I need to get into the service menu of a Vidikron Model 100 projector and wanted to know if any of you other old timers can remember the process. I can't for the life of me, damn old age!

If you are on Facebook, you could join the CRT Home Theater Club. I'm sure someone would be glad to help.

Link to the user manual on Projector Central:
[Link: projectorcentral.com]

Please don't kill me for asking, but I just have to know. Is there some sort of sentimental value to this projector? I get it was probably an awesome "King Shit" projector in 2004, but I don't see anything about that's really special that would make me not want to replace it at this point. It's not like an old Panasonic Premier, or Pioneer Elite plasma.

I mean I just really want to know why keep it running when you could replace it with a $3k projector now that would blow it out of the water as far as performance and ease of use.

Maybe I just haven't been doing this long enough to understand.

For the stereo audio side of things "buy once, use forever" is a reasonable approach for quality equipment, but video has fundamentally changed several times since 2004.

We sold a number of the Fujitsu plasma sets and they were dazzling, among the top available at the time. Now, you'll likely need to jump through hoops simply to connect them and the picture quality is mostly ho-hum compared to cheap sets at Wallmart.

We haven't been trashing the replaced Fujitsu's, staff at hi-rise condos appreciate the gift. Customer is dazzled along with the gift recipient who is adding a second set or replacing something dreadful. A giggle is the initial response when the recipient attempts to lift the set.

And that is WRONG!!!!

Newer sets have come a long way with black level, allowing them to match or beat the top plasmas of yesteryear. And the brightness levels of peak white are well beyond anything from previous generations of TVs.

But color accuracy is a constant fight with these stupid TV manufactures. And even to this day, the Fujitsu series is hard to beat for accuracy. Cheap TV manufactures just do NOT care about picture fidelity. You still have to get a top model TV and calibrate it, if you want to get close to accurate colors.
Another big one is picture uniformativity. I believe that has gotten worse over the years.
Near black level issues, overshoot, dithering, etc...

I still would put an old Fujitsu (assuming last generation with low hours) up against any cheap TV you will find in a Walmart store for picture quality! Only millennials looking for an eye poping display, caring nothing about fidelity and no concept of actual picture quality, would choose otherwise.

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As far as that Vidikron projector goes. Yeah, this makes no sense. Any modern projector would blow that thing away. Even Huey's suggestion of a projector costing only $3K being better, is probably correct.

Client wants to keep it running as they are nearing end of life in this property and due to the throw distance/screen size relationship in a custom theater the replacement is going to be $17-$20K at a minimum with optics and cinescope lens. Even when you have money, keeping that much of it in your pocket is appealing.