HD70 Tweakers Thread. - Page 77

Really? Is it worth getting serviced? I mean, I spent nearly $300 on the bulb, I could send it back (Amazon) and just get a new HD70 for what? $700? I mean service is going to be a couple hundred minimum, isn't it? Even to get an estimate would be what? $100?

I really want to upgrade to 1080p, but not ready to spend nearly $2,000 at this time.

I did try putting the old bulb back in and still no power....agghhh....

I would at least start with a phone call to Optoma. I have talked to them before about how the firmware upgrade process works and they are very easy to talk to and helpful.

I am sure they would be a much better source of information on this when it comes to how much it will cost, what the issue might be, turn around time, etc.

Ok...I called Optoma...Min is $130+shipping there. I don't know what to do. I could send the bulb back to Amazon for a refund and buy a refurbished HD70off fleabay with new bulb and warranty (6 months) for about $250 more then the bulb and min repair. Or I could buy a new one with new bulb and regular warranty for about another $130 on top of that ($380 total more).

Again that is assuming the only cost is the min + shipping there. Of course if it gets to $200-$300 then well it does become sort of a no brain, but no real way to know that.

I called projector people cause everyone recommends them, but they don't have the HD70 anymore. They wanted to make me a deal on a AX200, but it is right a grand (which is a good price) but then I might have to repair the ceiling and mount that in a different spot. But then, maybe not since the AX200 has lens shift and longer zoom. But I really wanted to keep this as cheap as possible and go 1080p 2 years, maybe less.

Sounds like the lamp is not seating properly or the door is not closing properly. Keep trying by removing and reinserting the lamp.

If not, maybe a fuse in the PJ. Might be worth a look first before spending money.

Have you tried turning the PJ over and over to see if you hear loose glass fragments?

Is there a fuse? How do I get to it?

I have a severe problem with this. Was carefully(?) inserting new lamp and the power prongs would not line up. Long story short, the power receptacle bracket w/in the pj broke. Now I have a brand new lamp and a broken pj Flimsy piece of junk compared to my ancient InFocus X-1.

If I don't get the right response from Optoma, going to small claims court to obtain a default judgment for full purchase price.

Well I have some good new. For grins I looked on my Amex card back from 2006 to see if I purchased projector on it which would extend the 1 year warranty to 2. Well I did, so I double checked the Optoma sight and low and behold....it has a 2 year warranty and I have THREE days left! I called Optoma, all I have to do is fill out their form and fax with receipt and they will agree it is within the 2 year warranty!!! Woot!!!

My only issue now is what to do about new bulb I bought. I actually think I will return it to Amazon, then just purchase a new one from Optoma when they do the warranty repair. They way THEY can install it and verify it works before sending back to me. The bulb is only like $30 from Optoma, but will have the piece of mind that they are dealing with it.

That was one of the things I liked about my HD70 purchase - the 2 year warranty.

Does that cover what happened to me? I will hold Optoma personally responsible for your answer

Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I am passed my 2 year point, but I also only have like 600 hours on my PJ. Seems like I am constantly watching movies and playing PS3 on it.

Let me know how small claims court goes for you. I would be shocked if they ruled in your favor. Plus maybe you will get to see yourself on TV. lol.

Roger that.... Mine kept shutting down and sent it back. They cleaned it and even got rid of a small dust blob that I had never even told them about and it is working like new again.
I'm thinking of upgrading in the next couple months... makes me wish they had something worth upgrading to, in the under $2000 price range comperable to the mitsu5500, because of the service that I had gotten.

Big corp. will never respond to a small claims court complaint. Tyro is a lawyer and he knows.

Bad news. I fixed the damn thing. Bottom line, my with all the aforementioned difficulities, pbm was aligning the lamp cover with the slot that pushes the metal tab.
Why does it have to be this difficult?
Signed: Carrie Bradshaw*

* Name my old series and win my old lamp.

Well I talked to Optoma when they called with my RMA. Get this; they charge a $100 on top of the full retail $300 to install the bulb. WTF I'm very disappointed in this. Bulb from Amazon was $270 with free shipping and no tax. I don't mind the extra $30 from Optoma and figure there will be no shipping as it will be in the pj. But a $100 labor to put the bulb in....agghhhh...now I'm back where I started. I have to pay for shipping to send the projector in. So lets say $25. Then $300 for new bulb and $100 to install it. That is $425!! I could buy a refurbished one for $625 with new bulb and 6 month warranty. Or brand new one for $750 with new bulb and two year warranty

The lady really recommends just sending my unit back without a bulb. Let them fix with a test bulb and they will send back to me without a bulb and I can install the one I have. Of course I'm concerned I have no good bulb as maybe the one Amazon sent is bad. I have no way to trouble shoot that. The reason I think it is the projector is after the bulb went out (I wasn't there and didn't know it blew up) the unit shut down as it should. But there was still two lights on, one showing the bulb was out. When I replaced the bulb, I now get no lights, no power at all. Even putting in the old blown out bulb now does not get any power (I wouldn't expect it to turn on, but at least the red light or something).

I don't want to sound like a cheap jerk or anything. But I'm trying to stay on a strict budget so I can upgrade to 1080p in 18m-2yrs. Well that might answer my question. Go as cheap as I can now which is to have my unit repaired under warranty and just talk to Amazon about returning the bulb. Then I'll only have $25 in shipping involved in repairs and still only need a bulb. Which I guess I could order separately from Optoma (but not have them install). I guess that way I would only be dealing with Optoma on everything.

Let us know if Amazon gives you any problems on returning the bulb and replacing with a new one or credit. My HD70 has 1800 hours and I will eventually need a new bulb so I would like to evaluate if Amazon will be a reputable and fair supplier on this part.

Will do. But I'd be shocked if Amazon gives me a problem. I love Amazon overall and have bought many, many a thing from them and had several returns, several price adjustments, etc and never once had a problem. They are my single favorite retailer (on line or B&M). I was surprised they had the bulb and even more surprised it was from them and not a sponsored retailer. Thus the free shipping for being over $50.

I am going to be using a Samsung BD-P1500 Blue Ray Player with my HD 70 pj and I would like to know what are the possible settings on the player to use with the HD70 (Don't have the player yet for experimentation). The pj has the original firmware (puchased in Dec. 06). So what are my options? 1080p 60, 720p, or 1080p 24? Which looks the best?
Thanks-

You probably have my problem. It may take several attempts putting the lamp cover back on so that the latch pushes the metal clip into place.
I didn't screw the cover back on until I confirmed that the green lights lit.

I used ProVantage. Cheaper and I had it the next day with $4.95 FedEx Ground.

1080/24p. The HD70's scaler is better than the one in the player.

Bluray players work directly with the video codec to derive the output image. It "should" be best to allow the player to output 720p.

I think his concern is the brand, this is Samsungs low end unit, its scaler may not be up to snuff....then again I'm not sure that the HD70 had any better of a scaler...

I see people have recommended both 1080p/24 and 720p. I use a PS3 for my player via HDMI and have it set to 720p. I personally think it looks better.

But you may as well try both. 1080p/24 first and then try 720p. Compare using the same scene, a paused scene and an moving high contrast scene.

I think the point he is trying to make by linking to the info about the codec processing, which I looked into as well. Is that the player isn't doing any scaling to output 720p from a 1080p mastered Bluray disc. Because the codec allows for the player to directly stream and decode (not scale) a 720p stream from the 1080p stream due to a substream created. The wiki is quick long, but you can easily see it's clear that the player does not need a scaler for 720 or 1080 from the bluray disc. Likely the only scaler they do include is to upscale SD DVDs. So even a cheap-o bluray player would not do any scaling for a 720 vs 1080p output for a 1080p bluray disc.

And now that bluray scaling is out of the picture. I still personally prefer my bluray player outputing 720p for my HD70.

But then I am sure others will talk about how the source can be mastered in 1080p/24 instead of 1080p/30 and that the HD70 is better at downscaling the 1080p and then keeping the 24p. But still, I like mine output at 720p.

Which again brings me back to the suggestion that since it's just 2-3 output settings, you may as well just try it for yourself once you get the player.

It's one thing to talk about settings that have tons of variations, but seems so silly talking about 720p/30, 1080p/30, 1080p/24 when it's just 3 settings that don't take long to just try and see which you prefer. Not a personal attack, but an attack on the concept of debating 3 easy to try settings.

Agreed.

Just got an e-mail from Amazon that they have credited by CC for the full purchase amount.

That was quick and painless. I never did talk to anyone. Everything done on-line. They even have it set up where you print out the RMA and UPS pre-paid address label.

I can recommend Amazon for bulb replacement. Good price, free shipping, no tax for most and easy returns.

My pj should have arrived at Optoma today, so hopefully will hear back from there within a few days. Then can figure next step. So far only out the $28 to ship PJ to them. But if they fix for free, then will still need a new bulb.

That sounds great SD. Thanks for the follow-up. Good luck on your repair from Optoma.

Well I did get a follow up email from Amazon. Since it was not a mistake or defective item they basically charged me for return shipping even tho they provided a pre-paid label. Meaning my refund was the amount of purchase LESS the return shipping which was $6.00. Guess that is fair. Still a good, seamless process.

Wow...that is a great price....I was going to order mine from Optoma, but now Optome is close to $60 more then that price!