Lack of projector options for my sim room, what am I missing

[Senorwanderer]

So I’m playing around with the projector calculator and I’ve input my dimensions and the projectors it’s offering as suitable seem lacking. I don’t think my room is out of the ordinary.

Impact screen is 150” diagonal, 4:3 ratio. Throw distance is right about 10’4”. I’ll ceiling mount the projector at the peak of the vaulted ceiling which is 130”.

when I input the screen size, ratio, and throw distance, I’m not getting a single projector that offers 1080p resolution.

What am I missing? Is the aspect ratio messing things up because any HD projector is capable of 4:3?

[MongoOnlyPawn]

You are correct, the resolution limitation is causing you problems. You're going to need to adjust your screen size with a custom resolution once you get your projector mounted. A 4:3 ratio, 150" diagonal screen, 10.33' throw distance would require, I think, a 1400x1050 Resolution, using those parameters would get you this:

https://www.projectorcentral.com/projectors.cfm?g=2&exp4=1&td=10.33&is=150&tr=.75&tr2=1.5&r=11&ar=4%3A3&oop=3#list

Baller has a great sticky post on this subject here: https://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum...tor-resolution

[Godfather]

Base everything off the height of the image you want to project. So for your 120”x90” (150” diagonal at 4:3), just use the 90” height. Usually those calculators use the diagonally based off 16:9.

[Senorwanderer]

Thanks for clearing that up! I’ve found a number of good options. . . . Most of which are no longer in production. So, still a lack of options. I did find one that's still available and fits quite nicely. Any one have any experience with this projector?

epson proG4700U $3952 - It's plenty bright for high ambient light and it has enough lens shift to deal with the it being mounted about 24" above the top of the image.

[Godfather]

I think you are doing something wrong with the throw ratio and image size. A typical BenQ and its short throw ratio of 0.69:1 - 0.83:1 is ideal for what you describe.

A $750 BenQ TH671ST would work perfectly.

[Senorwanderer]

I think you are doing something wrong with the throw ratio and image size. A typical BenQ and its short throw ratio of 0.69:1 - 0.83:1 is ideal for what you describe.

A $750 BenQ TH671ST would work perfectly.

Thanks for the reply. The BenQ TH671ST is the very first projector I looked at. When I ran the numbers in the calculator, the estimated image brightness from Projector Central came out to 9 fL, which they say is too low for a room with high ambient light, so I moved on in my search. On the other hand, the manufacturer's spec places it at 30 fL, which based on the sliding scale seems to be adequate. I've included images of the throw calculation below.

So who do I trust? Will this projector throw enough brightness to enjoy the experience in a room with high ambient light, or will I be disappointed with a washed out and hard to see image on my screen?

[Senorwanderer]

In response to the image size and throw ratio, when I'm using the calculator to search for a suitable projector, I'm setting the screen width at 120" and the throw distance to between 11' and 5'. I have that much room to play with. I'm tons of options when it comes to discontinued projectors, but nothing that is reasonably priced that's in current production. What gives!?!?

[Godfather]

Tons of options then. Optoma GT1080HDR, GT1090HDRx, UHD35STx all report greater lumens and have a throw ratio of 0:50:1. I have a ton of ambient light if you find my build thread and control it when playing with window shades and a ceiling-mounted curtain.

[MongoOnlyPawn]

What resolution are you wanting to use?

[MongoOnlyPawn]

BenQ TK700STi,

[Senorwanderer]

I'm not all that concerned with big resolutions. 4k sounds really cool but then I'll also need a beefy GPU to process that. I'm thinking 1920x1080 is a good minimum. The TK700STi looks like a good option, but the long throw distance puts it behind the hitting area and shadows might be in play.

can anyone explain the vertical offset number in the calculator? I think I understand the explanation. For the TK700STi, the vertical offset says -9", and its's ceiling mounted, so that would mean the lens needs to be mounted 9" below the top of the image? If that's the case, then the projector needs to be mounted just 7ft off the ground, which is a very awkward place to have it. I would want the projector to be mounted as high as possible, so Ideally I'm looking for a projector with a positive (+) offset?

Am I understanding the vertical offset correctly?

[MongoOnlyPawn]

If someone could correct me here if I'm wrong I'd greatly appreciate it, but I read the TK700STi as follows:

Using a screen width of 120', a resolution of 4:3, zoom set at 1.2; results in a screen image height of 7'6" and a throw distance of 12'1". The vertical offset says -9", negative meaning above the top of the screen, not below.

I'm not recommending the TK700STi, just using it as an example.

[Senorwanderer]

If someone could correct me here if I'm wrong I'd greatly appreciate it, but I read the TK700STi as follows:

Using a screen width of 120', a resolution of 4:3, zoom set at 1.2; results in a screen image height of 7'6" and a throw distance of 12'1". The vertical offset says -9", negative meaning above the top of the screen, not below.

I'm not recommending the TK700STi, just using it as an example.

I'm reading it the opposite of the way you're reading it.



"The Vertica Offset number shown is the distance the projector is sitting above or below the top of the image. It is measured from the center of the lens to the top of the image"

I don't know how else to read that than to say that the lens is 9" below the top of the image.

I'm hoping someone smarter than me can chime in!!

[Godfather]

-9” means above when the projector is mounted upside down above. Just imagine the projector on the ground as 9 inches below the image - hence the -9”.

[MongoOnlyPawn]

I stand corrected. Thank you for the clarification.

[Senorwanderer]

Yes, Thanks for the clarification. We beat the vertical offset issue to death here. I've settled on an Optoma projector. I haven't chosen yet and it's between 3 models. They all have the same resolution and throw distance, so it comes down to brightness, and I have some questions! I'll make a separate topic to ask about estimated brightness, etc.

The 3 models I'm considering are:

GT1080HDRx
GT1090HDRx
ZH406STx

The 1080 seems to be all but discontinued.

I just found an incredibly helpful comparison from carlsplace.com for these exact projectors!