| Projector
Basics |
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What are video
projectors used for? |
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They are
used for a variety of different applications: Home Theater: Movies,
computer and video games. Business: PowerPoint presentations in
the office and for travel. Church: Song lyrics, outline notes during
church worship services, mission work, youth groups and camps. Education:
Classrooms, lecture halls and auditoriums, in all levels of education,
for teaching and entertaining. Sports Bars and clubs: Showing games
and song lyrics for karaoke. Photography Studios: Large-scale print
previews. Government: Court proceedings, police investigations,
for training in the U.S. armed forces, and more. Many more: Look
closely at any concert, play, amusement park, presentation, lecture, or
any other large gathering or meeting, and you're likely to find a projection
device. That's just for starters! |
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The
projector doesn't turn on when I push the power button. What's wrong? |
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Check the following: Be sure that the power cord is properly connected to
the projector and plugged into the electricity outlet. –Turn on the
main power switch. –Check if the lamp lid is open. –The airflow
passage may be blocked. Check to see if the air inlet/outlet vents or air
filter are clogged with dust or another object. If so, remove/clean the
passage. |
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The projector
is running, but no image is being projected. What's up? |
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Check
the following: –Make sure the lens cap has been removed. –Make
sure the data source device is turned on an operating properly. –Make
sure the cables between the data source device and projector are connected
correctly. –Make sure that the correct input source has been selected. |
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Specs
for DLP™ projectors show a higher contrast ratio and lumens rating
than many LCD projectors. Is a 400:1 contrast ratio really low-quality
compared to a 2000:1 contrast? |
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Not really.
The contrast ratio and lumen ratings given on many DLP™ projectors
can be deceiving. The contrast ratio is the measure of a projector's blackest
black compared to its whitest white. It equals brightness over room light,
and is measured in a highly controlled environment--a completely black room,
with black walls and absolutely no light source other than the projector's.
This is unrealistic, because most people do not have a completely dedicated
room, and as soon as you introduce any ambient light into the room, the
contrast ratio is diminished. It's only important to consider it in conjunction
with brightness, when choosing the right projector for the room it will
be used in, and not as a deciding factor exclusively. |
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What care
and maintenance should I be doing to keep my projector in good working order
and extend its life? |
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#1: Make sure
when turning off your projector that you let it cool down sufficiently before
unplugging it. Failure to do so may result in an immediate loss of the lamp.
Repeated disregard of the cool-down feature will eventually cause your projector
to stop functioning altogether.
#2: We cannot stress enough the importance of keeping the filter clean and
openings clear of dust and lint.
#3: Make sure the projector has ample "breathing room" with adequate
ventilation, so that the unit doesn't overheat, putting extra pressure on
the motor and the lamp. |
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What is a
single panel LCD projector? |
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LCD technology
which projects light through a single amorphous liquid crystal panel containing
red, green and blue pixels. This type of projector is often more compact
and lighter, making them ultra portable and more affordable. |
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What is a
three-panel LCD projector? |
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LCD technology
which projects light through three polysilicon LCD panels, one each of red,
green and blue, to achieve the final projected image. These panels are the
size of a quarter ( There are three kinds in the market including 0.9",
1.3" and 1.8"). Since each panel displays only its primary color,
better color saturation and a larger color palette can be achieved. Also,
the three-panel design provides a much greater contrast ratio. |
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Why are projectors
with XGA resolution more expensive? |
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In a nutshell,
they have a higher resolution than SVGA. VGA is what your standard television
set has. SVGA is "Super VGA"--just one large step up from TV;
close but not quite as crisp and clear as XGA. (It is only slightly noticeable
between the two, to the untrained eye.) Also, occasionally there are additional
features which come with XGA that may not always come with SVGA. Look carefully
at all the available features and access your needs before making a decision
on a projection system--without getting too hung up on the price. |
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| Technical
Issues |
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What projection
distance do I need to get the right image size? |
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The projection
distance is related to the image size and the projector's minimum and maximum
zoom ratio (if applicable). You can find the right projection distance or
the right image size by following a simple calculation method. For example,
if your projection distance is 14 feet, the maximum diagonal size will be
100" and the minimum diagonal size will be 76". You can calculate
detail size/distance using the Screen Size Guides which can be accessed
from the manufacturer listings pages. |
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Why do I need
a video amplifier when using a VGA cable that's more than 30 feet? What
will happen if I do not use one? |
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A video amplifier
will strengthen the RGB analog signal that is transmitted from the display
adapter otherwise the control circuitry in the product cannot tell what
kind of signal it is, especially sync signals. If a video amplifier is not
used any image distortion (poor image, lack of colors) or sync problems
may occur. |
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Can the "Oversizing"
or "Compression" function be turned off? |
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Some projectors
allow you to turn off these functions by using the on screen display menu.
Other projectors can detect a lower/higher resolution and will automatically
match the computer's display image. |
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