Nintendo Wii Gaming Projector/Hometheater

If you are sitting at home right now playing the Nintendo Wii, and you haven't started your DIY Project, this is the perfect place for you to watch as I build my own from start to finish. I will try to get as many pictures as I can, and make sure to read the next one where I am building my wireless sensor bar and screen.



Equipment Needed


This is all the equipment that I needed for this build. I added the price I paid in Canadian $

$243 - 3M 1608 Series Overhead Projector *new*
$65 - Sharp QA-1650 Projector Panel *used*
$14 - EHJ Overhead Bulb
$100 - 5.1 Surround Sound


LCD Projector Panel - Sharp QA-1650


I bought my Sharp QA-1650 panel from the Forum section, which I suggest you check outent LCD image, and has all the functions that you could ever need.

- Color, Tint, Brightness, and Contrast Controll
- Computer Input
- Monitor Output
- RCA Input
- Audio Input
- S-Video Input
- Much much more

I use the RCA Inputs mostly right now, but I am looking to upgrade to a Nintendo S-Video AV Cable that should give me an overall better picture quality and brightness.

The panel has a built in fan, so you don't have to worry about your LCD getting damaged like as in using a stripped LCD panel from a monitor. Just to make sure I am getting a cool LCD image I place a single peice of glass ontop of the overhead, under the panel, and a large circular fan behind it all. These things are not needed but I love to be percautious, but the fan does help to keep down temprature which is great for anyone looking into saving a few more hours on bulbs.


Overhead Projector - 3M 1608 Series


Instead of using an older model, I bought a brand new out of the box 3M 1608 Overhead Projector from our local Staples. It is very nice and looks incredible in my livingroom. This overhead is rated at 2000 Lumens which works very well at night. These are the 3M 1608 features.

- Open singlet head for easy cleaning
- 2000 lumens
- Lamp changer enables instant bulb replacement
- High/low setting
- Colour-tuning capability
- EHJ bulbs

The lens is nice and big which fills up my wall, to a cool, crisp 300". It is very quiet and does now make much noise at all which is nice when using a OHP for this project. It has a low and high light setting which allows you to squeeze every drop of bulb life you can. It also has a color tuner which is really nice because when using the EHJ bulbs, you can get the light very white or daker, whatever you perfer. As I said the bulbs are EHJ type so you can find them at any bulb store or your local Staples.

Another feature that the 3M 1608 has which is great expecially for this purpose is that the head can rotate 360 degrees around, so you can place it in anyway you need. Also it is designed for smaller rooms so it is ideal for a livingroom, and can pack up into a small unit for easy storage. One more thing to mention is how easy the arm is to fold down, unlike many others. Of course before I forget like all new 3M Overheads, you can store two bulbs inside and switch them at the trun of the dial.

I am very glad I bought this projector brand new, as it is sleek, sexy, and works like a dream.

To buy this model got to Http://www.staples.com and look at their Overhead selection.


Audio/Surround Sound


A few years ago I bought a 100 watt 5.1 Surround Sound receiver/DVD combo which does very well for my livingroom and with the upgrades I have done to it, it sounds amazing. I have added two RCA satalite speakers for the front two left and right, and a RCA center channel speaker. The bass sub I use is a 400 watt Elite concert speaker with a 15" bass sub speaker which would thump to th other side of the apartment complex. So I am using this and have it ran through my selector switch so I can easy switch from TV to Wii to XBOX to Gamecube to DVD.


Result


I have just got my Overhead yesterday so I haven't had time to take pictures or even really set it up, but will be posting a new PLOG on here as soon as I do. Where I will be disscussing building a wireless Wii Sensor Bar, and a DIY screen.

Here are some pictures of the panel and projector I purchased.


Thank you


Any Questions E-mail me at
TheWiiMaster@hotmail.com

You payed $100 canadian? for your receiver? What is it?

I saw a VGA connection for the Wii that I'm direly curious about. I know for sure that the component cabling for the Wii will do a better resolution - 800x600 if I am not mistaken. The Wii doesn't do full HiDef resolutions, but I found the VGA adaptor here: http://www.divineo.cn/cgi-bin/div-cn/360-xuvbu.html

Hope that helps!