1986 Sears LXI 20" with Nudes
 

Hi everyone,
I've been meaning to post about this dumpster save since I joined.
Sears LXI 564.42701650
Can't find very much info at all. I am pretty sure after reading it is made by Sanyo. It does in fact have 4 speakers that are Sanyo.

The rgb input on the rear is somewhat of a mystery. Some say it is for a vhs camcorder in composite. Others claim it is digital rgb similar to a cga/vga monitor for DOS era games. I can't confirm or deny any of this from reputable sources. When I first got the tv last year I asked around in social media. Reddit/Facebook mostly said in a round-a-bout way that I should scrap it and buy a pvm/bvm and provided zero actual knowledge. No thanks. (the reason I joined here)

I can't find very much about this tv, no manual or anything, but thanks in advance for anyone who cares to respond. After looking inside I think I will keep it as part of my collection, plus I like the Sears private label stuff too. The picture really isn't too bad all things considered and if I had nothing else I'd gladly be using it daily. The movie playing looks better in person as I used a phone camera-fyi.

**The flip cover in the front is gone. If anyone has this or knows of one please let me know.**

Thanks again for looking and the cloud link has a lot more pix of the board, etc.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...Ow?usp=sharing

Wow cool set, surprised to see so many high end features on a 20" store branded set. The RGB input was common on a lot of high end Japanese sets in the mid 80's, it was for a computer.

:)Thanks dishdude.
It would have been a true shame to have it go in the landfill I thought.
I am not doubting anyone but I sure wish I could see the manual and/or a pinout of the rgb connector. If it is in fact digital rgb, I always loved dos games and would use this as an excuse to buy an Amiga or another old PC like I had back then.
You mentioned Japanese sets, I did see Japan/Made in Japan on a cpl place inside the set.
Take care fellow CRT lover

I updated the link for the rest of the pix, Google Drive and it works this time.

The RGB input is going to be analog, it even predates VGA. I'm not sure why they all used that big bulky connector on TV/monitors when the computers and smaller monitors used a smaller 9 pin d connector.

That (EIAJ) connector was a Standard TV/VTR connector before home computers were a thing. It originally was used on early open reel consumer Videotape Recorders and on their companion TV/monitors (had a different pinout that supported bi-directional video and mono-sound). If they had made that connector support stereo (that would need more pins or a different wiring standard) we'd probably still be using it today...

I remember seeing them on old U-Matics and some commercial equipment, but by the mid 80's it was pretty much obsolete.

Try this.

Probably, the entire circuit board is Japanese made. The final assembly is done in the old Warwick plant in Arkansas.
Those Sanyo sets are almost indestructable, except for the CRT's, when they used Sylvania and RCA CRT's.

Yup its a Sanyo probably with a Sylvania jug. The input is probably
whats called TTL (IIRC) for early computers. Dont remember any
VTR's etc that had RGB. All I have seen were standard composite
& audio. Have seen this connector for computers on a few high end
sets. May take either ??? Very surprised it showed up on a Sears.

73 Zeno:smoke:
LFOD!

http://www.videokarma.org/attachment...0&d=1513294752

564.42701650

Service info is in Sams Photofact 2544-1

.

Nice save but I definitely do not miss 1980s styling.

Mid 70's to late 80's are the best styling wise. 4 speakers and a full jack pack including a 1/4" headphone jack on a 20" set? Love it.

I have a Sears RGB monitor with EIAJ connector. Monitor is Philips made.

They're among the best designs for sure. I never saw a set quite like this though.

I didn't know that RGB input was used on anything other than monitors. I'd certainly like to be able to use that port on my U-Matic, once I get new rubber in it that is.

The EIAJ connector has a completely different pinout/signal set on that TV than the one on your Umatic does. The Umatic has 4 signal lines in it: (composite)Video in (Composite) Video out, Audio in, Audio out....That Monitor has a different 4 lines: Red video, Blue video, Green video, Sync...If you were to plug your umatic into that set it would not work.



About 10 years ago I had a working Sony PVM with an EIAJ connector for RGB input. My folks told me it was NOT coming with on a pending cross-country move, so I scrapped it. I still have the EIAJ connector from it (and a board or two)....Part of me wishes I had found a way to keep it.

@Wiscojim I had no idea about the "Sams" site with all the scans. Thank you for that.
@collectorad Thanks for that page from Taxan.

I'm figuring over the holidays I will tinker with it. First I am going to confirm those 2 grounds from the Taxan reference. I believe the only thing I have that outputs rgb natively is a model 1 Sega Genesis. Easy enough to make a jumper harness for testing.

Even if it's not rgb I still think it's neat. In 1986 with modest means we had Zenith's that we loved, even the neighbor that had a Trinitron (and let us know they did) didn't have stereo like this Lxi.

The Sams site isn't cheap, usually around $22 per service folder.

If you post a free classified ad here on VK and/or on ARF, you may find one of us with a spare Sams Photofact folder to sell cheap or even free.

http://www.videokarma.org/forumdisplay.php?f=60

http://antiqueradios.com/forums/view...47327ef7928bc7

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1986 Sears LXI 20" with Nudes
 

Here's a link to the Photofact:

https://www.samswebsite.com/en/photo...ndex/id/161680

It's $22.00 for a PDF download, or a couple bucks more if you want to buy a hard copy. Not cheap-cheap, but it's hardly an arm-and-a-leg, either. Especially if you don't get any other leads on it.

I've bought a couple Photofacts from them over the years and can vouch that it's legitimate and works as advertised. They were responsive to me when I had an issue with readability in one place, and they ended up rescanning the whole thing at much better resolution for me.

My U-Matic has the identical EIAJ connector with "monitor" stamped above it.

So does my U-Matic...My point is just because it has the same connector don't mean it uses the same signals.

If you plug the white RCA jack from your DVD player into your TV's Yellow RCA jack it will be the same as connecting your umatic to that set.

This connector is very specific and unique and the signal is meant to go back and forth to and from a VTR or a Umatic deck. I think it really only had one purpose. The cable used has the same large multi-pin EIAJ male connector on both ends and it enables the VTR or Umatic to record TV programs from the TV's tuner and it lets the VTR or Umatic play tapes on the TV. A two-way audio-video cable. It's as simple as that. I've used these EIAJ cables many times and they work flawlessly when the cable is good. It also locks in with a nice snap and doesn't come loose easily.

It's possible there were pro models of VHS or Beta VCRs with that same connector on them in the early days. EIAJ connectors were mostly used in pro setups or AV use in schools and rarely in a home situation and not, that I know of, on a computer.

By 1986 that was pretty old technology, but I've seen many 13" Panasonic monitors from the 1980s with the same EIAJ connector and these pre-date most home computers and were meant to simplify early video recording. A one-connector solution instead of using four RCA cables. And you could use the monitor's tuner and antenna instead of needing one in the recorder. This was also before widespread use of cable TV.

RCA jacks are really no comparison to this connector since they can carry many different kinds of signals. I even have an RCA jack in a Zenith radio-phono that carries 6 VAC to the little dial lamp jewel on the base of the console. This large greenish EIAJ connector is only meant to connect TV monitors to video recorders. Anyone who cut their teeth using those old video machines will say the same thing.

There were at least two signal/pinout variants of this connector:
1.) RGB single directional video (no sound) as used on the op's monitor see this link http://www.minuszerodegrees.net/manu...%20Pinouts.jpg
and 2.) bidirectional audio and composite video like you are thinking of see this link http://www.labguysworld.com/Connectors.htm and scroll about half way down to the section with the text: "Old EIAJ VTR decks and monitors had this convenient connector. It saved the operator from having to connect four separate cable in order to record off air programs. The jumper cable contains four high quality coax cables within it. This cable was wired one to one, straight through as shown above. On the monitor end, simply reverse the in/out nomenclatures."

I'm now done trying to explain the difference....I've stopped caring if anyone gets it.

I have a brief update. Pins 5 & 6 do have continuity to ground (just like the Taxan reference guide from @collectorad's help). I couldn't fight temptation anymore this evening. Good indicator it might actually be analog rgb.

I either need to make or find male pins for the connector side, or take the video board loose from the housing and go after them that way in order to test the Sega. Not entirely sure how yet but I will soon though. Have to sleep on it for now.

Thanks for all the replies. Everyone. I definitely wasn't intending to get people riled up with each other either over that damn connector.

Oh I got it before this, I'm brighter than some give me credit for. Seems the RGB variant is all but useless though, I don't know of a single device with that kind of video output. I'm sure you could name a few though.

Make sure to add a 220 uF capacitor in series with a 75 Ω resistor for R, G, B, and c-sync. They are required, but not included in the Genesis due to cost cutting measures.

Thanks! Colectorad
(I am not an engineer so please bear with me)
About the polarity of the capacitors, considering electron theory, negative towards the TV?
And the resistor goes after the cap?
No schematic so I have to ask in order to not tear anything up.
This sounds a lot like the rgb mod of older tvs that is growing in popularity.

Thanks again to VK and its legions.

I'm not familiar with the electron theory but negative on the electrolytic capacitors goes to ground; hooked up the other way they go poof.

Chances are you'll eventually tear up something, or at least do a sloppy job and want to re-do it eventually, I did quite a bit in the early stages of the learning process. By the way I always use 105 degree Nichicon capacitors. Avoid oddly-branded Chinese caps at all cost.

I'm not tearing anything up if I can at all help it.
The reference to electron theory vs conventional theory is about the direction electrons flow. + to - or - to +. Convincing arguements both ways.
Anyway,...not that relevant I guess.
I'm familiar with Nichicon, Rubycon, etc. I am a career master auto tech and I never use cheap parts if there is any way at all possible not to.
I bought several of the pre-made cap kits for my old videogame consoles and recently I discovered a depot place in Fla. that sells caps (not cheap ones) in bulk. So I am good to go in that dept. after buying a huge assortment priced right.

P.S.- I will post pix of the Sega running when I get this figured out.

Ah, an excellent head start there. I hadn't done a whole lot with a soldering iron before starting in TVs. I too avoid any cheap parts like the plague.

Yes.

It's not critical, but most manufacturers do it that way.

You mean this?

The Wayback Machine RGB thread is one of them.
This one is very popular as well: https://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=56155

Merry Xmas everyone! Or whichever way you celebrate too.

Hi Jon
In this case the caps are for "coupling". They pass the "AC" part of the
signal & block DC. Caps to ground are usually for "decoupling".
They pass varying signals to ground to keep B+ lines as clean as needed.
They "save" voltage & let it go when needed as the B+ sinks.

73 Zeno:smoke:
LFOD !

Ah yes, that first part occurred to me not long after making that post, I thought it an odd place to use an electrolytic. The "negative towards the TV" part threw me at first.

I can hardly wait to get restarted on my own set's repairs, the weird waveform on the convergence board has me stumped at the moment.

Hi, did you ever get this EIAJ connector sorted out? I have a Sears LXI model 564-40843652 that I’m interested in utilizing that port for analog video.

That connector is used on a lot of japanese TVs that were sold as monitors. The Sony's have them from that time period. It's probably the same pinout, but if it was me, I'd just open it up and check where each pin was going to inside.
The Sony standard can be found online in the Operator Manual for the CPD-9000/1201



Just noticed this since someone necro posted the thread. What is "The Wayback Machine RGB thread?"

I'm a regular contributor to the Shmups forum, so I know about that, but I never saw whatever thread you are talking about on the Wayback Machine.

Hi, I got the pinout from here: https://www.minuszerodegrees.net/man...%20Pinouts.jpg someone posted it earlier on in this thread.

Was just curious if anyone has been successful in using this port for RGB input and if so how the cable connection process works.

I do use one with my Sony CPD-9000. It works very, very well. They made cables that go from EIAJ (which is what is on the LXI) to DE9 (which is the same as CGA/EGA).

Of course, it would depend on what your source was. Now that you have the pinout, you just make the outputs go to your inputs.

That’s great to hear. Thank you. What is your source? I ordered an EJIA to CGA from Bulgaria about a week ago. I’d like to adapt it to use a Sega Genesis, SNES, & NES as sources.

The correct cable came with my monitor when I purchased it. Otherwise, I would just purchase an EAIJ connector end and built my own cable.

If you have CGA on the end of the cable, you'll have to build a new cable that goes from another CGA connector to mate with the one on the cable you ordered. The other end will have to terminate in whatever you have outputting from your consoles. Hopefully they are all the same or you will be building a lot of adapters

Hello
 

The LXI tv is actually advertised as a tv&monitor. See pic.
And,.... the input is digital rgb, so Sega, etc. unfortunately are not compatible.


This is years ago now but not long after this thread I scored a connector from
an indie tv station here. See pics.
***Shout Out to Elliot Block(R.I.P.) from TV 25, an indie channel in Cincinnati.
In the '90s they were a total guy channel, called Network One.
It had original ECW wrestling :rockon:, Japanime with pixelated nudity, otherwise uncut and Venus Swimwear competitions among others.
This guy was The Man and I feel privileged to have hung out with him for a short bit.
https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinna...lock-dies.html

Edit- Yes he had the rights to "WKRP" :smoke: