Is there a Z2 Tweaks N Tips thread?

[HeadRusch]

One of the things keeping me from dropping the hammer on this, besides waiting for the price on them to hit the $1500 range, is the whole vertical banding/tweaking/updated filter stuff.

I dont mind waiting, but I know...just like my Mitsubishi...you'll need to spend time tinkering in the service menus to adjust the thing properly, but UNLIKE my mits, I have no idea where to find that information here.

Is there a permanant thread dedicated to what the Z2 menu options mean and do, and how adjusting each can affect the picture?

ie: How to get rid of vertical banding.....that sort of thing...

???

[seank]

There is a ton of information on this board about tweaking the PLV-Z2. Unfortunately it is scattered all about.

Having a single thread with a good sumamry of the various tips and tweaks would be nice.

-Sean

[Sirquack]

Have had a new Z2 for about a month now, and no tweaking has been needed, no VB or other issues. It basically Rocks!

peace out

[Marissadad]

Originally posted by Sirquack
Have had a new Z2 for about a month now, and no tweaking has been needed, no VB or other issues. It basically Rocks!

peace out
I envy you. ;)

[DaveInBerlinNJ]

I'll be getting a Z2 soon, and I agree... it practically BEGS for a comprehensive "tweak thread". Its a VERY popular projector, for many it's their 1st projector (it will be for me also).

Some random things I'd like to see included:

-general overview... things to do (or NOT do) right out of the box... basic setting changes, factory setting changes (and how to get into and out of the factory menu), service setting changes (ditto). Stuff like how to lengthen fan running time before shutoff, and should you bother.

-VB correction, adjustments, elimination.

-dust blob identification (how do you know you have one), and elimination

-panel error adjustment (how do I determine what panel is off a pixel or 2, and how to fix)

-Fix Pattern Noise (whatever that is!, and what to do about it)

-Screen Door Effect and how to correct/minimize.

-maybe some basic screen type recommendations. Something like "if you love inky blacks, and have COMPLETE light control, consider using a high contrast grey screen. If you love brilliant colors and will have some ambient light in the room, consider a high gain white screen." Or maybe just direct everyone to the screens forum!

-maybe some basic input recommendations. I mean basic, like "this projector supports 720p... 720p input via DVI has shown great results and is highly recommended. If you're stuck with 1080i from your local cable co HD box, it looks very good via component, so connect your upconverting DVD player via DVI." Or not...

-how to mount your Z2 to the ceiling/wall

-how to determine throw length

-provide links to threads/websites that have already reviewed these topics

Even if all you did was provide links to all the various threads that have covered these topics already, it'd be very useful. Any Z2 guru's wanna take this on?????

[DavieCrock]

In regard to this thread, I just recently purchased my Z2. I currently have it hooked up using component cable. The only thing I am worried about is the length.... I kinda overshot it when I ordered it.... 50 ft (17meters) would have done it but I purchased 75 ft (25 meters)...

Is my signal going to suffer because of this???

[Pio2001]

If we are going to list all threads about the Z2, let's begin :

Two big discussions about picture quality adjustments. I posted detailed informations about digital picture in general, what is a constrast setting, why should a digital contrast setting be used differently than an analog contrast setting, etc.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=339768
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=368094

How to flash the firmware :
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=3740967#post3740967

Colorfacts measurments on four units :
http://www.salvechris.de/html/sanyo_z2_vergleich.html

Factory settings for panel alignment :
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=3398850#post3398850

For PAL users who don't want to use VGA, an esoteric way to force 1280x720 50 Hz on DVI :
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=3617078#post3617078

[Diarmuid]

Vivre les Francais!

[chinch]

is there an "unofficial Z2 homepage" somewhere like the nicely done X1 page? or dedicated Z2 forum anywhere? quick google searches show nothing but vendors & storefronts.

[garyttu]

All of DaveInBerlinNJ's questions/topics are great ones - perhaps we can get more solutions, etc. posted here and someone will start a FAQ

[Pio2001]

Dust blob removal : http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=339154

[DaveInBerlinNJ]

Vertical banding discussion: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=376209&perpage=20&pagenumber=1

[DaveInBerlinNJ]

Pics of Z2 projecting onto high contrast gray (0.8 Carada), and hi gain white (1.4 Carada) screens... in various lighting conditions:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=359451&perpage=30&pagenumber=1

[DaveInBerlinNJ]

Adjusting convergence via factory menu:
http://archive.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=396120

[DaveInBerlinNJ]

Z2 DVI 1:1 mapping via custom menu settings for Momitsu V880:
http://archive2.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=394093

Momitsu 1:1 mapping thread (not Z2 specific):
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=330731&perpage=20&pagenumber=1

[DaveInBerlinNJ]

Some people's user and service menu settings are in this thread (feel free to add your's!):
http://archive.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=392518

edit:

Courtesy of Pio2001:

You can find the service manual here : http://franckhc.free.fr/comparoDownload.htm

"Manuel Technique du SANYO PLV-Z2" some pages from the service manual.
"Liste des paramètres techniques du Menu Service PLV-Z2" List of the service menu settings. Better than the one included in the previous version.
"Service Manual du SANYO PLV-Z2 (anglais)" the complete service manual.

Also:

To access Service Menu:
hold "menu" + "input" buttons on projector

To access Factory Menu:
hold "select" + "input" on the projector

Of course you know: WRITE DOWN your settings BEFORE you change ANYTHING!!! (you also know: Enter at your own risk)


To check lamp hours:
while Z2 is on, press and HOLD "on/off" button.
(if your projector immediately turns off, you must turn off the "auto-shut down" feature on the Z2)


Z2 ceiling mount thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=360199&perpage=20&pagenumber=1
(I purchased this mount... before I got the projector!)

Z2 review at Projectorcentral:
http://www.projectorcentral.com/sanyo_plv_z2.htm

My favorite Z2 picture adjustment post:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=3199616#post3199616
This is from the first thread listed above by Pio2001... please take the time to read through this post, and the following posts in the thread from "MiVaAVS". His english isn't perfect, but the information, ideas and explanations are excellent.


How to adjust your fan speed thread:
http://archive.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=3761843#post3761843

[madpoet]

For my own sake... I'm going to sticky this thread ;)

[bedo]

Originally posted by DavieCrock
In regard to this thread, I just recently purchased my Z2. I currently have it hooked up using component cable. The only thing I am worried about is the length.... I kinda overshot it when I ordered it.... 50 ft (17meters) would have done it but I purchased 75 ft (25 meters)...

Is my signal going to suffer because of this???

Can you return the cable for the 50ft length? If the quality of the cable and termination is there then I would bet that you will have as good a signal as you want. You might want to post your question at http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/cables/bbs.html If your lucky maybe Jon Risch himself will answer it! That is where I did my research for component and speaker cable. I seem to remember that quality component or VGA can go pretty good distances compared to DVI.

[Desotti]

Fellows, does anybody know where to find/download the original Z2 startup screen picture?

I thought the picture was a non-erasable default and I put into memory a THX logo, but that erased the original picture (a stylish ball plus the words Sanyo and Z2) and now when default is selected, only the Sanyo logo is showed, over a blue screen...

I apreciatte any help, thanks!

[Inniswhe]

I am having a problem checking the lamp hours on my Sanyo Z2. I followed the following instructions given in this thread:

"To check lamp hours:
while Z2 is on, press and HOLD "on/off" button.
(if your projector immediately turns off, you must turn off the "auto-shut down" feature on the Z2)"

The problem is that my projector shuts down immediately so it seems I have this auto-shut down feature enabled. How do I disable this feature, I can't seem to find it in the menu. I have both the Power management and Power off confirmation items turned off.

Thanks for any help someone can provide

[delusion602]

I have both the Power management and Power off confirmation items turned off.

I believe you have answered your own question.

[Rotoman]

I have the power management and power off confirmation items turned on and I do not get the lamp hours when pressing and holding the on/off button? All I get is the 'power off?' box and thats it.

Any ideas would be greatly beneficial.

[DaveInBerlinNJ]

Wow, the thread returns from the dead...
Anyway... press AND HOLD the power button ON THE PROJECTOR.

You may have to to hold it down for 20-30 seconds.

Dave

[Rotoman]

Thanks Dave...

Guess I was expecting quicker gratification. :D I'll hold it down longer.

[bedo]

This post by Rick Guynn was a diamond in the rough for me, I never saw it until this thread was recently updated and I thank you, sir, for sharing the wealth!

Convergence settings
http://archive.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=396120
In the factory not service menu:
7,8,9 - R,G,B Horizontal position
15,16,17 - R,G,B Vertical position.

RG

Again, make aure you record the original values prior to changing anything.

[DaveInBerlinNJ]

Adding this just in case I need it one day...


Z2 warranty problems thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=525449&page=1&pp=30

[DHunt]

Thanks for the linked Post. Very interesting reading. I'll have to keep my eye on this thread!

[dn38416]

I finally got my Z2, ceiling mounted it over the weekend. For a less than $1,500 project (PJ, 76" screen, 4x1 component switch, cables), I am absolutely floored. This is also my first exposure to in-house (mine) HD.
Maybe once my comfort level increase, I'll dive into the service menu for ultimate tweaking.

Thanks for the effort put into this thread.

Matt

[raakdogg]

I bought a Sanyo Z2 and hooked it up via component cable to my Samsung HD841 dvd player. The projector is only showing images as 480P. I thought that the Z2 is support to support 720 and 1080 signals. What I am I doing wrong.
I also tried hooking up my cable (which is HD box) and the projector displays the image as 1080 and not 720p..........I hook this up via component cable and it worked. I am lost.

[HeadRusch]

The Samsung only upconverts DVD's over the digital output, not component.

If you want to upconvert over component you'll need to buy a different player, or just plug the Samsung into the Z2 using a DVI connector, which will allow for upconversion.

[raakdogg]

Actually - I figured out how to enable the Samsung HD841 to upconvert HD signal thru component cable. Its was actually easy to do , I found this on a different thread here at avs.

push 'angle" on the remote
then push the nuber 4,3,2 and 7.
A message will display that says "HDCP Free"

Wow.......my sanyo z2 looks great now with the 720P .

[DaveInBerlinNJ]

raakdogg,

If you want to feed your Z2 a 720p signal from the HD cable box, you need to go into the basic setup menu of the box, and change it's output resolution from 1080i to 720p.