Projector for less than £100 --- is it possible

[Albie999]

I have created my SkyTrak Sim in garage, on an extreme low budget, and to be honest it looks like it as well ;-) ... but it does the job. The next thing I would like is a projector (currently just have a monitor setup), but .. just like the rest of my build, would like to do it on a budget ... so, wondering if can get a projector for less than £100 which will do the job.

Have taken a look around Amazon etc, and found a couple at a price, but seeing as don;t know much about projectors, don;t know if they will do

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ELEPHAS-Projector-Portable-Display-Compatible/dp/B07N39NDDB/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=hd+projector&qid=1575620022&sr=8-4

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Projector-Portable-Support-Chromecast-Compatible/dp/B07HQQ749Q/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=hd+projector&qid=1575620022&sr=8-6

So the question is, is it possible?

I have attached a pic of my well cheap garage setup

[What4]

I say go for it. Reviews look good. My question is what are you projecting to (the hitting screen?). Those hitting screens can be pricey.

[luderiffic]

I just bought a used BenQ ST projector on Ebay for $140. Might be worth a look to go over there, alot of the used projectors have good reviews.

[Albie999]

The hitting screen is an archery net

[sorensen]

1.0 out of 5 starsDisappointed
29 August 2019
Verified Purchase
Really disappointed with this projector. I dont believe this is 4500 lumens as the brightness is extremely low. The contrast isnt great either. I know it's cheap for a projector but there are other options around which are better. It's a nice size and seems well built but performance isnt as expected. Its easily connected to soundbar and tv boxes. But you have to be in a complete dark room. I am also bewildered by the ratings and dont believe they are legit sorry. Quick add to this. Most of the verified reviews are just one single reviews which indicates false reviews. Save your money and pay a little more for something with native 1080 and over 3000 contrast ratio

[simmb]

I think there is a reason why all the major players in the projector world BenQ, Optoma etc. are still priced at the point they are. If these cheaper projectors were real competition for them their prices would have dropped as well. I think something like this would be ok in a very dark room for occasional movie use but I don’t think the image will be great on archery netting as a golf sim projector. As luderiffic mentioned maybe a second hand one may be a better option.
I could be wrong as I have never tried one of these cheaper projectors but you always read about the Lumens being way lower and the 1080P is just supported not the native resolution.

[Jwheels9876]

I bought one of these low cost projectors from Amazon to use as a backyard theater projector by the pool in the summer.. I used it 2 times last summer and I gotta say it was pretty awesome for the price. It feels like it weighs about 1 lb so the build quality will not blow you away but you may be able to get away with it. I was projecting to a 100" screen hung on my fence outside and it was plenty bright and super clear. Just my 2 cents....

[Albie999]

I bought one of these low cost projectors from Amazon to use as a backyard theater projector by the pool in the summer.. I used it 2 times last summer and I gotta say it was pretty awesome for the price. It feels like it weighs about 1 lb so the build quality will not blow you away but you may be able to get away with it. I was projecting to a 100" screen hung on my fence outside and it was plenty bright and super clear. Just my 2 cents....

Can you link the one you bought?

[Jwheels9876]

Here ya go.

https://www.amazon.com/BOMAKER-Projector-Carrying-Supported-Compatible/dp/B07MZL7H4X

[Jwheels9876]

Something to think about is these cheap models probably wont have any lens adjustment features so you'll have to find a spot that works and you're stuck with it. You wont be able to put it anywhere you want and adjust the zoom or shift the height of the projected image. May be an issue for Golf use

[Albie999]

Cheers for the link, am in the UK and found a similar one .. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Projector-B...5982164&sr=8-6

Only thing that worries me, and this why was trying to find someone with one to try first of, is as these are not short throw, they need to be placed quite a distance from the screen (2 metres plus), so am wondering if I mount this up in the ceiling ... am I going to be getting in the way, and causing a shadow on the screen?

[Albie999]

So, I borrowed a friends projector, just to see how it gets on before I order a sub £100 one. The one I loaned is an old XGA projector (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sanyo-PLC-X.../dp/B002HL93W6) .... it seems to do the job, so looks like a sub £100 might work for me

[FaultyClubs]

I have the big brother to the bomaker mentioned above, native 1080p instead of 720p. Use it for backyard movies. It does ok, not great but ok. Specs are way exaggerated on all these units.

After spending all the money on a sim & tgc and given the large screen size it's probably worth getting a native 1080p version. They are typically brighter with better contrast too. I paid an extra $70 Canadian.

Biggest issue for sim would be finding a mounting location given how limited they are in adjustments. And I'm not sure I could put up with the fan noise indoors (maybe the 720p version is quieter since they are not as bright and need less cooling).

If you can return it then definitely worth a look for a super cheap solution.

[Albie999]

Picked up one of these for £70 ... https://m-uk.gearbest.com/projectors/pp_372075.html, after watching some YouTube reviews, seems like a good projector for the price

[burtonpopo]

What’s your thoughts on the cheap projector now that you have it? Do you have some pics you could share?

[Albie999]

Actually, it is not to bad. I cannot get it to fill the screen, only really because of the distance it needs to go back, and that if I put it any further back, my shadow would get in the way. In terms of quality, the screen I am projecting on is an archery screen, so if it was a proper screen, reckon the picture would be even clearer.

Here is a pic of it, I have still got the light on in the garage on this pic, but as you can imagine, with lights off, the picture is clearer

For the cost of £69, reckon it is pretty decent, and does what I need

I have now put a white sheet behind the archery net, which makes the picture clearer