Help with DLP Projector - Blu-ray Forum

AlaskaDon · 07-25-2007, 11:48 PM

Heya All

As I posted yesterday in the 1080P/24 thread, I just picked up one of the new Optoma HD80 DLP projectors, and I could use some good advice on setting it up. This is my first projector so I have zero hands-on experience with this.

I just got it last night, so all I've done so far is read over the users manual, checked out what people had to say about the HD80 over on AVS, and do some preliminary measuring using the calculator on projectorcentral.com. The people at AVS that have played with it basically say that it's a great deal for the price, but there are many comments about the placement being critical. This projector has relatively weak zoom (1.2x I think) and has no lens shift ability.

After using the calculator at projectorcentral, this looks like it's going to be my first problem. In the room where I plan to set it up I have enough ceiling height (8.5') to do a ceiling mount, but I only have 12' of throw to work with, less even when you factor in the projector itself. This looks like it would limit me severely in terms of screen size. The calculator says I need 14.5' to work on a 100" screen and that seems to jive with what I've read at AVS.

Now my big question...
The wall opposite where the screen would go has a smaller room on the other side that is basically unused. Would there be any problems with doing a ceiling mount in the other room and cutting a hole in that wall? How large do you think the hole would have to be in order to not interfere with the projected image? I would like to get another 3 to 4 feet by doing this, but any extra distance would help.

I guess on the bright side, having the projector in a seperate room would negate any noise from the projector, and probably be helpful in terms of heat also. Does this sound like it's workable? It seems like it to me, but I'm a noob at this as I said, so any advice much appreciated.

Don

KingDeezie · 07-26-2007, 12:22 AM

Hello! First off congrats on getting a projector. I have had my projector for about a month, and I love it to death...

I am no expert myself however, so take my answers with that in consideration.

I do not think there would be a problem with you mounting the projector in another room and then cutting a hole in the wall. After all, when you go to the movies, isn't the projector in a projection room with a hole cut in the wall of the theater you are in?

As for the size of the hole, I don't think anyone other then someone who does this stuff for a living could estimate that. Perhaps the best way to do this is to just try making a template.

I would first see how far off the wall in the next room you are going to place the projector and take an accurate measurement. Then after that, throw a small image on just a regular wall and take a peice of cardboard and cut a hole in it. Place the cardboard about the same distance as you measured and see how big of a hole is needed to not disrupt the image. Then you will have a somewhat accurate idea.

This would be my guess for working with your current setup. Sorry if none of this helped you, I wish I was more knowledgeable on the subject. Good luck.

AlaskaDon · 07-26-2007, 12:52 AM

That is actually very helpful. I had considered holding the projector up near the ceiling to get an idea on the size of the hole, but the template idea is great. I could just set the projector on max zoom at the correct distance from the wall and trace it. Thanks for the idea.

Yeah, seeing what they do in the theater is what gave me the idea of using the other room. I'm planning on framing the hole in to make it look nice, and professional. I've considered that it may make it difficult to use the projector remote so I may not actually want to cut the hole as small as possible. I just wanted to make sure that there isn't a huge downside to going this route that I was missing.

Deciazulado · 07-26-2007, 09:28 PM

AlaskaDon, if you're good with geometry (or know someone that is) calculating the hole dimensions in the wall between rooms is not hard.

Just draw the floor plan including both rooms to scale and where the screen is, make the screen width the the base of the triangle and where the projector is make that the narrow pointy end of the triangle. Where the two lines going towards the pointy end (the projector) intersect with the wall between the rooms that's where the light beam of the projector more or less will pass. To have a safety factor make the hole's width 15 or 20% wider? For the hole's height you can do the same from a side view plan making the screen's height the triangles' base this time, or you can calculate it by dividing the width you establishhed for the hole by 1.78 (if you have a 16:9 screen) etc.

WriteSimply · 07-27-2007, 03:49 AM

Deci, it might be helfpul if you produce a PDF document with a downloadable Excell (or Google spreadsheet equivalent) of the calculations needed for this. After all, you're our resident expert in projection tech.

fuad

AlaskaDon · 07-27-2007, 07:24 PM

Thanks Deci. I might be able to pull that off. My geometry skills are definetly a bit rusty though. I'll probably try to get started on the install tomorrow as my neighbor with the carpentry tools and skills is going to help me. We picked up all the material for a DIY screen last night, and cut the frame on his mitre saw. I'll be spending this evening putting the screen together. I've wanted to do this for a long time, so it feels nice to finally be moving on it

WriteSimply · 07-28-2007, 04:06 PM

Deci, clear up your inbox! Gotta PM ya about a constant height PJ setup.

fuad

AlaskaDon · 07-29-2007, 08:58 PM

Well, this project is going slower than I hoped, but it is moving. Took a lot of work to get everything out of the theater room. I had a large universal gym and a precor treadmill in there that both had to be disassembled in order to get them out of the room. That took a good part of the day yesterday, but it's all in the garage now and I'm using the reclaimed floor space to put my projector screen together. I'll hopefully be mounting the projector and cutting that hole thru the wall later today

I've been doing some more reading, and see that I may be having another problem as I get further along. You guys probably know all about this, so I thought I would run it by you before I get there. I plan to use my PS3 as the BD/DVD player and my receiver is a Denon 2807. I would like to be able to feed the projector a 1080P/24 signal, but I'm fairly certain that if I run everything thru the Denon it will convert me back to 1080P/60.

If that is the case, what do you think my best option would be? I'm thinking that if I go direct from the PS3 to the projector with an HDMI cable, then I will have some serious audio limitations. Am I thinking correctly about all this?

07-25-2007, 11:48 PM	#1
AlaskaDon Special Member Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Tennessee Blu-ray collection:-	Help with DLP Projector Heya All As I posted yesterday in the 1080P/24 thread, I just picked up one of the new Optoma HD80 DLP projectors, and I could use some good advice on setting it up. This is my first projector so I have zero hands-on experience with this. I just got it last night, so all I've done so far is read over the users manual, checked out what people had to say about the HD80 over on AVS, and do some preliminary measuring using the calculator on projectorcentral.com. The people at AVS that have played with it basically say that it's a great deal for the price, but there are many comments about the placement being critical. This projector has relatively weak zoom (1.2x I think) and has no lens shift ability. After using the calculator at projectorcentral, this looks like it's going to be my first problem. In the room where I plan to set it up I have enough ceiling height (8.5') to do a ceiling mount, but I only have 12' of throw to work with, less even when you factor in the projector itself. This looks like it would limit me severely in terms of screen size. The calculator says I need 14.5' to work on a 100" screen and that seems to jive with what I've read at AVS. Now my big question... The wall opposite where the screen would go has a smaller room on the other side that is basically unused. Would there be any problems with doing a ceiling mount in the other room and cutting a hole in that wall? How large do you think the hole would have to be in order to not interfere with the projected image? I would like to get another 3 to 4 feet by doing this, but any extra distance would help. I guess on the bright side, having the projector in a seperate room would negate any noise from the projector, and probably be helpful in terms of heat also. Does this sound like it's workable? It seems like it to me, but I'm a noob at this as I said, so any advice much appreciated. Don

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07-26-2007, 12:22 AM	#2
KingDeezie Active Member Member since:Mar 2007	Hello! First off congrats on getting a projector. I have had my projector for about a month, and I love it to death... I am no expert myself however, so take my answers with that in consideration. I do not think there would be a problem with you mounting the projector in another room and then cutting a hole in the wall. After all, when you go to the movies, isn't the projector in a projection room with a hole cut in the wall of the theater you are in? As for the size of the hole, I don't think anyone other then someone who does this stuff for a living could estimate that. Perhaps the best way to do this is to just try making a template. I would first see how far off the wall in the next room you are going to place the projector and take an accurate measurement. Then after that, throw a small image on just a regular wall and take a peice of cardboard and cut a hole in it. Place the cardboard about the same distance as you measured and see how big of a hole is needed to not disrupt the image. Then you will have a somewhat accurate idea. This would be my guess for working with your current setup. Sorry if none of this helped you, I wish I was more knowledgeable on the subject. Good luck.

07-26-2007, 12:52 AM	#3
AlaskaDon Special Member Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Tennessee Blu-ray collection:-	That is actually very helpful. I had considered holding the projector up near the ceiling to get an idea on the size of the hole, but the template idea is great. I could just set the projector on max zoom at the correct distance from the wall and trace it. Thanks for the idea. Yeah, seeing what they do in the theater is what gave me the idea of using the other room. I'm planning on framing the hole in to make it look nice, and professional. I've considered that it may make it difficult to use the projector remote so I may not actually want to cut the hole as small as possible. I just wanted to make sure that there isn't a huge downside to going this route that I was missing.

07-26-2007, 09:28 PM	#4
Deciazulado Site Manager Top contributor Member since:Aug 2006 Location:USiberia Home Theater Gallery:6 4K collection:1159 Blu-ray collection:7044 DVD collection:4040	AlaskaDon, if you're good with geometry (or know someone that is) calculating the hole dimensions in the wall between rooms is not hard. Just draw the floor plan including both rooms to scale and where the screen is, make the screen width the the base of the triangle and where the projector is make that the narrow pointy end of the triangle. Where the two lines going towards the pointy end (the projector) intersect with the wall between the rooms that's where the light beam of the projector more or less will pass. To have a safety factor make the hole's width 15 or 20% wider? For the hole's height you can do the same from a side view plan making the screen's height the triangles' base this time, or you can calculate it by dividing the width you establishhed for the hole by 1.78 (if you have a 16:9 screen) etc.

07-27-2007, 03:49 AM	#5
WriteSimply Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Sep 2006 Location:Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Deci, it might be helfpul if you produce a PDF document with a downloadable Excell (or Google spreadsheet equivalent) of the calculations needed for this. After all, you're our resident expert in projection tech. fuad

07-27-2007, 07:24 PM	#6
AlaskaDon Special Member Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Tennessee Blu-ray collection:-	Thanks Deci. I might be able to pull that off. My geometry skills are definetly a bit rusty though. I'll probably try to get started on the install tomorrow as my neighbor with the carpentry tools and skills is going to help me. We picked up all the material for a DIY screen last night, and cut the frame on his mitre saw. I'll be spending this evening putting the screen together. I've wanted to do this for a long time, so it feels nice to finally be moving on it

07-28-2007, 04:06 PM	#7
WriteSimply Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Sep 2006 Location:Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Deci, clear up your inbox! Gotta PM ya about a constant height PJ setup. fuad

07-29-2007, 08:58 PM	#8
AlaskaDon Special Member Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Tennessee Blu-ray collection:-	Well, this project is going slower than I hoped, but it is moving. Took a lot of work to get everything out of the theater room. I had a large universal gym and a precor treadmill in there that both had to be disassembled in order to get them out of the room. That took a good part of the day yesterday, but it's all in the garage now and I'm using the reclaimed floor space to put my projector screen together. I'll hopefully be mounting the projector and cutting that hole thru the wall later today I've been doing some more reading, and see that I may be having another problem as I get further along. You guys probably know all about this, so I thought I would run it by you before I get there. I plan to use my PS3 as the BD/DVD player and my receiver is a Denon 2807. I would like to be able to feed the projector a 1080P/24 signal, but I'm fairly certain that if I run everything thru the Denon it will convert me back to 1080P/60. If that is the case, what do you think my best option would be? I'm thinking that if I go direct from the PS3 to the projector with an HDMI cable, then I will have some serious audio limitations. Am I thinking correctly about all this?

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