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Heywood Jablome
Joined: 12 Mar 2006
Posts: 1548
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| Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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| stefuel wrote: | | can you guess the source equipment? |
I don't suppose I count in this little challenge? 
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"Those countries which lag behind in industry, in the application of mechanics and technical chemistry, in the careful selection and utilization of natural products, where the respect for such activities does not permeate all classes of society, will unfailingly decline in prosperity. They will sink faster when neighbor states, with an energetic exchange between science and industry, go forward with renewed vitality."
-- Baron Alexander von Humboldt: 1769-1859
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stefuel
Joined: 07 Mar 2006
Posts: 3353
Location: Green Harbor MA USA
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| Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 5:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Heywood Jablome wrote: | | stefuel wrote: | | can you guess the source equipment? |
I don't suppose I count in this little challenge? |
Ohhh Sure......................NOT 
I will make it a bit simpler for the rest though. At one time or another each of these have been here. It is std def DVD through one of the following,
1. I Scan DVDO V2
2. HTPC
3. Quadscan Elite HD
4. TAW Rock+
5. Snell and Wilcox G2 Interpolator Gold w/shoebox
6. Focus Enhancements Centerstage
7. Silicon Optix Image Anyplace
It just occured to me while looking at the list, I've never had anything Faroudja.
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Chip
A Barco is only a AmPro with training wheels
Card carrying member of the AVS chain gang.
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Heywood Jablome
Joined: 12 Mar 2006
Posts: 1548
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| Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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When the hell did you have an S&W Interpolator? You been holding out on me? 
_________________
"Those countries which lag behind in industry, in the application of mechanics and technical chemistry, in the careful selection and utilization of natural products, where the respect for such activities does not permeate all classes of society, will unfailingly decline in prosperity. They will sink faster when neighbor states, with an energetic exchange between science and industry, go forward with renewed vitality."
-- Baron Alexander von Humboldt: 1769-1859
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stefuel
Joined: 07 Mar 2006
Posts: 3353
Location: Green Harbor MA USA
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| Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Heywood Jablome wrote: | | When the hell did you have an S&W Interpolator? You been holding out on me? |
I was baby-sitting it for a friend who was going through bad times and was allowed to "try it out if you like and perhaps buy it if I find I no longer have a use for it". Although it was way cool to look at and worked quite well, when Chris heard the "used price" she said "unplug it right now and put it back in the box. If you break it we'll have to sell the house to pay for it". It was here for about six months collecting dust and is the reason the garage door now has a lock on it. Boy would that have looked nice mounted in the rack.
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Chip
A Barco is only a AmPro with training wheels
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stefuel
Joined: 07 Mar 2006
Posts: 3353
Location: Green Harbor MA USA
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| Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 9:42 pm Post subject: |
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I wonder how the S&W stands up as a scaler these days to the current crop of consumer grade scalers? Probably not worth it's weight in scrap iron.
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Chip
A Barco is only a AmPro with training wheels
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RVonse
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
Posts: 3152
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| Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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| stefuel wrote: | I think it's funny how some people hold onto and insist on bashing later model AmPro's using reliability as their main complaint. This projector (to me) must be 6 years old. I hung it two weeks after buying it and it immediately developed a HVPS problem. I bought a replacement from Curt and that supply is still in it. A few years later I had a neck board act up. A few years after that I had some magic smoke appear from a bad soldered joint on the focus amp. The most recent problem was a green tube implosion that I think was the tubes fault as the replacement has been fine for a year and a half without making any other repairs. To some, that might sound like a lot of problems in 6 years but that projector is running 12-15 hours a day, every day, I $hit you not. If you don't believe me, ask Heywood. I don't think he's ever been to my house when he projector was off  |
It is their poor design that I have a problem with more than reliability. You certainly can not hold any projector responsible for worn out tubes but you sure can flame a projector for being stupid:
1.Ampro has the most stupid and awkward wired remote control that everyone else figured out how to do without wires. Then as stupid, crazy, awkward, and expensive as this dumb wired remote is, it is magically scarce and hard to find at any price. If the projector doesn't have the remote with it you will never find one, at least not without paying some rediculous price. They would have done better just to put some controls right on the projector.
2.Ampros have seriously flawed LC focus which can not focus.
3.Ampros have heat problems even with a case is big enough to fit an elephant inside.
4. Spellman power supplies
So with all of that going against it, it is no wonder they never became popular IMO.
The only thing I see Ampros do have going for them is they were and continue to sell cheap. But even at that if you don't get the magical remote with projector, then they aren't cheap.
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stefuel
Joined: 07 Mar 2006
Posts: 3353
Location: Green Harbor MA USA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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| RVonse wrote: | | stefuel wrote: | | I think it's funny how some people hold onto and insist on bashing later model AmPro's using reliability as their main complaint. This projector (to me) must be 6 years old. I hung it two weeks after buying it and it immediately developed a HVPS problem. I bought a replacement from Curt and that supply is still in it. A few years later I had a neck board act up. A few years after that I had some magic smoke appear from a bad soldered joint on the focus amp. The most recent problem was a green tube implosion that I think was the tubes fault as the replacement has been fine for a year and a half without making any other repairs. To some, that might sound like a lot of problems in 6 years but that projector is running 12-15 hours a day, every day, I $hit you not. If you don't believe me, ask Heywood. I don't think he's ever been to my house when he projector was off |
It is their poor design that I have a problem with more than reliability. You certainly can not hold any projector responsible for worn out tubes but you sure can flame a projector for being stupid:
1.Ampro has the most stupid and awkward wired remote control that everyone else figured out how to do without wires. Then as stupid, crazy, awkward, and expensive as this dumb wired remote is, it is magically scarce and hard to find at any price. If the projector doesn't have the remote with it you will never find one, at least not without paying some rediculous price. They would have done better just to put some controls right on the projector.
2.Ampros have seriously flawed LC focus which can not focus.
3.Ampros have heat problems even with a case is big enough to fit an elephant inside.
4. Spellman power supplies
So with all of that going against it, it is no wonder they never became popular IMO.
The only thing I see Ampros do have going for them is they were and continue to sell cheap. But even at that if you don't get the magical remote with projector, then they aren't cheap. |
OK, I don't want to start a argument here but let's look at the four biggies you mentioned.
1, The remote. I don't even use the remote. It's controlled perfectly with my Crestron system via RS-232. I do however have two wired remotes and a IR remote and adapter designed for the AmPro. When I was using the wired remote, I had no problem navigating through the menus. Now however, I'm using wireless touch screens to control it that are RF. It's nice to be able to walk right up to the screen and make precise adjustments and not have to worry about pointing the remote in the other direction
2, OK, you got me there. The LC design does blow dog but it's only or mostly noticable at the bottom of a 4:3 aspect ratio screen when ceiling mounted. However, this problem is almost non existant on widescreen installations of 16:9 or less. The focus is sharp as a tack everywhere else.
3, Heat problems. Once you remove the factory installed filters, blow out the dust from the low voltage power supply and keep it clean, it runs as cool as any other projector I've ever owned.
4, Spellman power supplies. Yep, they sure do have Spellman HVPS. I guess that means that all the Marquees out there are sh!t too and off your prefered list. If you keep them clean so they run cool you will have way less problems.
Now for it's plusses.
1. Yes they are cheap to buy, thanks to so much mis-information and I'm comfortable with that
2. There is no service operation that requires un-mounting the projector
3. In my opinion, you could completely strip one down (in place) and completely re-board and re-tube one in under 3 hours not counting setup.
By the way, you forgot to mention lower bandwidth. I will admit, it's on the edge at 1080P 60 on a 16:9 screen but it does it well.
If you have any further concerns about the a$$ end of the projector food chain, I've been around them long enough to provide a informed response and would be more then happy to do so.
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Chip
A Barco is only a AmPro with training wheels
Card carrying member of the AVS chain gang.
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RVonse
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
Posts: 3152
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 3:58 am Post subject: |
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| stefuel wrote: | | RVonse wrote: | | stefuel wrote: | | I think it's funny how some people hold onto and insist on bashing later model AmPro's using reliability as their main complaint. This projector (to me) must be 6 years old. I hung it two weeks after buying it and it immediately developed a HVPS problem. I bought a replacement from Curt and that supply is still in it. A few years later I had a neck board act up. A few years after that I had some magic smoke appear from a bad soldered joint on the focus amp. The most recent problem was a green tube implosion that I think was the tubes fault as the replacement has been fine for a year and a half without making any other repairs. To some, that might sound like a lot of problems in 6 years but that projector is running 12-15 hours a day, every day, I $hit you not. If you don't believe me, ask Heywood. I don't think he's ever been to my house when he projector was off |
It is their poor design that I have a problem with more than reliability. You certainly can not hold any projector responsible for worn out tubes but you sure can flame a projector for being stupid:
1.Ampro has the most stupid and awkward wired remote control that everyone else figured out how to do without wires. Then as stupid, crazy, awkward, and expensive as this dumb wired remote is, it is magically scarce and hard to find at any price. If the projector doesn't have the remote with it you will never find one, at least not without paying some rediculous price. They would have done better just to put some controls right on the projector.
2.Ampros have seriously flawed LC focus which can not focus.
3.Ampros have heat problems even with a case is big enough to fit an elephant inside.
4. Spellman power supplies
So with all of that going against it, it is no wonder they never became popular IMO.
The only thing I see Ampros do have going for them is they were and continue to sell cheap. But even at that if you don't get the magical remote with projector, then they aren't cheap. |
OK, I don't want to start a argument here but let's look at the four biggies you mentioned.
1, The remote. I don't even use the remote. It's controlled perfectly with my Crestron system via RS-232. I do however have two wired remotes and a IR remote and adapter designed for the AmPro. |
Wow. You have an IR remote for an Ampro? So does the adapter plug into the wired RS-232 port? That would certainly make the projector more usable I agree there. But the fact does remains that a stock Ampro still has to be modified in order to possess the same standard functionality that the others come standard with. And that costs both time and money.
| stefuel wrote: |
4, Spellman power supplies. Yep, they sure do have Spellman HVPS. I guess that means that all the Marquees out there are sh!t too and off your prefered list. If you keep them clean so they run cool you will have way less problems. |
Yes the Spellman is definately an engineeering weakness whereever they put it.
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AnalogRocks
Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 26706
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV/Projector: Sony 1252Q, AMPRO 4000G
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 4:28 am Post subject: |
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I have the wireless remote for the Ampro too. it's around here somewhere
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stefuel
Joined: 07 Mar 2006
Posts: 3353
Location: Green Harbor MA USA
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 2:42 am Post subject: |
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"Wow. You have an IR remote for an Ampro? So does the adapter plug into the wired RS-232 port? That would certainly make the projector more usable I agree there. But the fact does remains that a stock Ampro still has to be modified in order to possess the same standard functionality that the others come standard with. And that costs both time and money. "
Yes I do. It plugs into the host port with a supplied Y cable so that you have a choice between the wired or IR remote. It's still nice to be able to walk right up to the screen with the wired remote for convergence touch ups. Something that's not always easy with the IR remote and a non issue with RF Crestron touch panels. I do however still use the wired remote for color calibration as the touch panel casts enough light into the room to effect the readings.
What other modifications do you feel a AmPro needs to give it the same funtionality as other projectors??? I'm prepaired to keep this debate afloat until you sink my battleship.
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Chip
A Barco is only a AmPro with training wheels
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tse
Joined: 03 May 2006
Posts: 1014
Location: Sweatbucket, Fl.
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 12:23 pm Post subject: |
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The later versions have on screen display of the adjustments and values that are being changed. The earlier ones didn't. That is why the remote has the LCD display.
Scott
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stefuel
Joined: 07 Mar 2006
Posts: 3353
Location: Green Harbor MA USA
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 11:58 pm Post subject: |
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Damn, I spent the morning making trips to the dump and the whole afternoon working on my subwoofer amp. To tired and fed up with electronics for today to consider working on my projector. I have to work tomorrow so it will have to be Sunday. Boy that sub amp is pissing me off.
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Chip
A Barco is only a AmPro with training wheels
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macgyver655
Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 8508
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| Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 12:32 am Post subject: |
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1.....2......3.....4.....5.....6......7........8.....9.....10
There................................ I'm ok for now. 
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AnalogRocks
Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 26706
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV/Projector: Sony 1252Q, AMPRO 4000G
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| Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 4:12 am Post subject: |
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| macgyver655 wrote: | 1.....2......3.....4.....5.....6......7........8.....9.....10
There................................ I'm ok for now. |
Ah'one two 'dree -foh five six seben ate nahin ten eleven twelve....du du du du dah du dah du dah du dah du du du du DU! 12!
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stefuel
Joined: 07 Mar 2006
Posts: 3353
Location: Green Harbor MA USA
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| Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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For me, it's more like counting down and you know what happenes when you get to zero
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Chip
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