Looking to buy a Projector

  On 3/17/2011 at 5:33 PM, Terpentintollwut said:

  On 3/17/2011 at 2:50 PM, 277: 930-933 said:

I think you've got a HDCP issue.

Try reconnecting etc.

 

I don't understand - you mean I'm getting fucked up images because of some intentional copyright thing ... ? But then I wouldn't have been able to get an image before ... ? And the clicking? I've never heard of this HDCP and I don't fully grasp the wiki article

I read over the ticking sound so you can probably disregard my post.

HDCP is a protocol designed to prevent people from recording/splitting HD video content.

There's a transcoder in the PS3 and there should be one in your projector if it's HDCP compliant, the PS3 sends an encrypted key to the projector, the projector decrypts and answers.

Without this communication the PS3 will not output any HD content (games, Bluray, whatever).

Every time I've seen HDCP communication fail it's resulted in multicoloured static on screen.

HDCP is one the most retarded/lucrative ideas to come out of the industry in the past decade or so.

Any manufacturer that wants to make a HD device (player, display, etc.) has to pay for a license that has to be renewed every year.

It's supposed to prevent people from recording a devices HD output, but who the fuck does that anymore when it's so incredibly easy to just crack copy protection and rip the disc?

HDCP was supposed to also be implemented on BR discs and games (player IDs disc) but this never happened so it's a completely utterly useless protocol except for the license money it brings in.

that's what I took away from the article but I didn't want to believe it so I was hoping I misread it. yet another industry dick move.

update: I tried a brand new HDMI cable (different type), and again, it worked perfectly for a good while, then it showed up when I had the PS3 main menu displayed while I was getting something from the kitchen. After another reset, I watched a video and the pixel thing flickered briefly once or twice for less than half a second. I then played Resident Evil 5 for almost an hour with no problem. It only screwed up badly when I was in the menu, but it's probably coincidence as I don't think the projector would be able to distinguish between a slightly animated PS3 menu or a video being played (as the PS3's output-signal is not changed while the video plays, regardless of its resolution)

However, I took a moment to memorize exactly the pattern of the glitched image and the clicking noises before I turned it off. Turns out I "idealized" both in my memory. There isn't actually a square mass of pixels at the bottom, instead, the image is distorted somewhat like a parabola I didn't want to get my camera to photograph it as the noises were too worrying to leave it on any longer, but I re-created it:

I probably thought I remembered a square pixel mass as that made more sense than that weirdo distortion. And the clicking noise is actually more accurately described at a crackling noise. It's not rhythmic, and it varies in loudness. It almost sounds like a fire burning inside the thing (although it isn't, but what the hell is it ... )

The parabloic distortion could be a result because your projector is keystoning the image a bit which you won't notice normally.

Anyhow, this sounds odd and if I were you I'd at least contact the retailer that sold you the projector.

  On 3/18/2011 at 6:18 PM, 277: 930-933 said:

The parabloic distortion could be a result because your projector is keystoning the image a bit which you won't notice normally.

Anyhow, this sounds odd and if I were you I'd at least contact the retailer that sold you the projector.

keystone correction - I guess you're right, that makes absolute sense ... didn't think of that.

Anyway, I brought it back to the shop today and I'ma ultimately lose my temper with them this time. I don't know what the hell kinda customer policy this Mediamarkt chain has, but I'm guessing it's gotta be something like "Be a dick, to everyone, at any time, as much as you can" - for real, I haven't talked to so many unfriendly AND incompetent people in such a short time.

The projector itself is still ace, but just 'listen' to this:

They have an online store and for some reason the projectors are cheaper there (like 150 bucks cheaper), so I ordered there, via phone, and they (supposedly) sent it to the warehouse of my local store. The guy says "if you're lucky, it's gonna be there three days from now". Somehow they failed to sell me an email although I definitely gave them the right address, but I thought it didn't matter since they got my name in their system. Oddly, I got a call the next day already, some woman tells me "your projector is here" - I'm like yay. But when I went there, they wanted to charge the regular price, not the one I ordered for. I said wait a minute, I ordered for less than that, just check your system. They tell me it never happened, but eventually sell it to me for the cheaper price. So I went to the warehouse and some fat guy comes and tells me in an angry voice "this is gonna be a while, no need to stand there like that" - What? Why are you almost yelling at a customer? Then - you know the story, I take it home, hook it up, the errors happen - today I brought it back and told the guy at the counter "I'd like to return this cause it's malfunctioning, I don't want my money back, I'd like to exchange it for a functioning one" - he gives me this piece of paper and says "alright, just take this over to the guys at the media alley" - "well okay then". Guess what - the media guys tell me they'll give me my money back and re-order over the online shop - "But the projector went up 20 euros since I ordered" - "Oh well then that's too bad for you."

What the fuck? They sell me a broken one and now I am supposed to pay MORE because they fucked up? I'm kinda kicking myself that I walked out of there, I should have made a big ol' scene. Isn't that illegal even? Not to mention the sheer dickishness of it all.

And, now that I think about it, how come the projector was there so early, like half a day after I ordered? Why was the box all beaten up looking? Was it some already returned product they dropped off the shelves and re-sold me? Fuckers.

Wow, what cunts!

I haven't yet claimed my money back - I left with that piece of paper they handed me. It's a return form for my cash.

I'm thinking I'm gonna bitch at them massively and hope for them to give me a decent rebate - should I get my money back to be safe before they pull another dick move or should I insist on getting a replacement projector plus refund for the trouble? Considering all the crap they did, I kinda reckon with anything. I think it's best to get my money and then take the whole story to the manager or something.

I hate going all angry customer on people who probably got nothing to do with it all but I have every right to be pissed after that. Seriously what a load of shit. :angry:

They offered me a 10 euro rebate on the NEW price, which went up to 800. So I decided to get my money back and leave. But I found two bucks in the locker at the shop's entrance.

I'll regard this as a free testing phase for what I find is an awesome projector (when it's working). I'll wait for a price drop and re-buy it.

Still, fuck Mediamarkt.

  On 3/22/2011 at 9:39 PM, Terpentintollwut said:

They offered me a 10 euro rebate on the NEW price, which went up to 800. So I decided to get my money back and leave. But I found two bucks in the locker at the shop's entrance.

 

I'll regard this as a free testing phase for what I find is an awesome projector (when it's working). I'll wait for a price drop and re-buy it.

 

Still, fuck Mediamarkt.

One of the things I forgot to tell you to test was hooking up another HD source (via HDMI) like your cable or satellite, Blu-Ray player (if a friend has one to borrow), etc. and see if you experience the same thing.

You might also look into making sure the output resolution of the projector matches what the PS3 is set to, although it sounds like since it works for a bit and then goes wonky, it's a bad projector (although the second one doing it well is very weird).

A quick Google search for "Epson projector PS3" came up with this FAQ on Epson's own site:

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/supDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&infoType=FAQ&oid=140126&prodoid=63084786&foid=165204