New Projector with screen

[jaha2000]

Finally pulled the trigger after drooling for years and years...
Benq Q1070 with a 125" Screen...
Question
Hang the proj or the screen first?
Seems to me it would be easier to hang the screen where i need it to be, and then mount the projector at the right throw range making sure to get the proj square. Should be easy with some string and a pencil to make some intersecting arcs on the screen to get it dead center.

Thoughts?

 

[purbeast0]

i mounted my projector before i mounted my screen.

i don't think it really matters though as long as you just make sure your measurements are correct prior to mounting.

 

[sdifox]

Screen first, then projector since you will have to play with the projector to make the image square. Square as in construction, not shape of the image.

 

[purbeast0]

Screen first, then projector since you will have to play with the projector to make the image square. Square as in construction, not shape of the image.

it's much easier to move the screen left/right on the wall than it is to move the projector left/right.

also, projectors need to be mounted on joists, so you don't have quite as much flexibility where you can mount one.

 

[sdifox]

it's much easier to move the screen left/right on the wall than it is to move the projector left/right.

also, projectors need to be mounted on joists, so you don't have quite as much flexibility where you can mount one.

Up down Left right is not the problem... making the projection square is.

 

[purbeast0]

Up down Left right is not the problem... making the projection square is.

i meant physically moving the projector to a different mounted spot to the left or right, not just turning it left/right.

and yeah making it square is more important, which is why i personally think mounting the projector first is more important because most people are more limited as to where they can mount that vs where they can mount a screen, since the projector can only be mounted every 18" - 24" on joists. you can't really mount it between, unless you wanted to do a little bit more work.

 

[sdifox]

i meant physically moving the projector to a different mounted spot to the left or right, not just turning it left/right.

and yeah making it square is more important, which is why i personally think mounting the projector first is more important because most people are more limited as to where they can mount that vs where they can mount a screen, since the projector can only be mounted every 18" - 24" on joists. you can't really mount it between, unless you wanted to do a little bit more work.

yes you can mount in between. I use a piece of plywood screwed to the two joists. Full flexibility on projector mount placement.

You can fab a casing afterwards once ideal placement has been determined.

I use the calculator from projector central as starting point. Then adjust based on reality

 

[purbeast0]

yes you can mount in between. I use a piece of plywood screwed to the two joists. Full flexibility on projector mount placement.

yeah, that is what i was saying. some people may not have that option if their ceiling is already finished, unless they want it looking kinda ghetto.

but as you mentioned, as long as you measure first, then measure 5 more times to be sure, it doesn't matter what you do first.

 

[NAC]

I made two mistakes mounting my projector: First, I was overoptimistic in how far about the projector would be from the screen. The screen needed to be several inches from the wall to clear my fireplace, similarly the projector needed to several inches from the rear wall so that cords could be attached. Therefore, my projector cannot fill the entire screen I bought. Second, I failed to take into account that on my projector, the image does not project from the middle of the device, but instead to one side. I centered the projector itself to the screen, but should have moved it slightly to one side so the actual bulb/lens was centered to the screen.

Neither are a big deal, but if I did it again I'd take both into account.

 

[jaha2000]

Fair enough.
I figure with joist spacing every 16 on center and the zoom range of the projector, i should be able to get it into a spot that it will do what i need it to do...
I ono, i am still trying to figure out what cables i need to wire the screen trigger up. I am getting the felling that i did not buy even close to long enough cables to pull off what i am trying to do, but we will see how it goes.

 

[Exterous]

yeah, that is what i was saying. some people may not have that option if their ceiling is already finished, unless they want it looking kinda ghetto.

It's not that difficult to cut open your ceiling and add support if necessary - just make sure you are either good at mudding or hire someone who is.

Overall I agree with sdifox and place the screen first and projector second unless you have a compelling reason not to (you rent or something)

 

[jdoggg12]

Here's my W1070 with a DIY 110" blackout cloth screen. Everything is very temporary until I get a few things situated. The PJ is on an Ergotech arm so that I can adjust up/down, left/right, and (most importantly in my situation) forward/back.

That's a 37" TV and 20" security monitor below the screen, for size comparison. I underestimated some of the dimension so the border isn't 16:9, unfortunately... so the top/bottom gets cut off slightly if I fill in the width. For having no real DIY experience, I'm kinda proud of the job - soon I will be painting the cabinet and getting some covers for the ugly wood on the projector arm.

http://imgur.com/VvQavLe

 

[jaha2000]

Ill get some pics up when i get done.
But i am getting a bit out of hand here. Screen showed up. Went to the home depot, could not find wall brackets that i liked. Ended up ordering the ones from the MFG. Should be here by the weekend. Ended up getting a couple of power bridges, 1 for the projector, 1 for the screen. Figure i will be running Ethernet and other cables to each thing, might as well run romex as well so i can plug that stuff into the battery/power conditioner. All my equipment is ending up in another room now, also ordered a harmony remote with the IR bridge deal. Of course that means running a pile of speaker wire for the 7.1 in the walls.
Because of my room width, the screen has to go up first as i dont have much room to move it left to right. Figure ill get the screen where i want it, get my mount all assembled and hooked up to a source of some type. Get a buddy over with a tape measure to ensure i am square, mark the mount holes for the projector and profit.

 

[purbeast0]

if you have to cut holes in walls to snake wires through the walls, i'd STRONGLY recommend doing that before you do any screen mounting and stuff because when you patch the holes and sand, dust will get EVERYWHERE. i learned that the hard way heh.

i also find it odd that your screen did not come with the bracket to mount to the wall, i figured all of them did.

 

[jaha2000]

There were mount holes, but because of location i need to space it away from the wall a bit. Thus the need for brackets.

 

[jaha2000]

Crappy iphone pic, but getting there. My intersecting arc plan with the pencil worked perfectly. I need to shorten the arm up on my monoprice mount a bit but other than that it has been going well. Going to try and get the new harmony remote setup tonight as well as get the wires for the projector inside of the wall. The powerbridge deals are super slick!

 

[jdoggg12]

Looks very good so far!

 

[Dirigible]

Very nice. I've been enjoying that projector with a 100" screen since April.

 

[jaha2000]

You guys have the 12v hooked up to anything? Ethernet cable should be able to carry the signal right? I want to sync the screen to the projector. As you can see, its covers a door up..

 

[sdifox]

You guys have the 12v hooked up to anything? Ethernet cable should be able to carry the signal right? I want to sync the screen to the projector. As you can see, its covers a door up..

you can run 12v trigger through ethernet cable, as long as you clearly mark it :biggrin:

 

[purbeast0]

looking good man i'm sure you are loving it. now you gotta paint that room a darker color to help out with contrast. it makes a huge difference.

 

[jaha2000]

Yeah.. Wish i could loose the white on the ceiling, but painting popcorn is for the birds.
The reflections in that pic are half from the flash on the iphone, i know i can see some big gains, but part of the deal with the wife is that i would not turn it into a one purpose room (i know) so i might have to deal with the walls for a while like that..

 

[jaha2000]

Harmony remote and screen trigger all setup.
BTW. The new harmony media hub deal with the basic remote is sweet!
I have 4 more speakers to hang and i should be good to go..

 

[Kaido]

Yeah.. Wish i could loose the white on the ceiling, but painting popcorn is for the birds.
The reflections in that pic are half from the flash on the iphone, i know i can see some big gains, but part of the deal with the wife is that i would not turn it into a one purpose room (i know) so i might have to deal with the walls for a while like that..

I tried fixing a repair in our popcorn ceiling with the spray stuff in a can. Oh man, it looked like Shrek sneezed on my ceiling and then covered it in whiteout :biggrin:

 

[jaha2000]

Alright
Finally got everything mostly done - Just some wire cleanup to do on the rack

Rack of goodies. DTV Box - Onkyo SR608 - Panny Blu Ray 230 - Power conditioner - and the hub for the logitech smart remote - Just waiting for the PS4 now..

2 Fronts - Center - Sub with screen up

Looking back toward the seating


New star trek last night... The 125 is pretty big for the room, but i think i made it work.

Still need to calibrate the projector a bit. It seems pretty bright to me. Have to build the platform for the chair and a half so you can see over the people in front.

Overall not to bad to do. Its just a ton of wire to run to put the equipment in the other room and really hide all of the wires. Couple of things left to do and need to get some goodies to hang on the wall, but not to bad considering the room i had to work with.