DIY Video Projector

[Hellfire]

Ok. first post for me.

Hello everybody!

I´m going the CRT route myself. So Scot_lad, keep up the good work!. I´m going for a single CRT projector based on a pc monitor, with "boosted brightness". I have consulted a student at a university here in Sweden and he promised me to consult a teacher in "boosted brightness". A good 15" CRT monitor costs around $170 here and even if it burns out faster due to "boosting" it is still a better deal then a new bulb for a LCD prjector. This combined with a TV-tuner box with linedubbler (around $140 here) whill give good results (I hope).

I am very impressed over all the good work You all have made.

By for now!

[Scot_lad]

sorry, but it was Nikolas Kopernikus, who discovered and proved that the earth was round.

Not according to Frank Sinatra...

[ryans]

This forum seems to be going nowhere fast as of late. I can’t seem to get any determinations on quality of what people are making compared to inexpensive commercial projectors. I can’t even seem to get a comprehensive set of DIY instructions with parts list either. I’m starting to think that this is nothing but a half baked project that is starting to get fried.

Where are the instructions?

Where is the proof of quality?

What about quality vs. commercial projectors?

I’ve gone as far as taking some LCD’s apart and checking out how they work and I understand the principles behind everything you guys are doing.

Light source -> way to uniform light source -> LCD -> Lens -> projection on wall.

It just doesn’t seem like I’m seeing enough information on what LCD to choose from and how to drive it “properly”. Maybe I’m looking for closure on this issue.

I’ve seen a lot of information and theory about light issues. I still have not seen any closure on this.

Lens is another issue. I’ve seen many things on this too, but yet again…. No closure.

I do understand that a forum is for discussion, but by now I would think that people would KNOW what the best “bang for the buck” is concerning light sources, lenses, and LCD’s. I welcome someone to tear this apart. If you do, tackle all my points and questions or don’t tackle any.

Thanks,
Ryan

I wonder if being a penis-head will get answers?? hehe

[Timtimes]

Originally posted by ryans
This forum seems to be going nowhere fast as of late. I can’t seem to get any determinations on quality of what people are making compared to inexpensive commercial projectors. I can’t even seem to get a comprehensive set of DIY instructions with parts list either. I’m starting to think that this is nothing but a half baked project that is starting to get fried.


I wonder if being a penis-head will get answers?? hehe

-----------------------------

I understand your frustration, but you have to consider that there are only about a dozen folks (my estimation) who are ACTIVELY spending time and money to figure all this out. They are not all following the same path, therefore no 'blueprint' exists for the 'best' or 'ultimate' DIY projection TV. You can either choose to be patient and follow along, or you can go out and spend the big bucks for a commercial model. I haven't 'jumped in' on this project yet, but it is interesting to follow along, and ultimately, there will be a 'best design' and a parts list.

Chill and Enjoy.

[Scot_lad]

Hello,
I've just joined this forum and I can't be bothered to read the rest of your hard work, so I want a detailed set of instructions in my in-box by tomorrow.

Whoever writes this thing (I don't care who, as long as it's done soon), make sure to include full schematic drawings and part numbers of everything you build it with, including sources for parts and a full price list. Oh and can you send me some pictures of the projector working, splashing some images on the wall of that dirty home video you made with your wife?

Thanks in advance. If I don't get what I want I'm going to throw the teddy out and write a nasty mail, before realising that I could contribute to the forum instead of demanding information from others.

Cheers.


PS I'm just kidding, but it gets the point across...

[The Xung]

Now now. We should all calm down here before we start losing people. For a thread that's seen it's ten month anniversery, it sure is a bit odd we haven't made that much progress in terms of "instructions". This seems partly because once a person has theirs working and finalized, they seem to leave.....

In answer to your question, it is very hard to achieve commercial quality with these projectors; it seems that only the best implementations will be able to surpass cheap commercial ones while also having to make goal sacriffices such as product size and heat output. However, pretty much all courses that we have taken are achieveable under a $400 budget, and for me, I will not spend more than that for a projector system, so this is really the only course.

I'm not sure about everyone else here, but I'm only able to spend so much time working on this (basically 1 night a week) because this is a heavy semester for me.

PS. Perhaps next time, one should be less demanding, more patient, and less penis-headish.

[jjasniew]

Ryan,

You failed to mention the resolution you require. Most project builders here do not say what they want either, with proposals ranging from 320X240 up through XGA. No one has talked about
UXGA and beyond.

To do VGA, s-video or composite, the instructions are simple.

1. Call Inventory Solutions, ask them to pick out a good, working panel and an OHP with 4000 lumens or more.
2. Pay them the $200 or whatever. (I recently sold a Infocus panelbook 550e with a Dukane 4003 to a local PC repair guy who was thrilled with it - set up a whole room with dolby 5.1, sofa, screen etc - for $200)
3. While you're waiting for shipment, buy a piece of white Plas-tex from Home depot and hang it on the wall - ~$30.
4. When the units arrive, unpack, place panel on top of projector and arrage so the image projects focused on your plas-tex screen.
5. Connect your VCR of DVD player accordingly.
6. Make some pop-corn, put in a tape, put out the lights, kick back and enjoy a (500 or so lumen) show.

Quite simple.

Instructions for upgrade:

1. Buy viewsonic VP50 from Amazon, ~$95. This will "de-interlace" ordinary video, making the picture better.
2. Get a higher resolution panel. The VP50 can output up to XGA.

You're should be still under $500, better than 1/3 the cost of an LCD projector.

[Balanc3d]

Im fairly new to this subject, but has anyone tried using a laptop's lcd reflected image instead of purchasing a seperate lcd screen?

-matt

[vdi_nenna]

Site has many pix of results of DIY screen.

http://www.myhometheater.homestead.com/Index.html

[Hellfire]

I remember a while back sombebody had problems with finding a solution for keystone adjustment. Here is a solution (maybe). Most fressnel linses are flexible (more or less). Even glass is flexible in small amounts. If You place the fressnel in a flexible frame and bend it slightly I think this could solve the problem. Even if the fressnel lens is made of glass i think a small amount of bending whill amount to a big diffrens on the screen.

You can also use a mirror (the first surfise model) and reflect the image of that and bend the mirror.

I don´t know if somebody have tried energy saving glass for houses to reflect the heat back to the lightsource instead of letting it melt the LCD. This glass is not expensive and reflects 70% of the heat. It is slightly colored grey but it is very slightly so I do not think it matters.

By for now