backyard theater

[JamesJ]

Alright guys I am starting a very cheap backyard theater for my boys! I went VERY cheap on the projector as I am hoping if I do it right the Wife approval factor will let me upgrade next year! but I found a dell 3100mp projector for 200 bucks, it has 159 lamp hours (or so it says, as long as it works for the season I am good) used on it....now its time to either buy a screen, or build one....anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[diogen]

Just 1000 ANSI lumens won't make for a perfect picture (I tried an Infocus X1 some years ago).
But as long as it is dark enough it will work. Keep the picture size under 100".
To try it out, I'd get a 4 by 8 piece of something and paint it white...

Diogen.

 

[dfergie]

Try Melamine or White Board from a building supply store, I started with and X1 with such in my HT room, for camping I cut down & have the equivalent of a 42" Flat sceen stored in each camper (now use the X1's replacement a Mitsubishi HD1000U when camping) even the styrofoam board works but is easy to scratch... even a shiny white material stretched over a wooden frame will work. For speakers I use pc speakers with a small sub and they work great.

 

[JamesJ]

I was thinking of tyvek that you use to wrap a house in, stretch it out over a pvc structure of some sorts that way my intial screen cost is less then 30 bucks, and again this is all to get started and then start upgrading things I have a plan I just need to stick with it, its easier to let the wife think she is making the decisions and kinda steer her

edit: fergie I have been looking up melamine and I think I am going that route, with acrylic sealer it does AWESOME...now because this is a 4:3 projector what size of screen should I get?

 

[dfergie]

Probably have to get the 4'x8' sheet unless they sell it in 4'x4' sheets... I have hooks that I hang mine on the sides of the campers with...

 

[dfergie]

Try a white sheet or just a light colored wall to get an idea how big it will show vs. losing light quality...

 

[JamesJ]

I just got back from home depot and they had a 4 x 8 value oak board (its white) and I am going to get some kind of topping to put on it, I just dont know what yet! also the hooks are a great idea, I am thinking of trying to find some that I can put on my eaves and let it hang there, or maybe build a frame of some sort...this isnt a permenant screen, but more a setup tear down one.

 

[diogen]

I am going to get some kind of topping to put on it...

Behr Ultra Pure White is a good start. Local Home Depot has it.
It's good even if you plan to experiment later with different paint mixes.

But it won't hurt to try it as-is first (if it is white). To estimate screen size.

Diogen.

 

[JamesJ]

3 dollars for 8 oz! might get two just to make sure I have enough for one coat!! I will roller that on and get it in a matte finish, I know my projector isnt the best but I am hoping to get through this season and maybe have my wife convinced that this is a good idea and we should get a better projector...I am geeked up over this project as I think my son will really enjoy this and his friends will have a good time as well, I mean buzz lightyear on a big screen, he will go nuts! thanks everyone for your help so far!

 

[JamesJ]

guys I am a loser, I bought a 3300mp not a 3100mp....I am sorry, I have been looking at too many projectors!!! here are the stats on mine


Dell 3300MP Projector Specifications
(show metric units)
Press Release Case Study
MSRP (USD) : $1,599
Brightness (Lumens) : 1500 ANSI
Contrast (Full On/Off) : 1700:1
Variable Iris: **
Audible Noise: 38.0 dB
Eco-Mode: 36.0 dB
Weight: 4.0 lbs
Size (inches) (HxWxD) : 3.3 x 9.7 x 8.3
Std. Lens: Focus:
Manual
Zoom: Manual, 1.20:1
Throw Dist (feet) : 3.9 - 39.4
Image Size (inches) : 24.4 - 292.5
Optional Lenses: No
Digital Zoom: **
Digital Keystone: Vertical
Lens Shift: No
Warranty: 2 Years
Performance:
H-Sync Range: 15.0 - 80.0kHz
V-Sync Range: 50 - 85Hz

Compatibility:
HDTV: 1080i, 720p, 576p
EDTV/480p: Yes
SDTV/480i: Yes
Component Video: Yes
Video: Yes
Digital Input: M1-DA(P&D)
Computers: Yes
Display: Type:
DLP (1)
Color Wheel Segs: 4
Color Wheel Speed: 2x
Native: 1024x768 Pixels
Maximum: 1400x1050 Pixels
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 (XGA)
Lamp: Type:
180W P-VIP
Life: 3000 hours
Eco-Mode Life: 5000 hours
Quantity: **
Speakers: 2.0W Mono
Max Power: 224W
Voltage: 100V - 240V
FCC Class: B
Special: **
Status: Out of Production
First Ship: Feb 2004
Last Ship: Aug 2005

 

[JamesJ]

got the projector in and hooked it up to my directv box via composite so I could watch the big announcement (Lebron James) show on the wall...now my wall is beige and this is composite but I am very happy so far!!! I have a m1 to component connection coming today and I have a 106" diagonal screen that I am finishing up for my movie night, but here is a rather crappy shot of it on the wall while my son watched imagination movers

 

[dfergie]

Making progress!

 

[jayn_j]

Looking good. This is where I got the fever and started needing better though. I found that I couldn't hook up a BluRay player because the older projector didn't handle HDCP correctly. You may want to stay with DVDs for awhile

 

[JamesJ]

Looking good. This is where I got the fever and started needing better though. I found that I couldn't hook up a BluRay player because the older projector didn't handle HDCP correctly. You may want to stay with DVDs for awhile

dont need hdcp with component and yes I know I am going to need better and I am okay with that...I just wanted to see what I could do...and already my wife said oh wow our tv seems so small now (we have a 46 inch so its not tiny)

 

[jayn_j]

dont need hdcp with component and yes I know I am going to need better and I am okay with that...I just wanted to see what I could do...and already my wife said oh wow our tv seems so small now (we have a 46 inch so its not tiny)

Exactly. Had 50", but then I had the space and hooked up the old data projector. And then BluRays wouldn't synch through the DVI, and then component outputs got downrezzed to 480i. Had this big image and couldn't get a reasonable picture. So there went the budget.

But it looks fantastic, and I'm happy I went for it.

 

[JamesJ]

yeah I have prepared myself, I am just suprised that after one viewing my wife might already be on the hook for bigger and better (yeah I know if you watch the office go ahead and insert "thats what she said" here) but my evil twisted plan may be in full swing around bonus time later this year

 

[JamesJ]

okay it was a HIT!!!! and I may be in luck as my mother in law LOVED the idea and even suggested to my wife we sell this projector and a tv inside and get a nicer projector that does native hd and use it to move inside and outside at our leisure...but here is a pretty crappy photo ( I need to learn how to shoot photos as this is about 17 feet away from the screen which was a 106") it looks bad in the photo but I am telling you I am VERY happy with how it turned out so far!

 

[dfergie]

Your hooked.

 

[JamesJ]

Your hooked.

very much so....trust me I have always know projectors are nice, but this project has really turned me on to them!!

 

[jayn_j]

very much so....trust me I have always know projectors are nice, but this project has really turned me on to them!!

Predicted it