Archive through October 30, 2003
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john prescott | I found a site wich claims that you can convert any TV to a 100 INCH tv. Has anyone tried this? http://www.webtv100inch.com Sound interesting. |
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Why | I just wasted my time in this ridiculous thread! |
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| I gave this idea try once in the past. Works very well and did save me money on a real frontal projection unit. This seller has a very good price for his kit. I paid mine $30 on another web site. In my opinion give it a try, there is not much to loose and a whole lot to gain. His screen shots are most impressive! His info may be more upto date than mine as well as his lens. |
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po | The main problem with this system is brightness. If you take a 32" screen and project its image onto a 100" screen. The brightness will be lowered by a factor of something like 10 to 1. Unless you have some way of boosting the brightness of your smaller TV, the 100" screen will look very dim. You'd only be able to watch it in very dark circumstances. And that's if you use a 32" TV. Use a 25" and now your brightness is lowered by 16 to 1. It will be no substitute for a big screen TV unless you don't mind watching in very dark rooms. |
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po | And before you go through the trouble of ordering check this out. http://www.bstvcentral.b0x.com/ for free instructions on how to build it. |
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john prescott | I checked out the link above. The instructions are free but the the lens is not included. At http://www.webtv100inch.com/ the lens is included and you will receive 2 cell phone boosters. I don't know if he uses the same instructions but his screen shots are most IMPRESSIVE! Any was, I made up my mind yesterday, I ordered 1 and it should arrive shortly, I can't wait to try it and I'll post more info when I get the chance! I cant wait for my BIG SCREEN TV! Later... |
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po | Just remember the old saying: You get what you pay for. Also, don't be disappointed when those cell phone boosters do nothing. That's another scam. They attach underneath the battery pack and, last time I checked, cell phones use the antenna for signal reception. The booster doesn't attach to the antenna so there is no way it can help signal reception. If a 10 cent sticker with cute metal traces helped reception, don't you think the cell phone manufacturers would already have them on the phones out of the factory? Of course they would. Just trying to help. po: consumer watchdog! |
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Anonymous | Don't you have to turn your TV upsidedown for the lens to work? Some TVs will not function properly upsidedown. |
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WWW.WebTV100INCH.COM | I see that I have a link here. I noticed this from my site statistics. I have a bit of traffic coming from the web thread. I am reading this board and I see allot of interesting opinions. As for the question above, you do not have to turn the TV upside down, I have 2 other methods to project an image. I do offer a 100% money back guarantee and I offer a 6X lens where most competitors only offer 3X or 2X lenses. Check it out at http://www.webtv100inch.com/ Skeptics are welcome. |
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Anonymous | i'll be honest,i will have to see it to believe it,cause i think that it is a gimmick of some kind,cause usually when something is too good to be true,it is.but on the other hand,for that price i think i would riskit,but if it is a gimmick i'll 'blast it' |
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WWW.WebTV100INCH.COM | No problem. If it doesn't work, please retun it for a full 100% refund! www.webtv100inch.com |
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Sicko Scams | I foresee several problems with this gimmick: 1. The picture is very dark and not crisp, much like an old video you would see in grade school. 2. The room would have to be pitch dark to make the picture even close to viewable. 3. How do you get the picture into focus? You would have to move your tv up and back. Who wants to do that? Does anyone have a room deep enough to do that? 4. Does anyone realize how big 100" is? How many people actually have a room with a clear, flat wall that big, not to mention that the wall cannot have wallpaper on it. 5. If you use a screen, do you hang it up and take it down everytime you watch a movie? Who wants to keep a huge screen up all the time? How much would a screen like that cost? Add that to the $9.99. 6. You would have to sit way back to see the picture. Sitting in your normal viewing position would be like sitting in the front row at a movie theater, only with a much inferior picture. 7. Does the manufacturer include return information with the device or do you have to call an 800 number that noone ever answers or leaves you on hold? Most companies that mention money-back returns make you jump throuh hoops to find out how to return it. Does the company pay for the shipping to return the device when you are not happy with it? I am tired of these scams that don't necessarily lie, but don't tell us all the imporatant information. Overall, it is the fault of the consumer if they buy something without fully researching it, but I know we get caught up in the fools gold and the cheap prices. By the way, if anyone wants to buy my used toothpicks, I will give you 10 for $2. They might not be what you are looking for, but at this price, how can you pass it up. |
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WWW.WebTV100INCH.COM | This guy obviously has not checked out my web site. This is not a scam. I have over 870 positive feedbacks from my customers. Don't believe me? Check this link out and see for yourself. As for money back guarantee, its there if you need it no questions asked, but I am more than sure everyone will be happy. I received not 1 return with the last 1000 I sold. http://www.webtv100inch.com Skeptics are welcome, even the guy above. |
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WWW.WebTV100INCH.COM | Sorry about that, here is the link to my 870+ feedbacks: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=classiccarinternational take a good look at all my feedbacks and it will help anyone make a clear decision. My web site: http://www.webtv100inch.com |
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www.webtv100inch.com | If you are having trouble locating my feedback this link will HELP! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=classiccarinternational My site: http://www.webtv100inch.com |
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www.webtv100inch.com | Here is some feedback to look for. Remember I do have some Negative feedback (if you read them you'll see its unimportant)and I have currently 875 posative. ezfxinc(21) Nov-22-02 13:26:31 PST 1390007426 S Praise : Received quick, awesome image!!!!! kids love it miami-gold(2) Nov-18-02 05:50:31 PST 1390007712 S Praise : it really works, now I have my own hometheatre! andrewkatie(9) Nov-04-02 12:27:38 PST 1377331462 S Praise : Work just like it says. Turned a sceptic into a believer! Thanks!! jverhaag(13) Nov-01-02 18:36:24 PST 1390007712 S Praise : Product as promised. Thanks funsecrets(7) Nov-01-02 12:52:28 PST 1391384768 S Praise : Quick delivery, product exactly as stated. Thanks mandm@netins.net(21) Sep-09-02 17:21:33 PDT 1377330643 S Praise : WOW!!!!!! Is all I can say its amazing. Its fantastic. IT REALLY WORKS!!! |
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| I have been looking over this 100" TV thing for a few weeks now. I've looked at i think every different website there is!!! I have now ordered a lens, hopefully will be here today (although it may take up to a week.) I tested it with a TV and quickly slapped a box up and used a small lens from a camera, The box looked terrible because it was al bend and buggered! Obviousley because it wasn't a projection lens i used, it didn't really project the picture but i held a piece of paper up at the focal point of the lens and i could see the image focused on the paper, so i can see that it will work and am very excited to get my new lens. If i can get a picture focused with a crappy lens and a bent and buggered crappy box, but it did work!! so im gonna take time over my new one and make it lok really nice!!! Who knows if my girlfriend likes it i might beable to do it with the living room TV!! |
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| Anyone interested in buying a lens for the projection tv for only $8.00 you may contact me at latasha05@netzero.com . I'll even give you a link to an awesome web site that offers FREE instructions to build your projection tv. I have tried it myself and it works great considering the very low cost to build it. Of course it does'nt work as great as a projection tv that you would purchase at your local retailer, but it is a great substitute (especially if you already own a manufactured projection tv and you just want to have a second projection tv for your children's entertainment without spending thousands of dollars and taking the high risk of it getting damaged! I only have a few lens left so hurry! I will give you instructions on how to get your lens/instructions via email. IT REALLY WORKS- JUST SEE FOR YOURSELF! Thank You & Have A Great Day! latasha05@netzero.com |
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| This is obviously a scam. If any of this sh_t was true and factual, why is there no business address and no business telephone numbers. There isn't even an e-mail address. 9 bucks dosen't seem like much but a thousand suckers as he claims he sold to that makes some good doe to the scam maker. Easy money for Rubish. Trust me I did my research and it is true you get what you pay for. In this case a $9.99 TV. CRAP |
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| The screen shots shown on the web page are a bit troublesome. How do i know that the image is from a home made projector? the projector is not shown in the same pictures. The screen shots could be from a $6,000 projector. |
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Anonymous | here's a question - so you don't have to turn your TV upside-down, but do you have to turn it on its back so the screen is facing the ceiling and then use a mirror to get it to work? my TV won't do either witout having the color get messed up (turns purple/greenish)... so what would someone suggest i do then if i wanted to get one of these? |
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| CONTACT ME IF U WANT TO BUILT THE 100 INCH TV FOR FREE!!! DONT PAY THE GUYS TO BUY THE INSTRUCTION BOOK..I WILL GIVE IT TO U FOR FREE IF U CONTACT ME AT tirvinal@yahoo.com. ITS FREE GUYS..I WONT EVEN CHARGE A PENNY FOR THE INSTRUCTION BOOK.I WILL GIVE U THE LINK FOR THE INSTRUCTION BOOK IF U CONTACT ME AT tirvinal@yahoo.com. PLEASE DONT WASTE UR MONEY AND BUY THE GUIDE FROM WWW.100INCHTV.VOM..THEY CHARGE U 10$. BUT I DONT CHARGE ANYTHING.CONTACT ME SOON. BYE |
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Home Theater Enthusiast | This projection idea sounds kinda neat, and seems like it might be fun for a tinkerer that just wants to see what they can come up with. But these claims that the picture is anywhere near the quality of a manufactured projection TV is idiotic. I work for a regional chain of high end audio/video equipment, and I've worked with several nice projectors and projection TV's. Believe me when I say that you can tell a huge difference between a $1700 Panasonic and a $2300 Mitsubishi projection TV. And much much more up to a $5500 Mitsu Diamond or a $6500 Pioneer Elite. These companies spend thousands in research to have the best pictures availableSo anyway, My point is it might be able to project a picture, but that's it. Don't expect it to be sharp, crisp, bright, or watchable to anyone who appreciates movies and TV. But for those who think this is all it's cracked up to be, I'm sure a big clunky wooden box will look lovely in the middle of your living room among the duct tape patched furniture, and maybe you can even hook the TV up to your Clapper. |
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| a link for the 100 inch tv..check it out... http://bigscreentv.20m.com/custom4.html its cool...there is all the instructions for building the 100 inch tv.. |
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| Okay, so all these free or nearly free huge screen things... A. can you build a screen thet's less than 100"? say, 70", or 42"? B. how deep would this thing come out to be? consideting the fact the TV itself is some 20" deep, and you're adding another 15" to it's front, this comes out rather bulky, doesnt'n it? |
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| hmmm - if you used 2 low-power lenses, would that re-invert the picture so you didn't have to shift your tv set? or would double lenses degrade it too much? anyone tried this? |
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| hai buddy,, I GOT A GOOD LINK FOR U ON BUILDING THE 100 INCH TV!! ITS FREE!!! DONT WASTE UR MONEY ON OTHER SITES.. http://bigscreentv.20m.com/custom4.html |
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Anonymous | There are a lot of people talking about trying it, but nobody is reporting what it is actually like. Has anyone actually tried it? |
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| hai buddy,, I TRIED THIS AND IT WORKS!!! BUT DONT EXPECT TOO MUCH BRIGHTNESS..THE PICTURE IS SHARPP BUT ITS VERY DIMM AND LOW IN BRIGHTNESS..TRY IT ..ITS COL I GOT A GOOD LINK FOR U ON BUILDING THE 100 INCH TV!! http://bigscreentv.20m.com/custom4.html HAVE FUNN!!!! IF U BUILT THE 100 INCH TV..PLEASE DONT FORGET TO TELL ME THAT IT WORKS WELL OR NOT..BECUASE I DIDNT BUILT ONE YET!!! PLEASE REPLY ME AFTER U BUILT THE TV.. HELP ME TOO WHEN U GOT SOME GOOD LINKS !!!OKKK..SEE YA |
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webmaster | Anyone interested in a BIG Screen Tv system can get one very cheap at the address listed below: http://www.monsterscreen.com |
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| I made one myself of wood box, its cool but only for cartoon movies , don't think it give sharp n crisp picture and even the picture is fine only in the middle circle, rest is blurry , and u can't even figure out which channel u r watching. u need a very dark room. overall its cool for just a science project now for home use. for more cantact me at rahul_nice_boy@hotmail.com |
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| Agre with Rahul ^ built one myself, those pictures on the sites are fake, wont be that crisp, it works though, but not like they say..To get it like they say you would need a 5x-6x 5"-6" lens, and I sitll havnt beenable to find one... But its fun to make the first time... |
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| Some tips 'n' tricks for building projector Paint the box matte black from inside. The grove side of the lens should face the tv The room should be very dark (try midnight time with all lights off) No light should peep out from the box (check the joints of the box and tape it black ) Use a shiny silky silver cloth as the screen. (strech it with the help of wooden frame). Adjust the tv brightness, sharpness and tint to extreme. (not every chennel looks good in full brightness). Adjust the lens in the box for the focus, if you like to make the picture short (50" or so)u need to move ur tv back 'n' froth to achive the right focus alongwith the lens. And the last 'n' funny part is after doing so many things still u will not get the thing u want. U will get a bllury picture from the sides only sharp in the middle. i tried to make it sharp on all the screen but could'nt find anyway for it. the only thing i feel is to do it with a full flat screen tv (Sony Wega), but i feel if u have sony wega u don't really need a big screen. I bet all the advert. on the sites are fake and the pictures they show are fake too. I played with this sh** for nearly 3 month and now am tired of it. i feel its cool when u build but as it get older u just through the box and like to see the tv as it is. Any one aggrees or dis....??? |
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mike hunt | I bought a set of lens and plans from bigscreendreams. (www.bigscreendreams.com) Very skeptical when i purchased it, but curious to see if it would work. When i first built the projector, i was amazed at the picture quality of it, though my amazement may have been a little over the top as i was expecting a load of sh_t. Its a very fun project at first but don't expect to watch all your tv and movies on this thing. Buy it if you are looking for a fun project to fill up your time. :-) |
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| Dear Mike Hunt, Can u please tell more about it, is the thing as it says on their site, is the picture clear n crisp all over the screen. and also it u can mail me the plans u got from them. |
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| Ya Mike can u plz mail the plan to me too. |
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Thestaight Talk | Okay everyone, I built one of these two months ago and here is the scoop... The picture quality is definitely not like the only the guys are showing on their website and I can prove it too. Go to the link http://www.webtv100inch.com/ScreenShots.html and look at the last screen shot. This is definitely fake because the shadow of the guy in front of the screen is not directly behind him but off to the side. This can only happen if the light was not coming straight towards the screen as it would in a real projection setup. This guy simply added his image with some software like Fireworks MX that allows you to paste an image onto another one and even make the image transparent. Enough about that. The center of the image will be the only thing that will be visible with these $10 scams. The outer 40% is always out of focus no matter how well you align the lens in front of the TV. Also, and this was a big factor nobody mentions, yes, you do have to flip your TV upside down, but that still leaves the image reversed. Everything left is now right, and words are backwards. Its simple optics. You have to flip the TV because what is up becomes down, but you can't reverse the image as well to correct the right and left switch. Have fun if you want, but I the only ones enjoying all the hype are the guys selling the info or lenses. |
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Anonymous | Hi fellas just discovered this site I also was a skeptic but when I bought the lens I was amazed the picture on mine is good only that its quite dim there are a few other things that you can try line the inside of both your boxes with tin foil i tried this and the brightness has improved a little bit also make sure that you build one out of MDF wood as it will be more stable and try and use 2 lenses back to back like it says on www.monsterscreen.com the thing about this is you just have to keep fiddling with it try new some ideas it also depends on what you use as a screen personally i have only built this for my little 15" computer monitor and only use it for divx and dvd movies i dont keep it on their all the time only when I want to watch a movie and one more thing for £6 what do you expect. |
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| GOTO 3DLENS.com..... You can get the same lens for only $1.79 Good company. The system does work, but its not very bright, and blurs on edges (TV screens are not flat, so focal points change on curve, can be compansated curving the screen) |
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| There are some problems. If he says thet his projector can get the picture clear and bright he is lying. see The picture is so dim you can barley see it. And it is so blury too you cannot get it clear. but it is interesting to goof around with. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING!!!!! If he has pictures of him standing up to the wall and the captain says actual picture DO DO DO DO DO DO DO DO DO DO DO DO NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT BUY FROM HIM!!!!!! see if you were to take a picture of it inorder to see it it would have to be dark. so you would turn the flash on the camera on right? well if you do that then when you take the picture the flash goes off and the picture developes with no picture just a picture of a wall. so you turn the flash off right wrong see if you do that is too dark to see the picture after you take it so there is hno ay that you can have a picture of it. I would cheack out this site. they have trashed tho 100" projector and came yup with some new ideas that work. they will cost ya about 88-150$$ to make though but you have to agrea that is better than buying a projector for 1000 right check it out http://www.hommie.net/ and check this site out too http://www.dreamlash.com/DIY/index.php?postid=35&pic=8 hope that helped! e-mail me if any of that didn't make sence! |
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Anonymous | i got a good bright picture on a very reflective silver cloth but it was too shiny and hotspotted i think a greyi silvery not so shiny cloth will fix this but will have to wait and see. |
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Richard | mmmnnn .. all sounds like it's all a bit of a scam .. notthat scams are bad mind ...no one has been on here and said it was great and it works well .. except the sellers .. who we all believe right! .. does sound fun trying it out .. wonder if it would work with a monitor ? - worth a play for a few dollars .... |
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Poohead | try it and it sucked |
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The Intelligent 1 | there r multiple ways to do it and some ways r better than others. Here r a bunch of links that show u many different ways to do it and where u can buy the supplies needed for this project including how to build a computer in the projecter: http://www.hommie.net/ http://www.gideontech.com/cs.shtml http://www.projectiontv.co.uk/ http://www.louisville.edu/~wchall01/diyprojector/howto.htm http://fender410.tripod.com/ http://www.geocities.com/zark5150/projector.html http://www.smokinpuppy.com/protv.html http://www.dith.cwc.net/tvproj.html http://www.playntradeonline.com/projector.html http://users.pandora.be/emmanuel.geeraert1/diyvp/ http://www.iamanangelchaser.com/processes/DIY_video_projector/DIY_video_projector.html http://people.eecs.ku.edu/~astaples/projector/main.htm http://dreamlash.com/DIY/index.php?postid=1 http://www.skennedy44.freeserve.co.uk/index.html http://bigscreentv.20m.com/photo.html http://www.skennedy44.freeserve.co.uk/projector_tv.html http://groups.msn.com/DiyProjectionTV/collectedpicsfromsites.msnw?Page=2 |
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| i have a great alternative to using a television. Instead you can use an LCD panel. You can purchase small "see through" LCD colour panels for about £150 which have s-video and vga inputs (for Video and Data) (or you can buy one of those ones that you can get for a game cube console and simply take the LCD panel out of the frame and away from the backlight - but i don't know how to do this) anyway then you insert the "see through" LCD colour panel into the projection box you have made. then at the same end of the box (the one nearest the LCD Panel - the opposite end to the lens) place a thin piece of white cloth which lets alot of light through over the entire end of the box (covering the hole) then behind that make another box (you don't have to) and place a normal household 100 watt light bulb in there. Can you see where i'm going. When you turn on the bulb, the white cloth slightly dissipates the light which then passes through the LCD panel, through the projection box and out through the lens and onto the screen projecting a very clear image which is much clearer and about twice as bright as using a TV to project the image. and the good thing is the whole image is focussed and not just the center because LCD panels are flat whereas most TV's are curved screens. I have tried this a few times and have recieved very good results. obviously it is not as good as a £2000 projector but its not far off and its a lot better than using a TV to project the image. contact me on basketcase3000@hotmail.com for further info and i am currently developing some plans for this construction which will hopefully be available soon. The Lcd panels can be found by going to a search engine and searching for "OHP LCD panels" or something similar. I hope this helps. |
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Anonymous | Not to get off the subject but go to 123-freestuff.com Do you think they really give away free stuff??? They say they will give a money back guarantee if you do not get something free. In fact I got him to say that if I did not get something free I would get my money back. He said this in his own words. Zig1@prtcnet.com |
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| I have found that my site www.ProjectionTV.co.uk has been recieving traffic from these forums. I agree that the lenses arent that great using a normal TV, however i have found that by using a 14" trinitron flat screen TV that the picture was in focus to the edges. but the brightness was still an issue. My site is still fairly new and i have built a projector using a 5" PSone LCD screen and the brightness of the screen great but the picture is slightly pixelated as shown on the picture of the LCD projection on my site. this projector cost me a total of £120 and it uses a 750w Metal Hallide bulb and reflector. however the pixellation is caused by using such a small screen, however i am in the process of building a new projector using a 12.5" XGA LCD panel this screen has cost me £80 and i will post plans with pics on my site as soon as i have finished them. I think that you have to be slightly sceptical, as the image that is displayed when using a TV is never as good as the screenshots they show you as they are either doctored or taken using a commercial projector. But i always try to state that if you want a decent projector, you have to spend a little bit more. but overall for the little money that is asked they are pretty good fun to have a go of, be it either using a TV or more the more in depth LCD method. Could i just say that the people who state that they have 6x frenel lenses are talking crap. as 6x fresnel lenses are not produced do to the Groove pitch problem. a fresnel can be only produced up to 3x. they get away with selling them as 6x because it is very hard to prove that they are only 3x lenses. But i get a lot of feedback from people who are extremely happy with the projection using a TV but i think those people are realistic about what results can be achieved, that is because i try not to raise thier expectations to unrealistic levels as you can see by the pictures on my site. Have fun. Fuzzy Logic www.ProjectionTV.co.uk |
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Anonymous | I found a 6x lens at http://www.maxtheater.com. I orderd one and i cant wate to get it. |
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Anonymous | check this out to www.bigscreentv.tv |
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| shite |
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Joe | Has anyone tested a 6x lens vs a 3x. I read on some site that the 6x lens deal is a trick and they are all really the same. I have also read that a page magnifier from office depot, office max, staples, and just about any other office store works the same as these 3x lenses that they are trying to sell on ebay. |
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benji henry | hey have any of you tried this you know the arm on those school projectors try using that for the lens |
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Billy Joe Russel Thomas | A couple years ago I tried this with a regular magnifying glass (a fairly large one) and the picture was pretty good. The middle was almost perfect, but since it was a curved lense the edges were always out of focus. The thing is, you can use this to project the image on your ceiling, like right above your bed if you position your projector right. So even if the quality isnt that great, just get an old tv, and get a fresnel lens (3x will work fine, talked to some people in the business, say 6x does not exist, or would be impossible to make). How many people can say that they have a tv on their ceiling. Other than that, I wouldnt use it for normal viewing like most webpages describe. |
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JEw Nuts | As a followup.....does anyone know how to project the picture correctly with the wording on the screen correct. If you use it without any mirrors, the wording on the TV will be backwards. Are mirrors positioned correctly the answer? |
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question | will this work with an LCD computer screen instead of a tv? will the pictue be worse? |
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| Billy Joe Russel Thomas The reason the image was blurred around the edges is because you were usind a convential TV which happens to a curved face to the screen. If you purchase a WEGA TV or flatscreen one the image is focussed throughout so you get a sharp image on the wall (or whatever you're projecting onto). Nowadays you can pick up decent 14" Wega TVs from Argos or Dixons from about £120 or you can buy one second hand off eBay etc. |
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Billy Joe Russel Thomas | What the hell is Argos or Dixons? Are those characters in the Lord of the Rings? I know that the curvature of the TV is the cuase of the distortion, but I wouldnt invest in a WEGA for a stupid fake projection tv....just enjoy the WEGA if you get one. Thanks for the help basket case tho. The british open was cool this year. Billy Joe Russel Thomas |
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Wes | I bought me an older used projection TV for $250.00... Just shop around and you will find someone upgrading to HDTV from an older projection type and you will eventually find a good deal. |
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| I just wanted to summarise this whole page, so you don't waste your time... Basically, all the screenshots people have used to advertise this thing are completely fake (any moron would be able to tell). People on this thread say that the image will be blurry, very dim, and that it will be horizontally inverted (i.e. a mirror image of the actual picture). There are no positive comments for the product (well except from the sellers!). I would like to try this but am really not expecting much! Oh yeah and don't pay more than £10 or so. |
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| Anil Vij I can honestly say that none of the pictures on my site http://www.projectiontv.co.uk are fake, they were all taken using a Nikon Coolpix 775 2.1mp Digi Camera, they have not been through an editing program and are the bona fide original, not like some other sites i could mention. I try to portray the honest side of the idea, not just a to be a rip off merchant. for those of you who want a way to project the image the correct way around, please look on the screen inversion page, it shows you how to rewire your TV so it will dispay the image back to front and upside down, with your TV the right way around. If you read through the forums (bear in mind that forums are the place to post problems)that you will see that my customers are happy with the projectiontv and screen inversion, and most people do manage to create a working projector. let the site speak for itself. regards Stuart Buchanan |
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Anonymous | I just made one of these the other day. My kids love it!!!!! Pitch black room works the best. Here is a site which has a more compact design and doesn't screw up the colors on the T.V. from fliping it upside down. Oh the text shows up correct TOO! http://www.skennedy44.freeserve.co.uk/projector_tv.html Crank up the color and brightness and enjoy. I used a 14" ordinary T.V. with a 2x lens I bought at Office Depot for 7$. Using the above design...placed 5 feet from the wall gives a picture just shy of 5 feet diagonal. Make sure the T.V. has been off for a couple hours before turning face down. Gives better picture. For a screen I painted a sheet of .125" plywood with KILZ primer. |
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| As far as the horizontal and vertical situation, you can open your tv and either swap the wires for the horizontal and vertical coils with each other, or place a dowuble-change over switch in line to make it a less permanent change. You can use part #375-666 from Radio Shack as the inline switch. I also suggest, that if you aren't good at electroicsm use what are called "Tap ins" that can be bought at Radio Shack as well, I just lack a part number. I am in the process of building now... I'll let you know how my projector turns out. I just want it for X-Box lan parties... Halo at 100"! |
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| Oh, for the screen, blackout cloth stretched across black felt covered 1"x2" frame is what I have heard works best. |
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| http://www.projectiontv.co.uk/sinversion.htm This is a good site which shows how to do the inversion switch. I just did it on my tv and it works great. |
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Some Guy | Somebody needs to sell this thing in a kit for your tv screen size in stead of using cardboard or foamcore. I bought one from bigscreendreams on ebay and it looks like a piece of crap. I haven't got my lens yet, but I want to make one (THAT WORKS) without using some cheap plastic "lens" and cardboard. I would much rather build one out of wood with out going all over town for the right wood and getting set up with table saws etc. any ideas?!! |
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Some Guy | By the way, wouldn't it be nice if these things were simply put together? No more duct tape and cardboard- what if we could simply order one for $50- $100 that would use a lens similar to the ones in slide show projectors that would give a picture that was clear? The only difference would be the materials used and the lens. I know there is a better way to do this than what we've already seen. Am I the first to think of this?? But there is still the matter of the reverse of the image on your television. Would the projector lens I mensioned fix this without a mirror? and what a bout brightness? |
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Markus Smellyfootus | http://www.diyfresnelprojector.tvheaven.com/ heres the truth about this project http://www.fullspeed.co.nz some more info there also including where to buy the lens from for 50c |
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Some Guy | Markus, you're right. I got my projector lens yesterday, and the image is blurry even when focused. I saw a very different design using an overhead projector like the ones found in school as a light source with an LCD screen on top. The image was not reversed up or down, or side to side, nor was the picture blurry. I would deffinately suggest this if you have the money. I am very open for suggestions. |
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k0rp5 | po... in response to a message at the very very top... The brightness of the image plane projected by a lense is as bright at the ratio of the focal length to the object plane (i'm not sure if the object names are right, but the theory is a fundamental theory of optics...). the only problem is to make it a usable lense, it would have to be more parabolic the larger the focal length.. and so there would be more money involved. so if they place you buy it from has a wider lense instead of a thin one it should be brighter... ::shrugs:: |
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k0rp5 | unfortunatly in looking into the lenses used... all i've seen are fresnel.. so probably wont find one like you'd need. |
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D-Loc | Here is a site with free plans about building a 100inch tv. Check it out if u dont want to buy plans and get ripped off. http://www.originalplots.com/100inch Here is a direct link to the plans http://www.originalplots.com/images/bryans_100inchTVguide.pdf |
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Some Guy | I saw an ad on ebay a while back on a projector without a fresnel lens, and it wasn't made with an lcd screen. It showed a picture of a tv sitting on a stand next to a screen with the same image on it. It sounded strange so I didn't buy it. He said that it required no assembly, but did require about 100 dollars to construct it. Anyone heard of this before? |
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| I can only find a 2X lens locally at staples has anyone tried this and got it to work correctly using any of the plans available, I have a completely dark room with nothing but my tv and a big white wall which i may paint silver with primer to get a crisp picture, will the 2x work or do I need a fancy 3x or 6x if they even make them? please email me with more info if you can help. |
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| WOW! I can not believe I actually read the entire thread. What a blast and I wonder how and why I never heard about this till just now. I am a major computer and A/V guru and while I will reserve judgment until I have personally experienced the projection scheme for myself, I will throw out some ideas and opinions on some of those mentioned throughout the thread. 1st off the idea in theory seems sound and with only a few minor but potentially annoying issues that are so obvious and some that might not be so obvious to some. Notice how most all the plans call for a 13-19 inch TV, monitor or LCD screen to be used. My only 14 inch screen (TV/VCR combo) unit just died yesterday which leaves me with one 20 inch TV which is just past the cut-off size. I do however have an extra 17 inch computer monitor I could use and just happen to have the ability to pump the composite video signal into the computer from my VCR or play right off the built in DVD player. However, the screen is not PERFECTLY flat so I foresee that to be a problem later on as the edges might be blurry as mentioned by others. I don't know about you but I do not want to be watching TV on my wall and wonder what da hell is being said to want to turn on caption and realize that the remote wont work the upside-down TV. And then remember that the words would be backwards anyhow. No I could open her up and inverse the signals like some websites tell you how to. It doesn't make me feel too comfortable with the idea since I know that TV's and Monitors KILL people if they happen to touch the wrong part and there still be a load in the system - even while unplugged. One must have to ground out the power within the system as described by some techs before working inside the monitor or TV. SO I thought, okay, so what if. what if the edges are a bit blurry, will it be fun to do? Will my wife freak out when she finds the TV upside-down? Or will this be another one of those projects I end up having to put things back the way they were - just a waste of time and money too? Okay if you are still reading trust me you will like this part. I then remembered a computer part a friend of mine gave me as it was no use to him anymore. It is a LCD screen that you place on the OHP (Over Head Projector) unit like those you can buy at office depot - which are more compact and high tech looking than the heavy ugly things the schools used in my days (I am 34 now). Hook that baby right up to the computer and pumping the image through the composite video in on my computer and turn off the light -- Oh wait, I don't have the OHP or silver screen. Well the screen doesn't have to be silver and a wall will do to start but where do I get an OHP? Called office Depot and they wanted over 300 bucks! Well I guess that beats 3000 bucks for a real TV projection system. But wait. There is still ebay! The bad part of this idea is that while you can buy LCD panels that hook up to the computer for as little as 35 bucks from ebay and the OHP for about twice that amount - don't forget S&H too will cost ya a bundle (50 bucks total more or less maybe) but if you are smart and LUCKY you will find someone selling the items near you and just go pick them up instead of supporting UPS FEDEX and USPS etc. So for under 100 bucks! you could get the LCD and OHP. Now the computer issue. Most computers do not come with a composite video IN source. Most come with just the 15 pin SVGA and composite video OUT. For those who wondering what Composite video is - it is that RCA styled connector (usually yellow). So what do you do now? Well I tell ya, I have both PC's and MACs here at my house. I love them both for what each are good at and the MACs almost always come with inexpensive video in/out options. But PC's also offer the video in option boards (get a PCI based one). You will have to install it into the computer. The cards sell on ebay for about 50-100 bucks on average and sure you can pay more or less just depending on what kind and how lucky you get. The reason I mention all of this is that now like as commented earlier -- you do not have to fiddle with boxes, tape and lens's, nor do you have to spend the time required to figure out the right distances between both the TV lens and wall (or screen). The better reason to do it this way would be to avoid the big fat mess and hassles of changing the TV upside down or inverse the TV signals inside. You get a very good picture depending on the kind of LCD screen you find. Now the LCD screen I am talking about is not the kind you see on a laptop computer. These screens are designed to use the well designed mirrors, lens's) and internal light source of the OHP to project the image onto the wall or screen with great clarity! The room does not have to be pitch black at midnight to be able to watch. You can also easily move the OHP with the LCD screen as you like and if it gets out of focus most OHP's come with a remote focus adjustment feature. Now there are some LCD screens out there that cost more money that I have heard but have not verified can already accept a s-video or composite video input signal directly from a console (like x-box or ps2 etc) or a VCR or even a camcorder. This would be ideal since it would eliminate the need for a computer. So with all that said above, I am going to look into the idea that either I find on ebay such a LCD (made for use with OHP) screen that will accept the composite video signal or possibly even a OEM part where they might sell just the same LCD screen but without any casing - but has to be able to accept the composite video signal. Kind of like buying a pin hole video CCD cam for cheap directly from the people who built the part instead of going to a home electronics retail store where you will pay up to 10 times more for the finished product. I could still try the 3x or supposed 6x lens - a strong sturdy box and tape but why? It will look like crap. If it is blurry I will be very unsatisfied and I certainly wouldn't want to ruin my child's eyes. A blurry pictures can also cause headaches (so I hear). Remember a few other points I will make now before you go off and try this. TV's and computer monitors are not meant to be viewed upside-down. It goes against the intended use and could cause damage to the unit. There are also possible hazards which I wont even go into but just give it a little thought and definitely take care if you open that TV or monitor up. Just call a near by TV or monitor repair shop and they can tell you all about the dangers and maybe suggest to you how to's or even offer to do it for you at a small price. A small price to pay for one's life. Someone asked if the unit can work with laptop screen - answer is yes but don't expect much out of it. Last note: The LCD's for OHP's on ebay - SHARP has been making them for a long time and while I am not certain of their quality or specs for each different kind, I can tell you that no matter what kind you get - you are going to have a different kind of image than you would if you use the lens and tapes box plans. It is possible that the lens and taped box plans could turn out better as far as maximum screen quality or the potential for such quality. Obviously having one of them perfectly flat TV's will be better and using a made for projection screen will help. But the lens is still curved right? so there is always going to be some distortion. I suspect from having done my own calculation that a TV closer to the size of 16 inches would be best. Just based on math. Possibly a 15 or 17 inch computer monitor would be best ? But then how about the inversion deal? How is this done with a computer monitor ? Okay, sorry for the long winded post but this IS very interesting thread and I get all fuzzy inside when I think about what it would be like to watch TV in my house or play games like I was really in the game. Okay, this brings me to this idea. I wonder if it would be possible to take the TV to the local TV repair shop and pay him to tweak out the TV (inverse) and make it brighter too? I have fixed them old TUBE TV's when I was in my teens and I would imagine that the older TV's might be more easily tweaked. Could possibly find an old 14 inch TV in a thrift or pawn shop for 30 bucks or so. Just ride around the neighborhood over the weekend and you will find people tossing them out too or selling them at their garage sale for 10 or 20 bucks. I saw one when I was a kid with a sign on it that said "FREE!". I took it home and it worked! I am going to go with the OHP configurment and find me a LCD for OHP screen somewhere that accepts the composite-video signal so I can mount the sucker somewhere nice so as not to look crappy in my family room. I will follow up later - might be a few months though. I will continue to look at plans online and check things out as I thinking it would be neat if I could start putting together units to sell on ebay. The shipping and handling would be a serious problem though as I hate to pay 30 bucks or more for shipping. I imagine it keeps some people from buying online too. If someone offered a unit for sale for 200 bucks online would you buy it? I mean one where you get the TV with the lens and all that all connected together with a worm drive like adjustment deal so you could adjust the focus etc and course the brightness would be higher and the inversed video so it would not have to be laid upside down etc. Or maybe it is better to find one used 50+ inch TV unit for a half a grand? Who knows, there could be a market for this. I can already see it as an inexpensive tool for performing seminars., Not having to spend 5-10 grand. I just think I might feel uncomfortable selling such things. There could even be a law against the sale of such modified units. I bet there is actually. Would make some sense as to why you do not see anyone selling them as such to date. Oh, and the idea that the snapshots online are fake -- that is to be seen but I know you can take them types of pictures using long exposure film - just have to pause the image so as not to be blurry on film. Digital cameras allow us to tweak these typos of settings including their sensitivity to the light etc., but the one image where the dude is in front of the photoshoppy looking words -- the one where it looks like the shadows are not right -- I personally could have done a better job with my own Photoshop skills ;-) The reason you do not see the projection units is because they do not want you to see the ugly a$$ box they made hahahaha. peace. www.2001Networks.com |
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Derek | I just saw a review on TechTV. What a complete waste of time. See http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/products/story/0,24330,3506019,00.html |
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Anonymous | I actually built one big screen projection systems in the early eighties. It was exciting and disappointing. I was able to produce a large projection of a television image but it was not very bright or sharp. In a pitch black room you could tolerate it for a little while but it was'nt for everyday use. |
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Anonymous | Go to Fresnel lens manufacturer http://www.3Dlens.com You can get a rigid acrylic Large Fresnel lens 250mm x 250mm (10" x 10"). This lens is more clear than other page magnifier (7x10") sold in the market. They also have 7x10" Fresnel lens at US$1.79 each unit. |
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Motley | OK, FOLKS! Let's cut the crap once and for all about these $9.00 big screen TV "plans". Here is the voice of experience. I ordered the kit and IT IS TOTAL RUBISH. Don't believe these jerks on this thread telling you about all the positive feedback they received or how amazed they were at the picture quality. All you get is a fresnel lens, and a xeroxed booklet of instructions telling you how to build a telescope box around your TV (which you DO have to turn upside down). You can find these plans on the Internet - even on this thread. The picture you get is not sharp at all and has to be viewed in a totally darkened room. Don't waste your time and money on this snake oil. You will not be happy with the results. This message board alone has a dozen better ways to build your own projector. If you REALLY doubt what I'm saying and still want to build the thing, at least don't fund this scam. Buy your own "secret" fresnel lens from an office supply store or the Internet, download the TV box plans and have at it. By the way, has anybody checked the prices of LCD projectors lately? They have come way down. I thought of building a projector of my own, but once I shopped around I figured what the hell, I'll just buy one. But, even if you can't afford one, don't waste your time and money on Snake Oil Big Screen TV. Somebody in this thread said it - YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. If you order this kit, what you will end up with is a big screen picture that looks worth only $9.00. What a rip-off. Don't say I didn't warn you. |
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SOCKS | Scrolling through this thread I notice what appear to be merchants who claim that this "Snake Oil Big Screen TV" is the greatest. Decide for yourself. Scroll up to check out DEREK'S review link. Still think this thing is worth cardboard and duct tape it takes to build it? So, go ahead and build it. Scroll up to MIKE'S and D-LOC'S messages and there you will find the "secret" plans, which you can download for free. Check out ANONYMOUS' link for a $2.00 fresnel lens and there you go. This system is a pile of crap, but at least you can save yourself from getting scammed. |
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| If you have any sort of physics background you would know that for the most part, these types of kits are not total scams. Do a search for fresnel lenses and learn about them.. You will find out exactly why these kits work (sort of). Again, like many people have been saying, there are problems that occur. The main problems being the brightness, and the lack of clarity around the edges due to the curvature of the tv itself. Other people talking about using those overhead projector lcd panels as an option may work alright, if they are active matrix that is. I have seen these panels before, and many of them have very slow refresh rates, and if you are watching video, you will see horrendous trails. Indeed you are not going to get a super high quality picture out of these kits, but you can indeed get a reasonable picture if you tweak it enough. The only useful thing in the kit is the fresnel lens itself, so do as others have said and get the lens directly from a manufacturer. You can search and find project plans on your own. If you are unsatisfied with this, you are only out a few bucks, since you only paid for the fresnel lens. Overall, these are not total scams though.. as the lenses are amazing and they do work if used properly. By the way, people talking about using the overhead projector as a device. Take a look at the surface of the overhead.. notice anything? That surface is itself a fresnel lens.  |
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Motley | When I refer to $9.00 projection TV being a scam, I'm not talking about the fresnel lens. I'm taking about the Internet shysters who appear to promise high quality projection TV for a mere $9.00. These guys are all over e-Bay, etc., cleaning up ($9.00 here and $9.00 there adds up to a tidy sum.) Look at the bright, sharp big screen "samples" on their websites. I even saw a representation of a wall-sized high-end picture in a fully lighted room with auditorium style seats! What a crock! How many of these kits do you think they would sell if they posted what the real picture looked like? Yes, you DO get a big screen picture, but a barely watchable one. So, these $9.00 TV websites haven't lied, but they haven't told the truth either. Besides, the secret "plans" they promise are available on this thread and all over the Internet. Remember, the subject title of this message board is "SHOULD I OR SHOULDN'T I?" As one who has actually ordered the kit out of curiosity, I would say you shouldn't. Why pay $9.00 to somebody who probably just has a basement full of fresnel lenses and access to a copy machine to reproduce the "plans"? Just buy your own fresnel lens, download the plans and have at it. You certainly won't get a picture that you'll be proud to show to friends and family but at least you won't feel hoodwinked. I'm not saying don't build this thing. You be the judge, but don't fund this scam. |
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Anonymous | I have had a problem with getting the lens to focus. Only the middle 3rd of the image is clear. I have had 7lenses and they are all like this. I'am using a 15inch flat screen samsung. The thing is though that they are all warped in a concave shaped some more than others and I was thinking that this was the problem. I sent these lenses back. Most lenses are made from cheap plastic and if the temp gets above 30c or about 90f they warp slightly. However I can not say if this is the cause of poor focus as I have not been able to get a unwarped lens to compare. Like alot of people I'm thinking that this might be all a scam and the lenses are not to blam, sigh. Although the image is not focused well I don't have a problem with brightness it seems pretty good with the lights out. The new flat screen t.v's have a fair superior picture than the older curved models. I was comparing the picture with my 5 year old 20inch sony and the flat 15inch was far superior in image quality and brightness. I was amazed at how washed the older sony looked even with the settings cranked up and how relatively poor the image was. It is obvious that you need to be selective with what t.v you use. They vary greatly in clarity and brightness and this makes a big difference in the projected image as I found out. I have also tried a twin projection using two 15inch t.v's and two lenses side by side angled in very slightly overlapping the images on the screen and it works. This doubles the brightness as well as colour saturation, it also doubles the cost but is still far cheaper than a lcd projector. Still I have the lack of focus problem which is driving me nuts and after reading this area I'm thinking that its inherent in fresnel lenses and i may have to cut my loses. I find it hard to beleive that people would create such a scam, what is the world coming too. |
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anonymous | Anonymous. if you have got a flat screen TV and the picture is only focused in the middle then you have probably got the lens the wrong way around. (the side with the ridges should be facing the TV screen As for those people with a non-flatscreen TV, i have come up with a fix for that. and it works great for me I made a screen using white blackout cloth pulled over a wooden frame, i then put a piece of wood across the back of the frame in the middle. and then stapled the middle of the screen to that piece of wood. what that does is give me a curved screen around the same curvature of the TV screen, and my picture is focused all the way around. |
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lup | No, the lens is the right way. Like I said the lens only focuses in the middle because there maybe something wrong with the lens itself,I'm still not sure. All 7 lenses are like this. Having the lens the right way is a pretty obvious thing when you start playing around with these things but I'm sure some people make this mistake and it doesn't occur to them to flip the lens over. |
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| Hey, got so excited about buying one of these I painted half my room black, bought curtains and made a home cinema. finaly got the projector, sorry lense, oh sorry again, stupid frigin piece of plastic and set it all up. I cant beleave how much of a fool I was to think it would actually work now. You cant use it for games (left is right, right is left) and films just get all blurry on the outside? This is the biggest pile of shite, I bought it, done all the little tips to get it pefect and it was one huge waste of time. Spread the word, this is shite. Now, anyone got a second hand widescreen TV for sale? |
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Motley | Here's a hoot for you. As you know from following this thread, I bought one of these kits from e-Bay out of curiosity. The seller promised a money back guarantee. Yeah, it's only $9, but I figured, what the hell, this guy may as well know people out there think this system sucks. (My suspicion is that there is very little negative feedback on these things because people don't want to go through the trouble for a stupid $9.00). Well, guess what? The seller became irate! He kept going on and on about how many satisfied feedback responses he had (as if that's supposed to change my mind if I'M not satisfied). He argued that this system (built from cardboard and duct tape and limited TV lumens and resolution) could actually compete with a $3,000 LCD projector if I gave it a chance. In every way, he seemed to take it personally that I didn't care for his product. With all these "satisfied customers" out there, why does he give a hoot in hell about little old me? I told him "That's your conscious talking. You know you are selling crap. That's why I'm such a burr under your saddle." He ended his last e-mail response exclaiming "I DON'T WANT YOUR MONEY!" So, there you have it. Someone shines light on this scam and the seller throws a hissy-fit. If these kits were high quality, the seller wouldn't need to get into a pissing match with a customer. The product would speak for itself. But, since they aren't worth the cardboard and duct take it takes to build them, all we get are smoke-and-mirror ("look at my hundreds of responses") testimonials. You would think with all the "hundreds" of satisfied customers that these sellers point to, one or two of them would bother to post on this board -- which is seen world wide - to to defend $9 Snake Oil Projection TV and tell us exactly how it rivals a $3,000+ LCD system. I notice that since a few of us have posted actual experience with the kits or the plans themselves, Snake Oil Projection TV sellers have stopped posting here. Why? Like roaches, they run when you turn on the lights. I agree with Random Sam. These charlatans need to be exposed. |
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| Well unfortunately I found this message board after I had gone through all the trouble. But I wouldnt have minded if they were honest, its not perfect for games, it doesnt do all these maigical things. But anway, as Ive bought the wood, painted half my room black with a white sqaure, and bought the wood Im going to give it my last ditch effort. Ive made the box and everything nearest to perfect, and tomorow im buying a mirror. Hopefully this will 1)reverse the screen once again sideways making the picture be the right way around and 2) because the mirror is flat, maybe I wont have to buy a flat screen TV. Im now seriously putting everything finaly to the test. Ill let you know if my home cinema really works ASAP. |
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socks | As I see it, there are two main problems with DIY projection TV: 1.) lumens and 2.) resolution. Anyone can find a way to get the picture big enough. But, who wants to look at an 8 foot wide low rez picture? Or worse yet, a dim 8 foot wide low rez picture? From what I've been reading, the best testimonal from those who have built their own big screen systems are: "It's not bad". Is "not bad" really good enough? I've never built a big screen system, but if I did, I would focus on the 2 concerns I mentioned above. By far, the overhead projector platen system seems a sturdier alternative than (as Motley says) Snake Oil Big Screen TV. I even saw plans in this very thread whereby somebody dismantled a 12 inch computer LDC monitor and used that on his overhead projector instead of the standard overhead projector platen. This guy posted step-by-step pictures and instructions how to do it. Scroll up and see for yourself. Seems to me, when you blow up the video source image, you are also blowing up all of its blemishes. So, the OP alternatives seem preferable to me because you initially have stronger light and sharper resolution to work with. Besides, it's downright dangerous to start mucking around inside your TV trying to cross wires to reverse the picture, as has been suggested in this thread. The bottom line is, with the $9 fresnel lens system, whatever TV you use just can't kick out enough light and you just can't focus a fresnel lens to get a good picture. What good is watching "Lord Of The Rings" if the image is muddy, dim and mostly blurry? So, in my opinion, I would say look to the overhead projector options if you just can't afford a new or used LCD projector. |
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Anonymous | When I first got the fresnel lens kit I was excited. It was a fun project and I was pleased with the initial quality because it was just shocking that it was so big I guess. Then I relized the bluriness in the corners was terrible, making videogames hard to play. I've tried messing with it. I'm pretty much giving up on it. I totally recommend you try it for yourself, but just don't expect too much. Now I was thinking about doing the overhead projector/LCD panel thing. Its something I have dreamed of since back in elementary school when we were using OHPs. I still might do it. However, I am going to try to get a cheap real LCD projector (less than $300). I've got connections If I can't then I'll just buy an OHP and LCD panel off of eBay. Shouldn't be more than $180 total. I'll post and tell you guys how it goes. |
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lup | This is just an update if anyone cares. I was saying previously that the cause of the image being blurred around the edges might be because the lenses I was using were not flat but slightly curved, thinking that the lens may have been damage due to heat. This is not case. It seems that fresnel lenses do have a slight curve particular as they get bigger, so this is normal and not the cause of a blurred image. Also some people think a blurred image is due to not having a flat screen but thats not the case either. The main cause of an unfocsed image at least with my setup was using a lens that has a short focal length. If the lens is to close to the t.v it cannot focus all of the of image. You must have a lens with a focal length of about 2x that of the width the image. For example a 15" t.v is 28cm wide therefore the focal length of the lens needs to more than 56cm. I did try this with a lens having a 60cm focal length on a 15" t.v and the image was sharp from corner to corner. The lens that came in a kit I ordered has a focal length of 30cm, there is no way that was going to work unless my t.v was 7 inches. Maybe there are ways around this but I'm yet to find one. I now have a well focused image but I'm struggling with brightness. Anyone have any suggestions on improving this? |
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Anonymous | I just finished reading this thread and like many of you I found the ads on Ebay and wondered, "Could this really work?". I figured I'd give it a try. I've been playing with it the last 2 weeks with an older 13 inch tv and a two box system. Until last night no matter how much I tweaked the focus everything outside the center was fuzzy. I curved the lense slightly toward the tv in the middle and it did improve slightly. Last night I tried cutting some black poster board squares with different size holes to try on the lense. I was pretty happy with one about 3/4 of an inch smaller diameter, the picture is alot clearer and the contrast is much better. In a dark room it is definitely a good picture. I am currently am using a 54" X 43" screen made with white blackout cloth and it's pretty good. I think if I could get a screen such as a Dalite glass beaded screen it would give a much brighter picture. Good luck to all you DIY builders out there. I hope I may have helped you, Steve. |
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Anonymous | Wow. Lup made an amazing discovery. I just tried using a ~13" TV and its not blurry around the edges. However, just as lup said, I have a brightness problem. The smaller TV's don't emit as much light. I also have the inversion problem. I am planning on getting either an LCD projector or an LCD/OHP projector. The DIY projector just isn't practical for me. It takes up too much space and I don't have a very good place for it. On top of that the inversion problem is a big issue. If you manage to get a barely watchable image, it is just that. Barely watchable. It's not that great. No matter what you do the DIY projector will never amount to its LCD counterparts. However, I know for many of you, DIY projector is the only option. Through experimentation and research, I would say your best bet with this thing is a small (about 13") flatscreen TV. It also helps to have a good reflective screen. Those Da-Lite retractable screens look pretty cool. I might get one eventually. If you're serious about using this thing permanently, you should do the TV vertical switch inversion. The mirror thing is a pain. Good luck. I've given up. |
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Motley | I applaud all of you who are rolling their sleeves up and taking a whack at building your own cardboard box projection TV systems. Frankly, I have nothing at all against the general idea. Again (and I know I sound like a broken record) my ire is raised against the scammers on e-Bay and other websites who appear to promise LCD projector quality for a mere $9.00. It's true, for some cardboard box projection TV is the only option. Fine. Order a fresnel lens, then scroll through this thread and get the plans FOR FREE instead of lining some e-Bay scammers pocket. The big secret is there ain't no secret. Tell your friends. |
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GreenHornet | Check this out: http://www.nbc4.com/doesitreallydothatarchive/1161130/detail.html%20 Peace. |
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GreenHornet | And, if you still got the stomach for it, here are the top secret plans. (They may already be on this board, but here they are again.) Save your nine bucks. Have fun! http://www.hampys.com/100intv/pictures/bryans_100inchTVguide.pdf Peace. |
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GreenHornet | I'm pretty sure that this link is in this board also, but here it is again! Enjoy! http://bigscreentv.20m.com/photo.html Peace. |
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| Dont get fooled, This cheap projection scam does not work. I bought one of these lenses and the resultant picture is both dim blurry and upside down. If you use a mirror to turn the picture right side up you lose light and the picture gets dimmer yet. if you turn most crt tvs upside down the picture will also turn green. If you want a good bright projection system the best answer is to build one useing a lct overhead projection unit and then fabricating a good metal halide light source. Dont get suckered by the no good scumbags selling these lenses they are scam artist in it only beating people out of money. IT DOES NOT WORK - DIM FUZZY PICTURE |
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GreenHornet | Tell your friends to check this message board if they want the truth about this pile of crap. Also, link other discussion boards on the subject to this board. Others can at least learn the real deal or, if they still want to try to build the pile of smelling rot for themselves, the plans are right here FOR FREE. Let's put the scam artists out of business. (And by the way, I scrolled up through this board. I really like some of the OTHER DIY projection TV ideas! This great thread shows the Internet at its best, enabling us all to get together to work things out.) Peace. |
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Steve | I have read this entire thread and I have to disaree with alot of the doomsayers. Tonight I watched Monday Night Football and flipped back and forth between a few movies using the Ghetto Big Screen and I was impressed. Practice some patience and experiment a little and you may be happy. At this point I want to try a higher gain screen to improof the brightness and if it works I will be happy! Don't give up it will work. |
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Motley | Steve. This isn't doomsaying. This is experience talking. The kit does not - repeat - does not and CANnot compare with an LCD overhead platen or an $3,000+ LCD projector. You talk about having "patience". How much patience can you have if your light source isn't strong enough? A TV just cannot produce enough lumens because a TV isn't designed to throw light and an image the way a projector does. And what about the resolution? You can fuss around with a fresnel lens until the cows come home and you will not get an overall sharp image. Your testimonial is short on specifics how to overcome those problems. But, maybe you're easily impressed. For anyone else who wants to "have patience" with (as you say) Ghetto Big Screen TV, I say have a coke and a smile. Download the plans from this thread, buy your own lens for a couple of bucks and go for what you know. But, (and this is my only beef) why fund an Internet scammer? There are sites on the web selling these "secret plans" for $20 and more! That is ridiculous. Frankly, I don't think Ghetto Big Screen TV is even worth $9.00 or even the cost of the $2.00 fresnel lens. But, that's just me. I've used $3,000+ LCD projectors, so I know an good projector image when I see one. And I've seen the image from Ghetto Big Screen TV. But, even if I hadn't, there's still plain common sence. The proposal that some pieces of cardboard, a plastic lens, a TV and some duct tape can compare is technologically impossible! But, if you must go that route, just don't get ripped off. That's all I'm saying. Steve, do you actually suggest that if I put you in a room and showed you an overhead platen DIY image OR a $3,000+ LCD projector image and then loaded up Ghetto Big Screen TV ... you mean to tell me you couldn't tell the difference? Well, the Internet snake oil sales pitches are saying YOU CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE. That is a clear misrepresentation of the facts. That's why their web sites are a scam. |
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Anthony Venables | Hi - anyone know of a good place in the uk to buy lcd projeection panels. I have had a look on ebay but not had much luck in finding items already in the uk. alternatively a supplier worldwide who will charge reasonable delivery cost ($50-$100) thanx for any help you can give. |
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BustinBob | HA HA! This thread is a riot! Check out all the options "The Intelligent 1" posted above. I especially liked the 8th one from the bottom ..."pandora.be/emmanuel, etc"...that shows how to create a projector ripping apart a laptop LCD screen. Now that is hard core!! Somewhere in here are instructions of how to make a platen using a standard 12 inch computer LCD screen. That seems better than blowing up a tiny 4 inch module. Seems to me the bottom line is if you DIY, you're going to have to invest at least a FEW honest dollars, more than just $2.00 or $9.00. |
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| Thank you for the info, I will not waste my time... |
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| :::::::::::: SIGH :::::::::::::::::::: Ok, after reading this ENTIRE thread, it's apparent I won't be able to watch FOOTBALL from the comfort of my living room and see the players "bigger than life" like I thought I would be able to. Thank you to everyone for your insight and for saving this BLOND a LOT of time. It obviously doesn't work for what I'm wanting to use it for (Football) LySa Stone http://www.excelir.com/lysastone ((( Yes, I'm the blond on the website, left hand side ))) |
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MACTEN | I love you Lysa!!! BTW I got a 55 inch proj tv at a tv service place in hagerstown for $200 that had the main module replaced in it. It is awesome, bright sharp and came with a remote. You can find refurb deals everywhere now with the hi def and flatpanel tv's replacing proj types. Even $20 is too much to pay for total crap. ( I still love you Lysa!!) |
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lil lee bird | Thank you all for your input...MAN THEY GOT ME! I ordered the lens and I thought I had ordered some fancy new tv gizzmo! Well its crap but i will try to make the best of it. Yes it does make the picture bigger than life but you have to work & work & work just to get it half a$$. So stay away unless your bored with your life and need something to do. |
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socks | But, lil lee bird. A few posts back, Steve says he just had patience and made the kit work to the point where he was impressed with the picture. What does he know that you don't know? :-) |
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BustinBob | You notice the ghetto big screen TV proponents always say that THEY ARE IMPRESSED with the picture? Same old tired line... And you notice none of their websites actually show you a picture of the assembled kit. That should tell you something right there. When you shop on the web for an LCD projector or any other item, you get to see what you are going to order right there. Who buys merchandise sight unseen? I know it's only $9, but still there's the principle. If they don't let you see what you are getting, why would you buy it? |
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Motley | I was curious. But, you can bet you next paycheck I shipped it back for my refund and e-mailed the seller to tell him why. My guess is most people don't bother to return the kit because "it's only $9". They should return it because this scam appears to be running rampant on the web, especially e-Bay. If it isn't obveous by now, I am giving these guys bad word of mouth which will cost them a lot more than the few bucks they could have made off of me. You know, it's easier to scam a hundred people out of nine bucks than it is to scam nine people out of a hundred bucks. So, I feel somewhat vindicated of the "buying sight unseen" principle I chucked by spreading the word to those who may fall victim to the scam. 9 bucks is easy to write off, but like you say...there is the principle that you got gotten. Nobody likes that feeling. |
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I forgot | Heres a "what if" for anyone interested. What if instead of using a tv or monitor with the lens box thing, someone were to use just a straight up 12-14" lcd panel and throw some powerful backlighting behind that? Or taking that overhad lcd panel and using that with the lens box? Sorry if this has been asked already. -peace- |
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BustinBob | It has. Detailed plans are posted on this thread. Peace. |
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Motley | Let me offer this tidbit. Some years ago my girlfriend worked at a firm that had a shelf full of LCD projectors. I found out she could check them out on weekends and I was ecstatic. She looked at me confused when I told her to bring one home ASAP, but when I hooked up laserdiscs of "Twister" followed by "The Age Of Innocence" and "Titanic", she was sold. However, in those days, the projectors she brought home were of inferior quality. Strong light, yes, but low resolution. There was a greenish hue blanketing the screen and the detail wasn't sharp. However, I enjoyed the laserdiscs and (eventually) DVDs we screened. Even though I was blown away by the sheer size of a movie in my living room, there was always this feeling of "what if the image were better?" As her firm upgraded its technology, my prayers were answered. She finally brought home a unit that projected an image so sharp that in "Sleepy Hollow" you could see a pimple in Johnny Depp's face. You could actually fall into the stars in Kubrick's "2001" or appreciate Omar Shariff as a pinpoint on the sand during his initial appearance in "Lawrence Of Arabia". THAT is the joy of watching the big screen, not just so you can see what happens. Now, the reason I'm bringing that up is this: Spend the most money YOU can afford on a system to get the strongest light and rez that you can. That is the only way you will REALLY enjoy home theater. You can get a great LCD unit for $3,000.00 (that used to cost more than $10,000) or (as has been mentioned in this thread) a very good outdated projection TV system at a reasonable cost. Heck, you can even get one of those new widescreen TVs for $2,000.00, as flatscreens elbow their way onto the market. Get what you can afford and remember you will get what you pay for. BUT, we all recognize that not everyone has as much disposable income as others. In my opinion, build if you must, but build a system that will get you the strongest light and the best rez you can foot the bill for. Remember, when you sit down to watch "Ben-Hur", "Lord Of The Rings" or "Gangs Of New York", a dank, muddy, blurry image will only frustrate you ESPECIALLY if you have your friends over. To answer the Big Question of this thread, Ghetto Snake Oil or Whatever Big Screen TV is -- though cheap - -the worst option for reasons I mention above. Yet, the $9 100 Inch Big Screen TV sites advertise it as the best...or (as they put it) "the secret the Big Screen TV manufacturers don't want you to know". Look, folks. Use some common sense. If this $9 system were all that and a bag of chips, you would see it in Best Buy, Circuit City, Office Max and Staples...or, at least K-Mart. This system doesn't do what the Internet ads claim it does. My advice is to shop carefully for the best LCD you can afford or build yourself a system that WILL meet your needs within your disposable incone. Light and resolution is the magic of the home theater. Bottom line -- you absolutely will not get ultimate big screen TV satisfaction for only $9.00. Personally, I am going to just buy an LCD unit for about $3,000. In my opinion, if you can't afford it, build the best one you can. But, a $9.00 system is not the answer. However, if it your only option, build it for free from information gleaned on this thread. |
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lup | After 2 months of playing around with t.v projection trying different lenses different size t.v's I can whole heartedly say that it DOES NOT WORK. I did have some success with different lenses with varying focal lengths but I was never able to get sufficient brightness regardless of lens size, tv size, or screen. The end result was an unwatchable image. I concluded that I would need at least 10 times the brightness that I was getting just to make it watchable. There really is nothing you can do to get this kind of increase. Motely is dead right, tv projection does not work and those websites selling this bogus product are just scammers. I hate saying stuff like this because I usually give people the benefit of doubt but after my experience I cannot see it any other way. Don't be fooled like the fool writing this post and stay away from t.v projection. |
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socks | So how come all the proponents of $9 100 Projection TV or owners of their websites have stopped posting here, I wonder? |
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| Hi all, I'm a newbie to this Forum, but not a newbie to the tv projector project. I have been making tv projectors for over a year, and during that time have been a member of 5 different Forums on the tv projector. I recently completed making "The Ultimate TV Projector". This projector produces an 85" image that is comparable to a CRT Projector. Razor sharp image across the screen, no ghosting or haziness, brilliant natural colours, and an image that has real depth. The only difference between my projector and a CRT projector is that the CRT unit has higher light output. IMPOSSIBLE you say!!! Well I'm about to post photo's of my screenshots on another Forum ( this one doesn't have facilities for photo's )where I have already given details on how to make the projector and show photo's of the finished unit. If your interested then visit http://groups.msn.com/diyprojectiontv/messageboard.msnw Click on THE ULTIMATE TV PROJECTOR and read all the posts. Then click on "pictures" go to page 3 of "collected photo's from various websites" and there you'll see the projector. The secret is:- You must have the right TV. You must have the right PROJECTOR UNIT You must have the right LENS (not a fresnel lens}. You must have the right SCREEN. See you there Prof. |
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| Dear Prof, you my dear sir are another scammer.Why dont you and your friends just stop this nonsense. Your projector just like the rest of the hucksters does not work. No matter how you do it no matter how you magnify it a normal crt tv will not AND I REPEAT NOT put out enough light to make a useable big screen tv. Even lcd projectors that have bulbs of 50,000 plus lumens need a semidark room to have an acceptable image. Please stop your nonsense ! Gullible people still fall for this crap. I have seen good well built homebuilt DIY LCD projectors that actually work. These are built useing overhead lcd platens ( I bought one on ebay for 50 bucks) and then buying quality optics. I doubt that I will have 200 bucks invested in this thing when I'm done. Prof. your scam TV projector cannot perform the same as an LCD projector with a 400 watt 50,000 lumen metal halide bulb in it. THESE CHEAP BIG TV SCAMS DO NOT WORK, NOT EVEN THE CRAP THE PROF IS TRYING TO SELL. DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THIS UTTER SCUMBAG |
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| Your loss pal. If any genuine makers of tv projectors want to know what improvements have been made by others, then click on the link to the Forum that I included in the post above. |
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Motley | Anybody who has followed this thread and buys into Prof's scam is needs their medication. Let me translate Prof's last message: "Anybody with Mark Disaverio's common sense need not apply." Gawd, I can't believe Prof actually posted "Your loss." His sales technique leaves a lot to be desired. What's wrong with standing up and defending your product like an adult, if it's all that? What's with with all these Scam Big Screen TV guys throwing hissy-fits if nobody puppy dogs happily after their first msg post? But, back to the product...Gee whiz, what could we all be missing out here? What's the BIG SECRET? Well, I clicked on Prof's link. It's a link to a DIY Projection TV msg board. Prof has a post on it about the ULTIMATE BIG SCREEN TV. Seems he's invented a "new design". I looked at the requirements for it. Let's see, you need a 14 inch flatscreen TV (as we all know by now to focus the picture at the sides). Instead of a fresnel lens, he uses a MINISCUS lens, which you can get from Surplus Shed online for about $6. But, all in all, his system seems about the same as Ghetto TV plans posted on this board. Frankly, I'm amazed Prof had the nerve to post here. We've been ripping this scam to shreds and posting the "secret" plans right here so those who still want to build this contraption can do so scam-free. Then, here comes a guy and says "I'VE GOT THE ULTIMATE BIG SCREEN SECRET!" as if nobody posted a thing here. Give me a break!! Secret-schmecret. No matter how it's dressed up, a system that relies on television as the picture and light source is inferior. If Prof doesn't agree, he is more than welcome to post here and debate the issue with SPECIFICS concerning how his system is different. But, he won't. I'll be surprised if he posts another message, or if he does I'm guessing that he can't answer this question: "Prof. How - specifically - can one take the light and picture source from a TV and throw it against the wall to provide a bright, clear picture?" I won't hold my breath waiting for an answer. This is S.O.S. Same Old S**t. |
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BustinBob | I clicked over also. I don't see where Prof has asked for any money. However, he's not posting his "big secret" either. Some interesting DIY ideas in the "picture" section. But, yeah, same stuff. Take a TV, duct tape, cardboard, etc. and go to town. I have an idea for a NEW BIG SCREEN TV INVENTION! Just duct tape your face right to the television screen. I will send you the secret plans on how to duct tape your face to the TV for only $1. Now, you can't beat that. Everyone can afford a dollar! And if you don't like my system...well, you've only lost a dollar! (is this a great country, or what?) |
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socks | BustinBob is a scam artist! How can you possibly get a clear picture with his design? Don't be fooled! I have an even better design! My big screen TV plan calls for you to duct tape a pair of binoculars to your face and watch TV with those. Sharp, clear focus guaranteed! Will work on ANY TV!!! I will send you the secret plans for $1! |
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BustinBob | Curses! Foiled again! |
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narly | I have been looking at the fresnel thing but I dont think it will do what I want. I am wanting to have block parties and show movies sort of like the old drive-in theatres. What other options are out there for something like that at maybe 150-200 inches? |
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socks | Narly. Scroll up and read through this thread. You'll find more DIY plans here than you can shake a stick at. "The Intelligent 1" has about a bazillion options alone in his post. If you are very tight on the $$$, go ahead and build the fresnel thing from the plans you can get for free on this thread. If it doesn't do what you want (and in my opinion, it won't, but that's just my opinion), you've only lost some time and effort. Then you can trash it and move on to spending a few more dollars for maybe an overhead platen setup. If that doesn't satisfy you, I think you'll have to bite the bullet and start looking at LCD projectors. Seems to me from what I've been reading here, the overhead platen setup - as described on this thread - is the best option for a decent big screen on a limited budget. But, you'll still probably end up investing a couple of hundred dollars (high rez platen for $70 or so on eBay, OHP for $100 or so on eBay). All kinds of different ideas have been posted here. Personally, I wouldn't have the guts to rip apart a computer LCD flatscreen monitor to make a platen, but if you do you can find out how to do it on this thread. Scroll up, click on the various posts and mull over your options. Good luck! |
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RayRay | I've been reading all these messages for a good hour because I, like many other people on this forum at one time I'm sure, was thinking about building one of these projection screens. I just basically wanted to say thanks to everyone for all the insight on this seemingly sound idea that seems to work in theory but not in practice. I think I'll save my $9.00 and go to the movies. I'm just not in the mood to get zapped by my television screen after attempting to change the wires around or wrapping my T.V. with duct tape with the end result of having a blurry picture on my wall. Thanks again to all of you for your input! |
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Motley | Narly - as far as parties: When my girl worked at the firm I spoke about above we used to have movie parties all the time. As she left that firm, I am now going to invest in a real deal LCD projector so we can go at it again. When you have your friends over for a game or a movie event, you don't want to compromise. You're going to want to go for the gusto with some butt-kicking resolution and no-holds barred brightness (...if the picture can look good with the lights ON, it'll look even better with the lights OFF). Add your surround sound speaker setup and your audience will feel like they are right there in the screen with the characters. A friend of ours even hosted a movie event one evening on the lawn in his back yard. The picture (projected on a screen hanging from his garage) looked like a million bucks; bright, crisp and colorful. DIY is fine if you don't have the bucks, but there is no comparison to a real live s**t kickin LCD projector. That's just my humble opinion. But, if you DYI, at least build a good strong unit. Your friends probably won't be as forgiving as you are of an image of questionable quality. They will certainly laugh you out of your own house if you try to host a party with a crappy $9 projection setup. |
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Anonymous | hahahahhaha i bought it, against my wisdom, and....TRUE I CAN"T BELIVE THE PICTURE QUALITY.... IT"S ALL TRUE>>>WOW OH WHATS TRUE .. it should win a prise for the most genuis scam ever and for the truly crappy picture... all i have to say" IT"S TRUE THE PICTURE CAN LOOK CRAPPYER" WOW YOU GUYS FINALLY FOUND A WAY TO MAKE A GOOD TV LOOK LIKE SH?t good job |
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Anonymous | AND FOR ONLY 5.99 I CAN TELL YOU OW TO TURN YOUR DOG INTO PAMELA ANDERSON OR 20.99 Gets You Britney Spears |
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Cable Guy | hahaha.. you fu**ing losers.. i cant belive most of you actully bought this crappy plans.. the idea has ben around since the 60:s and no question that it works, its just that many of you actully tought that it would be as good as some of those scam artist says it would be. showing screenshots of real projector. I have played with this sort of stuff for about 10 years, but you gotta take it as a "fun" thing to play around with.. and not buying stupid plans for 10 bucks and expect crispy clear picture and that it actully would be as good as a real projector or big screen tv |
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socks | But, Cable Guy! If you scroll up you'll see that Steve and Prof say that this crap ACTUALLY WORKS! Prof even goes so far as to imply that it "our loss" if we don't buy into it. (No matter that the supporters of Ghetto Big Screen TV don't bother to follow up their initial claims with a sensible defense). Gasp! Aren't we actually supposed to throw this whole thread of detailed discussion out the window and just BELIEVE them?? Maybe they yet know something you don't know???? I guess if they ever quit running when challenged on this, we can ask them. For instance, Motley called Prof out to defend this trash and Prof went Poof! |
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BustinBob | Yea, everybody here has been discussing the details of why cardboard projection TV sucks and they have been discussing the details. Then along comes one of these one post wonders who says nothing but "YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW JACK! IT WORKS! IT WORKS! IT WORKS!" then cuts and runs for the hills. They never stand and defend this crap if they think it's so great. |
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Anonymous | If some guy wants to make a "BIG SCREEN" for his kids to project low budget VHS movies or whatever on it because he's fallen on hard financial times and the kids are bored, well, that's his business. However, nobody should pay money for the SECRET PLANZ, cause it's just a junior high science project. And anyone who claims it has the quality of a real projection TV is a liar. I've never built one, but all you have to do is read the postings to know what kind of quality to actually expect. |
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| PROBLEMS WITH BRIGHTNESS ISSUES: I am planning to get a projection kit for my monitor (which is flat screen), but brightness wont be a problem b'c there are programs out there on the net (such as riva tuner) that allows me to pump up my brightness, colour, gamma e.t.c. to the max to the extent that i can barly see anything b'c it too bright. Do u think it is worth getting a lense then, since (or correct me if i am wrong) wont be any 'dimming' problems or out of focus problems? |
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BustinBob | Help Needed - your concerns have been answered in this thread. Scroll up, pour a cup of Joe and go through it. You'll even find different versions of the "secret plans" to build the kit without giving a scumbag Internet scammer a stinkin dime. Only thing you'll have to invest in is a fersnel lens for a couple of bucks. You can order a lens online. There's even a link in this thread to order the lens. Good luck. Have fun, I guess. You have nothing to lose but some time and two or three dollars. |
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BustinBob | Help Needed - your concerns have been answered in this thread. Scroll up, pour a cup of Joe and go through it. You'll even find different versions of the "secret plans" to build the kit without giving a scumbag Internet scammer a stinkin dime. Only thing you'll have to invest in is a fersnel lens for a couple of bucks. You can order a lens online. There's even a link in this thread to order the lens. Good luck. Have fun, I guess. You have nothing to lose but some time and two or three dollars. |
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Motley | Look here, I don't mean to sour anybody that wants to build cardboard projection TV. Yes, you will get "a picture". Yes it will be REALLY BIG. You will certainly be thrilled by the novelty of an image that huge in your house. But, it won't be a high quality picture. Whenever Prof bothers to stick his nose back in this thread to defend his "new design" I plan to ask him about S-Video and Component Video resolution and high lumens. If you aren't going with those options for your projector (which cardboard big screen TV can't because it's, well, just a TV!), all you'll get are enlarged pixels dimly "projected". If you're IMPRESSED by that or if it's your only option, well, what can anyone say? But, (broken record time again) at least build the cardboard unit for free instead of sending off for some stupid kit. Then you won't feel so bad when you see it suck and for fun, as has been mentioned here. Then you won't feel so bad when you see it sucks. There ain't no kit. There's only a fresnel lens and a xerox booklet. That's all she wrote! |
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Motley | Look here, I don't mean to sour anybody that wants to build cardboard projection TV. Yes, you will get "a picture". Yes it will be REALLY BIG. You will certainly be thrilled by the novelty of an image that huge in your house. But, it won't be a high quality picture. Whenever Prof bothers to stick his nose back in this thread to defend his "new design" I plan to ask him about S-Video and Component Video resolution and high lumens. If you aren't going with those options for your projector (which cardboard big screen TV can't because it's, well, just a TV!), all you'll get are enlarged pixels dimly "projected". If you're IMPRESSED by that or if it's your only option, well, what can anyone say? But, (broken record time again) at least build the cardboard unit for free instead of sending off for some stupid kit. Then you won't feel so bad when you see it suck and for fun, as has been mentioned here. Then you won't feel so bad when you see it sucks. There ain't no kit. There's only a fresnel lens and a xerox booklet. That's all she wrote! |
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Anonymous | Oh...Thank God I read all this first, because I was just about to click the 'Pay' button when I saw that there is no E-mail to ask questions etc..and the bottom line is...that's right, "if it sounds to good to be true"...I somehow now feel releived convinced that I would have had nothing but problems... and then have to deal with my boyfriend telling me what a fool I am. Phew..I AM SAVED..Thanx to all of you who put in info. Tlin |
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socks | And it's not even a kit. If they sent you some carboard and duct tape, that would be one thing. But all they send you is a xeroxed book. How is that a "kit"? |
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socks | Oh, and the lens. I guess the lens plus the book equal two items, which constitutes a "kit". |
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| You would have to be an idiotic fool to even consider buying this trash |
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| Holy crap, those testimonials just drip with bullsh1t! Someone kill this phucker. |
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Domi | what an interesting read, funny the way the thread starts off as objective forum and then degenerates into a general caning, which i have to agree with. Just think, these poor losers are selling shite to the public to supliment their income which probably constitutes standing the missus on a street corner...... I can understand the curiosity factor and it is only $9 but surely a search on google or even this thread would land you with the information for free. If you really have to have the kit order it, get the info and send it back for a refund. Anything is better than KNOWINGLY giving your money to a tosser....... |
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Sick of turds on this thread | If you think it doesn't work your a bunch of retards; yes it works, its simple. You have to turn your TV/LCD/Computer upside down (or just the image), and unless you don't mind the left to right reversal, you need a mirror at 45deg to fix that. The picture is dim, but it is there, and the flatter your image source, the more in focus the picutre will be. Don't listen to these idiots that cannot even tape cardboard together. Find just about any free instructions online and do it. |
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Motley | OK, let's see if I have this right. "Sick Of Turds" says that cardboard projection TV WORKS. Then proceeds to tell us that "all we have to do" is 1.) turn the TV upside down; 2.) not mind that the picture is backwards; 3.) not mind that the picture is dim, but "there". Then SOT proceeds to call those that, well, have a problem with those minor ills "retards". Well, OK, I'm not going to get into a pissing match. SOT, if you bother to scroll up, you'll see where we mention that it's preferable to get the "secret plans" right here on this thread. If you want to go ahead and build this cardboard contraption and you're satisfied with it, nobody here is saying you shouldn't do it. MY only point is don't fund a stupid Internet scam. Some of these shysters are selling these "plans" for up to $20. I don't see why the fact that someone objects to a scam makes you "sick of us" and call us "turds". Oh well, go figure. |
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Motley | As far as the thread starting off as an "objective forum", there was nothing objective about it. Early on, nobody posted actual experience. They were all talking a lot of "maybe this" and "maybe that". A few purveyors of $9 projection TV checked in, but all they do on these threads is offer smoke and mirrors. Though there were a few posting saying "IT WORKS", nobody said: "I bought this kit and I love it and THIS IS WHY IT WORKS." So, a newbie checking into this forum is bound to get confused. Does this system really work or doesn't it? I decided to offer actual hard experience -- not just because a mere $9 was at stake, but to prevent a potential victim to this scam from throwing away THEIR $9. Look at the post above from the woman who was just about to click the "pay" button on one of these scam sites, but pulled up when she read this thread. That's why I don't understand "Sick Of Turds" attitude. The REAL turds are the scammers who are taking advantage of the curious and the gullible. If you want to build cardboard projection TV, fine. Build it, but build it for free with the plans right here in this thread. Don't hand over $9 to $20 to a scam artist who cobbles together a fancy website with dubious claims that cardboard projection TV can actually rival a $3,000+ LCD projector. This isn't a matter of just $9, but about informational Internet threads like this providing the real deal, not just what the sales scammers want you to know. |
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MyCinemaRocks | Mark Disaverio you're a tosser. If you actually read the Prof's (excellent) information on the link he posted you'd realise he is not a 'scammer', he's a hobbyist giving away (as in for FREE moron) his results. I have a curved screen setup similar to the Prof's, and I have a sharp focussed image edge to edge. Nope, it isnt as good as an LCD projector. I dont give a f\/ck about 'lumens' and all the other geek b.s spouted in here, I have a 90" TV! hahahaha. I just like showing movies for friends, I watch tv on it all the time, and my xbox looks awesome on it. :-) :-) :-) Basically, if you arent prepared to do the invert-mod on your tv (or pay someone), and you arent prepared to spend a couple of weekends pissing around with this, then you are one of the unfortunates who will never have home cinema for $30 in materials. Go to the mall, you have no choice. For me, I'll just keep on enjoying surfing the net on my 90" monitor, and keep inviting people around when they keep ringing and begging to watch the footy at my house. Motley and the rest of these whingeing losers should just go somewhere else and get a life. Get the info for free, buy a lense, and experiment. Or go buy a commerical unit. If you cant use a spraycan, hammer, cellotape and scissors then you're too much of a retard for this project. |
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Anonymous | I got a novel idea. Buy an old overhead projector. Maybe from a school auction or something. They would have a high quality glass Fresnel lens in it, and a mirror for inverting etc. Then if you put a Pure Flat CRT monitor under it... IE: a Veiwsonic 17" Pure Flat http://www.mwave.com/mwave/SpecB/BA19528.html (they are out of the cheap ones right now, but you can pick them up all day long for around 70 bucks or so after rebates ect at stores) If the over head projector thing didn't work, or you don't have access to one, you could use this in the standard Fresnel plans that people have been talking about. If you felt really techie or have some extra dough, you could setup a computer w/ a standard CRT for your usual computer use, slap in a PCI Video card for the setup w/ the Fresnel in a dual monitor setup. then you have the best of both worlds. I think that if you use the Pure Flat type technology that you wouldn't run into the focus problem. Brightness might still be a problem...... I know that this latter plan might not work w/ a standard TV, however, If you absolutly had to have TV, and not just DVD's, then you could PU a Veiwsonic TV to SVGA converter or another brand of internal card. My point is that CRT's are cheaper than LCD's, and have WAY WAY WAY WAY better resolution than most TV's at a fraction of the cost, and it sounds like the flat technology would solve the focus problem. Might be fun to try out anyhow. Will let you know what I come up with. Good luck |
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GreenHornet | I see the adolescents have found this forum. What's with all this idiotic name-calling? What are we -- 10 years old? Why are people like MyCinemaRocks taking it so personally that others are interested in better quality than a crappy cardboard projection TV can offer? This thread was highlighting some good information, like showing how to build a strong DIY unit or even the cardboard set for free to those that want it, instead of giving money to an Internet scam. It was also offering a technical slant about exactly why cardboard projection TV can't compare to an LCD projector, which the Internet ads claim it does. We are saying over and over, build the cardboard system if you want and are satisfied, just don't fund a scam. Then here come the bombastic posts that ruin every thread: "YOU'RE A TOSSER!" "YOU S**K!" "YOU'RE A LOSER!" "YOU MORON!" "RETARD!". Uh, real bright, ay? M-C-Rocks, it's fine if you are satisfied with cardboard TV. BustinBob above said he didn't see where Prof asked for money. Nobody takes it personally that you like cardboard TV. All others like Motley seem to be arguing against the Internet scam ads that say cardboard TV compares with LCD quality. It doesn't and you admit that. In fact, you make all Motley's points yourself. So, what's the point of calling Motley a "whiner". Geez, grow up. Peace. |
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BustinBob | I'm not confused by the name calling. I have a friend who's an athiest that often likes to go into the religious Internet message boards to get his kicks just to "mess with the Christians". That's probably the mentality here with the name calling. Bored kids, maybe having a few beers. You find this stuff all over online. Ignore 'em. |
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socks | MyCinemaRocks says he doesn't give a "f**k" about brightness "and all", doesn't mind inverting his TV and says that his system isn't as good as an LCD. Motley and others are exposing the Internet ads that say ghetto TV is as good as an LCD. Yet, Motley (who will be enjoying LCD quality) is called one of the unfortunates and told to quit whining while MCR enjoys his grainy, dark "footy". Well, whatever floats your boat. But, seems like Motley's cinema rocks a lot better than MCR's does. If you are going with duct tape TV, have it, but don't talk down people like Mark Disaverio who want the best quality. That's "sour grapes". |
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pingping | sour grapes, hay, that's an esop fabel about a fox who couldn't jump high enuf to get some grapes hanging on a vine and then walked away all pissed and said "well, I didn't want those grapes anyway because they were probably sour!" Man, that seemslike mycinemarocks in a nutshell! Maybe all he can afford is the cardboard thing, so he trashes others that want the best. That's stupid. |
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Motley | Like I said before, I'm not going to get into some kind of pissing match about LCD vs. Snake Oil Projection TV. It's no skin off my nose if MyCinemaRocks & Sick Of Turds prefer their cardboard setups. I don't know them, will never meet them and could care less what they watch or what they think of me. I'm offering my opinion to those who checked in because of the title of this thread "100 Inch Projection TV For $9. Should I Or Shouldn't I?" Seems to me MyCinemaRocks and Sick Of Turds should be in a message board etitled "Is 100 Inch Cardboard Projection TV A Viable Option?" But, I guess some people would rather just argue and call names than offer useful information. Oh well! |
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t1mmy | found a link on coolshit.com for this "ghetto tv" contraption and figured it was too good to be true. image brightness is an obvious shortcoming; who watches tv in complete darkness all the time? plus who wants captions reversed when they watch tv? imagine watching a news headline or stock ticker in reverse, not to mention your on-screen program guide if you have cable or a dish. then there's the problem of the remote control. if your tv is stuffed into a cardboard box, how's the infrared signal gonna get to the tv? and just where the hell do you put this contraption? under the coffee table? isn't it a bit of a fire hazard to stuff your tv into cardboard box, anyway? maybe someone will put an end to this by suing these guys after their cool new maxTheater.com or webTV100inch.com "big screen" ghetto tv sets their living room on fire. gimme a break. |
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Anonymous | On the plus side, if the stock ticker is reading backwards, maybe my stocks will finaly be apearing to go up! :-) |
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BustinBob | For those curious about that t1mmy is talking about, here's the link to the ghetto TV site on coolshit.com. http://www.maxtheater.com/ Now, get a load of the slick website and the claims on it saying the cardboard TV is "AS GOOD AS A $2,000 BIG SCREEN UNIT" and that it's "JUST LIKE AN IMAX THEATER!" Then when you click around the site, you see "samples" that are crystal clear, colorful and bright. HA! However, to the site's dubious credit, they show you an actual design of the contraption being assembled. Hay, what do you know? Their model looks just like the designs posted here for free! But, you have to admit, those that don't know better probably get suckered in by well-oiled sites like this and part with their money. |
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| i want to buy a lens for cheap to try this thing out, do you guys have any sites for me, heard of www.3dlens.com but tried to ask them a few questions and they didn't respond, so i'm not sure about them. Have any of you guys tried their site? |
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| Hiya ppls I've just come across this forum and I am very dissapointed with alot of the posts I have made a projector and am very happy with the image it gives but you wont get a good image if you dont do the reserch first most of the lenses you buy on the net are called fersnel lenses and wont give you a good image but if you did take the time to read wot prof had to say and you went to http://groups.msn.com/diyprojectiontv/messageboard.msnw you can make a good projector. |
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Motley | Gadgit - For the 10,000th time, if you like cardboard TV - fine. Have it. But, if you bother to scroll up, you'll see that this message board is about taking apart an Internet scam run rampant, not about whether cardboard TV is OK to build at all. So, why are you "dissapointed" in this thread? The link you post is to a site that discusses the intracacies of building cardboard TV in general. SO, OK, BUILD IT AND BE HAPPY! We keep saying that over and over and over and over and over. Personally, for reasons I posed in detail, I prefer a real live LCD projector. I have nothing against that you don't and am certainly not dissapointed about that. Why WOULD I be? You're the one who has to watch your home made contraption, not me. |
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socks | Hay, Ray. I don't know about getting a fresnel lens other than that 3dlens site. I think the lenses at office supply stores and maybe you can just enter something like "buy fresnel lens" into your search engine to order one. Heck, seems like some of these uppity cardboard TV lovers who are doing nothing in this forum but calling people names would take a break from the insults to help out. You can maybe read that link to the DIY message board (above) where Prof is posting to get a tip where to order the lens. |
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Ray | yea... i guess i'll order from www.3dlens.com Thanks for your help |
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Gadgit | You can get a good meniscus or plano convex form Surplusshed.com these are just as cheep and give a better image |
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Ray | just ordered from 3dlens, hope it arrives soon |
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Anonymous | hey Ray, keep us posted on the project. Confirm for us that its not as good as a regular big screen, but that you had fun making it. And be careful rewiring that TV dude. We all know its inferior, so lets start giving the hobbyists good tips on making it the best it can be. Thanks to those who posted the "Secret" plans for free and who gave good advice. To those still trying to sell plans, please leave. The secret's out, at least here anyway. |
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| I have a mirrored wall in my house so I pointed my getto tv at the opposite wall and watch it in the mirror. Then I hang upside-down from the ceiling and everything looks good. Now my only problem is the blood rushing to my head and the beer coming out my nose. Any suggestions? |
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BustinBob | dork - you could hammer a hole in your head and run a plastic tube to a hole in your feet to recycle the blood. I will sell you the secret plans for this technique for 50 cents. As for the beer, I would suggest excess drinking to the point where what comes out of your nose doesn't matter. I would sell you the secret plans about how to drink too much, but I think a lot of folks have that technique pretty much practiced hands down. |
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| HI HI ALL My name is Mr. Truth... Today we will discuss how we turned our ordinary telivision int mand new best friend.You see after purchaseing this kit my life changed. I lost 150 pounds...sorry wrong advertisement..I was spared from cancer,,lol,,wrong again..What i meant to say was,"MY LIFE HAS CHANGED FOREVER, THIS KIT HAS TURNED MY ordinary tv INTO A FLANTASTIC PROJECTION T.V."..yes i said FLANTASTIC,,A new word. |
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Mr. Truth | Mr. Truth, Definitions.. FLANTASTIC: A really cool looking projection tv. As a result of a kit you bought online. |
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Mr. Truth | Mr. Truth Back to the discussion.....Like I said "This kit helped me Grow my hair back"... OOps I did It again.mmm.I Played with your hart....Hmm,,HMM,,Got lost in the game,,,sorry sorry got carried away,,,.all you copyright people i had britneys permission to use that line..... I mean |
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Mr. Truth | Mr. Truth, Today we are here to talk about a revolutionary tooth paste that cures aids, colds, lukenia, heat diseas, cancer, aries, taurus, ford, murcury, o2...got carried away again..... Take 2 Today we are here to talk about a revolutionary tooth paste that cures aids, lukimia, cancer, and all life theatning deseases...Testimonials...Mrs Truth, I was dying from cancer and after brushing my teeth with the new tooth paste i was curred,,Amazing.. Jr. Truth, I was , I was, umm, I was,,, I know,, I was sick and it works... Well people you heard from the truth family Really works...Order at www.CUREYOUNOWTOOTHPASTE.Comma,,,,I mean com.. |
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Gadgit | Not sure wot ur on Mr Truth but maybe U can give some to the rest of us so we can under stand wot u r on about. |
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| FLANTASTIC! |
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Anonymous | Does anyone know wot kind of silver paint 2 use 4 a screen |
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Gadgit | A good paint would be met silver or chrome on a hard bord this gives a good reflictiv serface and works well but it must be rolled on to give a good even finish |
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Mr. Truth | Mr. Truth. :a comic character to encurage humor in these forums. I'm on a litle bit of everything to answer your question... LOL>>>LOL>>LOL>>>.........yupp!! that some good shi**t,,,,,!!! lololol / |
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GreenHornet | OK, first we have idiodic name calling and now we have Mr. Truth "encouraging" humor by apparently typing his posts while on drugs. Man, this thread has gone to hell in a hand basket. I'm out of here. |
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Motley | My LCD unit has been ordered and will arrive soon. I'm getting a high lumen/high native resolution unit that I think I'll be very happy with. I did notice that the higher the NATIVE resolution (no matter what the spec sheet said about the maximum resolution) was, the higher the price of the LCD projector went...I mean by hundreds of dollars. Also, replacment bulbs are quite expensive, most clocking in at over $300 (an argument against buying old LCD units with discontinued bulbs). The good news is the bulbs are extremely long lasting. The spec sheet on my unit says my bulb is rated for up to 4,000 hours. Reading the fact sheet on the Internet "Why Do LCD Bulbs Cost So Much?" offers insight to the technology that goes into a thoroughly satisfying home theater experience. Why do I mention all this? Well, because when a scam site says that the Ghetto TV is as good as an LCD unit, it would be interesting to know exactly how. I offered to debate specifics regarding the issue with cardboard TV supporters and that I got no takers speaks volumes. So, there you are! The purveyors of Scam TV have quit posting here and we are sadly left with the incoherent (drunken?) ramblings of the likes of Mr. Truth. On that note, I must agree with GreenHornet - this site is not what it used to be. If folks want to rag on me because I'm "whining" against the idea of an Internet scam, what can I say? GO AHEAD AND GET SCAMMED! By now, everybody knows more than they probably want to know about about the inequities of the fresnel lens system. If they still want to patronize fancy scam sites, it's their money. We said it before - YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. Get online and research for yourself the high level technology that goes into an LCD projector. Some pieces of cardboard and duct tape, a plastic $2 lens and an inverted TV is NOT going to match up to an LCD projector. If it did, there would be no LCD projectors! In other words, if a back yard wooden go-cart could rivel a Mercedes, the car manufacturer would simply go out of business. Sheesh! This ain't rocket science! What that, I'm out of here was well. I have a REAL home theater to enjoy! |
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Gadgit | Good for you Motley NOT BEEN SARCASTIC its good that you can afford Quality vewing but as I cant I will go on and help others that want to listen It wont Be as good as lcd projection and I never said it would But I did say that you wont get a good image with fresnel lenses and I gave a link to a lagit place that sells good lenses yes fresnel is a scam but the idea is not. |
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socks | Motley never, ever, ever got into an argument about the fresnel lens vs. LCD. If you look up in this thread, you will see that he says "I'm not going to get into a pissing match about it" and "If you want to build cardboard TV, build it for free, just don't get scammed by a net site". Other people seem to be making this into an LCD vs. fresnel lens TV argument. Of course everybody can't afford LCD or even DIY platen big screen. But, isn't there something pretty low down and dirty about these fancy splashy sites on the net that make big promises that you will get the same quality as an LCD? I think that's all Motley is arguing against. I looked at his posts again and couldn't find once where he said fresnel lens TV should not be built at all. Quite a few people posting here seem to be missing the point of the main title of this thread and need to look at it again. |
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| I agree wif you Socks all 100" tv kits are a scam I am just trying to put ppl that are interested in the idear onto much better lenses and free plans but plans dont matter at all becauce the avreage person just by looking at a pic of a diy projector can work out how it works and how to build it its very simple. |
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BustinBob | Though other people have also posted DIY plans and ideas and are welcome, this is primarily a messsage board about "100 Inch Projection TV For $9. Should I Or Shouldn't I?" |
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Gadgit | No. No one should buy lenses and plans from ebay they are a rip as you can buy these lenses from a stationary shop for $0.50 and the plans are free on the net. |
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Motley | G'day, all. I have to check in one last time to offer the voice of experience. I fired up my new LCD projector last night and went WOW! The picture is even better then the one I used to recently borrow from my girl's job. It is like film. FILM! No blurry edges, no resolution lines, no visible pixels, no discoloration, colorful and bright. As one who can say they've had both cardboard TV and LCD experience let me tell you, these cardboard TV internet ads should be sued for false representation. Once again, I'm not saying don't build one. But, don't believe the ads that say "It's as good as an LCD" or "It's just like IMAX". What I now have in my house is the one and only real deal and if you want the real deal, you just have to ante up and pay for it. No, no, no, I'm NOT mocking those who can't afford it, I'm just saying don't get your hopes up when you patronize the scam ads. Even if you can only afford cardboard TV which you build for free, fine. Just know there is something better out there and it's only a matter of time before the prices come down to where you can afford a good unit. Keep checking on the Internet from time to time and do your research. LCD projectors are becoming quite affordable. I got mine for a little over $1,000. If all you can afford right now is to build a cardboard or DIY platen system with FREE plans, do so, but keep your eyes on the horizon. There are those in this thread that have argued against LCD projectors, but if you want a truly awesome home theater experience (aside from a 64 inch flatscreen TV), it is the only way to go. I'm not rubbing your noses in it, I'm just saying keep in mind there's something out there better than cardboard TV and jump on it when you can. Don't listen to people who don't want to make the investment (as if cardboard TV were just as good) and so argue against those who do. LCD rocks! Have a good home theater experience, no matter what unit you use! I have a "Matrix -- Reloaded" party to prepare for! TTFN!! |
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| I am a professional TV Repairman for 15 years now. You do not have to turn your TV upside down. Instead You can reverse the vertical and horizontal yoke windings - BUT - a word of caution - if you accidentally connect the vertical and horizontal together you WILL kill the TV. Let a qualified TV Tech do it for you. Then you will have an upside down - right to left picture to work with .The repairman can also boost the brightness ( slightly ). |
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Gadgit | To RJ Im no tv repair man but this fliping image is a very easy job I did it just 4 days ago how much do you guys charge for the job I also increased the brightness but I have found older tvs are almost max out in adjustment. |
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Gadgit | here is a link for fliping image if anyone is interrested http://www.dameon.net/BBBB/yoke.html |
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Anonymous | test |
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Kerwin | I am in the process of building a projection TV. I have build the box and installed the lense. My question is this .. The image that I am projecting on the wall is basically a square, and not like the widescreen images that are shown in the advertisements selling the plans to homebuilt TV's .. am I doing something wrong .. ??? |
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| No you are doing nothing wrong the lens will only project wat it can see so if you play a dvd in wide screen it will project wide screen |
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BustinBob | Kerwin. Just to let you know, you are NOT going to get an image of the detail and brightness that's in the internet advertisements. Just go ahead and take what you get, but don't expect the quality they show in these web site samples. All I'm saying is, don't be disapointed when your big screen image doesn't match up. I'm not being a naysayer, just telling it like it is. |
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socks | Why you guys mucking around with cardboard TV anyway? Why not just go with LCD platen big screen if you can't afford the LCD projector? Look up in this msg board for detailed plans. You can get a 1024 res platen for $250 (after careful research) and an overhead projector for $50, both on eBay. You can't get good strong brightness with a TV projected with a plastic lens. Seems like you folks are chasing false "Just Like IMAX" hopes when you do that. If ghetto TV options are all you got, OK, but if you got a few bucks to invest in big screen, spend it. In the end, you won't regret it. |
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Gadgit | I'm not sure about anyone else but I muck around with diy projection because it is a good project that is afordable to me, and I am getting the results I expected (but Im not using a fresnel lens)I am working on a LCD extention for my original projection box but the screens are very expensive over here in New Zealand and the NZ $ is week against the US $ so ebay is not an option the only reason I've got an LCD screen is that I pulled it out or a jap car but I can only play DVD as it works on the NTSC system and in NZ we work on PAL. But with the lights off with my diy projector projecting a 80" image on to a silver screen the image is enjoyable for the $100nz I spent on building it (that includes the price of the 14"tv). |
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socks | Well, like I said, if it's all you can afford and you're happy with it, who am I go argue? And I didn't question why anyone goes mucking around with DIY in general, but just with the cardboard and duct tape option. Seems like a general waste of time, even for free, when there are better ways to build a DIY big screen projector. But, anyway, whatever makes you happy, I guess! You're the one that's gotta watch it!! |
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Gadgit | Cardboard is just a cheep option that ppl can start with to get an idear on what to do you can make plenty of mistakes and just start over as anybody can pick it up for cheep or free. Once you've made something your happy with you can perfect it in something more permanent. I made mine from 15mm custom board the focus system from 20mm custom and the screen 3mm hard board |
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Anonymous | The Maxtheater garbage and every other Cardboard TV plan is all nonsense. They do not work at an acceptable level. TV's do not give off enough light to project a sharp clear image. It's junk and that's all there is to it. You see all these guys coming out of the woodworks defending this crap, but you need to realize that the guys defending it are the same jerks that sell the plans. This scam was also exposed on TechTV back in September. If you want to build a REAL projector, look elsewhere. There are FAR better alternatives out there that actually work. |
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Gadgit | I you read my posts you will see I dont sell lenses and dont support the people that do but you are wrong about the image mine is very viewable and sharp right to the edge of the screen |
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Anonymous | What size plano should i be getting Gadgit? Just a rectangular one? What focal length is acceptable? GO THE ALL BLACKS! |
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Gadgit | Any 100mm and up is good and 400mm to 500mm focal length the lens I am using is 150mm across and is round but a rectangular one would do the same job I guess NOTE the plano lens is directional so if you use it and find the center in focus but the outside very hazzy just flip it around.And yes GO THE BLACKS |
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| i made 1 of these over a year ago, and it's still working,but i've made some alterations. first, for the lens i used the top lens from an old overhead projector!! it worked great! 2nd i projected it on my ceiling over my bed so when i am going to bed i can watch it while lying down |
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Anonymous | Gadgit, you're suspect. I would'nt doubt that you run one of those BS cardboard TV sites. I make real projectors and I have a very deep knowledge of optic principle and the bottom line is, the cardboard TV crap including the stuff that companies like Maxtheater send you does not work at an acceptable level. If you call blurry images that require you to sit in total death-like darkness sharp and clear, then have fun. Sure, you can modify the hell out of the setup and get better results, but you can't beat building a real projector. The carboard method is not even in the same universe. Building a real projector only requires very limited techical knowledge and some wiring and is very inexpensive. I've recently built an LCD projector with HD capability and it only cost me $445 including shipping of all the parts. So why don't you shut your website down and call it quits? The real big screen movement is coming and we don't give a phuck about cardboard. |
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Motley | Ananymous, I'm with you. I just sprung for an LCD and I am now one happy camper! My unit cost a little over $1,000, the bulb is rated for 4,000 hours of use. I know I took the more expensive way out, but when I sat back this week to watch the hockey game, then "Reign Of Fire" and "Spider-Man" on an 9 foot wide screen, I had one s**t eatin' smile on my face. This weekend I'm going to host a "Matrix - Reloaded" party for my friends. I have fabulous resolution and the brightness on my picture is so good you can watch it with the lights ON! There is no way cardboard and plastic and limited TV lumens is going to give anywhere near this quality. I ordered one of those contraptions and tried it, so I have actual experience. Gadit says cardboard is "acceptable". Depends on what you accept, I guess. If a person can't afford LCD or doesn't want to put the effort in to building one, OK, but don't parade cardboard as if it is a viable option. Bottom line is those that are willing to put the money or the sweat equity into buying or building a good LCD until take that option. Those that can't or don't want to will call the rest of us "losers", "whiners" or "the unfortunates". Go figure. |
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Gadgit | Hay guys no need to bad mouth me I dont sell lenses and in fact ive only had the internet for a few months and dont realy even no how to use it let alone run a web page. Like I said before if you have the money great go out and buy an lcd but I only had $150nz to spend on this project as I am trying to buy a house and my son's opps cost alot. Thats great you both have lcd and good images on your wall but I never dissed you or called you names and my projector is not made of cardboard stop with the anger. |
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Gadgit | And Mr Anonymous if you go up the page you will see a post from me saying you can buy a lens the same as the ones on ebay for $0.50 at a stationary shop so if I ran a scam y would I try to cut my self off would'nt you think I would try to promote myself. |
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Motley | Why would I be angry? I don't even know you and will never meet you. I've got what I need for home theater, so I'm a happy camper with a smile ear to ear. I don't care what you watch and sympathize that you may not be able to afford more. But, if you scroll up, you have to admit that your posts kind of fall in line with those who can't afford or don't bother to build better and talk trash against those that do. To your credit, you admit "Ghetto Big Screen TV" is not as good as LCD. But, this board isn't about how to build a better "Ghetto Big Screen TV". (Though others have also posted DIY plans - good ones too - and I'm certainly not the Message Board Police!) Check out the title of this discussion. But, the difference between your discussion and the other DIY plans is this... People who are considering buying one of those $9 big screen kits look in here for the truth about it. Even though you built yours for free, when you post accolades about your screen image, it sends confusing information. I think that's why Anonymous thinks you're suspect. |
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socks | It's a small world we live in if we are reduced to giving a whit or a tittle about what TV system someone else is watching. Who cares, really? If you like it, more power 2 you. But, I agree that representing the kit product as anywhere near the same universe as DIY or factory LCD is confusing. Somebody earlier in this thread said what you get with $9 big screen TV is a $9 image. If Gadgit says, "I know, but I accept it", fine. But, I think the disagreement is that he implies that for a mere pittance you are going to get something that is somewhat comparable to real LCD big screen quality. That's where the disagreement seems to be. People are attacted to the idea of cardboard TV because it's cheap and they think they are going to get something for nothing. Nobody's asking Gadgit to defend his setup...just to not represent it as something it's not. Again, you get what you pay for! |
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Anonymous | Motely and socks, you guys hit it right on the head. No one is attacking you personally Gadgit, it's just that the representation you gave of what those kits do is a bit, ummmm..... Out of Focus (pun intended, lol). Also Gadgit, people have built very effective LCD projectors for $75 so money is really not an issue. The issue is just what socks brought up... People wanting something for nothing and not willing to put in any real effort. Those are mostly the types of people who rush out and by these programs. Or, those who are just ignorant of the facts. When you purchase big screen TV plans from companies like Maxtheater you're buying junk. In effect, you're paying something for nothing. |
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Gadgit | sorry guys but I thought we had all agreed that buying fursnel lenses from the net was a big scam then someone says Im one of them thats Y I defended myself and mabe you can build a diy lcd for $75 but not in New Zealand as I am trying at the mo and just the lcd will set ya back $250nz its new technology and very costly over here. Some one said early on that if tv projection was good it would be mass projuced well it is I came across it in the msm forum I am in there is a place that sells tv projectors made up of a 13 inch tv and a lens I will surply a link when I find it again but the tv must put out more light then your normal tv as it is viewable in a lit room. But back to the point LCD is good DIY LCD is good DIY tv with a good optic lens in viewable and big screen tv for $9 is a load of crap. |
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BustinBob | Gadgit - Out of curiosity, what's living in New Zeland have to do with anything when these days you can order just about anything you want from all over the world over the internet? Just curious, not arguing with you. |
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Gadgit | The NZ dollar is not worth alot so it maybe cheep in US dollar but by the time it gets over here its just about the same price as going down to the shop and getting it. |
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Anonymous | FLANTASTIC! |
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Anonymous | There are some people who belong to my DIY forum who live in New Zealand and have had no trouble getting their hands on what they needed for a reasonable price. You just have to hunt very hard. |
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Gadgit | How do you get to your forum is it diy lcd? its no problem for me to get a lcd screen but all I have come across is ntsc playback only none will suport pal and the ones that do will cost me over $150nz to import. |
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Motley | My "Matrix" movie party was a bang-up success. We ended up showing the first and second movies back-to-back on a ten foot wide screen with surround sound. Packed house, pretty hard-core crowd interested in seeing all the effects blown up on the big screen. I couldn't help thinking how glad I was that I didn't have to wheel out one of those cardboard contraptions that evening. My audience agreed that that the money I paid for my LCD setup was well spent. So much for me being one of the (as My Cinema Rocks claimed) "unfortunates" and a "loser". There are 2 kinds of people in the world: those that cry when they buy something pricey but smile every time they use it and those that smile when they buy something cheap but cry every time they use it. Of the later, like the commercial says: "Don't be that guy." |
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Gadgit | Hay motley Im glad your party went off as a success and it should have with a lcd projection unit but I think you are for geting the third person, the guy who builds something sits back and enjoys wot he has done. Dont get me wrong its not as good as good as lcd but mines not something to cry over everytime I use it. |
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Motley | Gadgit... why do you think everybody in this forum wants to argue with you? MyCinemaRocks and SickOfTurds above claimed those of us who didn't use cardboard TV were "losers", "winers" and "the unfortunates". Their slant appeared to be that only fools invest good money into a big screen unit when they can take the cheap way out and still get quality. I disagree. If you and others are satisfied with cardboard TV FINE! It's not my business what you watch. However, don't get on this thread and put down those that go on a limb to get the best as if we are blind fools for not investing only $9 or less. I'm addressing the falicious idea that cardboard TV is somehow comparable. It's not and you admit it yourself. You only settled for it because in NZ, you can't get better for your financial situation. But, if you COULD, you WOULD. I'm speaking to the people who want what I have for only $9 and get suckered into these scam ads. THOSE are the ones who "smile when they buy and cry every time they use" their Ghetto Big Screen projectors. So, the title in this forum isn't "Let's Argue With Gadgit". It's "Big Screen Projection TV For $9. Should I Or Shouldn't I?" Quit taking every post so personally. |
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Motley | Oops. I meant "whiners", not "winers". But ya'll got my drift. |
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Searching ForIQ | Moving forward... Does anyone have any links for plans and product for this bigger and better home projection project. I thought this was a forum for sharing info...instead of just babble... |
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Gadgit | Fair comment Motley I will stop taking it to heart. Here is a link to a forum that will help you out Searching ForIQ If you look on the message board you will find alot of helpful info. http://groups.msn.com/diyprojectiontv/messageboard.msnw |
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