gene@zeno.mn.org (Gene H. Olson) (12/05/90)
We have been having severe problems with Video Peaking on Sun 17" Monochrome Sparcstation 1 monitors. The symptoms are bright shadows to the right of black text on white backgrounds. The problem is accentuated when the brightness is turned down, and the contrast is turned up. The problem only affects the 17" external grayscale monochrome monitors for the SparcStation. The SLC monitor is different and looks fine to my eyes. Sun has been reasonably responsive in attempting to repair the monitors. They have exchanged monitors and frame buffers, but the replacement units are no better. The field service people are sympathetic, but they can't fix the problem. Unfortunately Sun was unwilling to take the units back, or allow us to upgrade to the much higher quality 19" monitors. We complained within 2 weeks of purchasing the systems, and even though we withheld payment for months, they wouldn't budge. My salesperson seems willing to go through with the upgrade, but has not been able to secure approval from the factory. Sun seems to realize there is a problem, because they have sent me 3 revisions of the frame buffer this year, and still promise a 4th. They seem to think the monitors lack contrast, and each frame buffer has provided more contrast than the last. Unfortunately, this is the wrong track, since the newer frame buffers just aggravate the problem. Increased contrast makes the shadows brighter and sharper. I have gone to running the monitors with the brightness all the way up and the contrast all the way down. That mode seems to be most acceptable. Newer frame buffers have so much contrast that even with the contrast all the way down, it is still too much. The best frame buffers we've received are the oldest revision. I would highly recommend everyone AVOID THESE MONITORS, and purchase the 19" units instead. I got eye strain using one after only a few days. I have alternated using dumb terminals to let my eyes recover. A good analog guy tells me that the VIDEO PEAKING on these monitors is misadjusted. I've opened the box and looked around, but all the controls are unmarked. I'm afraid to randomly tweak things w/o markings, so have I not make progress here either. I would be very interested to learn the location of the VIDEO PEAKING control, or any other information that would help to fix the problem. Also interested in comments from other people with the same problem. Sun is a very fine company, and a good part of my personal fortune is invested in the stock. I have remained silent as long as I could bear, but I can stand it no longer. This is a problem that needs attention now. Gene H. Olson uunet!digibd!gene Senior Staff Engineer DigiBoard (612) 922-8055