Please post your Simulator Setup Pictures

[TheGolfer]

Here are some pictures of my setup. They're old (I've since added a black cloth cover around the cage) but you'll get the point. I have platforms that are screwed to the concrete floor using hinges so I can flip the platforms up out of the way (securing them with chains) when not in use. My project never would have been approved if my wife had to give up parking in the garage.

Attachment 32289Attachment 32288Attachment 32287

Very clever and cool setup.

[gqjeff]

Here are some pictures of my setup. They're old (I've since added a black cloth cover around the cage) but you'll get the point. I have platforms that are screwed to the concrete floor using hinges so I can flip the platforms up out of the way (securing them with chains) when not in use. My project never would have been approved if my wife had to give up parking in the garage.

Attachment 32289Attachment 32288Attachment 32287

Great setup...

[rdh]

It's amazing the creativity that's inspired when you're set on a golf simulator and your wife is set on continuing to park in the garage...

[CPA]

Mmmm inconsiderate wives are global......

[Libbing]

For those who view a low basement ceiling as a challenge to be conquered...

1) lowered floor 2-2.5 feet (there is a ~1-1.5' ridge around the pit that comes from dropping reinforcing foundation walls; it is covered with black commercial carpet)
2) built 2x4 flooring to set system hardware in and to set artificial turf on
3) desktop computer off to the side under a shelf cover; touchscreen monitor and wireless keyboard sitting on top of that shelf
4) used as a home theatre (Panasonic AR100U projector hung ~20 feet back from screen)
5) black curtains on wall
6) insulation sheathing covered in black auto headliner on ceiling (installed in 4'x4' sections that can be removed if needed)
7) screen hung with bungees on angle iron brackets

[Libbing]

The final product (the picture of Tom Brady in the Superbowl has my 5'4" son standing in the lower right corner for dimension perspective); there are two can lights inside the pit that get turned off during movies or sim playing; the theater seating is sitting on the original flooring; the row of 4 beanbag chairs for movie watching is inside the pit

[bubba22]

Very nice setup. Lots of work wih the dig but cam together very well.

[bubs3141]

very nice. Wish I did that to my basement

[syhlif32]

Very nice!
Good to see another New England fan.
Is it the same screen you use for TV? or is it a pull down in front?

[psace]

Very nice setup, Libbing and I am very jealous. It must be nice to have both setups for one screen and in your home to boot.

[Libbing]

Univeristy of Michigan guy - need to support Brady! Although I was also rooting for UofM-er Manningham, who had a great game.

The screen I use for the movies is the same one I use for the sim. It's the screen that came from Protee. So far so good with it but I expect that if we keep watching movies I might end up getting another one for just movies and use the current one for the golf. Not sure yet how I'll rig that up. The screen is good right now but it is starting to stretch where the ball hits and you can see the scuff marks closer to the top from iron shots. The only time it is really noticable when watching TV / movies is when the background is either a solid color or a light color (white). When the picture has a lot of variation going on and/or its a darker color you can barely notice it. We watched Tower Heist last night and I don't think I ever noticed the scuff marks and only had a couple of scenes where the stretching / sagging was noticable. So I'm probably ok for a couple of years but I envision trying to figure out a double screen setup for movies at some point. If we keep watching movies (which I think is realaly cool - massive scale) then I won't feel bad about investing in another screen.

[syhlif32]

If you make it black or dark around the picture it will pop out even more.

I have a greenish carpet coming up a ramp to just below the picture. Makes a nice effect and most of the balls are coming back to you.
Real handy when you 3 and 4 put

[gqjeff]

Sweet setup for sure....

[tahosrfr]

Awesome job, very classy. The only thing I would add is a motorized drop down projector screen for movies and games.

[Libbing]

Thanks. Yeah, I'm guessing the motorized drop down screen is in my future. I think I can get a 200" diagonal electric screen for $1000 from a quick search on amazon. But would need to look into that more to make sure its good quality etc. I'm pretty sure after another season or two it will be needed.

[JBimsal]

A lob wedge shot wouldnt daMage your ceiling, would it?

[Libbing]

I don't use a lob wedge so not a huge concern. My 56* sandwedge (my ~100 yard club) does often hit right up at the corner of the screen and ceiling so a lob would presumably hit the ceiling within a couple of feet of the screen. But the ceiling is covered with 1" thick sheathing that would dent, but the fabric I wrapped around it is auto headliner. It is a bit stretchy and thick, so I don't think it would dent. Maybe it would stretch. My theory is that the sheathing underneath would dent but the fabric would be ok). In any event, I made those in 4' x 4' tiles so that I could replace them if needed to over time or if I needed to switch out the front 4' with something else in case this solution didn't work. So far I've never hit the ceiling so it isn't tested yet. As I debated the design, I figured if I need to swap it out I could potentially put a 1-2" sheet of foam wrapped in the black fabric. That would also provide some nice sound insulation. The whole thing is so dark (between the ceiling and the walls and the dim lighting, I won't likely care if there are a few marks).

[shoot4one]

im new to the projector world, how did you get a 9.5x7.5 hd picture, ratios don't work for me, what am i missing? I'm planning on 16:9 1080 picture and according to my calc my 12 wide screen will only be 6.7 tall.

[shoot4one]

im new to the projector world, how did you get a 9.5x7.5 hd picture, ratios don't work for me, what am i missing? I'm planning on 16:9 1080 picture and according to my calc my 12 wide screen will only be 6.7 tall.

[CPA]

Correct on the math.

At 7.5 high need 13.3 wide.

Or 16/10 ratio is 12 wide.

[shoot4one]

so how is his HD and 9.5x7.5?

[shoot4one]

how are you liking that ar100, that's what I bought but still in box

[CPA]

like all projectors it will be subject to you ;

doing the calculations in the calculator pro at projector central first
and
putting it up and seeing how it works for your space and lighting

personally I don't buy Panasonic as they dudded me when an expensive TV was 1 year 14 days old- 14 days out of warranty

[Libbing]

I am liking the AR100 a lot. I've never used another projector, so I can't really compare, but this one seems great. Plenty bright for the golf sim. Very nice for movies, etc. I've haven't seen any picture distortion at all watching TV / movies through a high def cable feed or through a DVD player. The picture modes are pretty easy to cycle through or customize.

When I first set it up, I had a little issue with getting a good connection between the HDMI cable and the slot. May have been an issue with the cable itself, but it was too loose and would occassionally come out. After mounting it on the ceiling, that hasn't been an issue at all.

Shoot4one - who's screen dimensions are you quoting? maybe I missed a post somewhere but I don't see a reference to that dimension Math should be pretty straight forward; height = 9/16 x width.

[rdh]

If you want a 9.5x7.5 HD image, you can't have a 16:9 ratio...it's that simple. I have that image size by running in 1400x1050 resolution. It's HD quality (1050 vertical resolution...30 pixels cut off from 1080) but it's not a wide format.

[MICHO54321]

Ok, here is my setup, hope to get my true strike's soon!

[MICHO54321]

2 more

[wbealsd]

VERY nice!! What are the dimensions of your room?

[MICHO54321]

I would have to measure it, I used to have a poker table there, its not a new room. Thats a 10 feet wide screen I purchased from par2pro, so I am guessing its 13-14 feet wide. The projector is 296 inches back (from the wall) so it should be around 35-40 feet deep

[tahosrfr]

I like how everybody gets their own blanket Does your impacts screen double as the movie projector screen also?