BenQ Projector SH940 User Manual

							SH940
Digital Projector
User Manual
copyright-en.fm  Page 1  Thursday, October 11, 2012  3:07 PM 
						

							2  Table of contents  
EnglishTable of contents
Important safety 
instructions ............................3
Overview................................6
Shipping contents...................................... 6
Remote control batteries ....................... 7
Remote control operation ..................... 7
Projector features.................................... 8
Projector exterior view .......................... 9
Controls and functions.......................... 10
Control panel ............................................... 10
Remote control............................................ 11
Positioning your projector .12
Choosing a location ............................... 12
Obtaining a preferred projected image 
size ............................................................. 13
Projection dimensions ................................ 14
Shifting the projection lens ........................ 16
Connecting with video 
equipment ...........................17
Preparations .................................................. 17
Connecting HDMI devices......................... 17
Connecting component-video/RGB 
devices ............................................................ 18
Connecting video devices .......................... 18
Connecting a computer ............................. 19
Connecting a monitor ................................ 19
Using the projector ............20
Turning the projector on ..................... 20
Selecting an input source ...................... 21
Using the menus ..................................... 22
Securing the projector .......................... 22
Using a security cable lock ........................ 22
Utilizing the password function ................ 23
Adjusting the projected image............. 25
Adjusting the projection angle ................. 25
Auto-adjusting the image ........................... 25
Fine-tuning the image size and clarity ..... 25
Correcting picture distortion ................... 26
Using the preset and user modes ...... 27
Fine-tuning the picture quality ............ 29
Advanced picture quality controls ..... 30
Selecting the aspect ratio ..................... 33
Hiding the image..................................... 35
Freezing the image................................. 35
Adjusting the sound............................... 36
Controlling the projector through a Lan 
environment ............................................ 37
Operating in a high altitude 
environment ............................................ 39
Displaying more than one image source 
simultaneously ........................................ 40
Turning the projector off ..................... 41
On-Screen Display (OSD) menus ...... 42
Additional information ...... 51
Care of the projector ........................... 51
Lamp information ................................... 52
Getting to know the lamp hour ................52
Extending lamp life .......................................52
Timing of replacing the lamp .....................53
Replacing the lamp .......................................53
Indicators ................................................. 56
Troubleshooting ..................................... 57
Specifications ........................................... 58
Warranty and Copyright 
information ......................... 62
SH940_EN.book  Page 2  Wednesday, October 3, 2012  2:36 PM 
						

							  3
  Important safety instructions
EnglishThank you for your purchase of this quality BenQ projector! It has been designed to provide you with an 
enjoyable home theater viewing experience. For the best results, please read this manual through 
carefully as it is your guide through the control menus and operation.
Important safety instructions
Your projector is designed and tested to meet the latest standards for safety of information technology 
equipment. However, to ensure safe use of this product, it is important that you follow the instructions 
mentioned in this manual and marked on the product.
1. Please read this user manual before you operate your 
projector. Keep this manual in a safe place for future 
reference. 
2. Always place the projector on a level, horizontal 
surface during operation.
- Do not place the projector on an unstable cart, 
stand, or table as it may fall and be damaged; 
- Do not place inflammables near the projector; 
- Do not use if tilted at an angle of more than 10 
degrees left to right, nor at angle of more than 15 
degrees front to back.
3. Do not store the projector on end vertically. Doing so 
may cause the projector to fall over, causing injury or 
resulting in damage. 4. Do not place the projector in any of the 
following environments:
- space that is poorly ventilated or confined. 
Allow at least 50 cm clearance from walls 
and free flow of air around the projector;
- locations where temperatures may become 
excessively high, such as the inside of a car 
with all windows closed;
- locations where excessive humidity, dust, 
or cigarette smoke may contaminate optical 
components, shorten the projector’s 
lifespan and darken the screen;
- locations near fire alarms;
- locations with an ambient temperature 
above 35°C/95°F;
- locations where altitude is higher than 1500 
meters/4920 feet above sea level.
4920-
9840 
feet
SH940_EN.book  Page 3  Wednesday, October 3, 2012  2:36 PM 
						

							4 Important safety instructions  
English5. Do not block the vents holes while the projector 
is on (even in standby mode):
- Do not cover the projector with any item;
- Do not place the projector on a blanket, 
bedding or any other soft surface. 9. Do not look straight into the projector lens 
during operation. It may harm your sight. 
6. In areas where the mains power supply voltage 
may fluctuate by ±10 volts, it is recommended 
that you connect your projector through a power 
stabilizer, surge protector or uninterruptible 
power supply (UPS) as appropriate to your 
situation. 10. Do not operate the projector lamp beyond the 
rated lamp life. Excessive operation of lamps 
beyond the rated life could cause a lamp to break 
on rare occasions.
7. Do not step on the projector or place any objects 
upon it.11. The lamp becomes extremely hot during 
operation. Allow the projector to cool for 
approximately 45 minutes prior to removing the 
lamp assembly for replacement.
8. Do not place liquids near or on the projector. 
Liquids spilled into the projector will void your 
warranty. If the projector does become wet, 
disconnect it from the power point and call BenQ 
to have the projector repaired.12. This projector is capable of displaying inverted 
images for ceiling mount installation. Use only 
BenQs Ceiling Mount Kit for mounting.
SH940_EN.book  Page 4  Wednesday, October 3, 2012  2:36 PM 
						

							  5
  Important safety instructions
English
13. Never attempt to replace the lamp assembly until 
the projector has cooled down and is unplugged 
from the power supply. 
14. When you think service or repair is required, 
take the projector only to a suitably qualified 
technician.
15. Do not attempt to disassemble this projector. 
There are dangerous high voltages inside which 
may cause death if you should come into contact 
with live parts. The only user serviceable part is 
the lamp which has its own removable cover. See 
page 53.
Under no circumstances should you ever 
undo or remove any other covers. Refer 
servicing only to suitably qualified 
professional service personnel.
Notice
Please keep the original packing for possible future 
shipment. If you need to pack your projector after 
use, adjust the projection lens to an appropriate 
position, put the lens cushion around the lens, and 
fit the lens cushion and projector cushion together 
to prevent damage during transportation.
Moisture condensation
Never operate the projector immediately after 
moving it from a cold location to a hot location. 
When the projector is exposed to such a change 
in temperature, moisture may condense on the 
crucial internal parts. To prevent the projector 
from possible damage, do not use the projector 
for at least 2 hours when there is a sudden change 
in temperature.
Avoid volatile liquids
Do not use volatile liquids, such as insecticide or 
certain types of cleaner, near the projector. Do 
not have rubber or plastic products touching the 
projector for a long time. They will leave marks on 
the finish. If cleaning with a chemically treated 
cloth, be sure to follow the cleaning product’s 
safety instructions.
Disposal
This product contains the following materials 
which are harmful to human bodies and 
environment.
•   Lead, which is contained in solder. 
•   Mercury, which is used in the lamp.
To dispose of the product or used lamps, consult 
your local environment authorities for regulations.
SH940_EN.book  Page 5  Wednesday, October 3, 2012  2:36 PM 
						

							6 Overview  
EnglishOverview
Shipping contents
Carefully unpack and verify that you have the items below. Some of the items may not be available 
depending on your region of purchase. Please check with your place of purchase.
Some of the accessories may vary from region to region.
The warranty card is only supplied in some specific regions. Please consult your dealer for detailed 
information.
ProjectorRemote controlBatteriesVGA cable
Warranty cardUser manual CD
 
Digital ProjectorQuick Start Guide
Quick start guidePower cable
SH940_EN.book  Page 6  Wednesday, October 3, 2012  2:36 PM 
						

							  7
  Overview
EnglishRemote control batteries
1. To open the battery cover, turn the remote 
control over to view its back, push on the 
finger grip on the cover and slide it down in 
the direction of the arrow as illustrated. The 
cover will slide off.
2. Remove any existing batteries (if necessary) 
and install two new AAA batteries observing 
the battery polarities as indicated in the base of the battery compartment. Positive (+) goes to 
positive and negative (-) goes to negative.
3. Refit the cover by aligning it with the case and sliding it back up into position. Stop when it clicks into 
place.
Notes on handling batteries
•  Do not mix old batteries with new ones, or mix different types of batteries.
•  Avoid leaving the remote control and batteries in an excessive hot or humid environment like the 
kitchen, bathroom, sauna, sunroom, or in a closed car.
•  Dispose of used batteries according to the battery manufacturer’s instructions and local environment 
regulations for your region.
•  If the remote control will not be used for an extended period of time, remove the batteries to avoid 
damage to the control from possible battery leakage.
Remote control operation
•  Make sure that there is nothing positioned 
between the remote control and the infrared (IR) 
sensors on the projector that might obstruct the 
IR beam from the remote control reaching the 
projector.
•  The effective range of the remote control is up to 
8 meters, and at an angle within 30 degrees of the 
IR beam. Always aim straight at the projector, however most screens will also reflect the IR beam to 
the projector.
Ceiling mounting the projector
We want you to have a pleasant experience using your BenQ projector, so we need to bring this safety 
matter to your attention to prevent damage to person and property.
If you intend to mount your projector on the ceiling, we strongly recommend that you use a proper 
fitting BenQ projector ceiling mount kit and that you ensure it is securely and safely installed.
If you use a non-BenQ brand projector ceiling mount kit, there is a safety risk that the projector may fall 
from the ceiling due to an improper attachment through the use of the wrong gauge or length screws.
You can purchase a BenQ projector ceiling mount kit from the place you purchased your BenQ projector. 
BenQ recommends that you also purchase a separate Kensington lock compatible security cable and 
attach it securely to both the Kensington lock slot on the projector and the base of the ceiling mount 
bracket. This will perform the secondary role of restraining the projector should its attachment to the 
mounting bracket become loose.
up to 8 m
SH940_EN.book  Page 7  Wednesday, October 3, 2012  2:36 PM 
						

							8 Overview  
EnglishProjector features
• Full HD compatible
The projector is compatible with Standard Definition TV (SDTV) 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, and High 
Definition TV (HDTV) 720p, 1080i and 1080p formats, with the 1080p format providing a true 1:1 
image reproduction.
•  High picture quality
The projector provides excellent picture quality due to its high resolution, excellent home theater 
brightness, super high contrast ratio, vivid color and rich gray-scale reproduction.
• High brightness
The projector features super high brightness to achieve excellent picture quality in ambient light 
conditions, outperforming ordinary projectors.
•  Super-high contrast ratio
The projector features a dynamic black control to achieve a super-high contrast ratio.
•  Vivid color reproduction
The projector features a 6-segment color wheel to produce realistic color depth and range 
unattainable with lesser segment color wheels.
• Rich gray-scale
When viewed in a darkened environment, the automatic gamma control provides excellent gray-scale 
display which reveals details in shadows and in night or darkened scenes.
• Intuitive lens shift
The intuitive control over lens shift lever provides flexibility in setting-up your projector.
•  Wide variety of inputs and video formats
The projector supports a wide variety of inputs for connection to your video and PC equipment, 
including component video, and composite video, as well as HDMI, PC, and an output trigger for 
connection to automated screen and environment lighting systems. 
•  Professional calibration control
To reach a higher standard of performance, the projector incorporates Expert Mode settings in its 
OSD menus, which requires professional calibration service from authorized installers.
•  Panamorph lenses compatible
The projector is compatible with Panamorph lenses that allow you to convert 16:9 projectors to 
2.35:1 aspect ratio.
SH940_EN.book  Page 8  Wednesday, October 3, 2012  2:36 PM 
						

							  9
  Overview
EnglishProjector exterior view
Front and upper side view 
Rear view
Under view
1. Control panel (See Control panel on 
page 10 for details.)
2. Lamp cover
3. Front IR sensor
4. Lens shift lever
5. Projection lens
6. Vent (heated air exhaust)
7. AC Power cable inlet
8. Rear IR sensor
9. RJ45 LAN input jack
10. HDMI port
11. Composite Video input (RCA)
12. USB port
13. RS-232 control port
Used to interface with a PC or home 
theater control/automation system.
14. 12VDC output terminal
Used to trigger external devices such as 
an electric screen or light control, etc. 
Consult your dealer for how to connect 
these devices.
15. Component Video inputs (BNC)/RGBHV
5 BNCs for connecting either RGB or 
component (YPbPr), SD or HD video 
signals.
16. RGB (PC)/Component video (YPbPr/
YCbCr) signal input jack
RGB signal output jack
17. Audio input jack
Audio output jack
18. Kensington lock slot
19. Adjustable feet
20. Ceiling mount holes
1
23
6 5
4
7891011121314151617
18
See Connecting with video equipment on 
page 17 for connection details.
19
19
20
20
SH940_EN.book  Page 9  Wednesday, October 3, 2012  2:36 PM 
						

							10 Overview  
EnglishControls and functions
Control panel
6. Arrow/Keystone keys (Left  / , Up /
, Right  /, Down/)
Moves the current On-Screen Display (OSD) 
menu selection in the direction of the arrow 
being pressed when the OSD menu is 
activated.
Manually corrects distorted pictures resulting 
from an angled projection. 
7.  POWER
Performs the same action as POWER on the 
remote control.
Toggles the projector between standby and on.
8. SOURCE
Performs the same action as the source 
selection keys on the remote control. 
Switches sequentially through input sources.
9. MENU
Toggles the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu on 
and off. 
10. PRESET MODE
Sequentially selects a predefined picture setting 
available for each input.
11. EXIT
Goes back to previous OSD menus, exits and 
saves any changes made using the On-Screen 
Display (OSD) menu.
12. ENTER
Enacts the selected On-Screen Display (OSD) 
menu item. 1. Focus ring
Adjusts the focus of the projected image.
2. Zoom ring
Adjusts the size of the projected image.
3. LAMP indicator light
Lights up or flashes when the projector lamp 
has developed a problem.
4. TEMPerature warning light 
Lights up or flashes if the projectors 
temperature becomes too high. 
5. POWER indicator light
Lights up or flashes when the projector is 
operating. 1
2
5
6
6
4
3
7
8
6
9
6
12 11 10
II
SH940_EN.book  Page 10  Wednesday, October 3, 2012  2:36 PM