Hi All,

I want to be able to set up an XBOX out on my patio, to set up party games at cookouts. I want to use some sort of inexpensive projector and screen. So I am looking for advice on projectors. I see a lot of them for about $100 on Amazon, but everyone says the resolution is horrendous.

All advice is appreciated!:)

I suspect anything you find at $100 will be 480p and 4:3 with embarrassing lumen output. Try narrowing your search to 720p home theater projectors. When I was last researching a year or two ago 720p pjs had hit a bit of a sweet point in price. Mitsubishi, in particular, made a budget 720p that was awfully nice for the price ($500 or so) and was very bright so you didn't need total darkness.

OK, thanks, that is what I was thinking (going 720p). I'll start researching over in the other forums.

For your screen you could do something like the link below. I made two for when I do lan parties. For each one I bought two yards of blackout cloth @ 50% off at the local Joann Fabrics. The fabric came to just under $13 for both. $6 and change X 2 @ 50% off. With the fabric in 2 separate 2 yard sections I made the screens approx. 67 X 51 which equals to an 84" screen. I had 1 X 2's left over from a previous project so I cut them in the rectangle and screwed them at each joint (predrilling important) with 2 screws at each joint. I didn't have the center brace shown in the link as I didn't feel I needed it (my screens are smaller). My screen is pretty flush compared to the one in the link (his has a lot of wrinkles) . I can thank my wife for that as I wanted to pull it very tight and staple it and she told my if it's to tight it'll wrinkle easily so I gave in and they turned out pretty decent for what the are a very cheap, very easy to make and fairly portable screen.

http://www.stesoft.com/htscreen/

Part of the problem is that bulbs for projectors tend to cost several hundred dollars. Thus the value of older projectors is the cost of a new bulb plus the cost of the projector. That being said, a 720p projector should be had for 'cheap' when buying used. But be prpared for potential added cost of the bulb. I know many people here on AVS for example, upgrade their equipment, so you could get a pretty well maintained projector with good bulb life left when they sell their used equipment. I just upgraded my Panny 900AE (720p) to Pioneer FPJ1 (1080p), and was thinkning what to do with the Panny. I have decided to keep it for the same reason that you want one. The other reason, is that I have 2 working bulbs, and the projector works flawlessly, but its value is not worth it to me to sell it. Also, projecting on a white wall actually works pretty well. You coudl also make your own screen for cheap (there is a DYI section for making screens here on AVS forums).

For $100 you're gonna be sorely disappointed- in both resolution and lumen. now $100 for a used pj, that's different. I've been able to find $100 XGA res. pj on craigslist that are pretty good, at least until the lamp dies. There are plenty of deals going around, staples just had a sale of Epson XGA projector for $399, so keep looking.

You mentioned outside viewing- what time? Because if its mid afternoon there's no projector out there that can compete with the sun. By dusk or evening then many projectors can easily do what you need to do.

Victor

For $100 you're gonna be sorely disappointed- in both resolution and lumen. now $100 for a used pj, that's different. I've been able to find $100 XGA res. pj on craigslist that are pretty good, at least until the lamp dies. There are plenty of deals going around, staples just had a sale of Epson XGA projector for $399, so keep looking.

You mentioned outside viewing- what time? Because if its mid afternoon there's no projector out there that can compete with the sun. By dusk or evening then many projectors can easily do what you need to do.

Victor

At this point, I think I am probably just going to use an old 42" 480p Plasma I have for my last cookout of the season. I wanted to avoid having to carry the Ancient thing out of my basement, because it weighs WAY more than my two newer 50" units.

Over the winter I'll scour the internets for some decent used equipment.
Over the