How To Set Up A Projector In Your Home?
Setting up a projector in your home can be a cheaper option compared to buying a home theatre set–up, but do note that the process of installation is different too. That said, if you do some research into the brand you want to buy, and review the layout of your home (what setup would provide the best viewing?), it is pretty straight–forward.
- First: A quirky budget option
I’ve seen lately that some people use their phones to watch movies – on Netflix and such. This is super convenient, but it can be hard to hold your phone for two hours! If you want to be able to watch a movie from bed on your phone – there are some awesome phone accessories you can use, to put your phone on your nightstand. My personal favourite is the popsocket. It makes it easy to hold your phone in your hand, but you can also use it as a stand on your bedside table. No more dropping your phone on your face!
- Pick the right location
The first obvious step after you get a projector and a screen is to figure out where you are going to install it in your home. The typical screen size from the projector varies between 50 to 60 inches minimum. The bigger ones can be as big as 300 inches when measured diagonally. That’s huge! You must choose the viewing distance and the viewing surface with respect to the screen size. The bigger the screen size, the further back will the projector has to be placed. Note that: it’s important!
- Set up a screen
Although this is not a necessary step, a screen can enable you to have a uniform image and they also amplify it to the maximum brightness. Screens are available for lower costs as well, and setting them up is almost no effort.
- Get to the right height of the viewing
You need to figure out the right height where your projector will be mounted. It has to be decided on the basis of the screen size and also on the viewing angle. If you have a projector mounted right in front of where you sit (on a stool or something), it may disrupt the viewing if the height of the screen is not high enough. Ceiling mounting is the best option, but it will involve higher costs and more efforts.
- Plug everything and switch the projector on
This is the time to set up the power connections and cables. You will have to fix the main power cables and the HDMI cable between the source and projector. Make sure that you do not make the overall thing messy by using a lot of wires, it is better to use harness or wire – piping so that it looks neat overall. Once you have plugged everything in, switch on the projector to see how the image appears on the screen or wall.
- Project the image alignment for adjustment
Some projectors have this as a built-in feature. Basically it’s where a reference still pattern is shown, from which you can align the orientation of the projector. You could either use a set–up disc or download the image from the internet if it does not come with the projector. You could also use a video that is paused from the TV, but it is not ideal.
- Adjust the projected image
You need to ensure that the lens is clean, the projector is on a still stand and is almost perpendicular to the screen. You can also use the zoom function in order to align the image properly. Keep adjusting the focus until you find that the images at the corners are also sharp. It is ideal to have the projected image fill – up the entire screen, that will provide the best viewing experience.
- Select the right picture mode
Like the televisions, there are other picture modes as well for projectors and you can adjust the mode depending on the lighting in the room. You can also use “game mode” available in some projectors, from which there will be lesser input lag due to the high-speed nature of the game. You can also spend a few bucks on a quality Bluetooth speaker system if you want to have a real cinema-style experience.
These are the various steps to set up a projector in your home. Enjoy the new experience!
