Sharp QA-2500 owners - please share your wisdom

[dnarby]

Hey guys,

I just bought a Sharp QA-2500 without a power supply, remote, manuals etc. I did this because it seems to be the best panel for what we're doing and I figured it was worth 'making it work'.

I (and I know some others) would really appreciate whatever info you can spare with regards to making/obtaining a power supply, operation without a remote (or where to get one or codes to program a universal), operating tips & tricks etc.

Maybe we can start a trend so that owners of specific panels will start their own panel-specific threads! It certainly would simplify things!

Thanks in advance,

Dave

[Schmanthony]

I just bought a QA-2500 myself. Haven't had time to check it out at all. Just wanted to say you have an excellent idea about different permanent threads for certain popular panels. I back up that idea 100%

[BrainResinFreak]

that would cut out a lot of s**t for noob's visiting this site..... I take my hat of 2 ya.... and reveal my bald head....lol

Cheers,
BRF.

[Schmanthony]

Just tried out my new QA-2500. It would be great if anyone could help me on the following issues:

(1) S-Video straight in worked... but the image is very small in the center of the screen with *huge* black margins all around. Anyone know how to enlarge the image to the edges of the screen?

(2) VGA-In from my computer worked: 1024x768@60Hz. So why didn't VGA-In from my TV-4000 at 1024x768 work? The panel sensed it was getting a signal, but all that displayed was black. I verified the TV-4000 was working properly at 1024x768 by getting it running with my NView Z310, leaving everything set where it was, then swapping the signal straight over to my QA-2500. No dice - still getting a black screen. Anyone know why this would be? (I really want to use my QA-2500 with my TV-4000).

(3) Anyone know where I can find a manual for the QA-2500, either online or printed?

[uvodee]

anyone here has the pin configuration from pc (vga) to this panel?

wasn't this posted some time ago here?

J-P

[Schmanthony]

Just found out the refresh rate on the output of my TV-4000 is apparently 60Hz... according to this web site:

http://www.omegamultimedia.com/produ...xgatheater.htm

That's pretty standard, right? So how come it won't work with my QA-2500? Specs should exactly match what I was sending to it from my computer's video card: 1024x768@60Hz

Am I getting the facts straight? Someone please help - I'd like to watch a movie tonight!

[dnarby]

Anthony,

Maybe you have to switch inputs on the panel. On the Sharp 1650 you switch from computer to video (w/o the remote) by pressing and holding the select button then pressing one of the arrows (up arrow I think). If can kluge through the menus this way, you may find the setting you need.

Unless you can do this, you may be stuck with a small image unless you get an HTPC with an HDTV decoder video card. The reason for this is (I think) because even S-Video input is considered low resolution and defaults to 640x480 (which would mean most DVD player outputs are considered low resolution!) and the panel might be too 'stupid' to take the signal from your TV-4000 and make an image.

IMO 640x480 looks pretty damn good though. I'm currently running at that on a Powerview 820. The image is framed by black around the borders, so the signal from the digital cable box isn't filling up the screen, which means to me that the panel needs more signal to use all the pixles - but this isn't a problem as I don't have the HD cable box or a HTPC yet.

I think that this is going to be a problem for those of us w/hi-res panels. When I get my HTPC built, this should solve the problem of using all those pixels... But it also means I'll need to come up w/some sort of a zoom lens for my OHP, as the 640x480 image size with my OHP 13 feet away from the screen is 92"... Which means a 1024x768 image will be up onto the ceiling and down on the floor, unless I put my OHP in the middle of the room - which will put it in the way of the screen! With a zoom lens, I'll be able to put the OHP farther back and adjust the image accordingly. I expect there will be a stampede to get these OHP's or lens assemblies once I figure out how to do this.

Also, I've been asking everyone I can, but nobody seems to want to help me out with the pinouts for this panel... If it turns out I can't get the pinouts from someone who has a manual, I may need your help with figuring them out from your power supply and cable...

Hope this helps,

Dave

[HanClinto]

Originally posted by dnarby
But it also means I'll need to come up w/some sort of a zoom lens for my OHP, as the 640x480 image size with my OHP 13 feet away from the screen is 92"... Which means a 1024x768 image will be up onto the ceiling and down on the floor, unless I put my OHP in the middle of the room - which will put it in the way of the screen! With a zoom lens, I'll be able to put the OHP farther back and adjust the image accordingly. I expect there will be a stampede to get these OHP's or lens assemblies once I figure out how to do this.

I made a zoom lens for my OHP, but it was for opposite reason (to get a larger image in a shorter distance).

Basically I see a couple options for you. Either replace the high-power convex lens with a lower-power one (sounds like the best option), or just put a concave lens in line... problem with the concave lens is that I've found you generally need a large diameter lens... optics from a large projection lens might be useable.

That's my personal experience with zoom lenses.

--Clint

[Schmanthony]

My QA-2500 accepts the signal from the TV-4000 and displays it. So, the problem isn't that I need to switch inputs.

The problem is that the image the QA-2500 displays is solid black!

The QA-2500 seems to be totally functional otherwise. VGA in from my computer is totally fine. S-Video in from my DVD player works too, but the quality is horrible.

I also have a PowerView 820 and experimented with the s-video input... the quality from the TV-4000 into the 820's VGA input was far superior -- I mean not even close! Only thing was I got the horizontal splits on the 820 in areas of fast motion. Search my posts to see what I'm talking about. No one was ever able to help me with that problem.

I'm thinking I just need to sell my TV-4000 and get a different line doubler that works with the QA-2500. But which one?

Can anyone help me and tell me a line doubler that works with the QA-2500?

Dnarby, I'll be happy to read the pinouts on my cable for you as soon as I get the time.

[dnarby]

Tim from the SNT group http://www.sntgroup.org/

Was kind enough to snap a photo of the QA-2500 power supply and forward it to me.

To those of you with manuals - if scanning is a pain, just snap some photos of the relevant pages (manual controls & pinouts!) plz!!!