Projector Image Problems

[fuzz092888]

So I just got my first projector and I'm getting a little bit of an image issue. I've got these wavy lines running through the image. I'm currently running a monoprice redmere HDMI cable and have tried a different monoprice HDMI. I've also tried two different power conditioners on two different circuits.

Here's what it looks like:

[jostenmeat]

Is your PJ under warranty? Regardless, what does mftr say? Model number?

You're running HDMI cables directly from source, bypassing receiver? You've done this with more than one source (bluray vs HDTV etc)?

Sorry, that sucks.

[fuzz092888]

Nah, no warranty. Epson says it's either a setting or the optical lens/main board. Not especially helpful.

Epson 8500UB

No, HDMI from the receiver to the PJ, but I have tried different sources. I've also tried it with no sources and just the PJ on with the pattern screen. Wavy lines never go away.

[jostenmeat]

Eesh. Yeah, no source means the issue is in the PJ. It won't matter, but next time you do play with it, maybe unplug the HDMI completely (if you didn't already), and/or try the alternate HDMI input. Or even the component or other input.

Settings? Far fetched, but hm. Here are some menu screenshots just for whoever to look, in this review:
Epson Home Cinema 8500UB Projector - Physical Tour

The manual:
Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 8500 UB, Documents & Manuals - Technical Support - Epson America, Inc.

My dumb azz guess is also the main board, which normally means it's done for simply due to how much they seem to cost, at least on a certain TV or two I've heard about.

While I wait for a possibly pending BMX participation, one enthusiast thinks this weird coloring issue in these pics might be a bad polarizer, due to an experience with an older PJ of a different brand. No striping, but redish/greenish intrusions it seems to me as with your pic (on my so not calibrated computer monitor).
Epson 8500UB 200,000:1 CR

Bad or misaligned panels seem to result in solid color pushes from random borders or something. Your issue is obviously not a dust blob which is one of the more common issues with LCD.

My guess is the board if something is for sure *permanently wrong*. I wonder if there is some sort of hard reset one can do on a PJ or something, wait a while, try again. Was there a particular movie that you put on when this happened? When I first played Avatar 2D original BD back around whenever it was released, I had a weird color issue happen across most or the entire pic, and then the next time or was it a couple of attempts later, I tried the system, it was all good. No hard reset I think, maybe some unplugging replugging, but it's just weird that it happened once, never before, and never again. I was wondering if it was my HDMI board in the Onkyo, or if some strange FW or lack thereof was going on, or even just a bad disc (I've had that happen, total bummer when it's like an opening night with full house, Inglorious Basterds, and a gift Harold/Kumar 2 I think it was has a bad DTSMA track which they never set a recall for AFAIK, anyway I digress big time).

[fuzz092888]

I'll be sure to give those a try. Heck I'll try anything to avoid sending it off or getting a quote to fix it. My problem isn't going anywhere, digress away

[BMXTRIX]

Try lifting the ground. It sounds like you have power which is messing with things. I JUST ran into a very serious issue with a LCD which I knew was fine, and this solved everything. In residential, this shouldn't really cause you any problems, but a good surge supressor at the outlet may alleviate this issue completely (if lifting the ground works) and allow you keep your ground in place. First try this cheap solution...

[fuzz092888]

Just tried one of those and nothing seemed to change. Just out of curiosity, could it be the screen? The screen is an Elite Spectrum series acoustically transparent screen, Model: ELECTRIC100H-A1080P2

[jostenmeat]

Just tried one of those and nothing seemed to change. Just out of curiosity, could it be the screen? The screen is an Elite Spectrum series acoustically transparent screen, Model: ELECTRIC100H-A1080P2

I would never think that moiré would be that* bad, but try projecting it on to a piece of white paper, sheet, anything else. Maybe suspend paper on black border with painter's tape for a moment, as an off the cuff idea.

[fuzz092888]

I would never think that moiré would be that* bad, but try projecting it on to a piece of white paper, sheet, anything else. Maybe suspend paper on black border with painter's tape for a moment, as an off the cuff idea.

It was kind of hard to see, but it didn't appear as bad with the screen up. Still not perfect though, but hard to make out. Could it be that the screen is making some PJ funkiness worse I wonder?

[jostenmeat]

It was kind of hard to see, but it didn't appear as bad with the screen up. Still not perfect though, but hard to make out. Could it be that the screen is making some PJ funkiness worse I wonder?

Good question. I suppose so? On my Seymour weave, up close on brighter/whiter, I can make out the diagonal weave pretty well, but that's because I have the screen "tilted" diagonally for anti-moire effects (not necessary with LCOS and this particular screen, but just in case, for the future, etc). I don't have color issues like you do, or at least what I perceive to be showing up as "color issues" in your pics.

What does "still not perfect" mean? Still that red/green diagonal, or what exactly? Take pics? (Mostly to show BMX, not so much for me.)

If you do go about taking pics, maybe try the paper thing still. It is flatter than a wall, which is very not flat. Maybe it's unnecessary and a waste of your time, I'll let you be the judge. Edit: yeah probably a waste of time, even if a wall isn't flat, it's still randomly uneven, not with the diagonal pattern repeated symmetrically like a screen.

edit #2: Hey BMX, regarding his question, could this be messed up convergence, with a mega whopper helping of moiré on top?