CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

Rocketman75 · Joined: 02 Aug 2017 Posts: 3 Location: Oklahoma

Hi I'm new here! Bought a Vidikron 12 projector in mint condition from a friend of mine that hasn't used it in awhile. He told me that he moved twice since he used it and has looked everywhere for the remote but can't find it.
It is in 100% mint condition, it looks brand new and doesn't have a scratch, all serial #'s etc are clearly legible.
I didn't think it would be that hard to find a replacement remote but I cannot find one!

Does anyone here know what else can be done to get it working? Unlike some projectors this has 0 controls on the unit itself, not even a power button, input button etc. It's in standby mode but I can't get it to actually turn on, and he said he bought a new bulb for it and only used it about 10 hours before upgrading to a new projector (100% friend so I trust him).

It seems that without the remote it is un-useable. I even contacted the company that bought out Vidikron and they said that they do not carry those remotes anymore, and said to see if I could find it.

I have tried Amazon, ebay, craigslist etc and I cannot find it anywhere.

He suggested this forum as he said everyone here has been extremely helpful and has good advice so I thought I would give it a shot. I hate to see this nice of a projector basically trashed just due to no remote.
Question is does anyone know where I could possible get a remote for it? Or an aftermarket remote that might let me control the basic functions like input/power? Any suggestions would be Extremely Appreciated!!!

Thanks Wink

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2017 1:56 am Post subject:

I don't want to scare you, but run away! Smile

I believe this model is after Runco bought Vidikron, and before Runco got sold to Planar, in fact I'm sure of it. About all you might be able to do is find a universal remote with the codes on it, or check Irule, as they have a large library of codes, as do the higher end Harmony remotes, etc. An 8 in 1 Walmart special won't have it.

Here's the problem with that Vidikron: Planar stopped all support for the older Runco/Vidikron models save for what they had in stock, which wasn't much. I had a higher end Vidikron here that had issues, and the divorced woman that brought it in via her HT tech (whom I'd advised not to touch it) insisted that she wanted it fixed, as it was '$35K when new'. Long story short, I charged her $150 for 2 hours of looking at it, and trying to track down ANY parts for it. Runco/Planar had to be called about 3 times before they said nothing could be done, they had no parts. Not satisfied, the woman took it from me, and to another shop, that charged her $1000 to install an RGB board they found new old stock at some dealer in the US. That didn't fix it either. She then called me a year later wanting me to buy the unit for parts. I refused, even if she gave it to me for free.

Long story short, I hope you didn't pay much for it, as it's an old projector, isn't even 1080p, and a $1000 Costco projector will produce a better image than that one. Not trying to rain on your parade at all, just being truthful. Good luck on the remote, but finding one will be tough.

Rocketman75 · Joined: 02 Aug 2017 Posts: 3 Location: Oklahoma

He said he would refund me my $ if I couldn't find a remote for it, I was just hoping I could make it work. It feels like it's made good, and sad to see something that is so perfect (and 5k new) be literally junk now. And it's pretty poor design that if you loose the remote its completely junk, cause there isn't 1 function button on the housing itself to switch anything (to change inputs or even power it on. Not even a power button!)
I had called Planar today and spoke to someone there, he said he would check with operations and see if they had any of those remotes left, and emailed me that they do not have any left. You can tell this thing is built well, I mean no joke it feels/looks like is 100% brand new, and even the internal dials for focus etc are metal, I mean it's built like a tank.

Question though: It says this in the manual for it:
*Connecting to the 12-Volt Trigger Output
If your home theater contains equipment that responds to a 12-volt trigger (such as a retractable screen), connect it to the 12-volt trigger output as shown in Figure 3-13. "

-There is an input for a connector in the back but not sure what it would do and if it would trigger it to come on. I don't have a screen to test this with to "trigger" it. And even if I did, not sure that it would pick up that the source is coming from the DVI input instead of the RCA's.

I wonder if I should just list it on Ebay and bid it for parts. Because without the remote that is basically all it is I guess.

-Thank you for your response, and if anyone else has any ideas or suggestions it would still be appreciated!
-If I could just find a remote for it I could at least have something, otherwise it's just a heavy desk-weight lol.

Thanks!

Rocketman75 · Joined: 02 Aug 2017 Posts: 3 Location: Oklahoma

Talked to the another friend of mine again, it does have RS-232 plug in the back so it doesn't look like I need a remote for it.
He said using a hyperterminal that I could do everything I need through the serial cable. So it looks like I may not need a remote after all Wink

Guess that is my next feat is finding a serial connecter, downloading hyperterminal and seeing if that works.
Does that sound like a workable option?

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2017 5:36 pm Post subject:

I'd assume that would work, but do you have a list of what the commands are for this unit?