$199 1080p HD Projector on Groupon

[Viperdriver]

$200 for an HD projector seems ridiculous but I thought I'd post it's specs and see what spears you guys have to throw against it. Would it work for a 14' wide 9' tall screen in a dark setting? My desired throw distance is 10' (directly over the tee). Let me know what you think. FAVI Home-Theater LED 1,000-Lumen Projector

This projector can show videos, photo slideshows, and presentations to display areas of 50”, 200”, or anywhere in between. It hooks up to cable boxes, DVD players, and other media players with support for 1080p full HD, so it’s ideal for home theaters. The ultra-bright LED bulb makes the picture bright and clear. The lamp life is 30,000 hours, which is about 30 years of use, so you won’t have to ask for a new lamp for any upcoming birthdays.

• Product number: RioHD-LED-3T
• 200” maximum image size
• 1080p full HD resolution support
• 854x540 native resolution
• 2,000:1 contrast ratio
• 30,000-hour LED lamp
• Ultra-bright 1,000-lumen LED
• LCD display technology
• Built-in USB input media file player
• Front and rear projection
• Connections: Composite video, component video, VGA, and two HDMI
• Built-in speaker as well as an audio output
• Dimensions: 12.75”x9.6”x4.76”
• 6.5lb.
• Condition: new
• One-year warranty from Favi

In the box: Projector, remote control, power cable, user guide

[Bubba22]

854x540 native resolution is not great. 1000 lumens not great. You realize this is not a full HD projector. Got a link?

[Viperdriver]

I figured it was too good to be true..Here is the link FYI..

http://touch.groupon.com/deals/gg-fa...en-projector-3

[madspeed]

I will agree with bubba, the lumens is very low and the image quality is likely sub par. But for $200, why not give it a shot and return it if it doesn't satisfy?

[madspeed]

Let me add that while Projector Central does list a few models made by this FAVI company, this is not one of them. Therefore no throw calculator

[madspeed]

Just did a quick looking... my LED shoplights that I have mounted above my sensor pads put out 3800 lumens each. No way would this projector put out enough light to portray an image you will be happy with, unless you want it located a few feet from the screen, and in that case, the image may only be about 5' square

[Richard_Askren]

You'll want at least 2000 lumens. Also, since the native res is 854x540 this image will actually downsample the image to this res even if you have your res set to 1920x1080 in your comp.

[Viperdriver]

Thanks for the advice! So what should my list of requirements be when going to buy the projector? I'm leaning towards Optishot 2 and it will be a 10' throw distance to a 14'x10' screen. I am going through enough trouble to raise my ceiling by digging out my basement so I don't want to skimp on any quality at this point...Anybody want to help dig out concrete??!!

[wbond]

If you are digging out a basement to accommodate a simulator and don't want to skimp on quality, you shouldn't even be considering optishot. I think you may be displeased with this after all your effort. Start looking at other sims to see if they fit your budget.

Thanks for the advice! So what should my list of requirements be when going to buy the projector? I'm leaning towards Optishot 2 and it will be a 10' throw distance to a 14'x10' screen. I am going through enough trouble to raise my ceiling by digging out my basement so I don't want to skimp on any quality at this point...Anybody want to help dig out concrete??!!

[goatbarn]

I absolutely would not dig out my basement for optishot!

[madspeed]

How high are your ceilings?

[Viperdriver]

At the moment they are 8'10". By the time I add a tee mat and something to absorb the incidental blows to the ceiling it will be closer to 8'6". So I'm thinking either dig it out or don't do it at all. Thanks for the words of caution on Optishot; what would you recommend? I certainly cannot afford a $50k sim. At the end of the day this is more for recreation than instruction for me. Not that I don't want to improve but it's more for entertainment during the wonderful Midwest winter.. Thanks again.

[wbond]

You will need to consider some of the following
What is your budget
Do you want a launch monitor, simulator or both
Are you more concerned with club data or ball data
Do you want a dedicated setup or something portable
Do you want online play
Some systems for you to research, p3proswing, skytrak, protee, gc2 with and without protee software, different flightscope options etc.

[Viperdriver]

Budget $10-$15k; Dedicated setup, online play is not necessary; more for recreation than instructional feedback. I will continue researching..

[goatbarn]

10 to 15k absolutely don't consider the optishot. You'd be disappointed in that choice.

idk what budget is set aside for digging, but 10k by itself should land you a GC2 with TGC which is about the best bang for your buck right now, with plenty to spare for the rest of the setup.