BenQ Mx501/ms500/mx501-v/ms500-v Digital Projector User Manual

							Operation 21
Securing the projector
Using a security cable lock
The projector has to be installed in a safe place to prevent theft. Otherwise, purchase a lock, 
such as the Kensington lock, to secure the projector. You can locate a Kensington lock slot on 
the rear side of the projector. See item 20 on page 9 for details.
A Kensington security cable lock is usually a combination of key(s) and the lock. Refer to the 
lock’s documentation for finding out how to use it.
Utilizing the password function
For security purposes and to help prevent unauthorized use, the projector includes an 
option for setting up password security. The password can be set through the On-Screen 
Display (OSD) menu.
WARNING: You will be inconvenienced if you activate the password functionality and 
subsequently forget the password. Print out this manual (if necessary) and write the password 
you used in this manual, and keep the manual in a safe place for later recall.
Setting a password
Once a password has been set and the power on lock is activated, the projector cannot be 
used unless the correct password is entered every time the projector is started.
1. Open the OSD menu and go to the SYSTEM SETUP: Advanced > Security Settings 
menu. Press MODE/ENTER. The Security Settings page displays.
2. Highlight Change Security Settings and press MODE/ENTER.
3. As pictured to the right, the four arrow keys ( , 
, , ) respectively represent 4 digits (1, 2, 
3, 4). According to the password you desire to set, 
press the arrow keys to enter six digits for the 
password.
4. Confirm the new password by re-entering the 
new password.
Once the password is set, the OSD menu returns 
to the Security Settings page.
5. To activate the Power On Lock function, press  /  to highlight Power On Lock and 
press  /  to select On.
6. To activate the Splash Screen Lock function, press  /  to highlight Splash Screen 
Lock and press  /  to select On.
When the Splash Screen Lock is activated, the MyScreen function in the SYSTEM 
SETUP: Basic menu will be password-protected.
IMPORTANT: The digits being input will display as asterisks on-screen. Write your selected 
password down here in this manual in advance or right after the password is entered so that it 
is available to you should you ever forget it.
Password: __ __ __ __ __ __
Keep this manual in a safe place.
7. To leave the OSD menu, press MENU/EXIT.
INPUT NEW PASSWORD
Back MENU
Power On Lock and Splash Screen Lock 
use the same password. 
						

							Operation 22
If you forget the password
If the password function is activated, you will be asked 
to enter the six-digit password every time you turn on 
the projector. If you enter the wrong password, the 
password error message as pictured to the right displays 
lasting for 3 seconds, and the INPUT PASSWORD 
message follows. You can retry by entering another six-
digit password, or if you did not record the password in 
this manual, and you absolutely do not remember it, you can use the password recall 
procedure. See Entering the password recall procedure on page 22 for details.
If you enter an incorrect password 5 times in succession, the projector will automatically 
shut down in a short time.
Entering the password recall procedure
1. Press and hold AUTO on the projector or 
remote control for 3 seconds. The projector 
will display a coded number on the screen.
2. Write down the number and turn off your 
projector.
3. Seek help from the local BenQ service 
center to decode the number. You may be 
required to provide proof of purchase 
documentation to verify that you are an 
authorized user of the projector.
Password Error
Please try again.
Please write down the recall code,
and contact BenQ
Customer Center.
Recall Code:
0 2 1 2
RECALL PASSWORD
Exit MENU 
						

							Operation 23
Changing the password
1. Open the OSD menu and go to the SYSTEM SETUP: Advanced> Security Settings > 
Change Password menu.
2. Press MODE/ENTER. The message “INPUT CURRENT PASSWORD” appears.
3. Enter the old password.
i. If the password is correct, another message “INPUT NEW PASSWORD” displays. 
ii. If the password is incorrect, the password error message displays lasting for three 
seconds, and the message “INPUT CURRENT PASSWORD” displays for your 
retry. You can press MENU/EXIT to cancel the change or try another password.
4. Enter a new password.
IMPORTANT: The digits being input will display as asterisks on-screen. Write your selected 
password down here in this manual in advance or right after the password is entered so that it 
is available to you should you ever forget it.
Password: __ __ __ __ __ __
Keep this manual in a safe place.
5. Confirm the new password by re-entering the new password.
6. You have successfully assigned a new password to the projector. Remember to enter the 
new password next time the projector is started.
7. To leave the OSD menu, press MENU/EXIT.
Disabling the password function
To disable password protection, go back to the SYSTEM SETUP: Advanced > Security 
Settings > Change Security Settings menu after opening the OSD menu system. Press 
MODE/ENTER. The message “INPUT PASSWORD” displays. Enter the current password. 
i. If the password is correct, the OSD menu returns to the Security Settings page.
Press  to highlight Power On Lock and press  /  to select Off. You will not 
have to enter the password next time when turning on the projector.
Press   to highlight Splash Screen Lock and press  /  to select Off. 
The Splash 
Screen
 function in the SYSTEM SETUP: Basic menu will be available for your 
change.
ii. If the password is incorrect, the password error message displays lasting for three 
seconds, and the message “INPUT PASSWORD” displays for your retry. You can 
press MENU/EXIT to cancel the change or try another password.
Though the password function is disabled, you need to keep the old password in hand should 
you ever need to re-activate the password function by entering the old password.
Switching input signal
The projector can be connected to multiple devices at the same time. However, it can only 
display one full screen at a time. When starting up, the projector automatically searches for 
the available signals.
Be sure the Quick Auto Search function in the SOURCE menu is On if you want the 
projector to automatically search for the signals. 
						

							Operation 24To select the source:
1. Press SOURCE on the projector or remote 
control. A source selection bar displays. 
2. Press / until your desired signal is selected 
and press MODE/ENTER.
Once detected, the selected source information 
will display at the corner of the screen for 
seconds. If there is multiple equipment connected 
to the projector, repeat steps 1-2 to search for 
another signal.
•  The brightness level of the projected image will change accordingly when you switch 
between different input signals. Data (graphic) PC presentations using mostly static 
images are generally brighter than Video using mostly moving images (movies).
•  The native display resolution of this projector is in a 4:3 aspect ratio. For best display 
picture results, you should select and use an input signal which outputs at this resolution. 
Any other resolutions will be scaled by the projector depending upon the “aspect ratio” 
setting, which may cause some image distortion or loss of picture clarity. See Selecting 
the aspect ratio on page 24 for details.
Magnifying and searching for details
If you need to find the details on the projected picture, magnify the picture. Use the 
direction arrow keys for navigating the picture.
•  Using the remote control
1. Press Digital Zoom+/- to display the Zoom bar. Press Digital Zoom+ to magnify the 
center of the picture. Press the key repeatedly until the picture size is suitable for your 
need.
2. Use the directional arrows ( ,  ,  ,  ) on the projector or remote control to 
navigate the picture.
3. To restore the picture to its original size, press AUTO. You can also press Digital 
Zoom-. When the key is pressed again, the picture is further reduced until it is restored 
to the original size.
•  Using the OSD menu
1.
Press MENU/EXIT and then press / until the DISPLAY menu is highlighted.
2. Press  to highlight Digital Zoom and press MODE/ENTER. The Zoom bar displays.
3. Press   repeatedly to magnify the picture to a desired size.
4. To navigate the picture, press MODE/ENTER to switch to the panning mode and press 
the directional arrows ( ,  ,  ,  ) on the projector or remote control to navigate 
the picture.
5. To reduce size of the picture, press MODE/ENTER to switch back to the zoom in/out 
function, and press AUTO to restore the picture to its original size. You can also press 
 repeatedly until it is restored to the original size.
The picture can only be navigated after it is magnified. You can further magnify the picture 
while searching for details.
Selecting the aspect ratio
The “aspect ratio” is the ratio of the image width to the image height. Most analog TV and 
some computers are in 4:3 ratio, and digital TV and DVDs are usually in 16:9 ratio.
Computer1/YPbPr1
Computer2/YPbPr2
Video
S-Video 
						

							Operation 25 With the advent of digital signal processing, digital display devices like this projector can 
dynamically stretch and scale the image output to a different aspect than that of the image 
input signal.
To change the projected picture ratio (no matter what aspect the source is):
1.
Press MENU/EXIT and then press / until the DISPLAY menu is highlighted.
2. Press  to highlight Aspect Ratio.
3. Press  /  to select an aspect ratio to suit the format of the video signal and your 
display requirements.
About the aspect ratio
•  In the pictures below, the black portions are inactive areas and the white portions are 
active areas.
•  OSD menus can be displayed on those unused black areas.
1.Auto: Scales an image proportionally to fit 
the projectors native resolution in its 
horizontal or vertical width. This is suitable 
for the incoming image which is neither in 
4:3 nor 16:9 and you want to make most use 
of the screen without altering the images 
aspect ratio.4.16:9: Scales an image so that it is 
displayed in the center of the 
screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio. 
This is most suitable for images 
which are already in a 16:9 aspect, 
like high definition TV, as it 
displays them without aspect 
alteration.
2.Real
: The image is projected as its original 
resolution, and resized to fit within the 
display area. For input signals with lower 
resolutions, the projected image will display 
smaller than if resized to full screen. You 
could adjust the zoom setting or move the 
projector towards the screen to increase the 
image size if necessary. You may also need 
to refocus the projector after making these 
adjustments.5.16:10: Scales an image so that it is 
displayed in the center of the 
screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio. 
This is most suitable for images 
which are already in a 16:10 
aspect, as it displays them without 
aspect alteration.
15:9 picture
16:9 picture
4:3 picture
16:9 picture
16:10 picture 
						

							Operation 263.4:3: Scales an image so that it is displayed in 
the center of the screen with a 4:3 aspect 
ratio. This is most suitable for 4:3 images 
like some computer monitors, standard 
definition TV and 4:3 aspect DVD movies, 
as it displays them without aspect 
alteration.
4:3 picture 
						

							Operation 27
Optimizing the image
Using Wall Color
In the situation where you are projecting onto a colored surface such as a painted wall which 
may not be white, the Wall Color feature can help correct the projected picture’s colors to 
prevent possible color difference between the source and projected pictures.
To use this function, go to the DISPLAY > Wall Color menu and press  /  to select a 
color which is closest to the color of the projection surface. There are several precalibrated 
colors to choose from: Light Yellow, Pink, Light Green, Blue, and Blackboard.
Selecting a picture mode
The projector is preset with several predefined picture modes so that you can choose one to 
suit your operating environment and input signal picture type.
To select an operation mode that suits your need, you can follow one of the following steps.
• Press MODE/ENTER on the projector or remote control repeatedly until your desired 
mode is selected.
•  Go to the PICTURE > Picture Mode menu and press  /  to select a desired mode.
1.Dynamic mode: Maximizes the brightness of the projected image. This mode is 
suitable for environments where extra-high brightness is required, such as using the 
projector in well lit rooms.
2.Presentation mode: Is designed for presentations. The brightness is emphasized in this 
mode to match PC and notebook coloring.
3.sRGB mode: Maximizes the purity of RGB colors to provide true-to-life images 
regardless of brightness setting. It is most suitable for viewing photos taken with an 
sRGB compatible and properly calibrated camera, and for viewing PC graphic and 
drawing applications such as AutoCAD.
4.Cinema mode: Is appropriate for playing colorful movies, video clips from digital 
cameras or DVs through the PC input for best viewing in a blackened (little light) 
environment.
5.User 1/User 2 mode: Recalls the settings customized based on the current available 
picture modes. See Setting the User 1/User 2 mode on page 27 for details.
Setting the User 1/User 2 mode
There are two user-definable modes if the current available picture modes are not suitable 
for your need. You can use one of the picture modes (except the User 1/2) as a starting point 
and customize the settings.
1. Press MENU/EXIT to open the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu.
2. Go to the PICTURE > Picture Mode menu.
3. Press / to select User 1 or User 2.
4. Press  to highlight Reference Mode.
This function is only available when User 1 or User 2 mode is selected up in the Picture Mode 
sub-menu item.
5. Press / to select a picture mode that is closest to your need.
6. Press  to select a menu item to be changed and adjust the value with /. See 
Fine-tuning the image quality in user modes below for details.
7. When all settings have been done, highlight Save Settings and press MODE/ENTER to 
store the settings. 
						

							Operation 288. The confirmation message “Setting Saved” displays.
Fine-tuning the image quality in user modes
According to the detected signal type, there are some user-definable functions available 
when User 1 or User 2 is selected. Based on your needs, you can make adjustments to these 
functions by highlighting them and pressing  /  on the projector or remote control.
Adjusting Brightness
The higher the value, the brighter the image. And the 
lower the setting, the darker the image. Adjust this 
control so the black areas of the image appear just as 
black and that detail in the dark areas is visible.
Adjusting Contrast
The higher the value, the greater the contrast. Use this 
to set the peak white level after you have previously 
adjusted the Brightness setting to suit your selected 
input and viewing environment.
Adjusting Color
Lower setting produces less saturated colors. If the setting is too high, colors on the image 
will be overpowering, which makes the image unrealistic.
Adjusting Tint
The higher the value, the more reddish the picture becomes. The lower the value, the more 
greenish the picture becomes.
Adjusting Sharpness
The higher the value, the sharper the picture becomes. The lower the value, the softer the 
picture becomes.
Adjusting Brilliant Color
This feature utilizes a new color-processing algorithm and system level enhancements to 
enable higher brightness while providing truer, more vibrant colors in picture. It enables a 
greater than 50% brightness increase in mid-tone images, which are common in video and 
natural scenes, so the projector reproduces images in realistic and true colors. If you prefer 
images with that quality, select On. If you don’t need it, select Off.
When Off is selected, the Color Temperature function is not available.
Selecting a color temperature
The options available for color temperature* settings vary according to the signal type 
selected.
1.Cool: Makes images appear bluish white.
2.Normal: Maintains normal colorings for white.
3.Warm: Makes images appear reddish white.
*About color temperatures:
There are many different shades that are considered to be white for various purposes. One 
of the common methods of representing white color is known as the “color temperature”. A 
white color with a low color temperature appears to be reddish white. A white color with a 
high color temperature appears to have more blue in it.
+50+30+70
0-30+30 
						

							Operation 29
3D Color Management
In most installation situations, color management will not be necessary, such as in 
classroom, meeting room, or lounge room situations where lights remain on, or where 
building external windows allow daylight into the room. 
Only in permanent installations with controlled lighting levels such as boardrooms, lecture 
theaters, or home theaters, should color management be considered. Color management 
provides fine color control adjustment to allow for more accurate color reproduction, 
should you require it.
Proper color management can only be achieved under controlled and reproducible viewing 
conditions. You will need to use a colorimeter (color light meter), and provide a set of 
suitable source images to measure color reproduction. These tools are not provided with the 
p ro j e c to r,  h ow e ve r,  yo u r  p ro j e c to r  s u p p l i e r  s hould be able to provide you with suitable 
guidance, or even an experienced professional installer.
The Color Management provides six sets (RGBCMY) of colors to be adjusted. When you 
select each color, you can independently adjust its range and saturation according to your 
preference.
If you have purchased a test disc which contains various color test patterns and can be used 
to test the color presentation on monitors, TVs, projectors, etc, you can project any image 
from the disc on the screen and enter the 3D Color Management menu to make 
adjustments.
To adjust the settings:
1. Go to the PICTURE menu and highlight 3D Color Management.
2. Press MODE/ENTER on the projector or remote control and the 3D Color 
Management page displays.
3. Highlight Primary Color and press  /  to select a color from among Red, Yellow, 
Green, Cyan, Blue, or Magenta.
4. Press  to highlight Hue and press  /  to select its range. Increase in the range will 
include colors consisted of more proportions of its two adjacent colors.
Please refer to the illustration to the right for 
how the colors relate to each other.
For example, if you select Red and set its 
range at 0, only pure red in the projected 
picture will be selected. Increasing its range 
will include red close to yellow and red close 
to magenta.
5. Press   to highlight Saturation and adjust its 
values to your preference by pressing  / . 
Every adjustment made will reflect to the 
image immediately.
For example, if you select Red and set its 
value at 0, only the saturation of pure red will be affected.
Saturation is the amount of that color in a video picture. Lower settings produce less 
saturated colors; a setting of “0” removes that color from the image entirely. If the saturation 
is too high, that color will be overpowering and unrealistic.
6. Press  to highlight Gain and adjust its values to your preference by pressing  / . 
The contrast level of the primary color you select will be affected. Every adjustment 
made will reflect to the image immediately. 
RED
BLUEGREEN Yellow
Cyan
Magenta 
						

							Operation 307. Repeat steps 3 to 6 for other color adjustments.
8. Make sure you have made all of the desired adjustments.
9. Press MENU/EXIT to exit and save the settings.
Setting the presentation timer
Presentation timer can indicate the presentation time on the screen to help you achieve 
better time management when giving presentations. Follow these steps to utilize this 
function:
1. Go to the SYSTEM SETUP: Basic > Presentation Timer menu and press MODE/
ENTER to display the Presentation Timer page.
2. Highlight Timer Period and decide the time period by pressing  / . The length of 
time can be set from 1 to 5 minutes in 1-minute increments and 5 to 240 minutes in 5-
minute increments.
If the timer is already on, the timer will restart whenever the Timer Period is reset.
3. Press   to highlight Timer Display and choose if you want the timer to show up on 
the screen by press
ing /.
4. Press  to highlight Timer Position and set the timer position by pressing  /.
5. Press  to highlight Timer Counting Direction and select your desired counting 
direction by pressing  / .
6. Press  to highlight Sound Reminder and decide if you want to activate sound 
reminder by pressing  / . If you select On, a double beep sound will be heard at the 
last 30 seconds of counting down/up, and a triple beep sound will be produced when 
the timer is up.
7. To activate the presentation timer, press   and press  /  to highlight On and press 
MODE/ENTER.
8. A confirmation message displays. Highlight Ye s and press MODE/ENTER on the 
projector or remote control to confirm. You will see the message “Timer is On” 
displaying on the screen. The timer starts counting when the timer is on.
To cancel the timer, perform the following steps:
1. Go to the SYSTEM SETUP: Basic > Presentation Timer menu and highlight Off. Press 
MODE/ENTER. A confirmation message displays.
2. Highlight Ye s and press MODE/ENTER to confirm. You will see the message “Timer is 
Off” displaying on the screen. 
SelectionDescription
AlwaysDisplays the timer on screen throughout the presentation 
time.
1 min/2 min/3 min  Displays the timer on screen in the last 1/2/3 minute(s).
Never Hides the timer throughout the presentation time.
Top-Left Bottom-Left Top-Right Bottom-Right
SelectionDescription
Count Up Increases from 0 to the preset time.
Count Down Decreases from the preset time to 0.