I want to build a HD projector that has Digital inputs, Remote and is a minimum of 780P native. So far I have only found the sharp 26" HD 16:9 that has the specs and inputs I want. Do they make lenses this large. This is my first projector and I want to make sure I am on the right track. Anyone experienced willing to help a rookie?

Thanks in advance

I can't say for sure but I haven't seen anything that could handle more than a 21" and thats the LL PRO whcih is still in development. I think you mean 720p not 780p. Which "digital inputs" do you mean. The only digital inputs that I know of are HDMI or DVI. HDMI being encrypted DVI. If you want plain DVI there are plenty of 17" inch computer monitors with that and you can use wither the standard or pro triplet (once its fixed). If you want HDMI there are atleast a few 17" LCD TVs with both analog and digital inputs ussually with a 1280x768 resolution (720p being 1280 x 720) as opposed to the 17" computer monitors that are 1280 x1024 which is more compatible if you want the option of driving the projector with a computer but you have a 5:4 rather than the 16:9 or 16:10 that movie only people like.

Thanks pagercam

I really want to build 16:9 because I watch almost exclusively DVD's. I am looking primarily for DVI but have heard that HDMI might be the new standard. Are there any 17" LCS's that have remotes, HDMI, DVI, 16:9, 1366 x 768 or 1920 x 1080, Component Inputs. If I use a HD box and have 1080I what do I need for an LCD to get true 1080I? Thanks

If you want 1080i minoten had a WUXGA group buy recently for a 1920 x 1200 laptop screen and controller (1080i is 1920 x 1080) so there is a slight border but really pretty small. The setup was something like $715 so not cheap but then again 1080i is never cheap. It has DVI but not HDMI. The LCD is 15.4" so it makes a pretty small box especially considering the resolution. I don't know of anything else that would do 1080i under 19". I'm a little unsure on this but I think HDMI is the same signals as DVI with HDCP to encrypt the content with a new connector and there appear to be HDMI to DVI connector converters. There are a lot of 15, 17 and 19" LCDs with DVI but without HDCP. The smallest that I've found with HDMI is the Sony KLVS19A10 but its over $1000 and its 19" so you would need to use the more expensive PRO lens when those become available again, and this still only directly displays 720p (it does accept 1080i and scales). I only did a quick search so there maybe others.

Looks like the Philips 17" 17PF9946 has 720p native and hdmi, <$1000 retail <$700 discount <$500 refurbished.

Is HDMI much better than DVI?

I think HDMI is just a different connector for DVI as they sell converters (like a gender changer) I believe the signals are the same, just a smaller connector.

Gotcha, Thanks!

Then why not just go with a good 17" monitor and a converter box?

HDMI as I understand it is DVI signals plus HDCP (encyption) and this the the DVI avialable on HDTVs that is getting replaced by HDMI. The problem is that DVI on computer monitors doesn't support the HDCP encryption so the signals show up but can't be decoded, if the HDMI isn't encrypted the HDMI -> DVI converter works fine.

What was the reasoning behind encoding the DVI?

Encryption so you can't make copies.
The media companies allways seem OK with people having access to analog signals aut get really uptight when digital is avilable. Yes the digital is a perfect copy and analog may have some losses but if you digitize a 1st generation analog its about the same as a digital copy. Multiple anlog copies cetianly degrades quality.

26" is WAY too big, you should just use a 17" LCD, it meets all the requirements you mentioned.

Pagercam,
We bought 10 of those 17" Phillips HDTV monitor / tv's for my company's network ops center, I'd urge everyone to go see them in real life before building a projector with one. We needed a bunch of Cheap HDTVs for monitoring feeds... we paid about 700 a piece and we got exactly what we paid for Sorry...

Well I was going to say maybe you just got a bad one, but if you got 10 and they all sucked then that seems pretty conclusive. Philips is usually pretty good, I used to think of them as the European equivalent of Sony but I've read a couple of bad reviews in the last few days of different products. So Philips is a no buy from here on out.

Ouch okay,
Well I wasn't completely out to throw them on the fire, but I guess to better clarify my thought; We are disappointed in their overall picture quality when compared to our other Sony and Dell HD Flat panel monitors.

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface): A high-speed serial interface, capable of transmitting standard, enhanced, or high-definition video. The standard supports tranmissions of up to 2.2 gigabits per second and resolutions up to 1920x1080p at 30Hz. All data is sent uncompressed, to minimize additional artifacts from recompression. Audio signals may also be included, and up to eight channels of 192KHz audio is supported. The connector is more compact as well, resembling a USB connector to some degree. The basis for HDMI is High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) and the core technology of DVI. HDCP is an Intel specification used to protect digital content transmitted and received by DVI-compliant displays. HDMI is backward compatible with DVI, as the DVI device will simply ignore the extra data. (HDMI Website) (HDMI Tutorial)

For a projector you really don't need HDMI. A premium quality 1 meter HDMI cable will set you back $30-50 retail. Cheaper of course off Ebay. I guess it would also depend on what your source is. DVD player, Satellite reciever, etc. For a HTPC (Home Theater PC) DVI or VGA, is all you really need.

Unless your HTPC or whatever is built into your LL projector/coffee table, cable length from your ceiling mount (or floor) to wherever your source device is, may be a concern. They say you can have HDMI runs as long as 15 meters but most of the cables I've seen are less than 10 feet.

Hope that helps

Guys,

Are they THAT bad? The refurb LCD TV's seem to have a many connectivity options that avoid using HTPC's with decent resolution, response times, specs at a moderate, but tolerable price tag. Can you elaborate on the "cons"? Was it performance, reliability? Thanks!

the only difference between the two is that HDMI is cheaper to produce than DVI. there is no difference between the two except the connection.

OK, I'm new to the projector thing and this is my first post at lumenlab, but let me try to explain in simple terms what HDMI, HDCP, and DVI are.

DVI- uncompressed digital video interconnect. Two variations: Single-channel(1920x1200 resolution cap?) and dual-channel (2560x1600 res cap?). Capable of HDCP.


HDMI- DVI (single channel) + coaxial digital audio in one cable with a smaller connector. (extra confusing info) There are multiple versions of HDMI, 1.0-1.3 currently with the differences being purely in the device, not in the cable. These differences are support for 1080p, an increased color gamut(sp?), HDCP, and supported audio codecs. There are also some HDMI specs for a mini-hdmi, and one that I think is dual-channel DVI, which makes for a different connector.


HDCP- I'll spare you the acronym, but this is the encryption. It can only be implemented if both devices (display and source) have the transmitter and key. It can be done over DVI or HDMI, but is not required on either. You can have HDMI without HDCP. And at this point I am aware of no media that requires the protection of HDCP, but HD-DVD and Blu-Ray media has the option, and Windows Vista also supports the option to require HDCP.


HDMI to DVI and vice versa can be done by simple cables, because for the most part they are the same cable, the only difference being HDMI has 2 more pins for audio, but the video is the same. Now HDCP from a HDMI to a DVI device or the other way around...theoretically should be fine...but I wouldn't bet on it with anything but brand-new hardware.