Projection Panel and OHP

[CraigC]

Anyone using this kind of setup to display FS2002? Ive been contemplating this setup for a few months now, but am not convinced that Ill be happy once I get it not knowing too much about LCD projection panels. If anyone has any tips or are using this setup, Id like to know. Thanks alot.Craig

[Guest abent]

Years ago I used a projection unit from our school to display Flight Unlimited 2. I found the resolution to be very grainy. Not only that - the gauges were the size of pie plates LOL - due to the fact that they are already out of proportion so they're readable. It may work OK with FS, but I seem to recall someone saying, in another post, that it wasn't that pleasing looking. Tell me how you make out if you do it because I might go borrow that projector again myself and try it again.Adam

[CraigC]

I think I had gathered from asking around that I would need a panel with 1024x768 native resolution to get good results. It was explained to me that only a few panels will do this, and they are a little more expensive. Another option that I saw was to dismantle an LCD monitor and project that image with an OHP. Im not sure if this is exactly what they meant, but it would work a heck of a lot better than one of the older projection panels. Im still researching, and probably will for some time until Im sure I know what I want. Just looking for suggestions.Craig

[Guest mikehaska]

Craig,I also borrowed one of these panels, and played with it for about a month. Here's what I found.1. This particular panel (Manufactured by Davis) had the tendency to "overheat" if used for more than 1 and an half hours. This would cause the panel to crash, and you would have to reboot it. Until it was properly cooled down, crashes would occur fairly often.2. The Overhead projector itself gives very poor quality light, in that it is not focused on one area. This gives it a bright spot in the middle, and fades out as it gets to the edges. This is very noticable with overheads of most manufacture.3. The thing was bloody noisy (my OH was of 3M manufacture, so it was built fairly solidly, still, a very noisy beast.You are correct in saying that a panel with 1024x resolution will be good. I had the same resolution, and when projected, each pixel was still very small and no pixelization was evident.If the projector noise doesn't bother you, and your panel does not do this "overheating" thing, go for it! I was very happy with the quality of the picture, and the added benefit is that you can haul it to the TV room for some cinema sized movies!BTW, just for your reference, here is a site I like for projectors:www.projectorcentral.comGood luck, brave sir! :-)

[wsieffert]

What you really need is very expensive. Visit - http://www.barco.com/projection_systems/simulation/ to get a flavor of the projection systems for simulation. Look at the BarcoReality Sim6.We used some of these in F-14 trainers for the 40ft domes. Once you buy the projectors, the real expense is the replacement of the lightvalves (bulbs) at $350 each or more! Just make sure one of these bulbs doesn't blow up while in use or you have to replace the projector.