Hello all,

I'm thinking of getting an Optoma Movietime or Epson MovieMate and an inflatable 12' screen for outdoor use. Primarily we'll be in the pool while we're watching. Does anyone see any problems with placing the projector on the deck, maybe 5' or so from the pool edge, and then the screen another 5-10' feet in front of it? The other option would be to project over the pool, but it looks like the all-in-one projectors are meant to be placed between the screen and viewer.

Thanks in advance,

Peter

Projector + water within 5' + people splashing in water = BAD IDEA.

Projector + water within 5' + people splashing in water = BAD IDEA.
I've seen a projector pool setup at a friend's parents place...of course it was a regular projector mounted on the ceiling above the pool in an indoor pool setup... I would also thing an all in one setup is a bad Idea becuse its only a matter of time before somone with wet hands tries to change a dvd and POOF!. If it were me I would buy a cheap 5 dvd change and connect it to a projector mounted high and out of the way of water and wet hands.Maybe even behind a window or sliding door in the house? or asleast under the eve in a protected box? This way you will only go through remotes....especially if you have children in the house :)

Great fun..Out door movies, pool, warm nights and a big screen. I've enjoyed it for many years.
The only down side is loud tracks and subs, you'll drive your neighbors nuts :).

Get a screen that is visible from behind like a bed sheet and project the image from indoors. Otherwise you'll need at least a GFI protection on the circuit for the PJ.

Thanks for the advice, sounds like the setup I had in mind is not that great for a pool area (kinda knew that, just wanted to hear it from others). I think I'll end up rear-projecting (from a table far from pool) and have a separate dvd player, projector, and sound system. Just means more components and a little more setup time, but it'll be safer, give better sound, give me more projector choices, and allow us to be closer to the screen.

Is a sheet really ok for rear projection? Any other portable choices for a larger screen (> 100")?

See the outdoor theater forum here at AVS. A couple of people are using frosted shower curtains. I read someone who used white spandex fabric from Wal-Mart. Lots of interesting ideas. If you find something that works, let everyone here (or at the outdoor teater section) know what it is!