I have a Sony VPL-PX31 projector (chosen for a number of reasons including light output, throw, size) which works great except for one problem:

My screen is 16:9 (89" wide) and any S-Video input is displayed as 4:3 (so I need to blank much of the image), or 16:9 squeezed (yuck).

Does anyone know of any codes (IR preferably, but RS-242 would do) that can force that projector to display "vertical black bars on sides" so it can be either be set to 4:3 and shrink the image or be set to 16:9 and compress it horizontally?

Even in "factory" mode the menus do not provide any such options.

also: I am looking for an ISF certified technician in Los Angeles to calibrate this beast; again, suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks for any help. (even direction on how to get ahold of the RS-232 code list for this machine would be helpful).

-Michael

Michael-

Since your VPL-PX31 has a "native" display LCD grid of 1024 by 768 pixels, by definition it IS a 4:3 projector. If I remember right, it has no aspect ratio or blanking controls.

On any non-CRT projector like yours with 4:3 DLP or LCD panels, I absolutely recommend using a 4:3 screen because:

1. 4:3 programs will display full screen, using every pixel in the projector for the best resolution. Since so much TV, Cable, & Satellite material is still 4:3, this just makes sense to me.

2. Any & all widescreen material will letterbox itself "automatically", using all 1024 pixels horizontially. Vertical resolution will vary, using rougly 576 pixels for 1:77 material to as low as 435 "active" pixels for 2:35 "mail-slot" movies.

3. All this will happen without any user intervention to tell the projector what to do. This is good because you can't tell it anything anyway. There is no need to dink around with zooming and refocusing. If you can afford it, buy a variable masking projection screen.

4. Using a 16:9 screen with your 4:3 projector forces you to actively control the aspect mode of the projector, which is sometimes not possible, (insert your name here) and always “discards” some pixels from the start. In your case, your 1024 by 768 projector on a 16:9 screen becomes a 1024 by 576 projector at best, and proceeds downhill from there.

In short, since your projector uses 4:3 LCD panels, go with the flow and use a 4:3 screen. If you had 16:9 LCD panels, I'd use a 16:9 screen.

Having said all that, I see a ton of professionally designed systems using 4:3 projectors with 16:9 screens. This doesn't make much sense to me unless the system is used ONLY for wide-screen program material.

Any other opinions?

thanks Barry.

The projector does have aspect ration and blanking controls, but the does not appear to offer "vertical bars" as an option.

the screen is already installed and mostly used for 16:9, so in general it looks and works great.

I am just hoping there is a mode that is not user accessible and I can find the code (IR or even RS-232) to get it to do vertical bars for the times I am watching S-Video in 4:3 on it.

Could be wrong, but I'm 99.99% sure they don't exist, IR or RS232.