Getting The Best Out Of.....

[mattswindon]

Hello all.
Any tips please on how i can get the best out of my projector?
(not "put it in the bin")
Here's the spec:

SPECIFICATIONS
Part Number: V11H179040
Projection System: Epson 3LCD Advanced Imaging Technology
Projection Method: Front / Rear / Ceiling Mount
Specification of Main Parts
LCD Panels: Size: 0.5 inches with MLA; Driving Method: Poly-silicon TFT Active Matrix
Pixel Number: 480000 dots (800x600) x3; Native Resolution: SVGA;
Aspect Ratio: 4:3; Pixel Arrangement: Stripe

Projection Lens: Type: Manual: Focus; F-number: 1.4; Focal Length: 16.6mm
Zoom Ratio: No Optical Zoom, Digital Zoom (1.0-1.35); Lens Cover: Attached with cord
Lamp: Type: 135W UHE; Life: 2000h (High Brightness mode) / 3000h (Silent Mode)
Screen Size (Projected distance): 30 to 300inch (0.9 to 12.1m)
Offset: 9.6:1
Brightness
High Brightness Mode:
1600 ANSI lumens (Colour Mode: Game, Zoom: Wide)
Silent Mode: 1400 ANSI lumens (Colour Mode: Game, Zoom: Wide)
Contrast
500:1 (Colour Mode: Game, High Brightness Mode)
Brightness Uniformity
85%(Typ)
Colour Reproduction
Full Colour (16.77 million colours)
Sound Output
1W Monaural
Effective Scanning
Frequency Range: Pixel Clock: 13.5MHz to 162MHz
Horizontal: 15KHz to 92KHz / Vertical: 50Hz to 85Hz
Adjustment Functions
Projector / Remote Control: Keystone (Vertical)/ Brightness/ Contrast/ Tint/ Saturation/ Sound/ Input signal
Tilt Angle: 0 to 10 degrees (One foot adjuster)
Keystone Correction: Vertical: -30 to +30 degrees
Auto Source Search: Implemented
Auto Detection of RGB/YCbCr: Implemented
Password Protected: Implemented (Protection of User logo, Time lock)
Function / Security: Operation panel protected function
Image Shift: Implemented
Colour Mode: PC: Photo, Presentation, Theatre, Game, sRGB, Blackboard
Video: Sports, Presentation, Theatre, Game, sRGB, Blackboard
Direct Power On: Implemented
Analog RGB I/O
Display Performance: Native: 800 x 600 dots; Resize: 1280x1024 / 1024 x 768 / 640 x 480 dots
Input Signal: Signal type: Separate signal; Video Signal: Analog (0.7V p-p,75 ohm/ Mac0.714Vp-p, 75ohm) Sync. Signal: Separate (positive & negative, bi-polarity 2-5Vpp) / Composite (positive & negative, bi-polarity 2-5Vpp) / Sync-on-green (negative, 0.3Vpp)
Audiio Signal: 500mVrms / 47Kohm
Input Terminal: Video: Mini D-sub 15pin x 1 Blue-molding; Audiio Signal: RCA X 2 (White/Red)
Output Signal: Signal Type: Not analog-RGB standard level
Output Terminal: Video: Mini D-sub 15pin x1 Black molding
Video I/O
Display Performance: NTSC: 550 line; PAL: 550 line (Depends on observation of the multi-burst pattern)
Input Signal: Video Standard: NTSC/NTSC4.43/PAL/M-PAL/N-PAL/PAL60/SECAM
Video Signal: Composite Video (1.0Vpp/Sync.negative,75ohm) / S-Video Luminous 0.714Vpp, Chrominous 0.286Vpp, 75ohm) Component Video (Analogue Y Level 0.7 V 75 ohm/Cr Cb level +/-0.35V 75ohm / sync.negative 0.3V or 3-state+/-0.3V on Y) / Video-RGB (0.7V p-p, 75 ohm/ Mac 0.714 Vpp, 75 ohm)
Audio Signal: 500mVrms / 47Kohm
Input Terminal: Video: Composite Video: RCA (Yellow) x 1; S-Video: Mini DIN; Component Video: Mini D-sub
15pin Blue-molding (in common with Analog RGB connector); Video-RGB: Mini D-sub
15pin Blue-molding (in common with Analog RGB connector)
Audio: RCA X 2 (White/Red) (in common with Analog RGB Audio Terminal)
Control I/O
I/O Terminal: USB1.1 connector series B x1 (for mouse, K/B, control)
Operating Temperature

5°C to 35°C <41°F to 95°F> (20% - 80% Humidity)
Start-up Period: 5 seconds
Cool-down Period: 0 seconds, One Touch Off
Power Supply Voltage: 100-240V ±10% , 50/60Hz
Power Consumption: 100 - 240VAC / Lamp ON = 200W / Standby = 5W
Dimensions (d x w x h)
246 x 327 x 86 mm (excluding feet); 246 x 327 x 98 mm (max)
Weight

2.5Kg
Fan Noise
34dB (High Brightness Mode) / 28db (Low Brightness Mode)

[Shockabuku]

Hrm, bit of a wide open question there! From the look of those specs, your pj is focused towards the data side of the market, so don't expect any miracles! It is not a native widescreen panel, and it's rather noisy (though on the bright side, it's...plenty...erm...bright). What source will you be feeding it & maybe we can see how best you could put it to use?

[Gary Lightfoot]

Use a test disk live DVE or the THX Optimiser to set the white and black levels is always a good start.

Gary

[mattswindon]

hi guys
Thanks for the advice,i'm currently on the lookout for a thx demo disc with the calibration on it.
I see they have them on ebay.
As for my input connection i'm more than lightly going to go with the svideo port because i think if i use the d-sub connection it wont be able to resize the picture to 16:9.
As this is my fisrt pj i am quite chuffed with it as i didn't pay alot for it.
Roll on a proper HD home cinema based pj eh

Matt

[Gary Lightfoot]

You can find the THX Optimiser on Star Wars in the set up area of the disk.

Gary

[Shockabuku]

Also, the latest issue of Home Cinema Choice has a free THX demo disk .

[binbag]

If you are going to the effort of darkening the viewing room then a lens mask (made out of something like 'funky foam') cut to fit inside the lens ring could prove effective in controlling lightspill around the screen as could masking the light coming from any cooling vents (whilst not reducing airflow). If your pj is a real cheapy then popping the case to paint the internals black to reduce light reflections might be worth a go.

If it has been a DLP I'd have been suggesting taking a magic marker to the colour wheel to increase it's black levels. All of these things were effective on my old Davis DL450.

[Gary Lightfoot]

Originally Posted by binbag

If it has been a DLP I'd have been suggesting taking a magic marker to the colour wheel to increase it's black levels. All of these things were effective on my old Davis DL450.

Only do this to the white/clear segment, and only to the portion that isn't used for syncing (if it uses it for that), as this will cause the segments to run out of sync with the DMD operation.

Gary

[Zag]

Originally Posted by binbag

If it has been a DLP I'd have been suggesting taking a magic marker to the colour wheel to increase it's black levels.

I thought you were taking the p*** when I read that, until I read further and realised that you'd actually done it.

It would also reduce brightness of course, but I suspect it could also reduce the incidents of rainbows too.

[Gary Lightfoot]

It also helps colour saturation since the clear segment doesn't wash out the image with a burst of bright light between colours.

Gary

[mattswindon]

WOW......thanks for the info guys,i have star wars on dvd,low and behold there was the THX optimiser.i'm also going to get myself down to WHSmiths tomorrow for a copy of "Home cinema choice" should be a good read.
Again many thanks.