The two valves I've been waiting for finally arrived.
Good news is that EHT is now up to 14kV, the ion trap magnet has been moved quite a bit forward onto the neck of the tube to get maximum brightness and the frame collapse seems to have stopped.
Bad news is the picture looks worse! Increasing sensitivity or contrast starts the picture twitching, especially noticeable at the top, and a sparking noise which I cannot locate. I've also gained some white horizontal lines when the brightness is turned up high (please see photo). What's causing that?
I am running out of enthusiasm now, I seem to be fighting a loosing battle but before I give up I will open up the LOPTx and see if anything is going on in there
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Regards
David