OH, THE PIXELATION.....
At 1024x768 resolution, I didn't expect THIS level of pixelation from the QA-2500.
Sure, my picture is at about 100" diagonal and I guess I should expect some pixelation, but it looks extremely pixelated on my XBOX games no matter if I'm using Composite or S-Video, beside the fact that I see little difference in quality when using compostie or S-video in my setup, it's kinda weird.
I then moved the projector closer to the screen on the wall to see if the pixelation would go down a bit, but it didn't.
After examining the panel screen itself, I then noticed that the panel was the cause of of all the pixelation, not the magnification nor the distance from the screen.
The QA-2500 is odd in that it seems to only allow for two screen sizes. One that is about 55" diagonal in projection, and the other that is about 100" diagonal in projection. The smaller mode gives you MUCH better clarity, sharpness and overall resolution, the larger mode gives you a much bigger picture, but A LOT of pixelation, lack of sharpness and overall loss in resolution.
Now, if I weren't so concerned with having the Movie Theater experience, I would go ahead and keep it at 55", but, well, that would suck.
What I am trying to figure out is if it would be worthwhile to build an enclosure from the lense to the screen and around the projector stage to focus more of the light...... I hear this makes the image sharper and I recall one of the members here putting up some pics of how he did it.
One of the most frustrating things in this project is not having a manual for the LCD panel. This limits my knowledge of what I can and can't do. I believe there could be a function that allows the image to be increased and decreased in more ways than just small or huge. I believe there could be a function to increase and decrease the picture in minimal degrees, but without that manual or any information from others who have the panel, I have no information to go on.
The Screening
My Brother and I went to Home Depot. We got TERRIBLE, rude service from them and will never be going back again. But the good news is that we got the wood from the to build the frame, (see above).
Well, in the process of everything else, I'm 50% of the way done with building the screen. The Screen is 85 x 64. I and my brother just got 4 pieces of Poplar, 4 joint fastener and screwed everything together. The frame swings a bit, but once it's been been hung and the fabric has been attached that shouldn't be much of a problem, which brings me to.....
The Material. We went to Joann's Fabrics. We did see Blackout cloth, but they didn't have a big enough size to accommodate my screen specs and I refused to compromise the size of the picture.
Couldn't find Plastex anywhere, couldn't find any silk sheets either, so I was forced to buy a white King Size 50% Polyester, 50% Cotton bed sheet. When we threw it over the frame and projected the image onto it, it did infact look better than what we had on the wall, but there is A LOT of light passing through, so my idea is to line the back with cardboard sprayed metallic silver, (Think that'll work?).
I thought about lining the back AND spraying the fabric silver, but that seemed like that would be a mess and I'm not sure if it would even work (feedback on that thought is welcomed....)
So, that's where I am with my projector right now. How do I feel about it so far:
PLUSES AND MINUSES
-The light escaping the projector is still a problem, but it's fixable.
+Picture is large and resembles the picture of the 50" non-HD big Screens on the market right now
-A LOT of pixelation from the panel
+The potential for a good ending to the project is in reach with a few modifications
-XBOX A/V cords have a guard on them the prevents the length from being extended. This is making it difficult to get an audio source hooked up to it because the table the projector sits on is high off the ground, the XBOX is lower to the ground and the Video plug is already in the panel. The audio cord is loose but it does not have enough length to reach an external audio source. Why Microsoft built their cords with these fixed guards is beyond me. Didn't they think people would need more slack to hook them up to different things? I'm now looking for some sort of extension device so that I can have more wire slack to hook up my audio device. Anybody have any information on that?
+TV can be watched at long distances.
-There is no screen door effect. Even up close I didn't notice it.
In conclusion of this commentary, I am satisfied with what I am seeing so far. I did not anticipate the pixelation, but I can understand it. The picture as stated earlier is about what you would find on an older model, non-HD big screen. It also resembles some of the newer JVC big screen models while they are taking a 4:3 standard signal.
Not Bad.
Stay Tuned!
At 1024x768 resolution, I didn't expect THIS level of pixelation from the QA-2500.
Sure, my picture is at about 100" diagonal and I guess I should expect some pixelation, but it looks extremely pixelated on my XBOX games no matter if I'm using Composite or S-Video, beside the fact that I see little difference in quality when using compostie or S-video in my setup, it's kinda weird.
I then moved the projector closer to the screen on the wall to see if the pixelation would go down a bit, but it didn't.
After examining the panel screen itself, I then noticed that the panel was the cause of of all the pixelation, not the magnification nor the distance from the screen.
The QA-2500 is odd in that it seems to only allow for two screen sizes. One that is about 55" diagonal in projection, and the other that is about 100" diagonal in projection. The smaller mode gives you MUCH better clarity, sharpness and overall resolution, the larger mode gives you a much bigger picture, but A LOT of pixelation, lack of sharpness and overall loss in resolution.
Now, if I weren't so concerned with having the Movie Theater experience, I would go ahead and keep it at 55", but, well, that would suck.
What I am trying to figure out is if it would be worthwhile to build an enclosure from the lense to the screen and around the projector stage to focus more of the light...... I hear this makes the image sharper and I recall one of the members here putting up some pics of how he did it.
One of the most frustrating things in this project is not having a manual for the LCD panel. This limits my knowledge of what I can and can't do. I believe there could be a function that allows the image to be increased and decreased in more ways than just small or huge. I believe there could be a function to increase and decrease the picture in minimal degrees, but without that manual or any information from others who have the panel, I have no information to go on.
The Screening
My Brother and I went to Home Depot. We got TERRIBLE, rude service from them and will never be going back again. But the good news is that we got the wood from the to build the frame, (see above).
Well, in the process of everything else, I'm 50% of the way done with building the screen. The Screen is 85 x 64. I and my brother just got 4 pieces of Poplar, 4 joint fastener and screwed everything together. The frame swings a bit, but once it's been been hung and the fabric has been attached that shouldn't be much of a problem, which brings me to.....
The Material. We went to Joann's Fabrics. We did see Blackout cloth, but they didn't have a big enough size to accommodate my screen specs and I refused to compromise the size of the picture.
Couldn't find Plastex anywhere, couldn't find any silk sheets either, so I was forced to buy a white King Size 50% Polyester, 50% Cotton bed sheet. When we threw it over the frame and projected the image onto it, it did infact look better than what we had on the wall, but there is A LOT of light passing through, so my idea is to line the back with cardboard sprayed metallic silver, (Think that'll work?).
I thought about lining the back AND spraying the fabric silver, but that seemed like that would be a mess and I'm not sure if it would even work (feedback on that thought is welcomed....)
So, that's where I am with my projector right now. How do I feel about it so far:
PLUSES AND MINUSES
-The light escaping the projector is still a problem, but it's fixable.
+Picture is large and resembles the picture of the 50" non-HD big Screens on the market right now
-A LOT of pixelation from the panel
+The potential for a good ending to the project is in reach with a few modifications
-XBOX A/V cords have a guard on them the prevents the length from being extended. This is making it difficult to get an audio source hooked up to it because the table the projector sits on is high off the ground, the XBOX is lower to the ground and the Video plug is already in the panel. The audio cord is loose but it does not have enough length to reach an external audio source. Why Microsoft built their cords with these fixed guards is beyond me. Didn't they think people would need more slack to hook them up to different things? I'm now looking for some sort of extension device so that I can have more wire slack to hook up my audio device. Anybody have any information on that?
+TV can be watched at long distances.
-There is no screen door effect. Even up close I didn't notice it.
In conclusion of this commentary, I am satisfied with what I am seeing so far. I did not anticipate the pixelation, but I can understand it. The picture as stated earlier is about what you would find on an older model, non-HD big screen. It also resembles some of the newer JVC big screen models while they are taking a 4:3 standard signal.
Not Bad.
Stay Tuned!
I have a theory on the screendoor on a large image with the XBox: composite and svideo are not 1024x768, so two things could be happening:
1) The panel could be running it at the true resolution, which is significantly less.
2) The panel is taking that resolution and stretching it to fit a 1024x768 resolution, which would also make it look horrible..
The best way to get best picture with this (or any panel) is to use the computer input and an HTPC.
1) The panel could be running it at the true resolution, which is significantly less.
2) The panel is taking that resolution and stretching it to fit a 1024x768 resolution, which would also make it look horrible..
The best way to get best picture with this (or any panel) is to use the computer input and an HTPC.
TYPO
Little typo.... That last point should be a "+" instead of a "-"
There was no screen door effect (unless I don't know the difference between it and what I consider pixelation).
To my knowledge, screendoor is when your image shows block lines patterned the way a screen door would.
Pixelation is rough edges and rough resolution on the overall image.
Little typo.... That last point should be a "+" instead of a "-"
There was no screen door effect (unless I don't know the difference between it and what I consider pixelation).
To my knowledge, screendoor is when your image shows block lines patterned the way a screen door would.
Pixelation is rough edges and rough resolution on the overall image.
aha, projectoid, sorry, projecto7, you sound like me again. I had this problem with the audio extension and the fact that the xbox's wires don't stretch far enough.
However, ham_anegg to the rescue. Go to the following address and you'll see what I have just bought.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/products/module.asp?CartID=030831000803616&moduleno=21364&Products=2
Am I the man or what? eh, eh?
If you can't buy from there cause they don't ship to the us, I'll buy for you if you can pay me via paypal and I'll ship them over.
I'm connecting my xbox via s-video but found that the audio was far too short to meet up with my home theatre amp. the product link should more than address this probem.
E-mail me personally at greg.calder@strath.ac.uk if you want me to buy them for you and I'll tell you my paypal account details.
cheers.(hope this pixelation dont happen with my set-up, whenever my ohp arrives that is)
However, ham_anegg to the rescue. Go to the following address and you'll see what I have just bought.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/products/module.asp?CartID=030831000803616&moduleno=21364&Products=2
Am I the man or what? eh, eh?
If you can't buy from there cause they don't ship to the us, I'll buy for you if you can pay me via paypal and I'll ship them over.
I'm connecting my xbox via s-video but found that the audio was far too short to meet up with my home theatre amp. the product link should more than address this probem.
E-mail me personally at greg.calder@strath.ac.uk if you want me to buy them for you and I'll tell you my paypal account details.
cheers.(hope this pixelation dont happen with my set-up, whenever my ohp arrives that is)
oh, by the way projecto7, I was thinking about building an encolsure for my set-up but thought that the heat may be a bit of a problem.
As you know, heat rises, so if you have made a tight enclosure, you're gonna ge quite humid in there. r u gonna incorporate a fan or something.
As you know, heat rises, so if you have made a tight enclosure, you're gonna ge quite humid in there. r u gonna incorporate a fan or something.
Yeah Ham, you're definitely the man! No doubt about it!
Thanks so much for the kind offer to make that purchase for me, however I should be able to get this at my local Radio Shack. My brother was telling me about these extensions but I had never seen them before.
The only thing I am a bit peeved about is the fact that I won't be able to use S-video with my panel, and since my cord is S-Video I'll have to get a standard A/V. (The A/V I've been using is my brothers and he needs it back).
As with that enclosure, I'm using all cardboard. I hope I won't need to incorporate another fan. I'm trying to build in such a way that will allow heat to escape but keep light in.
This is going to be interesting.........
Hey, I almost forgot to ask..... Do you have any insight on how I might be able fix my little bed sheet screen issue? I have a A lot of light passing through it right now. I was thinking of getting some cardboard and spray-painting it silver (or Grey), then attaching it to the back of the screen by way of the frame. Do you think that will be effective or just a waste of time?
Also, would spray-painting the sheet metallic Silver be a mess or a good idea?
Thanks so much for the kind offer to make that purchase for me, however I should be able to get this at my local Radio Shack. My brother was telling me about these extensions but I had never seen them before.
The only thing I am a bit peeved about is the fact that I won't be able to use S-video with my panel, and since my cord is S-Video I'll have to get a standard A/V. (The A/V I've been using is my brothers and he needs it back).
As with that enclosure, I'm using all cardboard. I hope I won't need to incorporate another fan. I'm trying to build in such a way that will allow heat to escape but keep light in.
This is going to be interesting.........
Hey, I almost forgot to ask..... Do you have any insight on how I might be able fix my little bed sheet screen issue? I have a A lot of light passing through it right now. I was thinking of getting some cardboard and spray-painting it silver (or Grey), then attaching it to the back of the screen by way of the frame. Do you think that will be effective or just a waste of time?
Also, would spray-painting the sheet metallic Silver be a mess or a good idea?
No problem, projecto7
I'd read in this forum not long ago that a guy used both a shower curtain behind a white bed sheet. Technically it would work, any light that passes through the sheet would reflect back, but not shiny like and not at all off putting. Plus you've got the white of the sheet to give the best light reflection.
Personally I think it sounds pretty good, I'll try it myself when I get my set-up set up, but make sure to tighten the materials together and make sure there are no wrinkles, otherwise the picture would look crud.
Give it a shot, if in the unlikely case that it doesn't work, how much have you wasted?
why is it that you can't use the s-video again? is it the quality? I heard that some guy contacted sharp and told them the part number of the qa-2500, and they said you can get a replacement controller for $43. Dunno if it's true but worth a try, no?
I'd read in this forum not long ago that a guy used both a shower curtain behind a white bed sheet. Technically it would work, any light that passes through the sheet would reflect back, but not shiny like and not at all off putting. Plus you've got the white of the sheet to give the best light reflection.
Personally I think it sounds pretty good, I'll try it myself when I get my set-up set up, but make sure to tighten the materials together and make sure there are no wrinkles, otherwise the picture would look crud.
Give it a shot, if in the unlikely case that it doesn't work, how much have you wasted?
why is it that you can't use the s-video again? is it the quality? I heard that some guy contacted sharp and told them the part number of the qa-2500, and they said you can get a replacement controller for $43. Dunno if it's true but worth a try, no?
Hey Ham,
Actually, I was referring to the S-Video not working because I doubt there is an extension jack for for an S-Video cord.
I'm going to try and tack the cardboard to the back once I mount the sheet on it. I'm not sure whether I should spray paint the cardboard silver or not though....?
Actually, I was referring to the S-Video not working because I doubt there is an extension jack for for an S-Video cord.
I'm going to try and tack the cardboard to the back once I mount the sheet on it. I'm not sure whether I should spray paint the cardboard silver or not though....?
i'll see if I can find an s-video extension, just out of curiosity.
Leave the cardboard plain. Then, if you feel that it's made a huge difference and are happy with the results, just leave it. Don't paint it any other colour unless you feel like doing lots more work and pay the money for the paint.
Gotta go and try and fix me OHP that arrived today. I spent 3 hours trying to find the electrical problem only to realise it was partly in the plug.
Always look for the simplest solutions first, thats waht I've learnt
Leave the cardboard plain. Then, if you feel that it's made a huge difference and are happy with the results, just leave it. Don't paint it any other colour unless you feel like doing lots more work and pay the money for the paint.
Gotta go and try and fix me OHP that arrived today. I spent 3 hours trying to find the electrical problem only to realise it was partly in the plug.
Always look for the simplest solutions first, thats waht I've learnt
just fixed my OHP, and placed my polaroid 300 on top of it. 10 minutes later, a dea pixel rears its ugly head up. Damn. right in the middle of my picture as well, that has really annoyed me. It's bright white, in the middle!!!!!
what causes these dead pixels, anyone know?
will post pictures once I have built a screen, it projects onto a dark yellow screen qujite amazingly, and haven't noticed any problem with the quality, playing it through my xbox, even though it is only 640&480.
piccies to come
what causes these dead pixels, anyone know?
will post pictures once I have built a screen, it projects onto a dark yellow screen qujite amazingly, and haven't noticed any problem with the quality, playing it through my xbox, even though it is only 640&480.
piccies to come
I've heard of people using a marker to cover up those dead pixels..a black pixel is better than a white one.
But I'd wait... sometimes pixels aren't really dead, they're just stuck and will work again later, this has happened to me.
phew, thanks for telling me that. The panel made a funny noise though when it went, sort of a very small stone hitting double glazing glass, if you can imagine that. Oh by the way, is my panel supposed to have just about no space between its lower glass and the OHP's glass? Mine has a very minute space, will heat not affect it?
I'm using a 250W with a spare bulb changeover set-up in my classroom type OHP, but I'll change that, but to what? I mean, am I going to have to change the reflector as wel. Right now, the standard reflector can' be much bigger then 3-5cm in diameter, and it's sort of like half of a circle. I'm guessing that it is one crud reflector then?
I'm using a 250W with a spare bulb changeover set-up in my classroom type OHP, but I'll change that, but to what? I mean, am I going to have to change the reflector as wel. Right now, the standard reflector can' be much bigger then 3-5cm in diameter, and it's sort of like half of a circle. I'm guessing that it is one crud reflector then?
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