Glad to see a Washington DC based forum. Hooray for the home town team...

Over the past two years I've been slowly putting together a pretty decent little theater, IMHO. I'm almost there. Here's my system so far:

Barco Graphics 808s
Barco RCVDS 05
CrystalImage VS 04 Scaler
Crown D-150A Series II Amps (which still have some life in them but I hope to replace them soon.)
Miller & Kreisel MP150s for L/R/Center; SS-150s for the surrounds; MX-105 Sub. Audio Nirvana.
Dual 1.6GHz Macintosh G4 as my HTPC
M-Audio Revolution 7.1 Surround Card
Miglia Alchemy DVR

Plus the regular suspects, associated DVD/VCR/Direct TV/etc.

Fun things planned, I hope later this year, include the addition of a touch screen control pannel, a lift for the projector (table mounting a Barco is a major waste of space)...and then I get to start playing with X-10 toys...

Before I get there, however, I need advice on the right settings for the video card. The mac still has the original ATI Rage 128 video card that it shipped with. What is the optimal setting on the card for use with a BG 808s?

Second, I have an orbiting kit I need to install. I could dust off my creaky lab skills and solder it myself, but I'd rather find someone who knows what they are doing to do it for me. Suggestions?

Third, elo touch screen monitors are in theory compatible with a Mac (http://www.elotouch.com/support/webtech/mac.asp#top) with the use of a third party driver made by Touch Base (http://www.touch-base.com/main.asp?item=23). Does anyone have any experience with these, who can comment on whether or not they work okay?

Fourth, what is the right lift? I'm thinking it may be an SVS model four. (http://www.svslifts.com/overview/4-o.htm)

Thanks for any insight you can provide.

1. BARCO - excellent choice

2. 1440x960 @ 72Hz (or just less) seems to be right for USA stuff, people use power strip to help the graphics cards.

3. Orbiting kit - I think that is a direct ount option, uses 2 legs to hold off other board then just clips in place - should NOT need to solder anything....

However I have one orbiting board and have never used it, im not sure its worth using.

Thanks for the input. Trouble with being somewhat novice is I need a little help deciphering the code. What is 'power strip' and how does it help the graphics card?

On the orbiting card...My understanding is that an orbiting card is useful if you are using an htpc because certain static features on the desktop will get burned into the CRTs over the passage of time. While I am fairly sensible about how it is used, and don't tend to leave my Barco on for long periods of time with a static image, my guess is that it may be useful insurance. Am I wrong in that?

If not, the instructions that came with my orbiting card requires that the wiring harness be soldered in about seven places to the Sync+Vert Deflection Module, and that a couple of resistors be replaced. Given the high cost of replacing tubes for burn, I think I'd like to have this put in. But I'd really rather not do it myself. Any idea where in Washington I can turn for this?

I very much appreciate the help.

powerstrip is a utility prog which you can get here

http://www.entechtaiwan.com/util/ps.shtm

the orbiting board - that does not sound right.........they are usually a clip in board.

Check your part number are right for the machine.

I have one but have never used it.....

Static burn is often seen due to the high number of simulator or commercial based machines.

Set your pc background colour to black to reduce wear, set the task bar to hide.

I would not worry about tube burn, I really dont see it as an issue unless you have it on day after day with a static image.



PS - google is your friens, anything you read about and are not sure typr into google, often a quick answer.....

Andy.

If going with a widescreen, I'd suggest 1280x720P with a refresh rate of 71.928. No idea how to achieve this
in a MAC though.


That video card should go. The newer cards have lower noise floors and MUCH better picture quality.

Stop on buy my shop I am eisemann and also the administrator. I can solder that for free.

As for a projector lift I have one you can rent for the day. If you are in DC you can rent one from me as I own a crt lift:) Call 240.381.8944

That lift looks like you want to purchase and should well TOO.

AS for the resoluntion the 808s had the sony tubes so a good resolution would most likely be 720p...

But you might be able to pump 1080p out of it depends on the age of the tubes the Sony tubes get a little soft at 1080p.

ITs a hard call because the age of the tubes makes a difference of how soft they get. Sonys get very soft as they age.


I try 720p and up and see where it starts to fail from tubes/BW.

I can do a special DVI port on that for you so you can get a sharper image direct DVI V4s.

http://www.eisemann-theater.com/index.php?...p=page&SubMenu=