CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

jsepps · Joined: 17 Apr 2012 Posts: 18 Location: Rancho Mirage, CA

Hello all. I am new to the projector world quite by accident. I have acquired 2 real nice Vidikron CRT projectors and I believe the model is the Vision 2. They are beautiful and HUGE!! They remind me of a black Ferrari. I am not familiar these but do know they we $22,000 new. All I want to do is hook up a Playstation game system but the only inputs are the BNC RGB inputs. Can I just get 3 BNC to RCA adapters from Radio Shack and use my component cables?

Also I need to know how to flip the output so I can use them on the ground. As they are they are set up for ceiling mount. Since they weigh around 200lbs I don't see myself ever mounting them. How the heck do you use these things?

Thanks!

Tim in Phoenix · Joined: 21 Oct 2006 Posts: 2248 Location: Phoenix

Hello

Component is not RGB; you need a device in between called a transcoder.

For floor use you need to move some plugs around, explained here: http://www.etechvideo.com/techtip3.htm

.

digitalayon · Joined: 02 Mar 2009 Posts: 394

As usual, Tim gives some correct advice. But what he is not telling you is you should mount both with a blend(method of combining two for a massive screen) and calling it "blendzilla's daddy".....sorry Tim...couldn't resist!.....anyway...welcome....there are some really good people on here that know their stuff. Enjoy your projectors. Keep both!....If the wife or GF ever ask why.......tell them they look pretty and ask the size of their ring finger.

CasetheCorvetteman · Joined: 09 Nov 2008 Posts: 1967 Location: QLD, Australia

Dont those heaps have component through the RGB connection??

Nashou66 · Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 12:28 pm Post subject:

Forget the transcoder and get the HDMI card

http://www.curtpalme.com/VIM-FULLHD.shtm

Those are nice 8 inch units, but to make them even better get the HD 145 lenses and adaptors.

Athanasios

CasetheCorvetteman · Joined: 09 Nov 2008 Posts: 1967 Location: QLD, Australia

Yes that is certainly a much better option.

What stops the HD-145s fitting straight on?

Nashou66 · Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 12:54 pm Post subject:

CasetheCorvetteman · Joined: 09 Nov 2008 Posts: 1967 Location: QLD, Australia

Oh ok, i see. Is there no equal to the 144 and 145 in the AC lenses?

HaydnG90 · Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 809

Not from my experience. The color filtering is key. The extra sharpness is an added value. And if you needed a third reason, since the OP wants to use them on the floor, being able to move the pj 5" closer to the screen places the viewer in the best possible seat, right behind the pj.

OP....Do yourself a favor and take a look at Dalite High Power screen material. You'll never want anything else.

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 5080 Location: Colorado

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 5080 Location: Colorado

sell one (not on this forum though) and use the proceeds to upgrade the other one. HD-145 lenses and HD mod's for the electronic are going to be your best bang for the buck. Also, post your city, good chance someone local to mentor you through the basics.
BTW, not worth 22K anymore,maybe 2.5% of that is current market value. Wink

HaydnG90 · Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 809

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 5080 Location: Colorado

gjaky · Joined: 05 Jun 2010 Posts: 928 Location: Budapest, Hungary

Phoenixed · Joined: 13 Oct 2011 Posts: 463 Location: The mitten

I want that case OP.

HaydnG90 · Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 809

mc86 · Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:41 am Post subject:

Guys -

Aren't we discussing nuances when he wants/needs basics? Before you proceed, you might look into the tubes with a flashlight (gentle) to see if you can make out the condition of the CRT tubes' face. If they are completely and totally brown, gameplay is about all you might do - just get a transcoder as Nashou indicated. If they are nice, you might invest in a card like Nashou66 suggested and do much more than gameplay.

Regarding getting started, I'll presume you've read the primer and setup guides linked at the top of the forum and weren't too daunted by everything...don't worry, folks on here can help guide you through hiccups. Plug them in, see if they run, feed them a signal from an old PC/laptop using a cable with VGA by 5 BNC connector, and do a super crude setup -- you'll likely be surprised at how fast you can get a decent image. I could send you a cable for cost of shipping. Then, IF you decide to do more than gameplay AND want to spend a little time and money, read-up on here about some of the modifications others mentioned - the HDMI video input module, upgrade lenses/adapter kit, mods to electronics, etc. and decide how far you want to go.

People on this forum are fantastic -- welcome and ask away!

BTW, if these PJs will be sitting in the car outside until a buddy can help lug them around, you should gently cover the lenses with something that won't let any light through -- I've heard people say the lenses can act like magnifying lenses and burn themselves up (some of partial-plastic lens materials). One step better (and save you considerable weight for moving) would be to simply remove the lenses -- 12 screws (need a long driver) should do it, I'm guessing. As an added bonus, doing so will let you inspect the tube faces much more clearly as well. Just be super careful not to scratch the lens surfaces that are closest to the tubes.

I agree -- post location and someone may well be close enough to come help you play!

cheers,
Matt

**kal** · Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 2:10 am Post subject:

gjaky · Joined: 05 Jun 2010 Posts: 928 Location: Budapest, Hungary

jsepps · Joined: 17 Apr 2012 Posts: 18 Location: Rancho Mirage, CA

Wow this post took on a life of its own. I read all your post and I thank you all for the info. I'm clearly out of my element on this project as I'm more confused than ever. I will say this though.

I returned one of the projectors as it did not light up at all so I figured I'd better not even attempt to get into a money pit. It had the real nice HD lenses one poster had spoken of. I would have taken them out and kept but I figured the lens was also the tube? Any how I kept the other projector though. I'm still not sure about this one because although all the tubes light up and work while doing the convergence, if I plug a DVD, bluray etc. the blue does not work. Is that because I need a scaler or any other convert box as you all suggested? It seems strange that the red and green produce a picture (a very dim picture) but the blue won't. Am I screwed or will getting one of the suggested devices solve that issue?

Thanks