Wireless Projectors Guide

Most projector manufacturers, like Epson, Hitachi, Sanyo amongst others, have wireless projectors in their range.
What we mean by wireless is that using 802.11b (11 megabits per second) or 802.11g (54 megabits per second) protocol, projectors and computers with compatible wireless cards can communicate without cables.

Note: You still need to use a power cable to connect the projector to the mains.

What are the benefits of wireless projectors?

• Switch between multiple computer sources quickly and easily.
• Added flexibility with users able to present from a computer placed anywhere in a room or to connect directly to the wireless network.
• Easier and cheaper installation without having to worry about the length of the cable or having to hide it inside trunking and signal loss.

What are the downsides of wireless projectors?

Although showing static content such as Excel spreadsheets is fine with wireless projectors, wireless full-motion video transmission using the 802.11b on some projectors isn't great because the protocol does not provide enough bandwidth. This means the video is jumpy, dropping frames or simply stops.
However with 802.11a or 802.11g (54 megabits per second), wireless video is becoming a reality. This increased level of performance is great news for projector users. In the office, these faster wireless projectors will be able to support multimedia and slide transitions making for more dynamic presentations.
Sanyo have even released the PLC-WXU700 projector capable of streaming 720p video (and possibly higher resolution) wirelessly thanks to the 802.11n protocol and speeds of up to 108Mbps.

What if I don't want to upgrade my existing projector but I want wireless connectivity?

If you already have a standard projector and are interested in wireless technology without having to buy a new wireless projector, there are solutions available today to help keep your existing equipment for longer. InFocus for example offer the InFocus LiteShow II adaptors for a plug-and-play wireless experience that work with many projectors. Optoma also offer the WPS Dongle to fit Optoma projectors

What about security?

With wireless technology come concerns about security. But there is no need to worry: wireless projectors feature security encryption (usually 64 bit or 128 bit) and some are compatible with a range of user authentications.
Please bear in mind that encryption keeps your data secure but can cause a slight delay as the projector and computer have to encrypt and decrypt the signal.