Hi All,
Can't thank everyone enough for the great advice I have gotten on this forum. I know this post seems very similar to two on the front page of this "Simulator Builds" topic, but there are some differences.
Background: I am building a cheap (not budget, cheap) garage sim. I have about 2/5 of a double garage available. Space is W 12', H 10', L 18'. I will hit toward the garage door. Because of slope on the floor I have to build a (level) hitting platform (1.5 inch drop every 4 feet). Platform will be 5'x6'. I had planned to place the platform approx 10' from screen, and would like to place the projector on the floor either in front of the hitting platform, or right underneath the front edge.
Question: I purchased a 7.5' x 10' screen because I really can't use the entire 12' width I have available. I believe this sets me up exclusively for a 4:3 aspect ratio. I used projector central to give me a list of projectors that would work, and almost everything seems to be unavailable on ebay. Some people here have recommended the Benq TH671ST as a good option, but Projector central tells me that 4:3 and 120" width on picture can work at 10' distance, but the light will be too low (9 fL). Also, the cheapest I can find the Benq is $500 on ebay. I was hoping to spend <$200 with a stretch to <$300. There's a great youtube video where a guy uses a bedsheet for an impact screen and he mentions using an old projector from "tekswamp_vision" on ebay, and I was hoping to do the same. Please, please, please help me figure out what to do - do i need to a) move platform nearer to screen, b) position the projector closer to the screen on the floor (trip hazard), c) mount projector on the ceiling (will be a massive gap from top of screen (7.5' vs. 10' ceiling), d) find a different old projector, e) use 16:9 ratio and leave a lot of blank screen, or f) maybe there is a way to adjust settings on laptop / projector to make it work? Laptop is a Dell G5 with i5 processor and GTX1660 GPU card.
Additional Contextual Info: I have purchased an original Skytrak (used, ebay) to use here - this is my only extravagance. I am building frame for screen out of 2x4 with $130 impact screen off amazon, and using curtains for side protection. I purchased the "Commercial Driving Range Golf Mat with 7/8" Foam- 5 x 5" for $230 from allturfmats.com. Very DIY. I will post details regarding the build once complete (actually I will probably do a youtube video because I think there is a niche for this cheap build).
Thanks so much,
Craig
Can't thank everyone enough for the great advice I have gotten on this forum. I know this post seems very similar to two on the front page of this "Simulator Builds" topic, but there are some differences.
Background: I am building a cheap (not budget, cheap) garage sim. I have about 2/5 of a double garage available. Space is W 12', H 10', L 18'. I will hit toward the garage door. Because of slope on the floor I have to build a (level) hitting platform (1.5 inch drop every 4 feet). Platform will be 5'x6'. I had planned to place the platform approx 10' from screen, and would like to place the projector on the floor either in front of the hitting platform, or right underneath the front edge.
Question: I purchased a 7.5' x 10' screen because I really can't use the entire 12' width I have available. I believe this sets me up exclusively for a 4:3 aspect ratio. I used projector central to give me a list of projectors that would work, and almost everything seems to be unavailable on ebay. Some people here have recommended the Benq TH671ST as a good option, but Projector central tells me that 4:3 and 120" width on picture can work at 10' distance, but the light will be too low (9 fL). Also, the cheapest I can find the Benq is $500 on ebay. I was hoping to spend <$200 with a stretch to <$300. There's a great youtube video where a guy uses a bedsheet for an impact screen and he mentions using an old projector from "tekswamp_vision" on ebay, and I was hoping to do the same. Please, please, please help me figure out what to do - do i need to a) move platform nearer to screen, b) position the projector closer to the screen on the floor (trip hazard), c) mount projector on the ceiling (will be a massive gap from top of screen (7.5' vs. 10' ceiling), d) find a different old projector, e) use 16:9 ratio and leave a lot of blank screen, or f) maybe there is a way to adjust settings on laptop / projector to make it work? Laptop is a Dell G5 with i5 processor and GTX1660 GPU card.
Additional Contextual Info: I have purchased an original Skytrak (used, ebay) to use here - this is my only extravagance. I am building frame for screen out of 2x4 with $130 impact screen off amazon, and using curtains for side protection. I purchased the "Commercial Driving Range Golf Mat with 7/8" Foam- 5 x 5" for $230 from allturfmats.com. Very DIY. I will post details regarding the build once complete (actually I will probably do a youtube video because I think there is a niche for this cheap build).
Thanks so much,
Craig
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