages.(i.e. 2.5V).

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How does it work?

It's fairly simple. There are 7 adjustable pots on the device.

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If you look at the above image, there are:

  • 3 pots to adjust the RGB termination resistance values (75Ω to 1 kΩ)
  • 3 pots to adjust the RGB inline resistance values (75Ω to 10 kΩ)
  • 1 pot to adjust the blanking resistor value (this will help vary the voltage up to 5V)

There are pads around the board that act as test points. This is a great way to measure and set the resistance of the pots and the voltage delivered through the ribbon cable.

Tuning the termination resistance

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For termination resistance, the minimum value is fixed at 75Ω using a resistor. You can adjust the termination resistance from 75Ω up to 1000Ω. While most mods would utilize 75Ω termination resistance, there are some RGB mods that will look better with 180Ω to 200Ω termination resistance (Example: Samsung TXH 1973).

Tuning the RGB inline resistance

imgExample: Green pot is mid way reading ~5kΩ

For the RGB inline resistance values, you can adjust it from (0Ω to 10 kΩ). Adjustments are going to be really fine within this range.

imgExample: Green pot is fully turned in one direction reading ~10kΩ

Tuning the blanking voltage

imgExample: Blanking pot is midway through, delivering a blanking voltage of 2.5V (5V/2) - 0.7V

Blanking pot is setup as a voltage divider. While we are measuring the resistance here, we should really be measuring the voltage when connected to a SCART source. Since the divided voltage is then fed via a diode to the CRT, 0.7V should be subtracted. You can deliver 4.3V by turning blanking to the minimal ohm reading.

imgExample: Blanking pot is turned to deliver 4.3V (5V - 0.7V)

Limitations

This board doesn't have an option to include in-line capacitors. For example, in some CRTs you would need 3x 0.1uF caps or 3x 0.47uF ceramic caps to be included inline before feeding the RGB signal to the chroma chip. However, for mods that require these caps (i.e. BA-1), you really have nothing to tune.

The RGB Tuner

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My learnings from the previous revisions are the following.

  1. Don't make the board overly complicated. Let it just do one thing. Allow you to tune blanking voltage and inline resistor values.
  2. Leave enough space to easily use the pots
  3. Have an extension cable so that you can see what's going on in front of the set
  4. There is no interference, even with a 3 feet ribbon cable. It's all in the way you RGB mod the set
  5. Use quality pots acquired from DigiKey

It took several revisions to test out various concepts. v1.2 is a slightly larger and simpler board, that I use with pretty much every RGB mod now.

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Parts used

  • RGB tuner board v1.2 (gerber files to be soon made available)

From AliExpress

  • 10pin IDC male connector
  • Female SCART connector
  • IDC ribbon cable

From DigiKey

You can also probably use other pots.

Can I buy this?

This board is available in extremely limited quantities. This is to be priced at $50 + shipping. Only way to order right now is to contact me directly and check for availability at [email protected]

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