Hello! I finally got around to taking pics of my new Blimpscreen from China. It is a 240" (diagonal) widescreen. I do apologize for this super long delay but my Wife had surgery (nothing serious) about a month ago so we just got around to doing our official first movie night outdoors! That and the weather did not help either. We caused quite a stir in the neighborhood! :D I started out with Bruce Almighty HD DVD using a XA2 and my Sanyo Z5 pj. That was a good comedy to start with. Then we went on with The Scorpion King HD DVD (because a few asked me if I had that)... As you can see our first night was really not a kid's night. We are plnning a few of these soon. I do apologize for the pics not being perfect. The screen is plenty bright and the picture looks great in HD! :eek: Everyone kept saying how much better than the movies or drive-in this is. I was equally excited about how well the Sanyo Z5 handled images that large! I was very happy tonite. Even my Wife said a few times how amazing the picture looked... And that does not happen very often! ;)

Got the pics to upload! Anyway, I know they are not the greatest pics but we are doing another movie night soon and I will take pics of the screen blowing up plus from behind and side views. I am very happy with it and the cost of the screen was unbelievable. Over here we would easily pay 1500-3000 for a screen of this size and quality... My pj was 24 feet away and it easily filled the entire screen!

Sorry, just realized I posted the same pic twice! :eek: Next movie I plan to do will have a lot of outdoor scenes in the day time. Also we are planning a good kids night with a bright cartoon in HD. Maybe Blu ray's Chicken Little! :)

Looks great. How many people showed up?

This was just a dry run but we still ended up with 9 guests from the neighborhood. Soon I will invite some people over and do a real movie party... :) I can also set up the pj behind the screen (which is what I plan to do in the future)...

Joerod that looks pretty good.

I finally used my inflatable screen last night (Not blimpscreen yet). It was the gemmy from HSC, but the price was right at about 150 with discounts etc and it has a 149 on the diagonal screen so it was actually quite large.

I do have a question about the screen. In the daylight pics it looks like the middle on the top is sagging a bit, was there a problem with the blower or is there a problem with the top crossbar not getting enough air to keep it rigid?

And that was a nice intro screen, how did you make that, was it just on a dvd and you take it out and put the movie dvd in?

Lastly this one is for anyone, what the heck do you all use for speakers, player etc for doing these things outdoors? Do you use a dvd player or a computer? I need to pick up something for all this before my next movie night.

The screen was sagging just a little in the middle because we just started blowing it up. I wanted to get a picture before I forgot to so I just took one quickly. It goes to full capacity. My intro screen says (with a voice) Welcome To JoeRods OUTDOOR theater. I had it done at Custom HT.com. Don is a really good guy there. I also made my own pre-movieslides (thanks to AVS members) that also shows the movie policy Frog trailor! speakers I am using 2 JBL Arena speakers on stands. They have plenty of power. And using 2 channel sound from the HD DVD or Blu ray plyaers still sounds pretty darn good! :)

Could you give me more info on what the "2 JBL Arena speakers on stands" are? what size best place to get from etc? I would appreciate it. I am assuming they are unamplified and require a stereo or portable HT system of some sort?

That is good to know on the screen sag just being early in the inflation. After the good time my neighbors had last night I want to get the speakers and stands and other equipment I need.



And thanks for answering so many of my questions on here and in PM's..

Hey no problem. We are all in this together! I use an Onkyo 575 for my outdoor theater. It only needs to do 2 channel so it does the job nicely. I could even get away with a cheaper model if I wanted. The JBL Arena speakers are their bookshelve type. These are a little bigger so don't let the word bookshelve fool you. They weigh 15 pounds each. I then use Sanus speaker stands with spikes (for the grass) which seem to have worked out well. :)

Hey no problem. We are all in this together! I use an Onkyo 575 for my outdoor theater. It only needs to do 2 channel so it does the job nicely. I could even get away with a cheaper model if I wanted. The JBL Arena speakers are their bookshelve type. These are a little bigger so don't let the word bookshelve fool you. They weigh 15 pounds each. I then use Sanus speaker stands with spikes (for the grass) which seem to have worked out well. :)

where did you get the stand from? I looked around today and nobody locally had anything I liked or that would be practical outside. having one with spikes would be ideal for the yard I would say. Also how do the speakers mount on them? Screw in from the bottom? or do they just sit on them?

I just sit the speakers on them. They are heavy enough so I know they won't go anywhere. BB or CC has decent stands from Omni and Sanus. I think mine are just 24 inch.

How would Apocalypto on Blu ray be for an outdoor movie night with adults? I really would like to Twister HD DVD soon... Hope it comes out before the end of summer!

Joe:

I bough the same screen from CHINA..but the sag never went away..did yoiurs? he finally sen me a larger blower.

It now looks great and is firmer, too

Lets talk!

Al

To tell you the truth I never really noticed how much of the sag was left. It was pretty minimal. And once it gets dark out the screen is all you see so you do not see the top slightly sagging at all... I guess I could contact him about getting a larger blower. Is it a lot louder though?

Joe:

It wasn't easy to get him to send the replacement, but now..it looks great. Yo are losing part of your image if you don't get it fixed...

Can't beat the price of the screen...either

Al

Good point. I can always pick up a blower over here. They are not that expensive... Thanks for the tip. :)

And you know the image was not distorted at all. The very top crossbar may have not been completely filled up but the white screen went perfectly across. Of course my luck it may not happen next time so I better look into a bigger blower... :)

Just found a couple places online that sell blowers for cheap. I may jump and get one now... :)

I just need to figure out what movies are good for outside now... :)

I just need to figure out what movies are good for outside now... :)

Sometimes it depends on the size of the crowd. Light movie fare seems to go over better for larger crowds, especially with children running around.

A gathering of just a few friends allows for more focused, intense movie that may require paying attention.

Good point... Thanks.... :)

Light movie fare for sure.
Or sports.

I've already got invites out for the superbowl. One of the benefits of living in a warmer climate.

Space Jam is light movie/sports... :D

Napolean Dynamite! Now that would be a good neutral title... Or Nacho Libre...

Just found a couple places online that sell blowers for cheap. I may jump and get one now... :)

where did you find a cheap blower at?

I will let you know soon if they give me a good deal... :)

I should know sometime today... :)

I looked up Blimpscreen on Google and noticed two design variations. One has a flat upper beam to hold the screen, and the other has an upward arch beam on top. Just curious what you've got, and if the arched holds the screen more taught?

I will take better pics of the screen from different angles when I set it up this weekend. We are planning another outdoor movie night! :)

joerod,

what is the acutal dimension of the screen itself and not the inflatable? I want to get an idea on how this one compares screen size wize to the Gemmy screen I already have and used several times and am impressed with it.

The screen itself is 240" (20 feet) diagonal... It is a nice size widescreen... :)

Planning to do it tonite so I will take better pics of the screen before it gets dark out... :)

pics?

Coming shortly... :)

How much was your screen? Is it affordable? I like it!

I know the screen is cropped a little on top. I am getting a bigger blower for it... Coming soon... :)

Another one...

Some quicks notes after 1.5 seasons under my belt:

1) If you are looking for speakers....for a couple hundred dollars you can get some really nice "DJ or PA" speakers for outdoor use. Mine are three way and sit on a tri-pod pole stand.

2) I've found anything that is bright and whose story line is lite works best for a mixed crowd. As others have mentioned sports are great too. We've shown Happy Feet, Over the Hedge, Chicken Little, Wizard of Oz and Raiders of the lost Ark. The reason for the lighter fare is the fact we have agr ranger from toddlers to seniors represented in the crowd. Also, due to the fact we live in the city and have neighbors all around us...we have to watch the langauge and nudity since everything is in public view and ear shot.

The last show we did was for our church...I was surprised a group of seniors showed up...they have fond memories of going to the drive-in. I also include drive-in commercials and PSA annoucements. Here's a site for those:

http://www.drive-infilm.com/

Anything to bring the feel of a drive-in to your event...

Ron

PS: We use the gemmy screen too.

Mines not a gemmy screen. It is a 20 foot widescreen. I use JBL ARENA speakers. I also use my own Welcome To Joerod's outdoor theater intro and 10 minute countdown.. I like the site though that you provided. In those intro dvds are there any that show the Lets all go to the lobby footage? Now if it does then I will order one... :)

Nice pics. That thing is HUGE.

Thanks... :)

Mines not a gemmy screen. It is a 20 foot widescreen. I use JBL ARENA speakers. I also use my own Welcome To Joerod's outdoor theater intro and 10 minute countdown.. I like the site though that you provided. In those intro dvds are there any that show the Lets all go to the lobby footage? Now if it does then I will order one... :)

Yea, I noticed you had a different screen....gave me screen envy, when I saw how big is it. ;)

Bitstream has the "Let's all go to the lobby" included as an extra on their custome intros. See the thread in the accessories forum for more details

wow, that is wild!

Thanks I will check it out.... :)

There's also a set of discs called drive-in classics that has all the old stuff. You can find them on amazon for about $30-$40.

For our outdoor movies we had some custom narration done. I run a "powerbuy" of sorts in the accessories forum every once an a while and we all pool together and get a profession narrator to read lines for us. We've done it 3 times now and it always comes out great.

Thanks. I will check out Amazon... :)

I spoke too soon. it's called "The Drive-In Discs Collection" and it can be found for a lot less than $30 now.

Thanks, I am on it...

In case any of you want it. Here is one of the intros I created from the voiceover read. This is using our old narrator, Greg (he did volumes 1 and 2). We switched narrators for volume 3 because Greg became too expensive.

Anyhow, I thought some of you might like it and want to use it.

http://www.tinstudio.com/files/pinkhat_intro.mp3

Thanks a ton! I will use them... :)

wow, looks great , wonder if it doesn't take off with heavy wind, that will be an issue I believe

Actually I have a lot of strong winds come thru here. My subdivision is called WIND WHISTLE. :eek: I use two ropes to help anchor it down and so far it has not been an issue...

Great suggestion on the Drive Inn Classics set! And to think I got all those ads for 10.00! :eek: I will be using them next weekend! I plan to run 2 players thru my Onkyo 605. One will do the ads and the other will of course do the movie. Awesome job! :)

Glad you liked them. I love that whole set. I've purchased other set that costs 10 times that price and the quality wasn't nearly as good as what's included in there. It's quite a value at $10 :D

Heck yeah it is. Some of those sites online want 75-100 bucks for them on dvd... :rolleyes:

Hey everyone:

We're doing an outdoor movie next week for a local business who expects around 300 people.

I have an inflatable screen...200 lumens projector...DVD player...and 1500 watts of powered speakers

so...I need to know if I should look at any special elecvti4racl or power needs?

You guys who do this stuff for a living...what do you do for power?

are there formulas to figure out this stuff..because someone mentioned a power drop if I use over 200 feet of extension cord plus all of my components

That's a good question about power drops. I have never had it happen with my set up but I guess it could be an issue... Maybe the local power company might be a good one to ask...

200 lumens? erm

Joerod where did you buy the screen?

Hi..Joe and I both got our screens direct from China

Nice people too--here is the emai to reach them

blimpscreen@gmail.com

not....blimpscreen.com

Vey nice people! ;)

how big is the screen when it's in the box?

Very big! I don't keep it in a box. I fold it up...

joerod...

What is the depth of the bottom ground part of the inflatable? It looks pretty substantial, which is good... I just want to get a better idea on how many feet back it extends.

Joerod,

My issue is, will it fit in the trunk of a car or do i need suv/truck? How heavy is it?

Awesome!

I guess that would depend on the size of the trunk. I think it would be able to be squeezed into a mid size car's trunk...

This weekend, Night At The Museum and Wallace and Gromit! :)

please mesaure the support peaice that lays on the ground in back.. I would like an idea of how much depth the thing needs too.

I know I should $h%$ or get off the pot but I am not in a big hurry to get one at the moment. I am thinking more of one for next year after I have everyone hooked on the Gemmy I have, which does quit well..

I will measure it. I would guess about 12 to 14 feet. I will know for certain soon though...

Wow, that is much further back than it looks in the pick, it looks like it extends like 5-6 feet back..

Thanks and I will check back to get the final measure.

Will have it tonite... :)

Joe and I have the same screen..I roll it up with a tarp around it and then secure it with a strap.

The bag it comes in is very small..but do not expect to get it back in the same one. I tried to find a duffle bag, but gave up...the tarp works great and protects it..also it then lays on the tarp when we blow it up..

used it this past Thursday for 200 people....very nice...BUT...winds are a killer...so it needs to be roped down

and SUV is fine..but you will fill it....

How much was the Blimpscreen and where can we find them? It's nice I like it!
Kendallizm

blimpscreen@gmail.com

this is your contact,,,,not BLIMPSCREEN.com

different company

I wa able to measure the depth. It is just a little over 12 feet! :eek:

We watched Open Season and then Night At Th Museum on Blu ray. It was a perfect night! I was able to do the cool old classic ads before and in between. :)

I hope it is warmer later in the Summer or closer to Halloween because Monster House and then Haunted Masion would be awesome to do!

I wa able to measure the depth. It is just a little over 12 feet! :eek:

Thanks...

I am going to keep my gemmy for now then. I will probably get this one next year and upgrade to a newer projector. The biggest benefit of this one to me would be the ability to put the projector behind the screen.

But it does look real nice, who knows I may even talk myself into needing it this year.

I hope it is warmer later in the Summer or closer to Halloween because Monster House and then Haunted Masion would be awesome to do!

Great idea...
I will have to remember that and put the screen up for a halloween movie night if it is as warm as it was here last year.

I have set up time down to 23 minutes and then break down at about 34 minutes... :)

I like the Tarp idea. I just ordered one for storage. :)

How much is this blimpscreen?

600 plus shipping....

Price go up???

it was not that price

I guess it depends on the seller. I am not the seller. You could probably get it down some...

Price go up???

it was not that price

Do you have a cheaper source?

same one

In that price area I have not found a screen that large anywhere. They are usually a couple of thousand! :eek:

OK, he says $350 for a 16x9. He quoted me that saying that is the largest size with a seamless screen. No blower included. Says they damage during shipping so buy one locallys. Apparently I arrange shipping through DHL. Send money directly to his account.

Does this sound right?

thats right...I took the risk...and we now email each other often..hes a nice guy

my total inc shipping was $650...the blower wil be the KOALA by B-air..for another $200

tell him Al@soundmemories.com refrerred you

which koala are you using? 1hp , 1/2hp or 1/4 hp?

That sounds about right. 350 is a great deal. And with you making shipping arrangements that should be fine to. Also, you can find blowers over here pretty easily...

That setup is pretty cool! :D

Thanks!

We are planning an outdoor movie tonite! I am still pondering which movies to do!

Is the screen that you have the 16X9 one? I'm intersted in getting one too.

Thanks,
Glenn

Yes, widescreen 16:9...

Thanks. I see what projector that you are using, Sanyo PLV-Z5, what are others using with this screen size? I am considering the Optoma HD70.

Thanks,
Glenn

I bet the Optoma HD70 would be a great pj with it. I am only using LCD because of my Wife's sensitivity to RBE. Otherwise I would use the Optoma or something like it... :)

Maybe I missed it, but did you post any info about where you got your upgraded blower from?

ninjajump.com :)

China, eh?

Any lead-based paint on that thing? :)

JK, nice setup!

That must be why I am seeing triples and am also light headed! :D

I ordered a 16x9 foot screen as well. It was ordered on September 5th and it arrived this morning September 17th. It is raining currently or I would be outside testing it out. Maybe tomorrow. I'll post some pictures as soon as I can get it setup. Thanks for the great source and yes they are really nice to deal with.

J

Ok here are some pictures, boy is this thing huge. I didn't realize it was going to be as big as it is. I hope one of my projectors is up to the task. I'll find out later this week weather willing.

J

http://web.mac.com/jwh2/iWeb/Outdoor%20theater/Screen%20pics_files/file064.jpg

http://web.mac.com/jwh2/iWeb/Outdoor%20theater/Screen%20pics_files/file069.jpg

http://web.mac.com/jwh2/iWeb/Outdoor%20theater/Screen%20pics_files/file070.jpg

Looks good! :)

Screen looks great but that sag really puts me off

It just needs a little stronger blower...

In the picture from behind it was still inflating. No sag problem 1 minute later. I also hadn't zipped the zipper on the air release hatch. After making that correction it is very solid and straight across the top. It is also very stable even without being tied down, we had a pretty nice little breeze blowing when I did my test. My blower is from my sons bounce house and is rated at 5.4 amps it is also pretty quiet, I would say less than 20db. Our first movie night is planned for Friday. I did some projector testing last night with some neighbors we played guitar hero from dusk 'til about 9:30. I think for movies I am going to turn the screen around set up the projector in the garage for rear projection. That way all equipment stays behind the screen except for the speakers and we use our lumens more effectively.

J

Man playing GH on that screen must have been fun.

Well, I just took the "leap of faith" and wired Hui some money for one of these Blimpscreens. Hopefully, I'll have it sometime next week.

Mine took about 2 weeks from payment to delivery. It seems they are made to order and with the money transfer time and shipping it was about 2 weeks. Great product and DHL delivery was great.

J

Mine took about 2 weeks from payment to delivery. It seems they are made to order and with the money transfer time and shipping it was about 2 weeks. Great product and DHL delivery was great.


Thanks for the reassurance. I never would have carried out a transaction like this had it not been for others like you who did have a favorable outcome.

Hui told me that once the funds were received, manufacture time is 3 days and then he sends it 3 day DHL. So he estimated 6 days for me. Of course, I paid more for delivery than for the screen. Still, it comes out alot less than the other inflatables I've priced (less than 1/3 the price).

I think those are business days, DHL doesn't update any of their tracking or deliver on Sundays. Because of the time change I'm pretty sure you lose a day on one end or the other as well. I think that if you use 2 weeks as a ball park you will not be dissappointed or worried when it take 8-10 days. My DHL package left there on a Wednesday, but all that happened the first day was it was checked in. The following day it moved to a central freight terminal and probably went through customs. The next day it didn't update. Then it went to Ohio, went throught US customs on Saturday. I got it Monday morning. So my 3 day shipping really took about 5.

J

I think those are business days, DHL doesn't update any of their tracking or deliver on Sundays. Because of the time change I'm pretty sure you lose a day on one end or the other as well. I think that if you use 2 weeks as a ball park you will not be dissappointed or worried when it take 8-10 days.
J

Thanks for the perspective. I'll worry on hold if it takes a few days extra.

How long does it typically take for DHL's tracking numbers to show up on their website? I was sent my tracking information over 2 days ago and it still won't register on the website. I called them and they said there was no package travelling from his location to mine.

Does anyone know how long it should take (or took them) to be able to track this package?

It took about 48 hours for my tracking number to get into the system. Make sure you are looking at the global site and not the US DHL site. I don't think it shows up on the US site until it clears customs.

J

Oh yeah, give it 2 days. No worries! :)

Since my Blimpscreen is shipping without the blower, anyone particularly happy with their blower selection? I need to be ordering one unless I want to project my next movie onto the side of the box.

I'm ignorant when it comes to these things but I'd venture a guess that an 88lb screen might need more HP than the Gemmy had...

Getting closer to Halloween so I am planning Haunted Mansion Blu ray and Monster House Blu ray for next Friday. Saturday I think I may go for Transformers HD DVD and then Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer Bluray! Sound good? :)

Of course the weather will play a big role... :)

joerod,

Are you removing the screen from the frame before you fold things up after a movie or does the screen stay attached to the frame while in storage? Was wondering about wrinkles on the screen from being folded up and possible damage to the frame by the metal clips that hold the screen to the frame.

Hui received my money on Friday so I'm getting excited about receiving my blimpscreen in the next week or 2.

My screen is always folded with the entire screen. Has not been an issue. Neither has wrinkles...

Don't know what made me do the calculations, but I think the screen I am getting will be smaller than yours, Joerod. Hui said the screen would be 16'x9', which, if my calculations are correct, will translate to a diagonal measurement of about 18'. I guess we'll see when it gets here.

Let us know... :)

Don't know what made me do the calculations, but I think the screen I am getting will be smaller than yours, Joerod. Hui said the screen would be 16'x9', which, if my calculations are correct, will translate to a diagonal measurement of about 18'. I guess we'll see when it gets here.

That is the same as Joerod's screen. The screen iteself is 16x9, but the inflatable part adds to the dimemsions so that is where the 20x13 comes into play.

I know this because I asked the manufacturer about the screens and he told me. I will most likely order one for next season as I am happy with the screen I have now for the rest of this year.

Well, I e-mailed Hui and he measure the diagonal dimension of the screen - 18'.

I may have misunderstood joerod, I thought his screen measurement was 20' diagonally.

In any event, Hui said that they have completed my screen and it will ship tomorrow or Wednesday.

I thought I measured mine at 242" diagonally. Isn't that 20 feet? Either way it is still a BIG screen! :eek:

I thought I measured mine at 242" diagonally. Isn't that 20 feet? Either way it is still a BIG screen! :eek:


Yes that is slightly over 20 feet on the diagonal. But the width is only 16 feet. This is for the screen portion only not the inflatable portion. When you add that in the size becomes 20x13

I just hope I don't develop screen envy if joerod sez "Mine's bigger than yours".:D

What I do find interesting is that some folks have been told to get their blower in the US due to shipping weight and potential damage during shipping. That did not come up in my communications with Hui. No hesitation on his part to say the price included screen, frame and blower. Had I brought up the question, maybe he would have recommended I buy the blower here. Minor point.

I will say that he has been very pleasant to work with. Once you get over the uneasiness of wiring money to an individual with no known contact information (other than e-mail), its a pretty simple process.

How much is this blimpscreen?

600 plus shipping....

This may be a clue that helps explain why joerod measures his screen to be 20' diagonally. I paid $400 plus shipping for the 16'x9' (18' diagonal). With that price difference, maybe they made his larger. Just a guess. And an assumption that joerod is likely a pretty bright fellow and probably knows how to handle a tape measure.:D

I think for movies I am going to turn the screen around set up the projector in the garage for rear projection. That way all equipment stays behind the screen except for the speakers and we use our lumens more effectively.

J

So has anyone used rear projection on the screen? How did it work?

I have done some tests and it looks great, you just need to make sure that the projector is low enough that you are not looking into it from the opposite side. The image is brighter as it does not have to reflect. When I do the movies in my driveway you can see the rear projected image from 2 blocks down the street and it still looks great.

jwh2,

What would you guess would be the appropriate height (off the ground) for the projector when doing rear projection. I know you have to have the projector high enough for the image to clear the rear tube and low enough to prevent a hot spot on the screen. The reason I'm asking is that I'd like to put together something like they sell at http://thevisionexperience.com (thevisionexperience.com) and the cases come in different heights.

Picture attached.

Also, about how far away from the screen do you need to place your projector in order to fill the screen. My current PVC framed screen is 24' x 14' and my projector needs to be over 30' away.

Thanks

The bottom of my screen is approx 4 feet off the ground, the rear tube is approx 2 feet tall. Your setup will greatly depend on your projector and how flexible it is. My setup is table height at 24-30 inches 24 feet from the rear of the screen using the lens shift capability in the projector and magnification to fill the screen. I use an Epson Pro Cinema 800 for my projector. Depending on the projector, you may have to have your projector at the bottom of the screen and or use keystone to correct for the angle. I like that case, but wouldn't want to move it without a few roadies. I'll take a picture of the setup I use at the next movie night. I like to use the large produce boxes from the local warehouse club to haul my cords and parts then after everything is setup use them as risers and bungee them to the table top for the projector. My projector is the last piece to come out and the first to be put away each time as well, because it is the most delicate.

J

I just wired the money. That made me very nervous. Now I just need to get a blower (he dropped the price from 4 to 300 without the blower) -- oh yeah, I also still need to buy a projector. Not kidding.

I just came across this thread 2 days ago. I have been planning my indoor HT for months, but the demolition won't even start for another month or two. My wife thinks I am crazy, but several times summer I host pool parties for 50-60 or so toddlers, siblings and parents. That is a blast. I can't wait to break this bad boy out and see my 3 yr old's face when Lightning McQueen roars across a gigantic screen!

So what horsepower blower should I get?

This may be a clue that helps explain why joerod measures his screen to be 20' diagonally. I paid $400 plus shipping for the 16'x9' (18' diagonal). With that price difference, maybe they made his larger. Just a guess. And an assumption that joerod is likely a pretty bright fellow and probably knows how to handle a tape measure.:D

Either way it's an incredible price...the 8' inflatable screens I've seen online go for $1,000 lol. I just got the 149" Gremmy screen for $184 from Walmart for portable outdoor movie nights and love it, but I'd like to get a larger one like this blimp screen for my own place. The screen on the China blimps sound a lot better than the Gremmy too, I haven't been able to get the big creases out of my screen yet. I have a few questions:

1. What horsepower blower do you recommend? The 2HP Bear BP-2 was the largest I could find on NinjaJump.com and it's available for $215 on eBay. Crazy that a blower cost more than my entire Gremmy setup lol...

2. How bad is shipping from China?

3. Does it come with any kind of bag or bin to put it in? Is it hard to put up & take down?

4. Would you say the blimp material is pretty durable?

I just wired the money. That made me very nervous. Now I just need to get a blower (he dropped the price from 4 to 300 without the blower) -- oh yeah, I also still need to buy a projector. Not kidding.

I just came across this thread 2 days ago. I have been planning my indoor HT for months, but the demolition won't even start for another month or two. My wife thinks I am crazy, but several times summer I host pool parties for 50-60 or so toddlers, siblings and parents. That is a blast. I can't wait to break this bad boy out and see my 3 yr old's face when Lightning McQueen roars across a gigantic screen!

So what horsepower blower should I get?

As far as projectors go, I picked up a 720p Mitsubishi HD1000u a couple months ago and absolutely love it. We had our first outdoor movie night with the 12' Gremmy screen about a week ago and had great results. I used a modded Xbox over Component running standard DVD content and the results were spectacular! I considered a 1080p projector, but since I have a large and still growing DVD collection I wanted something that was a good middle ground for SD and HD content. When we first hooked it up, we had it too far away and it projected about a 20' image on the trees and actually looked surprisingly good. You can get the HD1000u online for $900 or less if you shop around. Just FYI if you're still looking for a projector ;)

As far as projectors go, I picked up a 720p Mitsubishi HD1000u a couple months ago and absolutely love it. We had our first outdoor movie night with the 12' Gremmy screen about a week ago and had great results. I used a modded Xbox over Component running standard DVD content and the results were spectacular! I considered a 1080p projector, but since I have a large and still growing DVD collection I wanted something that was a good middle ground for SD and HD content. When we first hooked it up, we had it too far away and it projected about a 20' image on the trees and actually looked surprisingly good. You can get the HD1000u online for $900 or less if you shop around. Just FYI if you're still looking for a projector ;)

Thanks for the recommendation. Still shopping for the PJ, although I don't expect to buy one for a month or two, i.e., until after the hoped-for post-Cedia/Christmas price drops. This could change when the screen arrives. Never been good at waiting.

You mentioned you went with a 720p PJ as a good middle ground. Does a 720p PJ display SD content better than a 1080p?

Are the mods to your xbox related to the dvd playback? I probably will use my xbox 360 and HD add-on to play the outdoor movies, and play games when I want to embarass my wife.

Thanks for the recommendation. Still shopping for the PJ, although I don't expect to buy one for a month or two, i.e., until after the hoped-for post-Cedia/Christmas price drops. This could change when the screen arrives. Never been good at waiting.

You mentioned you went with a 720p PJ as a good middle ground. Does a 720p PJ display SD content better than a 1080p?

Are the mods to your xbox related to the dvd playback? I probably will use my xbox 360 and HD add-on to play the outdoor movies, and play games when I want to embarass my wife.

Yes, 720p is better for SD content than 1080p because of the lower resolution. Resolutions go something like this:

480p = 720x480 pixels
720p = 1280x720 pixels
1080p = 1920x1080 pixels

If you've ever zoomed in on a picture in Photoshop, you'll know what "upscaling" does to an image - it makes it look blocky and pixelated. Depending on the quality of the upscaler, you can get better results than just "zooming" in. However, the more you blow up the picture, the worse it gets no matter what. A 480p DVD movie will look better on a 720p display than a 1080p display because it doesn't have to "zoom" in as much. On my 720p projector, DVDs look "soft" but not bad. On the outdoor screen, they look perfect because you're sitting so far away (vs. inside your house where you notice that the image looks softened).

I have an Xbox1, not an Xbox 360. My Xbox1 has a chip inside that lets me play DVDs and upscale digital media files. It looks surprisingly good with Component cables. Since you have an Xbox 360 and an HD-DVD add-on, just stick with that. HD-DVD titles will look great. Again, if you are planning on watching DVDs and other "SD" content, I would recommend getting a 720p based on my own experience. Many HD titles are available in 720p, as are many Xbox 360 games. You can always down-convert 1080i/p material to 720p and it will look fine. I think 720p is the best way to go if you want to do an SD/HD mix.

Using a tape measure can be challenging... :D Maybe he did change the size of the screen somewhat... :eek:

Using a tape measure can be challenging... :D Maybe he did change the size of the screen somewhat... :eek:

Nah, there are two sizes. I got a price quote for the frame & screen for both sizes:

216" (18') - $350
240" (20') - $400

Awesome prices! Shipping is where it hurts - DHL shipping is $8/kg. The 216" is 45kg ($360) and the 240" is 50kg ($400). They accept payment via MoneyGram.com. They sent me some pictures and the quality of the screen looks excellent, much nicer than my 12' Gremmy. The cheapest 20' inflatable screen I could find online was from Open Air Cinema for $6,295.00. That includes a 1HP blower. Here's the link:

http://www.openaircinema.us/info/outdoor-screens/pact_show/id_19385513/

So the Chinese 20' blimp screen would be $800 shipped plus $215 on ebay for a 2HP blower motor. That's $1015 total, over $5,000 cheaper! joerod, GREAT find, thank you so much for sharing! This screen looks way easier to put together than the Open Air Cinema screen as well - nice clips on the screen etc.

Update: He revised his shipping prices; he recalculated without the weight of the blower, so shipping is $320 and $360 respectively. He said that DHL is the cheapest; both UPS and Fedex are $10/kg.

Hi..Joe and I both got our screens direct from China

Nice people too--here is the emai to reach them

blimpscreen@gmail.com

not....blimpscreen.com

I think I found his website:

http://www.hy-inflatable.com/movie.html

http://www.hy-inflatable.com/me.html

That's it! Good find... :)

So he must have started offering 2 sizes more recently because when I got mine I only had one option. I am not complaining though... :)

So he must have started offering 2 sizes more recently because when I got mine I only had one option. I am not complaining though... :)

Oh sure, 20' screen, poor you :D

Mine came a few days ago....still waiting on the blower. Looks real nice just laying there though. Joerod was a big help. I was shaky too about wiring $ to China but it all worked out. It appears to be good quality.

I got the 12' x 6.75' which is a 13.75 ft screen. The actual screen isn't what I expected but it will probably be fine once it is up. The Gemmy had blackout material on the back of the white reflective screen. This one is more like the trapeze material. I was thinking of having a blackout screen made for mounting behind the white. I've read that will help produce a brighter picture. I guess I'll think harder on all of that once I actually see it (please no rain monday...please no rain monday...please no rain monday...)

So he must have started offering 2 sizes more recently because when I got mine I only had one option. I am not complaining though... :)

No, he offered more than even the 2 sizes back then. Well close to it at least, because once you posted your original thread I emailed him several times. I was looking to get another size and he gave me some pricing.

The largest project from behind is the 20' model.

Here's his exact reply to my e-mail inquiry on October 7.

hi
sir,if you need the screen is seamless,we are only can offer 12x9 and 16x9ft,this is also the screen surface size,you can projection by the front and rear,this is very nice.
Now,please tell me what size you want,we will give you the price.
thanks



I didn't do the math to see what the diagonal measurement would be on the 16' x 9' (assumed it would be the same as joerod's) so I ordered the 16 x 9.

It shipped Wednesday and arrived today (via UPS). I was surprised that he did not put the screen in a box. Was shipped in the storage bag. I've not read that anyone has ever been able to get their screen back in the bag after using the screen, so the fact that the bag was beat to hell during shipping is of no concern to me. No holes or anything, just really scuffed up.

My only (minor) gripe is that he quoted me a shipping weight of 55 Kg for screen and blower. Not even close. Came in at under 40 Kg, according to UPS. Now, if the $10/Kg charge for UPS is correct, then the amount I overpaid is not much. But, had he shipped it DHL, it would have been a $120 overcharge. Still, a great deal even if I had been hosed on the shipping. And 48 hours door to door from China to US is unbelievable.

Can't wait to set this new screen up. Unfortunately, kid's activities have us booked this weekend.

Let us know when you do watch a movie on it... :)

cKelly,

how much was your smaller screen, including shipping?(12x9) I'd want to be sure before I purchase one.

Just did my Halloween movie night (part 1 of 2) and it was a blast! :D

Where do you locate your equip when using the blimpscreen?

Assuming the PJ is 25' or so behind the screen, it would seem easiest to put the receiver, dvd player near the PJ and then run long speaker cables. However, some of you have mentioned that you have played games on the blimpscreen or some other mega screen. In order to see enough of the screen to game, I imagine you need to be 10-15' in front of the screen. That means 35-40' from the game console to the controller. Maybe the wireless controllers work that well. Even if not gaming, would remote controls work from that distance.

Info and tips are much appreciated.

um, wouldnt a 12x9 ft be 4/3 shaped? 16x9 ft be 16/9 shaped. The photos of the 20ft screen also look 4/3 15x20. a 16/9 shape would be 14x25 ft?

When we played Guitar Hero we did front projection with all the sound, projection, and audio equipment up front this made it easy for gaming. For a rear projection setting you could setup everything but the projector up front and run a long HDMI or component cable back to the projector.

cKelly,

how much was your smaller screen, including shipping?(12x9) I'd want to be sure before I purchase one.

$600 (12 x 6.75)

Alright. I got my blower today and it's kind of a bummer because it is raining. Be the impatient one, I decided to pull out my blower and turn it on. IT IS WAY TOO LOUD!!! THe hum of the Gemmy was irritating but this one is just ridiculous. I got the B-Air Bear 1 hp. Most people hear seem to have gotten the Koala but the Bear was advertised as "Our Quietest Model".

There is no way that the speakers I have are going to play over the sound the blower makes without getting a distubing the peace call from the neighbors.

For those of you with this screen: by any chance is the sound muffled significantly when attached to the screen. I cannot imagine the sound being muffled enough for my needs....I hope I'm not going back to Gemmy land before my first showing!!! Please provide input!!

Were you inside when you turned on the blower? If so, I would expect it to sound louder than outside. You may be on to something about the niose level when its hooked up to the screen. I did not try mine before hooking it up to the screen, so I can't comment.

One possible solution from someone in the inflatable business I was speaking to the other day. I was discussing noise levels from the blower possibly overwhelming the audio from the movie (before I received my screen and blower - just speaking to him hypothetically). He said you can place a box over the blower to muffle the noise - cut out a hole for the screen attachment and another for air intake. I would take that one step further and think about a styrofoam cooler.

Just a thought.

The first time was inside, the second trial was out in the driveway. My wife was with me and she already is giving up and giving me her vote to sell the screen....it's THAT bad!

SURELY there is a more reasonable blower out there!! If not, there wouldn't be much of a market for these things. Sadly, I paid extra (over the recommended model) because it was listed as "one of the quietest"!!

Did you call the vendor? Maybe you got a bad unit. Or, wait until the rain stops and see how it sounds when hooked up to the screen.

I got my blower from Bin and its really not too loud at all. Certainly, you can hear it, but I don't think it will be noticable to most once the speakers are hooked up and with folks sitting 20' to 25' feet away.

Good luck.

Same here. We sit about 25 to 30 feet away and the blower is not to loud at all...

Maybe you got a bad unit.

...or maybe my expectations were unrealistic. As a point of reference, this blower is as loud as (& possibly slightly louder than) my shop vac. Is that about right bmac? joerod? anyone else?

...or maybe my expectations were unrealistic. As a point of reference, this blower is as loud as (& possibly slightly louder than) my shop vac. Is that about right bmac? joerod? anyone else?

Holy Cow!!! That is loud. I think mine is closer to my wife's hair dryer than a shop vac.

I'd say once the rain stops and it starts to dry up a little bit, hook it all up (Proj, screen, speakers, etc..) and give it a test run. If at that point it's too loud, then look for another blower.

Although the box/shelter for it sounds like an excellent idea if you do not have time to get another one before your first showing. I do have an uneasy feeling about the styrofoam cooler though. The blow will throw off some heat and trapping it inside the cooler might not be a good idea..... except if the cooler was rather large and didn't confine the blower a lot.

I trick my sister and her husband use for thier generator when camping is just a simple plywood shield. They took 2 pieces if plywood and a few 2x4's and made and right-angle baffle that sits between the generator and them. It blocks 80-90% of the noise from them. However if you get too far to the side or above it you hear all the noise.

I do have an uneasy feeling about the styrofoam cooler though. The blow will throw off some heat and trapping it inside the cooler might not be a good idea..... except if the cooler was rather large and didn't confine the blower a lot.


Yeah, I wasn't sure about the heat issue. I assumed that the cooling was actually accomplished by the air movement from the intake fan and, if the hole in the cooler was large enough that heat buildup would not be an issue. Don't know, obviously, as I've never tried it. Good point, though.

I called b-air today. I asked for dB specs on the Bear (mine) vs the Koala (some others here)- specs were 90 db for the Bear and 81 for the Koala. Doesnt sound like a significant difference but then again-I don't know how loud a db unit is!!

There is a big difference from 31db to 22db inside. I am not sure about outside. It all depends on how far away you sit fro the screen....

There is a big difference from 31db to 22db inside. I am not sure about outside. It all depends on how far away you sit fro the screen....

OK - so what would be reference for 31 or 22 db?

I am going by when I had an optoma pj that was 31db. We could easily hear it. Now with my last two sonys which are at 22db we can hardly ever tell they are on. My point is they are at a 9db difference like the two blowers. So a 9db difference should be somewhat quieter. I would just make sure you are at least 15 to 20 feet way from the screen and blower...

Here's a reference chart I found that may put dB levels in perspective:
From Decibel Levels (http://www.jimprice.com/prosound/db.htm)
Sounds dB SPL
Rocket Launching 180
Jet Engine 140
Thunderclap, Air Raid Siren 1 Meter 130
Jet takeoff (200 ft) 120
Rock Concert, Discotheque 110
Firecrackers, Subway Train 100
Heavy Truck (15 Meter), City Traffic 90
Alarm Clock (1 Meter), Hair Dryer 80
Noisy Restaurant, Business Office 70
Air Conditioning Unit, Conversational Speech 60
Light Traffic (50 Meter), Average Home 50
Living Room, Quiet Office 40
Library, Soft Whisper (5 Meter) 30
Broadcasting Studio, Rustling Leaves 20
Hearing Threshold 0

You should be careful running your blower not hooked up to anything. They are not designed to run without a "load" on the blower.

Glenn

You should be careful running your blower not hooked up to anything. They are not designed to run without a "load" on the blower.

Glenn

That was my intial thought as well. So does everyon think cKelly's sound issue was a result of the blower running louder than normal because it was not actually inflating anything? I have been delaying buying one of those blowers waiting for this to resolve itself.

My screen is not here yet, so I cannot look at the intake valve/port/whatever it is, so which of the various output ports on the ninjajump blowers do I need to get? Or does it not matter?

That was my intial thought as well. So does everyon think cKelly's sound issue was a result of the blower running louder than normal because it was not actually inflating anything? I have been delaying buying one of those blowers waiting for this to resolve itself.

My screen is not here yet, so I cannot look at the intake valve/port/whatever it is, so which of the various output ports on the ninjajump blowers do I need to get? Or does it not matter?

The intake on the Blimpscreen is a fabric tube probably 6" in diameter with a fabric tie on the end. You want a blower with something like a 4" round connector with a flange or lip on the end. Then you just slide the fabric tube over the connector so the ties are inside the flange and wrap the ties around the connector and tie it in place. Easy.

That was my intial thought as well. So does everyon think cKelly's sound issue was a result of the blower running louder than normal because it was not actually inflating anything? I have been delaying buying one of those blowers waiting for this to resolve itself.

My screen is not here yet, so I cannot look at the intake valve/port/whatever it is, so which of the various output ports on the ninjajump blowers do I need to get? Or does it not matter?

It's not raining today so if it dries up a bit, I'm going to give it a shot. I spoke with B-Air and I can say that they are very much willing to work witrh me to make sure I am happy (as is my vendor) so I can always change over to the koala. The guy at B-Air that provided me with the db ratings did chuckle a bit when I suggested that another member here suggested that while mine was every bit as loud as a shop vac, the other guy stated that his was more like a hairdryer. Funny thing though, that db rating information posted by bmac was right on with his description coupled with the rep's decibel rating (81=hairdyer).

I'll let you know....

They are much louder if you just have the blower running and not connected to anything...

It's not raining today so if it dries up a bit, I'm going to give it a shot. I spoke with B-Air and I can say that they are very much willing to work witrh me to make sure I am happy (as is my vendor) so I can always change over to the koala. The guy at B-Air that provided me with the db ratings did chuckle a bit when I suggested that another member here suggested that while mine was every bit as loud as a shop vac, the other guy stated that his was more like a hairdryer. Funny thing though, that db rating information posted by bmac was right on with his description coupled with the rep's decibel rating (81=hairdyer).

I'll let you know....

Unless I fudged the figures to make me look good:D. Actually, just lucky on the comparison. Nice coincidence, though.

Still stinking raining. Since it is late in the outdoor theater season, I'm just gonna let it dry up. I'd hate to put it up damp and let the mildew ruin it before I get the chance to really use it (at this point - likely next year).

I'll post my review of the noise as soon as rain slows.

just for reference, db levels go like this. Every 3db increase of audio takes 2x the power and every 6db of level sounds twice as loud. So a 9db differnce is huge.

Got it up today. The screen is WAY bigger than I thought it would be, deeper too. I actually had to turn the blower off and take the back end of the screen over my basketball goal in order to have plenty of room.

As far as blower noise, there is a substantial difference between hoking it up to a screen and letting it blow all by itself. It is still easily heard and could be a bit more quiet. I might consider downgrading to the Koala but the screen is nice and tight. I'm not sure I'd like any sags....Tight frame vs. lower noise...hmmmm...

THanks for all of your help guys.

Glad it is all coming together now... :)

... but the screen is nice and tight. I'm not sure I'd like any sags....Tight frame vs. lower noise...hmmmm...


Can you post a picture from the front so I can compare your frame (no sag) with mine (slight sag)?

Mine has no sag with the 1/2 horse blower. My blower is a Spinmaster H-4 and came with a Bounce Around bounce house I got. there is currently the same blower up on ebay.

J

Just finished our Halloween movies this past weekend and we had a blast! :)

I guess we will now lay low until next Spring... I told the neighbors we will start passing out fliers letting them know when we will do a movie and inviting them over for that weekend... Next year will be fun! :)

Sorry it took so long.

Awesome! :)

Sorry it took so long.

looks nice.. Was your camera color off? This one looks green compared to the others.

Also, is the box next to it a storage box you are using for it when not in use?

Actually the picture turned out REAL dark so I adjusted it (poorly) using photoshop. It does look green but the frame is black in color. The box is a trunk I picked up at lowe's for storing it. It holds the screen and the tarp nicely. We use it as a coffee table / ottoman when outside.

cool... I am going to have to go look for a box like that. I have the gemmy that I wanted to keep through this year and have been looking at these screens for months now. Sometime soon I guess I will get rid of my gemmy and get one of these, because I want to project from the rear.

I have to say that the one at lowe's isn't a wise choice. It looks nice, it's very sturdy and it even locks. The problem is that the lock mechanism can tear your frame or screem. Out of impatience I tried to force a poorly folded screen into the trunk and hung it on the corner causing a small tear. Not that big of a deal as far as the screen goes but I still am in the market for a lockless trunk now.

Be careful!

Of the people here with the screen - any idea how to patch it. I hate to import a piece of patch from China!

I have to say that the one at lowe's isn't a wise choice. It looks nice, it's very sturdy and it even locks. The problem is that the lock mechanism can tear your frame or screem. Out of impatience I tried to force a poorly folded screen into the trunk and hung it on the corner causing a small tear. Not that big of a deal as far as the screen goes but I still am in the market for a lockless trunk now.

Be careful!

Of the people here with the screen - any idea how to patch it. I hate to import a piece of patch from China!


That would end up being $5 for the patch and $300 for shipping

That's exactly what I'm afraid of. I work in an operating room and I thought I'd get one of those nice ladies that stitch people up to come and reinforce that tear. I'm just trying to decide what is best. This is where my 1hp blower that keeps it so nice & tight might become my enemy by doing the same (stretching) to the tear - making it worse.

what is the final verdict on the blower to go with for this screen?

Thanks

what is the final verdict on the blower to go with for this screen?

Thanks

1 hp definitely works. I read a post somewhere (I was unable to find it) where the poster said 1/2 worked fine for him/her. I ordered my 1 hp direcly from b-air and was concerned it was not enough and they said they would credit a return towards another one, so call and if they give you the same deal, get the 1/2 and try it first.

Unfortunately I think the weather has frozen this forum for the time being.

We just had a terrific movie night on Friday. Showed Polar Express in the driveway to about 30 friends. Our movie night season is just getting started PM me if anyone is going to be in the area.

J

Pic of my back yard fer you guys

Awesome! Looks great. :)

Looking at the snow on the ground is sure depressing. Only 4 months or so until outdoor movie season?! :eek:

Another great movie night this last Friday. Showed The Grinch who stole Christmas and Underdog. Perfect weather and good turnout of about 20 folks. Setup and breakdown get easier each time especially when repeat visitors help with the breakdown and know what needs to get done.

J

Damn, we need to move to better weather... :)

Can you project from the back of these things or is it front only?

Bud

The back as well. :)

I have to say that the one at lowe's isn't a wise choice. It looks nice, it's very sturdy and it even locks. The problem is that the lock mechanism can tear your frame or screem. Out of impatience I tried to force a poorly folded screen into the trunk and hung it on the corner causing a small tear. Not that big of a deal as far as the screen goes but I still am in the market for a lockless trunk now.

Be careful!

Of the people here with the screen - any idea how to patch it. I hate to import a piece of patch from China!

If you are doing front projection the simplest way to patch is just to gaff tape the back. I work with A/V crews at conferences all the time and when a screen tears this is what they do onsite if a tear is discovered during setup (ie no time to go get a new one). Unfortunately (as far as I can tell, I don't actually do this for a living) the solution for the screen once they have time to fix it is just to replace it.

Whatever you do you will be able to see if you are close enough. However think about how big the tear is in relation to the screen size. If your screen is 16x9 and you are sitting about 25' or so from this during viewing even a several inch tear shouldn't be that noticeable if you manage to make the edges stay together. Also there is much less visual data going on in the corners - so that's better for you. Also don't forget the psychology of these things - you will likely see it if you are looking for it, but once the movie starts your brain should edit it out, and it's unlikely others will even notice it if they do not know it is there (during these conferences cables are always run over the floor, you have no idea how many times I get asked where we run the cables even though the client has been walking over it all day!)

If you are doing rear projection the gaff tape thing will not work because it's not transparent. You could get a bit of something transparent and flexible and glue it to the front I suppose, but anything like that has the potential to degrade over time.

Awesome suggestion. Time to buy some gaff tape to have on hand just in case. :)

juggler, thanks for the suggestion but my tear is on the inflatable frame portion, not the screen itself. It's actually pretty strong material but I figured that like a windshield, it would worsen over time.

Any suggestions for frame tears?

ah, if I had to make a random suggestion based on no real experience...I'd say it shouldn't be too hard to patch if you can find the right glue:) I bought a couple of aero-beds real cheap on clearance because they had holes in them, but they *come* with patch kits! Basically the batch kit was the same material as the bed itself and glue, put glue on the patch, put patch over hole, make sure it's really dry before inflating again. It worked great...

You'd need some extra material and a proper glue or epoxy, but unless your supplier can help out it may not work...

juggler, thanks for the suggestion but my tear is on the inflatable frame portion, not the screen itself. It's actually pretty strong material but I figured that like a windshield, it would worsen over time.

Any suggestions for frame tears?

From another thread in this forum:

I do rooftop balloon advertising, and repair rips and small punctures in the balloons all the time. Use a vinyl patch kit for a pool (patch from the inside so the air preasure is forcing the patch into the fabric). Overlap the hole by 2 inches all around. DO NOT do this on a cold day as the "glue" needs to cure overnight.

I apply the adheasive to both the patch and the area around the hole and let it dry until tacky before placing the patch.

Cheers
Doug

I would think you'd have to have a large tear to make the repair from the inside, unless the defect is close to the deflation port. As far as glue / patch material goes, I would find a outfitters supply store and see what they have to repair inflatable boats or contact one of the domestic inflatable screen dealers and see if they have a repair kit for sale.

Just out of curiosity, do you know how the damage occured?

Just out of curiosity, do you know how the damage occured?

I got it hung on a lock mechanism shoving it into a box at the end of a long cold night. Should've been more careful.

The screen can be patched pretty easily... ;)

I have the Gemmy and I love it (except I would like to try rear projection). Being a woman and sometimes putting it up alone, I have trouble getting the twisty-stakes (lol) down in my hard, compact yard. Today, I saw some bags you can fill with sand for use in holding down inflatable bouncees. Do you guys think this would work? It would be a little heavy, but much easier for me. They were on e-bay, but I am wondering if the local hardware business would carry something like this. Also, does anyone know someone who does custom screens (nothing expensive) who could possibly do a replacement (rear-projection) screen for the Gemmy? Thanks a bunch...ggl

If you always set the screen up in the same place, what about permanently setting some anchor points? You could dig small holes and install the "twisty-stakes" or eyebolts or similar attachment points for the guy ropes in beds of concrete. The tops of the rings should be just below the soil or sod surface so they wouldn't be a trip hazzard or so the mower can run right over them when not in use.

We've done this with various part time yard gizmos, like the purple martin nest pole, which is out for the winter, and for the PVC supports for our non-inflatable BOC screen.

Just picked up the LG BH200 to use this summer as my all around player for my outdoor theater. I will also use it in our family room to. I really think having a Dual unit will make it that much easier outside... :)

Could those with blowers that they have no sag with list them please? Thx

I bit the bullet and bought one of the screens but w/o the blower. What blower is everyone using. Anyone get a b-air polar? It's a 2hp blower but the same CFM as one of the smaller blowers. Wasn't sure if anyone had any experiences with it.

I bit the bullet and bought one of the screens but w/o the blower. What blower is everyone using. Anyone get a b-air polar? It's a 2hp blower but the same CFM as one of the smaller blowers. Wasn't sure if anyone had any experiences with it.

I got the B-Air Bear. It is tight as a drum when inflated with that puppy.

the 1hp bear I assume? Not the 2hp right?

the 1hp bear I assume? Not the 2hp right?


Right, the 1 hp.

The screen can be patched pretty easily... ;)

just saw this from 2 months ago.....how?

Ckell-
I just bought the same screen that you have. I was thinking of buying a B-Air Panda (1.5hp), but it appears that the 1 hp is all that is needed. May I ask if you have had anyproblems withthe B-Air, how long does it take to fill the frame without sagging and how loud iis the blower?
Thanks!

Ckell-
I just bought the same screen that you have. I was thinking of buying a B-Air Panda (1.5hp), but it appears that the 1 hp is all that is needed. May I ask if you have had anyproblems withthe B-Air, how long does it take to fill the frame without sagging and how loud iis the blower?
Thanks!

1. No problems at all with the B-Air (more below*)
2. Fills VERY VERY fast and hold it VERY VERY tight. Unless it is very windy, I don't even use anything to hold it down
3. it is pretty loud. I actually called B-Air thinking something is wrong with it. *They were very helpful but didn't think anything was wrong with it and actually offered to exchange it but I decided that once the movie was going, it wasn't that bad and it was probably working as expected.

my b-air 1hp just arrived tonight. I thought it was broken because of how loud it was but I'm glad to hear that's normal. CK, what are you using for sound? I'm beginning to wonder if I need more now.

MHR,
How loud is loud? Hair dryer loud or big shooting tank loud? How well does it look like it was built? Where did you buy it from? I was set to buy the Panda, but let me know how the 1hp is working out for you. I have until the 26th of this month to make the jump on what B-Air to buy.
Thanks!

Real loud but That's without a the screen. Most of the noise seems to be rattles. When I place my hand on the fill tube the thing is much quieter. Someone on another board said that he knows people who use the b-air bear inside and it's pretty quiet so I'm guessing it will be different when I attach the screen. If not I hear B-air customer service is really good and maybe they can help me solve the rattle issue.

It will be different when you hook it into the screen. My first scare came when I just plugged it up and heard how loud it was. As far as speakers, I have a pair of rock speakers (I don't remember the technical specs), but they aren't very powerful. This off-season, I picked up a Yamaha HTIB and use a HDMI splitter coming from my Denon 3808. Now my next movie will be in surround and louder, so the difference will (hopefully) be even better as far as overcoming the blower is concerned. Even with just the rock speakers though, everything worked just fine. My screen is even nestled on sides by walls which theoretically would capture and amplify the sound that the blower makes.

Has anyone used a blower from a company called Tool King? They are on the same Ebay page that sells the B-Air and their designs look slighter better for noise. I just wonder if these guys are not some kind of fly-by-night folks...

Toolking has been around for a while. From what i hear though, they are actually louder than B-air and I've read that they aren't as durable.

I would go with the b-air. Plus if you buy directly it's cheaper than ebay.

Thanks M,

So is the bottom line with the 16x9 screen to use a 1hp B-Air Bear as a 1.5 or 2hp would just be louder without any other benefit for keeping the screen taught?

that's my understanding. My screen hasn't arrived yet (tomorrow maybe) but Alex from the other board rents his out and he's the one that said the 1hp would work best. I have to take pictures of my screen this weekend, I'll post them after I do.

Alright MHRoom,
This waiting for the CB screen seems like it is taking forever! I read the DHL updates (in Hong Kong, outta Hong Kong, in Hong Kong hub, outta Hong Kong hub, etc.) and I wish that they could give an approx. of when it's going to get here.
Oh well... took your advice and ordered a B-Air Bear 1hp from the factory, the guy there (Frank) said 1hp should do the trick. 90db rating for sound. Although there were cheaper places to buy a Bear, I loved the customer service they have. Also like the part if anything goes wrong with it, they will back their product. Nice.
My SP-831 and Eon 15 G2's should be here by Friday, the Bear by Tuesday and now, come on DHL!

Screen came today. They are predicting bad weather for tomorrow though =( I want to set it up and take pics =)

Here's my screen. I've very impressed with the build quality.

http://tinstudio.com/files/screen.jpg

M-
That screen looks great! I haven't taken mine out of the container yet (the 1hp Bear arrives Tuesday). Did you use a Bear? Did the sag go away? Is that the heavier material for the frame? How wide is the frame (some say 20feet, others 24). I got to buy a tarp for putting under it and I don't want to go too big or too small.
Thanks!

I bought a 2HP B Air (older model) but it works great. Here is a picture and i think there is little to no sag. Also, for shipping mine left Hong Kong on a Friday and was at my doorstep Monday morning! http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/ripdog_mn/P1010832.jpg

yup, there was a bit of a sag. I couldn't tell if it was due to the blower or the way the screen was put on. When I started to tie it down the sag came out for the most part.

Ripdog, which blower did you get?

I'm also getting a panda this week. I'm goi to rent my screen out so I want to make sure I have backups for all my hardware.

I can't believe how FEW pics yall have posted of actual video material...

We need more HI-DEF camera pics!!!

What projectors are you guys using to throw onto these?

we are this screen producer,if have problem about screen,please give me message(by email).

I'll try and get some pics of some titles this summer. It is almost that time again! :)

holy carp batman, thats huge :)

I use the 2 HP Polar Bear. Bought 2 just in case. 1 of them does a great job, no sags at all, plus i bought the heavier material

What projectors are you guys using to throw onto these?

I don't recommend throwing your projector. I tried it once. Bad outcome.

I have to say that the one at lowe's isn't a wise choice. It looks nice, it's very sturdy and it even locks. The problem is that the lock mechanism can tear your frame or screem. Out of impatience I tried to force a poorly folded screen into the trunk and hung it on the corner causing a small tear. Not that big of a deal as far as the screen goes but I still am in the market for a lockless trunk now.

Be careful!

Of the people here with the screen - any idea how to patch it. I hate to import a piece of patch from China!

So what are people using to store this beast? I finally unpacked mine and blew it up. No sag, looks good. But when I tried to put it in the biggest plastic storage container that my local HD had ... it looked liked I tried to shove a marshmellow into a thimble. Although it was a pretty poor folding job, I imagine that under "real" conditions, i.e., after a whole bunch of beers while watching a movie, I won't do much better, so I consider this a realistic approximation. A new solution needed, por favor.

So what are people using to store this beast?

I don't have this Chinese screen (yet) but I store my other big screens in the bags that are used for storing bounce houses.

Ninjajump sells some:

http://www.ninjajump.com/product.php?productid=996&cat=129&page=2

I don't know the size or cost, but they are used for storing inflatables. Not as much protection as a hard case, but not sure what else would be big enough.

I actually purchased a good sized tarp that I can roll up the screen in. Then when it is time to us it again I can unfold the tarp then have the screen ready to go... Makes it more conveinant... :)

I used my screen last night for the first time. Once it finally got dark enough it was pretty awesome. No pics, but I will take some next time. We watched Ant Bully, which seemed to go over pretty well. The only downside is that since most of my friends' kids are really little, it was past bedtime by the time we watched the movie.

We are planning our first outdoor movie night this year in 2 weeks. I am putting flyers in our neighbor's mailboxes this week letting them know they are invited. I just have to figure out which movie to show! Seriously, I am wanting the first to be a good PG for kids and then the second to be a little more tougher like Transformers. Any suggestions??? :)

Looks like we may do Ratatouille first then Transformers for our first night. Future nights will include Narnia and maybe Cars...

Of course hopefully the weather is not crazy like it has been...

We had a Tornado close by here yesterday! :eek: I hope this Saturday works! Maybe I should build a storm shelter back there to! :eek:

And now we are thinking of doing Twister Blu ray! :eek: