CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

nathan · Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 56 Location: Utah

Earlier last year I found out that my Runco 1101 (rebranded Barco 1209s) didn't have the pot to put the PJ into 'high scanning mode'. This means that I can only get about 80% of a 1080P picture from my PS3.

(https://www.curtpalme.com/forum_archived/viewtopic.php@t=7329.html

If I understand it correctly the PJ won't switch over into 'high scanning mode' unless the signal is somewhere over 60Hz. I thought I read in some other posts where people where changing the scan frequency that the PS3 outputs is this possible? I didn't see anything on Sony's PS3 user-guide site. I would like to get it set to 1080p/72hz if possible. I don't know if the hardware can do it or if it can if the settings can be changed.

Another option I was wondering about was if any of the PS3 linux distros could change the timings somehow. Perhaps I could use one of those for playing back some 1080p stuff.

Thanks,
-Nathan

kschmit2 · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:44 am Post subject:

heh, if there were a way to force the PS3's Blu-ray output to custom timings I would buy one in an instant Smile

But as it is, you need a scaler to achieve what you're looking for (72Hz) Sad

Which port do you use on your Barco btw?

Kai

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

I know this may sound crazy, but has anyone tried loading Linux onto the PS3 and seeing if any software for that would allow for this?

kschmit2 · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:47 am Post subject:

WanMan: I would assume that you can no longer play BD's when you have booted into Linux

**kal** · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 2:47 pm Post subject:

Yep. You'd need Linux software to play BDs as well. IMHO not worth the hassle.

I wonder how hard it would be for Sony to add custom resolutions/timings to the PS3. I hate to say it but if I was them I wouldn't bother. The number of people that require this are becoming less and less every day. They've already offered 24Hz output which is what everyone with their new digital displays want, and if the analog guys like us really want 71.928Hz we can always pick up a used $500 scaler.

Kal

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

What makes everyone conclude that booting into Linux making the ability to play BD impossible? I'm asking, not suggesting otherwise. If it cannot be done then I understand but I have not gone looking and read anything yet. I thought the first BD crack was via the Linux boot.

**kal** · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 7:50 pm Post subject:

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

Well, you could create a high profile petition to get Sony to make custom timings allowed. Since they were the ones that forced the PS3 to be integrated with the Blu-ray drive they can bow to the norms and standards of the HD industry and videophiles alike.

**kal** · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 2:41 pm Post subject:

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

My point was that is you are going to take a gaming console an include technology in it that is based on high-definition movie presentation then why not accommodate the masses with the flexibility on the output?

**kal** · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:54 pm Post subject:

nathan · Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 56 Location: Utah

**kal** · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:02 pm Post subject:

[quote="nathanDo I really need a $500 scaler if all I am doing is changing the Hz and not really 'scaling' anything? I don't think that is in the budget this year. Sad

[quote]
Yup. $500 is a for a used scaler too. Normally probably x3 the price.
It's because there's no device that simply doubles or triples the refresh rate. It's also more complicated than it sounds.

If someone wants to build a box that takes 24Hz input and outputs 48 or 72 for reasonably cheap ($200-300) I'm sure a few of us would be interested. But again, more complex than we think as it has to be do it at all resolutions (interlaced and progressive).

Kal

nathan · Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 56 Location: Utah

Hrmmm, that's too bad. I really just ought to pursue getting the board swapped out with Curt or at least see if it is a possibility.

$500 also gets me pretty close to an HTPC that will simply replace the PS3, especially if I sold the console. I was kinda starting to like the stupid thing though.

Thanks Kal.

**kal** · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:12 pm Post subject:

You'll never get an HTPC to do Blu-ray playback as well as the PS3 nor as reliably or as cheaply. I used an HTPC for 7 years and it worked perfectly, but you'll never get me to go back to it now. A PS3 with a $500 scaler is still a better 'deal' than an HTPC for Blu-ray playback in my eyes.

Kal

nathan · Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 56 Location: Utah

Good to know. I had forgotten that the state of BD playback wasn't quite there yet on an HTPC. I remember that was the impression I got from surfing around last time I checked.

My current HTPC works so well for SD and re-encodes that I forget. Sad

Thanks again, Kal.

Anyone got a 1209s they wanna swap for my 1101? Smile

J/K the dang thing looks so good I wouldn't take a chance on another projector at this point. Smile

zGman · Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 599

Hi,

Your 1101 simply won't/can't do 72HZ, as it lacks the scan circuitry (its a Data model),
nor can it be persuaded to go into the fast retrace mode by increasing refresh,
as it will just shut down video output, there's no high scan circuit installed.

You could possibly use a scaler to change the porch settings so that your
active video width is reduced, alternatively you can modify the 1101 and
you could check with MadMrH (Andy Halliday in the UK) who has modified
several similar units to the Graphics specs, as I recall him saying not too
long ago. I think this involves a new H board, new control board, and
the relay/switch board which mounts in the tube bay, maybe more...

Hard to say which is more cost effective, and you would need to
have both for 72HZ....

Galen

nathan · Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 56 Location: Utah

zGman · Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 599

Hi Nathan,

I have spent a little time with the 1101, it is a great machine -
however it is based on a "Data" chassis, and not the "Graphics"

Without the 'high scan' circuitry of the Graphics model, there simply
isn't enough time for the beam to retrace on signals which have very
short video porches. So you end up loosing the sides of the pic.

On a Graphics model it is possible to set the switching point for
'high scan' with a potentiometer. But that's not what you have.
Your PJ will disable video output at anything over 1080P 60Hz.
that is to say, it is also firmware limited - like a rev limiter.

The only way I can see to fix this would be a pretty decent scaler,
like a Lumagen Vision HDP, or HDP pro - that will allow you to
make custom timings. However you will need a Moome MUX
box or similar to get analog output from any scaler due to HDCP.

There are people having decent results with HTPC and Blu-Ray,
and it doesn't require an expensive video card. This might be your
least costly option, other than simply trying another player?

Regards,
Galen

nathan · Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 56 Location: Utah

zGman: Thank for your input, it has been very helpful. To clarify, can the 1101 simply not do 1080P/72 at all even from an HTPC? But it will do 1080P/60, just not the way the PS3 is doing it? I don't think I understand what 'porches' mean in terms of the signal. I understand the 1080P/60, but are there different ways to do a 1080P/60Hz signal? The PS3 does it with short 'porches', but a scaler can change that and make it so the Runco will accept it? I guess I need to go read about porches. Smile

I really don't know anything about scalers. So do these HD scalers scale the signal while keeping it digital/HDMI. I have a HDFury that I am currently using inline at the projector to go from HDMI to analog. Are there analog scalers that would work and be any less expensive?

Thanks all!