CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

spoot · Joined: 19 Nov 2014 Posts: 21

I got off my arse earlier this week dealing with the home theater and I got the projector bug again. Uh oh, that can get expensive. Very Happy

After half heartedly looking at lcd/dlp/etc as I didn't think I had the will to deal with properly setting up CRT again.......I got a wild hair and began dusting off the Ampro 3300 that's been neglected and collecting dust for about 10 years. Which is sad as I put in VDC rebuilt tubes in it long ago and they have pretty low hours.

First order of business was to open up the used Stewart microperf screen I bought ages ago and never used. Unrolled it and it was in good shape. Score.

Second, dust off the 3300 and dig out the remote. Powered up to it whining about battery failure....and no fire from red CRT. Dang. It gave off a slight "magic smoke" smell and atm am assuming the CRT card is toast. Good thing I have spares of those among most other boards from a stripped 3x00 PJ. And any Ampro owner without spare CRT cards is just asking for trouble. Laughing

So, things to do:
1) Attach battery to CPU board asap. Thankfully I had some lithium batteries sitting around for Capcom arcade board repair that will work.
2) Pray that it didn't lose all the built in test patterns and such due to power loss.
3) Swap CRT card on Red and see if it fires up
4) Find my parts/documentation on the basic repairs of the CRT cards.
5) Build screen frame
6) Build mounting frame/bracket on ceiling for PJ

Wish me luck. Wink

gjaky · Joined: 05 Jun 2010 Posts: 2790 Location: Budapest, Hungary

Not much Ampro users left, so I keep my fingers crossed Smile

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2014 12:07 am Post subject:

I had flash backs reading that Laughing

spoot · Joined: 19 Nov 2014 Posts: 21

So far so good:
1) New battery soldered in and it stopped whining at me for that
2) Got all 3 crts to light. WOOT!

And to not push my Ampro owner luck.......gunna let it sit till tomorrow while I replace cpu in htpc. Laughing

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

There will be no problem keeping that Ampro purring like a kitten so don't worry. Smile

veelangs · Joined: 22 Oct 2014 Posts: 59 Location: Chicago

Ampro user checking in!

Mine is floor mounted and is literally zero maintenance granted no one kicks it. The image is bright and sharp. You'll really enjoy it. I have two channels programmed 1 for night use and and 1 for day time use (basically a higher color temp -> saturated but brighter image) I live in an apartment so I cannot complain.

What I found most important outside of proper convergence, is the screen material. I have a Stewart Studiotek 130GS and it makes all the difference, the velvet wrapping helps limit reflection too.

best of luck my man

UncleWill · Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 7:38 pm Post subject:

Pics?

spoot · Joined: 19 Nov 2014 Posts: 21

Well, did some setup/building past few weeks. Made center channel speaker stand and screen frame via extruded aluminum. Setup the projector for floor/front projection for the moment. Yeah, I have alot of adjusting to do.

Bad thing is I can see the dots in the mircroperf screen even at the back of the room. That is gunna drive me nutz and will have to change when I get more monies.

I also went crazy and bought a lumigen and chromopure setup.

stefuel · Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 10:08 pm Post subject:

Did somebody say....................AmPro? Never heard of one Laughing

spoot · Joined: 19 Nov 2014 Posts: 21

Somtimes I think they stand for:
Always
Making
Projection
Really
Obstinate

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2015 12:04 am Post subject:

spoot · Joined: 19 Nov 2014 Posts: 21

So, feeding it from a htpc (intel 4600hd) hdmi to hdfury3 and gammax now. After around 20-30 minutes of running.......it starts to roll the screen. I am assuming sumthing is fried and overheating. Happens with case on or off.

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

What resolution are you sending to it?

spoot · Joined: 19 Nov 2014 Posts: 21

1920x1080p and 1920x1080i.....which I thought it could take............perhaps I was wrong. Confused

So I got mad and ordered a Epson 5030UB to get me past the "Get the damn projector working right" hump. Razz

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

spoot · Joined: 19 Nov 2014 Posts: 21

Heheh, yaya, didn't say I'd stop trying to get the ol crt beast working. Thumbs Up

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

Have you tried another source?
Have you tried VGA to RGBHV?

Ampro at home · Joined: 31 May 2007 Posts: 17

I use the Box 1040 between the HDFury 3 and the Ampro 3300. The Fury's sync pulse doesn't work very good with the Ampro electronics. I also like the Box 1040's black boost better on the Ampro so I use it rather than the HDFury's. I run at 1080i as it's just too soft at 1080p and it puts less stress on the electronics. I've been running rock solid for years with no problems. With just the HDFury it'd start rolling just like you noticed.

I haven't looked if they still even make the Box 1040 anymore, you'll probably need to search for a used one somewhere.

Mike

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 9:46 pm Post subject:

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

I have a bran new one I never use.