Troubleshooting Projector Issues | Projector Service Australia

My projector is not working when I turn it on.
      Make sure the projector is switched on at source and that the projector lamp warning is not illuminated. If this light is on or flashing, call our office on 1300 575 040 and ask for the service department or refer to your owner’s manual.

I’m getting no signal or picture.
      Firstly, check all projector cable inputs are firmly connected. Upon setting up your equipment, it is very important that you turn on the projector first. You will see a blank projection image; now turn on your computer. When using a laptop computer, you may need to change your computer’s display screen. First, locate the ‘function’ key (fn) and by simultaneously tapping this and the ‘LCD’, ‘CRT’ or other display button that may have an icon that resembles a computer monitor, you will be able to obtain the image from the projector only. This is known as switching the image.

My remote control will not work.
      Weak or dead batteries can cause numerous problems with the remote control. To maximise the life of the batteries, ensure the buttons are not being pressed accidently. Some projector remotes come with an ‘on-off’ switch for the remote itself (not to be confused with the power button for the projector), turn the remote off when not in use. You should have a clear line of sight between the remote control and the projector’s infra-red receiver. Any obstructions will interfere with the projector’s ability to pick up the remote’s signal.
      Some advanced remote controls also come with the ability to control your computer’s mouse. To obtain the best link possible between the computer and projector, connect the USB or RS232 cable prior to turning ‘on’ the equipment. Should you continue to experience problems, call our office for help.

Why does the computer display adapter affect simultaneous viewing (being able to view your notebook display and the projector at the same time)? Or, what component in the computer display adapter sends a signal that allows for simultaneous viewing?
      The display adapter is also called the graphics card and is known by many other names. Each display adapter has a different driver. Those drivers give directions to the signal transmitted to the external image, which decides on simultaneous viewing. Right now, only the notebook computers can do simultaneous viewing. The display adapter’s mother/control board controls that function along with maximum resolution, maximum refresh rate and the number of colours that can be sent to the monitor.

Why do I need a video amplifier when using a VGA cable that’s more than 30 feet? What will happen if I do not use one?
       A video amplifier will strengthen the RGB analog signal that is transmitted from the display adapter. Otherwise, the control circuitry in the projector cannot tell what kind of signal it is, especially sync signals. If a video amplifier is not used, image distortion (poor image, lack of colours) or sync problems may occur.

I am using a projector and the projected image doesn’t look very good. What’s wrong?
      Most new projectors have an automatic setup ensuring that the projector matches the computer resolution. However, in some cases the adaptation process may somewhat impair the quality of the image or fail to find the correct resolution. If you’re not sure of the resolution of your projector, just change your computer display settings and see if the image improves. Although most projectors will project an image when the computer is set to a different resolution, the quality of the image usually deteriorates.

The entire computer image does not appear on the projector screen – the bottom of the image is cropped, or the projected image exhibits poor quality text?
      Set the computer resolution to match the projector’s native resolution. With some laptop computers, it is necessary to disable the laptop display to attain this resolution, especially when the native resolution of the laptop exceeds 640x480 and the projector’s native resolution is 640x480. If you are using a laptop computer and the projected image is still cropped or distorted after changing the resolution, you will probably need to completely disable your laptop display so the image is shown only on the projection device. Most laptops use a function key or combination of key commands to disable/enable the laptop display.

What is the life expectancy of the lamp?
       Average lamp hours range from 1,500 to 2,000 hours although new lamp technology promises 6,000 hours. The lamp life of different projectors varies. Most projectors use a lamp hour counter to track the number of hours of lamp use. Check the projector’s on-screen menu to determine the number of lamp hours used. After so many hours of use, the lamp life LED on the projector illuminates or the projector simply will not ignite the lamp, indicating that the lamp should be replaced.

The image produced by my projector has purple or magenta dots on the screen, how do I correct this?
      Purple or magenta dots are the result of dust or dirt particles that have settles on the green panel. The solution is to clean the green LCD panel, this should be done by a trained engineer. Please call 02 9280 3523 for assistance. Regular maintenance of this air filter will reduce the likelihood that this problem with recur.

My projector powers off erratically. What is causing this?
      This problem can my cased by improper seating of the lamp assembly. The solution is to re-install the lamp assembly correctly. Please consult your owner’s manual for instructions on replacing the lamp unit and re-installing your existing lamp. If the problem is not corrected by doing so, then the projector may need servicing. Call our office to book this in.

Are there different kinds of lamps for projectors?
There are literally thousands of projector lamps for thousands of projectors. When ordering a new lamp, is it important that you obtain the projector make and model in order to ensure you get the correct lamp.

How do I select brightness when picking out a projector?
      Bicta has determined the following consultation that projectors brightness must never exceed 1600 lumens. If a projector is to be used in a classroom it may be turned up to 2000 lumens but a teacher must not stand or look at the projected images.

What is horizontal and vertical resolution?
      Computer and video images are made up of horizontal and vertical rows of picture elements, otherwise known as pixels. Resolution is limited by the number of distinguishable rows that the monitor or LCD device can form. Horizontal resolution refers to the number of distinct lines that you can count going across the image. Vertical resolution measures the number of lines you can count from the top to the bottom of the image.

What is keystoning?
Keystoning is when the image you are projecting appears wider at the top of bottom as a result of the projector being positioned somewhere other than the centre of the screen. Many projectors allow you to adjust keystoning and some offer fixed keystoning factor, which allows you to place the projector at an approximately 8 degree angle lower or higher than the centre of the screen.

What care and maintenance should I be doing to keep my projector in good working order and extend its life?
       To prolong the life of a projector, there are several simple steps that can be taken. Projector Service Australia offer three levels of service to our customers. They are the Bronze, Silver and Gold service packages. To view more information on these, please visit or Services page.