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Cheap Temp Screen for Camp?

post #1 of 8
Thread Starter 
I was thinking of bringing my PJ up to my GF's parent's camp, was thinking this weekend but I don't think the NH weather is going to cooperate. I've seen some of the pics in this forum and the screens look great, but they're more permanent. I was thinking more the lines of hanging a bed sheet over a clothes line between two trees type screen (or maybe on one of the walls of the screenhouse), where I could take it down easy enough. I know it's not going to look the best, but I know I'm not willing to pay to get the best. The PJ is an Optoma EP732 (4:3, 800x600, 1500 lumens), probably only a dozen or so people in a relatively small area.

So, is the bedsheet/clothes line the norm for cheap guys like me in similar situations? Or is there another relatively cheap & easy way to get a better a result? And I'm guessing my 4w PC speakers aren't going to cut it (even though I can blast them in the house and they sound fine (although not nearly as good as my floorstanding set hooked up to my AV receiver), I'm guessing they'll sound worse outside with more background noise). So any ideas for a low cost pair of speakers too.

Thanks,
Brian
post #2 of 8
Sure, a sheet will work just fine. If you want to go bigger, check out some fabrics from your local fabric store.

I have no idea whether those speakers will cut it. What I have found, however, is that cheap speakers actually sound better outside. The problem is decibels. Since sound can't bounce off any walls (which is probably why cheap speakers sound better) and be directed to you outside, you need more power to fill the space.
post #3 of 8
post #4 of 8
Thread Starter 
Yeah, didn't even think of that. Although 'we' just bought a set of sheets for it...they're printed sheets. Think they were cheap though, maybe I'll pick up a light grey set...for the contrast.

My only thing is the wind though. Camp/trailer site is kind of wide open, I was thinking of on top of picnic table against screen tent if I were to just do a sheet. But I think that would be too high for the inflatable...more air able to get to it, unless I can tie it down somehow but I don't think there are any holes or anything on my mattress to help secure it.
post #5 of 8
Quote:
Originally Posted by BGrigg View Post

Yeah, didn't even think of that. Although 'we' just bought a set of sheets for it...they're printed sheets. Think they were cheap though, maybe I'll pick up a light grey set...for the contrast.

My only thing is the wind though. Camp/trailer site is kind of wide open, I was thinking of on top of picnic table against screen tent if I were to just do a sheet. But I think that would be too high for the inflatable...more air able to get to it, unless I can tie it down somehow but I don't think there are any holes or anything on my mattress to help secure it.

Here's a tip I picked up yesterday on the backyardtheater.com forum that you should be aware of. It was mentioned that you can buy a cheap blowup air mattress (campers may already own same). You buy the biggest, cheapest one you can find and put on a fitted sheet. Voila. You now have an easily portable, decently sized, inexpensive option to use as a screen. I have a fixed screen in my yard, but I caught myself looking at the blowup mattresses at Wally World. I think this is a great cheap way to incorporate a frame and screen....perhaps the cheapest easiest, most portable I know of. What do you think?

Of course the clerk might look at you funny (if they actually try to help you - lol) if the conversation goes anything like this:

Clerk: What size air mattress you looking for sir?
Me: Biggest thing you've got in a 16:9 format.

Enjoy.
post #6 of 8
Quote:
Originally Posted by victor-eyd View Post

Why not an inflatable mattress?

http://backyardtheater.com/forums/index.php?topic=832.0

Dam you Vic!! I didn't see you already offered the BYT solution when I posted. Great minds.....

Enjoy.
post #7 of 8
We bought a cheap tarp at Walmart - one side is gray - our indoor HT screen is gray.

We bought a 15ft. square tarp for around $15 and stretched it along a wood wall and it worked great with our LCD projector.

Hardest part is getting the fold creases out of the tarp.

Works good - can't be hurt by any kind of weather.
goodluck
post #8 of 8
Thread Starter 
Yeah, we actually had good enough weather a couple weekends ago...although we did get a threat of rain. We had originally drapped a full-size off-white/cream sheet over the trailer, held up by bricks...but then PJ & equipment would be open to elements if it rained (which it did halfway through 2nd movie). So we decided to hang the sheet on neighbor's awning, anchored the bottom with rocks to prevent the wind from blowing it, and put PJ & equipment in their screen room. So when it did finally open up, all we had to worry about was moving the snacks to underneath the awning so they wouldn't get wet. Wasn't too bad of a setup, although it was cramped in the screen room...good thing at 1:15AM there wasn't many of us left.

If we didn't have the weather to deal with it would have been better as we were off to the side...next to the screen room. And the speakers could have been a bit closer. And the contrast on the 2nd movie (The Eye /w Jessica Alba) could have been a bit better, since a good portion of the movie is dark.

I think I mentioned before that we had just picked up an inflatable matress, but it's a double-height queen, with built-in pillows. So we'd have to put the fitted sheet on the bottom...and where it's so big, it's a pain to put in the tent...let alone in the wee hours of the morning after watching a few movies and a few cocktails.

Other than maybe a grey bedsheet and fine-tuning the PJ settings...any ideas to help with the contrast?
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