What equipment do I need for an outside projector show?

Question

A small club would like to show a TV football game on a 'biggish' screen - outside - not sure what equipment set up will work best.

Answer 1

Well, obviously a projector able to generate a bright enough image for the size screen you want.  Depending on ambient light you will probably need a 2000 lumen or more projector.

Also, a TV tuner of some type ... e.g. a cable box or satellite receiver (preferably HD since SDTV resolution won't suit a big screen).

Then some type of amplifier and speakers for the sound.

The final item (other than cables, wires, etc) is a screen of some type. This can be a white sheet (stretched out to take out wrinkles) or even the smooth side of a light coloured (preferably white or light grey) building.

External screens exist (see link), and maybe someone locally has one for rent.

Answer 2

Everything the poster above is correct, but don't necessarily go for over 2000 Lumen.  I've used 4 different projectors for my outdoor theater and none of them were more than 1200 Lumen and I'm throwing it almost 40 feet.  However, there are no streetlights around my home and the only ambient light really is however bright the stars and moon are.

Here's a link to the site that got me started.  It started out as a Spring/Summer thing, but now it is a permanent theater that we use year round.  Everthing is permanently installed outside in a weatherproof cabinet, other than the projector, and we have a PS3, DVD, HD Sattelite box and 5:1 sound in it.

During the Super Bowl we had it going on the big screen inside as well as outside for the guys smoking cigars around the fire pit.

www.backyardtheater.com

weeder