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From: VBRANDT@DBNUAMA1.BITNET
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: SM124 Differences ?
Message-ID: <8808021217.AA02247@ucbvax.berkeley.edu>
Date: 2 Aug 88 12:17:27 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 46
X-Unparsable-Date: Tue, 02 Aug 88 14:06:09 SET


In Info-Atari16 digest #333, motsj1!mcdchg!clyde!watmath!mks!wheels            s
(Gerry Wheeler) writes:

>In article <8807270941.AA03440@ucbvax.berkeley.edu>, XBR3D815@DDATHD21.BITNET
> writes:
>> Is someone out there in netland who knows a difference between older and the
>> newest SM124 B&W-monitors which could explain the following behavier:
>> Mega ST4 and old (Oct. 87) Monitor:
>>     In reverse mode (light text on black background) is brightness dependent
>>     on information on screen !
>> Mega ST4 and new (Mar. 88) Monitor:
>>     The symptom does not occur !

>I haven't seen this problem on the Atari, but I have seen it on other
>systems.    (...)
>the wrong way? Maybe it needs repair? I use an old old monochrome

It sure does need repair. I had the same problem when I bought my Mega4 a few
months ago. I had a program that reversed the screen colors (to white on black)
cleared the screen, displayed the word "ONLINE" and waited for serial input.

The screen picture would break down completely, the "ONLINE" would vanish. Only
after something came in from the serial line, the picture would slowly reappear
and life would revert to normal.

I took the monitor to my dealer, and this is what he told me:

The problem is known. Atari manufactured a whole bunch of these monitors, but
refuses to deal with the problem, claiming that it is caused by 'unavoidable
parts tolerances'. Any monitor shipped to Atari would be returned unrepaired.

The problem, however, can be solved by internally 'tweaking' several adjustment
controls (you can see that I'm no EE). Since my SM124 was still under warranty,
he took it in, and ONE DAY later, it was fixed.

So: if your monitor is under warranty, see if your dealer can help you. If not,
get someone with a 'scope and the necessary knowledge to fix it.

I hope this helps.

PS: I am not commenting the attitude of Atari towards this problem, but it sure
    does augment my prejudice against Atari marketing strategies.

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