Someone posted this link on the forum the other day to some DIY motors for roller shades. They may still end up being too costly, but it's something to check out.
http://www.tubularmotors.com/2.htm
HunterDouglas is coming out with remote control motorized shades in the next month or so. They will be 110v., have internal RF receivers for remote operation. I don't think there will be a blackout fabric available, which seems foolish, but they didn't ask me. Pricing hasn't been released yet, but it's intended for a mass market, so they might not be as bad as some.
I'm already thinking ahead to screen masking. What if one used a roller at the top and another at the bottom of the screen with black velvet instead of shade fabric. Closed position could be set for 2.35:1 and open could be 16X9. The bottom shade would need counter weights to pull it upward, but that would be little problem. I did something similar for my masking, but these would be completely self contained including remote control. It would be similar to mine, but probably wouldn't need the nuetralizing weights.
http://www.kathiejohnson.com/masking.html
I don't know if Hunter would allow these to be purchased separately or not, and they probably wouldn't be super cheap, but things that work really well frequently aren't.
Deane
http://www.tubularmotors.com/2.htm
HunterDouglas is coming out with remote control motorized shades in the next month or so. They will be 110v., have internal RF receivers for remote operation. I don't think there will be a blackout fabric available, which seems foolish, but they didn't ask me. Pricing hasn't been released yet, but it's intended for a mass market, so they might not be as bad as some.
I'm already thinking ahead to screen masking. What if one used a roller at the top and another at the bottom of the screen with black velvet instead of shade fabric. Closed position could be set for 2.35:1 and open could be 16X9. The bottom shade would need counter weights to pull it upward, but that would be little problem. I did something similar for my masking, but these would be completely self contained including remote control. It would be similar to mine, but probably wouldn't need the nuetralizing weights.
http://www.kathiejohnson.com/masking.html
I don't know if Hunter would allow these to be purchased separately or not, and they probably wouldn't be super cheap, but things that work really well frequently aren't.
Deane