>>>> Since you haven't decided on a specific projector model and are currently running wiring, you should consider a couple must have features. The wide angle lens (1.5 to 2.0 times zoom) will accound from the mounting distance issue and the lense shift feature will account for a vertical or horizontal offset of the lens to the screen. The above mentioned Panny AE900U and Sanyo Z4 have these features but many DLP projectors do not. <<<<
So, if while keeping this in mind the 18ft distance from the screen *should* be a pretty safe location then? And as mentioned above, I'll also have the option of moving the screen closer to the projector if needed.
Actually I have been to the ProjectorCentral site and did check out the calculator and entered several different projectors and the throw distance of 18ft seemed to have showed up fairly often, this is primarliy how I came up with the particular location.
