Projectors For Classrooms- Help

[weewaa]

Hi

I am looking to buy and install 2 or 3 projectors in my school.

(we are a small country school - with only 3 classes)

we have a budget of $5000 this year, and are wanting to get it in all 3 classes. However, if we can not, then happy to do 2 this year and the third next year.

the rooms are very bright, with no curtains or blinds, and the pj will be used during the day.

we have a metal frame in the room that is part of the frame of the building that is 4m from the screen, and 2.6m high.

they will be mounted from this.

i guess i neeed some advice as to which projector is best.

the other factor is connection.

we prob want wireless (so much easier for presentations etc)

but also need something for dvd/video and possibly lan??.

thanks for your help

[warren2503]

Hi

Great to see someone that is careing enough about teaching to do the required investigating.

If you go to this http://www.projectorcentral.com/ site. You will see on the kleft hand side a heading Popular projectors : Education

click on this and it lists out the more popular ones (http://www.projectorcentral.com/education-dlp-lcd-projectors.htm)

additionally http://www.projectorcentral.com/projection...culator-pro.cfm on the same site is a calculator that will tell you if the distances from the screen are OK

A good place to get street prices from is ebay . get the price there and then get a store to nmatch or go close

Doubt you will get wireless But even so it will be quicker and more flexible to go cable For the required cables Selbys are good quality and cheap-- they are also a sponsor of this site ( may come to the party on price ) ( they also have an ebay store

Screens?? I assume that you will be useing whiteboards?

Once installed You will need to Budget about $500 fro replacement globes for each projector every second year *( 2000 hrs use is average )

The type of projector you require are High light output and do not require really high contrast So they are at the less expensive end of the spectrum - You should be able to get 3 and cables for $5k if youy shop hard

warren

[weewaa]

Hi

Great to see someone that is careing enough about teaching to do the required investigating.

If you go to this http://www.projectorcentral.com/ site. You will see on the kleft hand side a heading Popular projectors : Education

click on this and it lists out the more popular ones (http://www.projectorcentral.com/education-dlp-lcd-projectors.htm)

Screens?? I assume that you will be useing whiteboards?

Once installed You will need to Budget about $500 fro replacement globes for each projector every second year *( 2000 hrs use is average )

The type of projector you require are High light output and do not require really high contrast So they are at the less expensive end of the spectrum - You should be able to get 3 and cables for $5k if youy shop hard

warren

ok thanks

i already looked at that site a little bit.

pretty helpful.

are there particular brands that are better?

i want it to work properly. that way staff and students will use it.

so far 2000+ lumens, SVGA resolution, and should get 3 for $5000.

thnaks

[Adinfinitum]

I just went through the same exercise for our conference room. Did the reasearch and chose

Sanyo PLC-XU111

I know several schools around here just installed them as have local Dept of Defence installations. I know its a bit above budget and there are some similarly spec'd projectors for less money but as a whole package (warranty, brightness, reliability, parts availablitly - the Sanyo factory is in Blacktown) I recommended this to the boss and installed it last week.

Fantastic picture even in high-light environment. We run Computers, Set-top box and DVD through it.

[weewaa]

Screens?? I assume that you will be useing whiteboards?

Once installed You will need to Budget about $500 fro replacement globes for each projector every second year *( 2000 hrs use is average )

warren

yeah, we have white boards and over the top of them are "nobo" screens that pull down.

that will be what they are on.

thanks

[weewaa]

I just went through the same exercise for our conference room. Did the reasearch and chose

Sanyo PLC-XU111

I know several schools around here just installed them as have local Dept of Defence installations. I know its a bit above budget and there are some similarly spec'd projectors for less money but as a whole package (warranty, brightness, reliability, parts availablitly - the Sanyo factory is in Blacktown) I recommended this to the boss and installed it last week.

Fantastic picture even in high-light environment. We run Computers, Set-top box and DVD through it.

yeah ok. that is good to know.

Sanyo are good quality then.

that is what i kinda want to know.

if other people are using a model and it works well.

thanks

greg

[BigDave]

We recently purchased an Epson 400W short throw projector. Excellent, looking at about $1700 gst inc. Can get a huge image from only a metre away. Good connections, easy to use, good picture. Could not recommend it more due to its short throw lens. 3 year warranty. long lamp life, etc.

[nis200979]

We recently purchased an Epson 400W short throw projector. Excellent, looking at about $1700 gst inc. Can get a huge image from only a metre away. Good connections, easy to use, good picture. Could not recommend it more due to its short throw lens. 3 year warranty. long lamp life, etc.

Vogels make a nice short throw projector arm for such a use

http://www.vogels.com/pages/professional/p...ils.aspx?id=859

[weewaa]

Vogels make a nice short throw projector arm for such a use

http://www.vogels.com/pages/professional/p...ils.aspx?id=859

yeah, the pj will be 4m away from the screen, so no rally need for a short throw pj.

i guess that it just costs more money, and i would rather get a brighter pj than a short throw.

we have an ideal metal frame (part of the roof frame) that is exposed in the classroom

that is 4m from the screen, so will go with that.

thanks anyway.

btw, how bright is that epson?

[Adinfinitum]

Ours is 4 metres from the screen - has a fairly wide zoom range. We got a pretty good deal - a lot off RRP so PM me if you're interested and I'll put you onto the seller - he's done contracts for DET before, wouldn't hurt to ask.

Edited September 11, 2008 by Adinfinitum

[weewaa]

ok, after a fair bit of research, i have narrowed it down to 2 models,

the sanyo plc-xu88 ($1720) or plc-xu115 ($2020).

basically the main difference is 3000 lumens compared to 4500 lumens.

Do you think it worthwhile paying the extra, or 3000 lumens is enough?

thanks all.

edit:spelling!

Edited September 17, 2008 by weewaa

[Big Lunt]

ok, after a fair bit of research, i have narrowed it down to 2 models,

the sanyo plc-xu88 ($1720) or plc-xu115 ($2020).

basically the main difference is 3000 lumens compared to 4500 lumens.

Do you think it worthwhile paying the extra, or 3000 lumens is enough?

thanks all.

edit:spelling!

Just be careful with the LCD projectors in a school environment and long running hours - panels can burn out and this is not covered by any warranty. Speaking of warranty some LCD vendors actually specify usage hours under warranty as well so if you reach them your warranty is over.

Also remember that LCD projectors have filters that have to be cleaned regularly so factor that in with your purchase as this a hidden cost that you need to take into account - some LCD projectors recommend cleaning every 100-200 hours. Clogged filters can cause overheating but they normally have a auto shut off if they reach a certain temperature anyhow.

Also the low contrast ratio of LCD's comared to DLP makes it harder to read text if you are at the back of the room compared to high contrast DLP technology.

Just a couple of things I thoughy should be brought to your attention - and if anyone should mention rainbow effect - just remember that you are presenting data sources so does not make any difference here - thought I would mention that before any pro LCD came out of the woodworks. Oh yeah there is no colour decay on a DLP compared to a LCD projector as well

Over and out