Tech Tips

What is an aspect ratio?

An aspect ratio refers to the dimensions of a screen. The ratio refers to the width of the screen in relation to the height of the screen. The aspect ratio of today's traditional TV is 4:3. In comparison, the aspect ratio of a square screen would be expressed as 1:1 or 4:4. The aspect ratio of HDTV is 16:9. This is similar to the aspect ratio that many motion pictures are shot in. The 16 refers to the width of the screen and the 9 refers to the height of the screen

What are DTV and HDTV?

DTV, Digital Television, is a new broadcast standard that will provide vastly improved picture and sound quality when compared to the current NTSC broadcast standard in the United States. With DTV, viewers can see images up to six times the resolution of their current TVs. HDTV, High Definition Television, is one of the possible formats that will be transmitted when DTV becomes available. HDTV broadcasts are at the top end of the DTV spectrum. These broadcasts will have the best sound quality, the ability to broadcast in a wide screen format using a 16:9 aspect ratio, and the best picture quality.

Does it matter which I turn on first, my projector or my computer?

Always attach the cable from your computer to the projector first, then turn on the projector before turning on your computer. In most cases the computer will detect the projector as an external monitor and it will set itself up automatically. By doing things in this order you will avoid having to figure out the proper keystrokes required on most laptops to get things working.

We have had a power surge and now the control system is not working- what should I do?

Your control system works exactly like a computer. Many seemingly dire problems can be fixed by simply rebooting your computer - the same can be said for your control system.

If the problem reappears after you have rebooted you will need to investigate further. For a complete reboot, do the following. Shut down your control system normally. Do not simply use the "Restart" option. Let the control system completely power down. Unplug your control system for 30 seconds. Then plug it back in and power up as normal.

I am having problems with feedback, what can I do to eliminate this?

Feedback is caused by audio oscillation, this is when the audio produced from the speaker is fed back into the microphone and reamplified. To eliminate feedback do the following:

1. Turn the volume down on the amplifier.

2. Decrease gain on the equalizer.

3. Reduce monitor system EQ.

4. Move microphones farther away from the speakers.

Why was Internet2 developed?

The present Internet has evolved into a production environment too clogged and slow to allow institutions an effective tool for research, testing and instruction. Internet2 brings together institutions and resources from academia, industry, and government to develop new technologies and capabilities that can then be deployed in the global Internet. Internet2 moves large data sets quickly, and enables access to remote shared applications and resources that the commodity Internet cannot support including interactive video, real-time access to remote resources, large-scale, multi-site computation and database processing, and shared virtual reality. To learn more about Internet2 visit www.internet2.edu.

How can I display a 4:3 picture on a widescreen monitor?

Every widescreen monitor has a "stretch" mode that widens the image, and eliminates the vertical black bars that otherwise appear. Be advised that this will alter your image, which many people may not even notice. Some monitors give you additional options, like "zoom" mode, which fills the screen by increasing the size of the image, then cutting off the top and bottom. You may even see an intelligent stretch mode, which stretches the left and right portions of the image, but leaves the center essentially untouched.

I feel like I am constantly replacing projector lamps. Help?

1. Avoid moving the projector while the lamp is on or has recently been turned off. When the lamp is on or has recently been turned off. When the lamp filament is hot, it is extremely prone to falling apart if the machine is not handled properly.
2. Make sure the projector motor is clean and the fan is well lubricated. Extreme heat will shorten lamp life and if the motor and/or fan are not working properly, they are not cooling the lamp effectively. Regular maintenance is very important!
3. Overheating may shorten lamp life if the airflow of the cooling fan is in any way blocked. Make sure the intake and output grills are not obstructed or overheating will occur.
4. Check your AC line voltage. Other appliances are not usually affected by an increase in voltage, but an increase voltage, but an increase of as little as two volts could shorten the life of your lamp by 20%. An increase of five volts may shorten the life by 50%.
5. Make sure the lamp is completely seated in the socket. Poor positioning can cause the bulb to arc and burn its pins.