$2600 garage simulator build (and updates on using it for my game)

[bwrichmond]

Has anyone ever heard of Eiki? I found an LC-XD25 projector with a new lamp and a spare for $100.

 

http://www.projector...IKI-LC-XD25.htm

 

2500 lumens isn't terrible, 400:1 contrast ratio also isn't super terrible... considering the application. Good deal or no?

 

I've not heard of the brand, but I checked your projector central link. In terms of the application for this use, I see a couple of issues. The first is the throw ratio is pretty high, meaning the projector will need to be mounted behind you in the ceiling. This will cause shadow's like dornstar mentions in this thread. Not necessarily a huge issue, as it doesn't bother him and hasn't bothered me yet in my new setup, but just an FYI. 400:1 contrast ratio is pretty low... My budget projector (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N671TK4/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) is about $80 more but has HDMI inputs, 720p native resolution, more lumens (really important unless extremely dark in your room), and better contrast. It also has the option to do 16:9 aspect ratio. The lamp life is claimed to be 30,000 hours, so no need for the additional lamp.

 

In terms of value, the projector you linked might be a good value because of it's low price. All dependent on budget and what you're looking to get out of it.

[Doppelganger]

For the same price I found this over the weekend: http://www.projectorcentral.com/Sanyo-PLC-WL2503.htm

 

Part of my garage is recessed about 5 feet (it's shaped like Utah) so it can be fairly dark back there. For the same money though I got 500:1 contrast, 16:10 aspect, HDMI, and 1280x800 resolution.

 

If the lumens make this unplayable I'll turn it around on marketplace/ebay and look into your projector.

[Doppelganger]

So I just bought the Skytrak for 1500 certified pre-owned. Tonight I'm picking up the projector and getting started on the net and mat.

 

Wish me luck, thanks for the idea Dorn.

[gratefulRed]

where did you find it?? I've been looking for one, but hate to pay full pop. Should've pulled the trigger back on the 4th when they were on sale. Did you buy on Ebay or what? Is there any "membership" or owner type status that will need to be transferred over through SkyTrak in order to use a second hand unit??

[Doppelganger]

I assume Skytrak took care of that. I bought it directly from skytrak. It only comes with the practice range.

 

https://shop.skygolf.com/p-2167-skytrak-launch-monitor-certified-pre-owned.aspx

 

Put it in your cart and buy it. Finance it for 6 months and just eat a sacked lunch every day! One of us! One of us! Gooble Gobble! Gooble Gobble!

[Guia]

Nice

[gratefulRed]

I assume Skytrak took care of that. I bought it directly from skytrak. It only comes with the practice range.

 

https://shop.skygolf...-pre-owned.aspx

 

Put it in your cart and buy it. Finance it for 6 months and just eat a sacked lunch every day! One of us! One of us! Gooble Gobble! Gooble Gobble!

 

cool. Not sure how you get to that link, as I could not find it from the home site....but I think I'll get one. thanks

[gratefulRed]

Hey Doppelgänger....

 

how long did it take to get UPS tracking info from SkyTrak, once you executed your order??

[Doppelganger]

I bought it Monday then got the email saying it shipped Tuesday night around 6:30. It's going to arrive tomorrow before EOB... wondering if I should get sick sometime today? I still have a ton of work to do in the garage.

[Gatormanager3]

Hey guys! Great thread as I have said before. We are purchasing a new house and I will be getting a SkyTrak. Likely setup will be in the garage. In our previous home I had an outdoor hitting bay so I already have an impact net, side netting and a very good mat. So really all I need is the unit and some space. I will be unable to get a projector at this time as it is a bit out of budget so I have a few questions that have likely been answered but would appreciate an answer again if at all possible:

 

- What should I use as a computer? I have an ipad (older version), microsoft surface, and a dell desktop. Which would be best. how much computing speed/power am I going to need to run the program and have it display

 

- I'm planning on the game improvement package, do I need an internet connection to use the driving range or is that only necessary when playing the WGT courses?

 

Think those are the two biggies for now. Thanks for any help!

[Doppelganger]

I think dorn said he was running the range off of his iphone, so apparently it's not super graphics intensive. My guess is connecting a pc lowers the draw time for each shot.

 

The simulators like Jack Nicklaus Perfect Golf (JPNG), The Golf Club (TGC),etc. need a powerful graphics card apparently. I already have a gtx 670 in a gaming computer in the basement I was going to use with toned down settings until I can grab a gtx 9/10 series for a decent price.

 

I'm starting to hit the cap for my budget and will have to upgrade as I go looks like. Thankfully got a short throw projector for 100 bucks off facebook marketplace so really just need a boss computer from here.

[Doppelganger]

I am also interested in the internet utilization for skytrak range and JPNG.

 

I'm on satellite which has a built in 500ms ping based on physics alone. So it works out to be a full second behind with all the other inefficiencies in the infrastructure. Sucks!

[gratefulRed]

Having a bit of an issue trying to decipher the stats on these projectors. Best I can tell I need a "throw ratio" of .8 to 1 (short throw). Most units I'm finding for that spec are in the upper $400-500 range...to start and only go up from there. My ST should be here end of day friday (according to UPS).

[GungHoGolf]

Hey guys! Great thread as I have said before. We are purchasing a new house and I will be getting a SkyTrak. Likely setup will be in the garage. In our previous home I had an outdoor hitting bay so I already have an impact net, side netting and a very good mat. So really all I need is the unit and some space. I will be unable to get a projector at this time as it is a bit out of budget so I have a few questions that have likely been answered but would appreciate an answer again if at all possible:

 

- What should I use as a computer? I have an ipad (older version), microsoft surface, and a dell desktop. Which would be best. how much computing speed/power am I going to need to run the program and have it display

 

- I'm planning on the game improvement package, do I need an internet connection to use the driving range or is that only necessary when playing the WGT courses?

 

Think those are the two biggies for now. Thanks for any help!

 

SkyTrak works best with consistent internet connection, as it checks your license and syncs data continuously as you're on the range. I haven't tried it without internet, but it wouldn't surprise me if it doesn't work great. (I use it with a gaming PC and USB cable.)

 

WGT is only iOS, so you'll need iPad for that. Really old iPads are VERY slow to render the shot and numbers, like 6-10 seconds. My iPhone 6+ is very fast (2-3 sec), and gaming PC is fastest (1.5-2 sec). Your Dell might work, but the graphics card is the limiting factor. Look into upgrading just the graphics card. My nVidia GTX 1060 6G is good running TGC and can be bought for $230 or so. Not sure what the minimum card for SkyTrak range is. Have no idea if a MS Surface would run the range.

[Gatormanager3]

Hey guys! Great thread as I have said before. We are purchasing a new house and I will be getting a SkyTrak. Likely setup will be in the garage. In our previous home I had an outdoor hitting bay so I already have an impact net, side netting and a very good mat. So really all I need is the unit and some space. I will be unable to get a projector at this time as it is a bit out of budget so I have a few questions that have likely been answered but would appreciate an answer again if at all possible:

 

- What should I use as a computer? I have an ipad (older version), microsoft surface, and a dell desktop. Which would be best. how much computing speed/power am I going to need to run the program and have it display

 

- I'm planning on the game improvement package, do I need an internet connection to use the driving range or is that only necessary when playing the WGT courses?

 

Think those are the two biggies for now. Thanks for any help!

 

SkyTrak works best with consistent internet connection, as it checks your license and syncs data continuously as you're on the range. I haven't tried it without internet, but it wouldn't surprise me if it doesn't work great. (I use it with a gaming PC and USB cable.)

 

WGT is only iOS, so you'll need iPad for that. Really old iPads are VERY slow to render the shot and numbers, like 6-10 seconds. My iPhone 6+ is very fast (2-3 sec), and gaming PC is fastest (1.5-2 sec). Your Dell might work, but the graphics card is the limiting factor. Look into upgrading just the graphics card. My nVidia GTX 1060 6G is good running TGC and can be bought for $230 or so. Not sure what the minimum card for SkyTrak range is. Have no idea if a MS Surface would run the range.

 

Awesome. Thanks for a great response!

[GCGolfPro]

Looks pretty sick. Thanks for sharing.

[Doppelganger]

For JNPG is the course data stored locally or is that serverside and relies on a decent internet connection?

[gratefulRed]

For the same price I found this over the weekend: http://www.projector...-PLC-WL2503.htm

 

Part of my garage is recessed about 5 feet (it's shaped like Utah) so it can be fairly dark back there. For the same money though I got 500:1 contrast, 16:10 aspect, HDMI, and 1280x800 resolution.

 

If the lumens make this unplayable I'll turn it around on marketplace/ebay and look into your projector.

 

edit.

[Doppelganger]

Unboxing tonight, cant setup until tomorrow though; my night to hang with the baby.

 

The recess back there is like 11x8.75, so I got some eye hooks and grommets for now and will see how loud it is attached to the studs. If it's too much I have enough room to fit some conduit in there.

 

[Foofighters]

Unboxing tonight, cant setup until tomorrow though; my night to hang with the baby.

 

 

 

Setting up is fun too! My progress so far...

 

 

 

[Doppelganger]

I built my own divot action mat tonight. Saw another thread where they tore one apart and they're hilariously simple to recreate.

 

He should have created this thing into a garage flooring square, then sold matching flooring with turf on top and owned the whole process. That's some serious primo bingo bongos right there.

[Doppelganger]

Unboxing tonight, cant setup until tomorrow though; my night to hang with the baby.

 

 

 

Setting up is fun too! My progress so far...

 

 

 

 

Is that a bedsheet? Tell me when it wears out, I got a billboard tarp for like 50 bucks and I'm wondering how long it lasts vs other low cost options.

[Foofighters]

Unboxing tonight, cant setup until tomorrow though; my night to hang with the baby.

 

 

 

Setting up is fun too! My progress so far...

 

 

Is that a bedsheet? Tell me when it wears out, I got a billboard tarp for like 50 bucks and I'm wondering how long it lasts vs other low cost options.

 

 

It's a cheap painters tarp. I PMd you.

[gratefulRed]

I built my own divot action mat tonight. Saw another thread where they tore one apart and they're hilariously simple to recreate.

 

He should have created this thing into a garage flooring square, then sold matching flooring with turf on top and owned the whole process. That's some serious primo bingo bongos right there.

 

have a link to the thread showing the divot action tear down/build? Also, I received my SkyTrak this evening. I've got it synced up to my account and charging...but it only lets me into practice mode, but I paid for the "play & improve" package upgrade. I hope customer service is open tomorrow to help me get this straight. I wanted to do some of the closest to the pin challenges with my son this weekend. I still have a ways to go to put together my full set up. Still sourcing mat, screen, designing my screen frame build, and the projector decision is a massive clusters#$k. Can't find anything that will do what I want it to do. I must be figuring things wrong.

[Doppelganger]

I built my own divot action mat tonight. Saw another thread where they tore one apart and they're hilariously simple to recreate.

 

He should have created this thing into a garage flooring square, then sold matching flooring with turf on top and owned the whole process. That's some serious primo bingo bongos right there.

 

have a link to the thread showing the divot action tear down/build? Also, I received my SkyTrak this evening. I've got it synced up to my account and charging...but it only lets me into practice mode, but I paid for the "play & improve" package upgrade. I hope customer service is open tomorrow to help me get this straight. I wanted to do some of the closest to the pin challenges with my son this weekend. I still have a ways to go to put together my full set up. Still sourcing mat, screen, designing my screen frame build, and the projector decision is a massive clusters#$k. Can't find anything that will do what I want it to do. I must be figuring things wrong.

 

http://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum/build-your-own/mats-turf-and-flooring/99720-diy-divot-action-mat

 

Post #6 has pics.

 

Try to log out of your skygolf account and log back in.

[ajax5184]

Unboxing tonight, cant setup until tomorrow though; my night to hang with the baby.

 

 

 

Setting up is fun too! My progress so far...

 

 

 

 

Be careful with this. I tried a cheap painters tarp and now have a golf ball stuck behind my drywall. Happened on second shot with a short iron.

[dornstar]

Yep, I would definitely find a cheap netting and double layer that puppy.

[Gatormanager3]

Don't remember where I purchased my impact net (I can find out) that I used for my outdoor set up before we moved. It was perfect though, held up in outdoor conditions for a year and a half and I plan to use it with my SkyTrak.

[Gatormanager3]

Yep, I would definitely find a cheap netting and double layer that puppy.

 

Dorn since you're in Tampa can I just pay you to set mine up? :lol:

[Foofighters]

Unboxing tonight, cant setup until tomorrow though; my night to hang with the baby.

 

 

 

Setting up is fun too! My progress so far...

 

 

Be careful with this. I tried a cheap painters tarp and now have a golf ball stuck behind my drywall. Happened on second shot with a short iron.

Yep, I would definitely find a cheap netting and double layer that puppy.

 

 

 

Yes there is a net behind there.

It's temporary until I get the impact screen.

 

Thanks!