Hi,
My name is Joe Jasniewski. I'm a newbie to HT using CRT projection; I recently purchased an ECP 4100, after futzing around with numerous LCD panels and OHPs. I'm happy to read here that this unit has flexible optical adjustments and modifyable electronics. I've printed many a thread, and hope to start one of my own, to document my setup and modifications, so that others may find some specifics in just one place.
Just got it hung from the ceiling, about 6 ft up off the floor; cranked it up with a boat winch mounted to the stock ceiling mount pipe! (was hairy for a few minutes there...) I havent even gone through the mechanical convergence procedure yet; I do have the owners manual another technical manual printed out for this unit. I've only looked through the help key procedure...
So, some quick questions; opinions, answers muchly appreciated!
1. I'd like to do the grillework based fan mod, but the projector is up. I do notice clearances in the mounting bracket for the two screws that hold the side panels to the projector bottom. Can these panels be removed in situ?
2. I want to run my signaling (PC, Composite from VCR, S-VGA from DVD, Cable) through a Viewsonic VP box. Is it better to put the box up with the projector (Drive a short RGBHV) and run 4 lengths of signal cable, or is it better to just run one long RGBHV from the Viewsonic? Are there any specific mods to the Viewsonic that I can do which will help it drive 20 ft?
3. The projector has some sort of verticle sync trouble (image hops up and down erratically, even with the internally generated green text) which goes away after the projector has been run some. It came back when I disconnected power (and thereby killed any standby power) and went away again after running for a short time. Could this be a capacitor reforming? What specific component(s) should I replace to fix this? Believe me, it freaked me out when I got it, let it sit for a day, then turned it on for the first time. I thought I heard a "snap" sound when it stabilized the first time. No snap heard on the second eventual stabilization...
4. I have a sheet of the Plastex to use for a screen. My permanent location (cant get any closer because of a skylight) has the maximum image height a few inches over 4ft. How important is it really, to use all of the available tube phosphor? Is it OK to reduce the size to fit my 4' high screen, or should I buy another sheet to make it a 5' screen? Should I buy Ken H's Goo and just paint in a screen? I'm sorry I dont have the exact distance to the screen...
5. The Woman who's put up with all this (caring for screeching toddler while I'm running dedicated AC through the attic, got the projector hanging by ropes, etc) has asked me to drop the image about 1ft. Right now, I've got the tubes sighted pretty much square to the wall. Dropping it will keystone it some and I know I can correct for this, but doing so will be at the expense of the % total phosphor I have lit. What should I do in this case? Sacrifice myself ;') or some of the phosphor in the tubes of my 1K$ projector?
It's good to be able to join the club, thanks for having me!
My name is Joe Jasniewski. I'm a newbie to HT using CRT projection; I recently purchased an ECP 4100, after futzing around with numerous LCD panels and OHPs. I'm happy to read here that this unit has flexible optical adjustments and modifyable electronics. I've printed many a thread, and hope to start one of my own, to document my setup and modifications, so that others may find some specifics in just one place.
Just got it hung from the ceiling, about 6 ft up off the floor; cranked it up with a boat winch mounted to the stock ceiling mount pipe! (was hairy for a few minutes there...) I havent even gone through the mechanical convergence procedure yet; I do have the owners manual another technical manual printed out for this unit. I've only looked through the help key procedure...
So, some quick questions; opinions, answers muchly appreciated!
1. I'd like to do the grillework based fan mod, but the projector is up. I do notice clearances in the mounting bracket for the two screws that hold the side panels to the projector bottom. Can these panels be removed in situ?
2. I want to run my signaling (PC, Composite from VCR, S-VGA from DVD, Cable) through a Viewsonic VP box. Is it better to put the box up with the projector (Drive a short RGBHV) and run 4 lengths of signal cable, or is it better to just run one long RGBHV from the Viewsonic? Are there any specific mods to the Viewsonic that I can do which will help it drive 20 ft?
3. The projector has some sort of verticle sync trouble (image hops up and down erratically, even with the internally generated green text) which goes away after the projector has been run some. It came back when I disconnected power (and thereby killed any standby power) and went away again after running for a short time. Could this be a capacitor reforming? What specific component(s) should I replace to fix this? Believe me, it freaked me out when I got it, let it sit for a day, then turned it on for the first time. I thought I heard a "snap" sound when it stabilized the first time. No snap heard on the second eventual stabilization...
4. I have a sheet of the Plastex to use for a screen. My permanent location (cant get any closer because of a skylight) has the maximum image height a few inches over 4ft. How important is it really, to use all of the available tube phosphor? Is it OK to reduce the size to fit my 4' high screen, or should I buy another sheet to make it a 5' screen? Should I buy Ken H's Goo and just paint in a screen? I'm sorry I dont have the exact distance to the screen...
5. The Woman who's put up with all this (caring for screeching toddler while I'm running dedicated AC through the attic, got the projector hanging by ropes, etc) has asked me to drop the image about 1ft. Right now, I've got the tubes sighted pretty much square to the wall. Dropping it will keystone it some and I know I can correct for this, but doing so will be at the expense of the % total phosphor I have lit. What should I do in this case? Sacrifice myself ;') or some of the phosphor in the tubes of my 1K$ projector?
It's good to be able to join the club, thanks for having me!