So I ran across this item on craigslist:

Panasonic BT-H1390Y Test Monitor

It's small at only 13", but I imagine it would be good for LDs and possibly video games. Even supports SDI. I also wonder if they make them any larger.

Here's a promo sheet with specs: http://www.broadcaststore.com/pdf/model/20945/20945.pdf

I used a small Sony monitor for the Laserdisc player years ago it was a model made with touch screen. It was seen in the film, The Fly II (1989) next to the telepods. Not a bad 14" it was. It was multi-standard with all modes of NTSC and PAL of coarse.

As for the touch-screen on the Sony it was to work with Sony LaserMax players with educational learning Laserdiscs.

Wow it will do up 750 lines. I'd say they might well have larger model.

I did search around "Panasonic diagonal high grade CRT" to see if any other models show up. A few rear projected large screen ones.


I think it might be the only model they made? I see another listing on eBay a bit steeper priced thou.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Panasonic-13- ... 53f5692cd6

I have a JVC clone of this monitor, but it's bigger than 13". Maybe 17"? The buttons and inputs are exactly the same as this one. I got it for $40 a little while ago and it has very few hours on it.

As a monitor for old school gaming, preferably via RGB (also does YpBpR) it is UNEQUALED. It's literally as good as it gets. People spend all this money on XRGBs and stuff and IMO it's a total waste. This is how it was meant to be.

As a monitor for LD...well, it's very good but not great. The pitch is rather huge so if you are used to watching things on a fine pitch display like I am (Sony HDTV CRT) then you are going to miss some of the fancy features. Reference monitors are designed to display the signal as it really is. Therefore they lack 3D comb filters, bloom compensators, line doublers, and all that jazz. All that junk built into my big Sony truly does go a long way to making a better image FOR MOVIES and this thing lacks any of this.

My favorite thing about it (aside from the amazing picture quality) is how physical it is. The source selector is all push button. When you push the button for composite it automatically pops out the button for whatever you were watching. You don't have to cycle through a bunch of choices or use a menu. It's all "real". It also very tough having an steel case. There are some patterns and self test functions built to too, which is handy.

I say get it, bust mostly for gaming. I have mine in the basement for use with a supergun and my LD/VHS to DVD copying station.

Sounds pretty cool. I do have a Japanese RGB Scart cable for my Saturn. Is there a way to convert that to some connections that can be used on this type of monitor without getting one of those pricey XRGB boxes?

Otherwise, I'll be using a splitter for S-Video!

You don't need an XRGB to view RGB signals on an RGB monitor. XRGBs are for higher resolution monitors that won't sync down to 240p. This thing accepts 240p natively. It will work perfectly with all old game consoles and arcade boards.

If you have a SCART cable all you need is to make (or buy) an adaptor to change it to 4 separate BNC cables.

Keep in mind though that there is no "Japanese SCART". In Japan they had RGB21 which is the same socket as SCART but the pins are different. Most of the cables you find out there are SCART but if you have an actual Sega cable then it's probably RGB21. DO NOT CROSS THE STREAMS. Damage can result by confusing SCART with RGB21.