Home curved sim build (In planning phase)

[Ryan5508]

I decided to start a build log for my home simulator project. This will follow the process from start to finish.

Currently we are getting quotes from three builders on the build. We are doing a major home remodel with the addition of building a new room for the simulator. Currently my sim is using a stall in the garage. We will be building a new room above the garage to accommodate the sim.

The room will be approximately 21' 6" by 25' 3" with a 10-12' ceiling.

I will be putting in a 30' curved screen that will occupy around half of the total usable space in the room.

From the garage I will only be carrying over the GC2 and pc/software. Everything else will be new to the build.

Estimating around $60k for the building of the room its self.

Run down of simulator related costs- $17,528.79

9' x 6' Studio Golf Mat	$1,749.99
IMPACT SCREENS 10 x 30	$1,966.24
Sony VPL-PHZ50 (need 3 @ $2499)	$7,950.00
Pixelwarp software for curved screen	$812.00
Putting green flooring	$1,500.00
Ceiling protection foam tiles	$533.38
Ceiling Speakers x 7 + sub	$581.94
200ft speaker wire	$66.34
Banna plugs (12+6)	$43.71
Subwoofer cable	$16.94
Hue lights x 9	$429.25
Fabric + foam	$418.00
Pub table sets (2x)	$712.30
Mobile Standing Laptop Desk	$185.49
Club cleaner	$49.41
Corsair k100 keybord	$243.79
3x projector mounts	$85.73
3x 50ft HDMI cables	$94.25
2x DVI to HDMI converters	$38.13
2x 16ft USB 3.0 cables	$51.90
Total -	$17,528.79

Current sim setup


room overview

Measurements from a local golf club with a curved screen (taken quickly with a laser measure)




Model of what I am looking to copy for my build




This is going to be a long project. We are currently looking at a start time of early spring.

[Ryan5508]

Just wanted to update this build with some advice to anyone looking to make a blended 2 or more projector setup.

If you can help it avoid using pixelwix software. While the software works generally. My version is no longer supported and is completely broken in windows. I have a ton of issues with it breaking and not blending. Setup can also be overly frustrating at times.

I can overlook some of this but not the complete lack of communication on updates. I had to randomly email them and ask if there were any. And when having issues they offer next to no assistance. While I am out of my free update window I still feel like helping a customer that gave you $1,130 isn't asking for much.

With that said hopefully I can find another company that makes a similar software and cares about their customers.

[StalefishFS3]

Sorry you are going through this software nightmare. Is your sim down or can you still use it, albeit without the blended frames?

looking back over these last three years, with what you know now, would you still go with the curved screen vs traditional large impact screen?

[Ryan5508]

I currently have it working with a rolled back straight off the thumb drive version of win 10. I have reinstalled windows completely probably 8-10 times now. It always works until some background win update sets off pixelwix. Most ways you find online do not block all the windows updates and that's been my main problem.

The funny part about pixelwix is it will blend the screen and then tell you it doesn't work and force shuts itself down. Once the update sets it off you can't roll back windows to fix it. It seems to remember it was broken.

Flat vs curved. I still believe most people (99%) would be better served with a flat screen with more money invested into a higher end projector.

But the biggest loss really is the feeling of being in the game vs looking at it. It's hard to explain but distances feels better on the curved screen. On a flat screen I now feel like I am playing my club to a distance number. On the curved screen you can feel out shot distance much more naturally.

But I have spent 100s of hours making it work after it breaks. I couldn't imagine someone with out pc skills keeping one running.

[adilgolf]

I am using Geobox from VNS for my curved screen setup, so easy to work with, and being a hardware option instead of sw, it is much more stable and you can project multiple img sources using the same geometry correction. I believe it is also cheaper than any sw solution out there.

Contact Steve Wang, he has been great and super helpful steve.wang@vnstw.com

i set the geometry ONCE in December 2024 and never had to mess with it again.

Disregard the 'video wall controller' seen in the photos, that's a different product similar to geobox that i bought as a backup but that i never got a chance to try yet

[Ryan5508]

Looks great! Thanks for the info.

May be an option after this software fails again on me. I do like that you are able to watch full screen videos. The pixelwix fits youtube into the size of one single projector instead of filling the entire screen.

So far stopupdates10 program has been able to get the system booted four times to play without issues. Previously I would get two days before a security update background installs. Breaking everything.

[adilgolf]

The geobox doesnt need a computer or windows so it’s very stable.
Yes you can have multiple inputs and outputs with multiple configurations with 1, 2 or 3 screens at the press of a button on the remote.
i have my pc hooked up to one of the inputs and projecting onto 2 projectors and a fire tv stick on ‘bypass’ mode using the center projector (for a better img ratio as full screen is just too stretched 3:1)