Wireless vs. Standard

Projectors have made impressive technological advances in recent months. They can now be added to existing networks they can produce HDTV-quality video, and they are lighter, brighter, and less expensive than the projectors of a year ago. What more could you want? Wireless connectivity, you say? You got it!

Manufacturers like NEC, InFocus, Sharp, Toshiba and more have wireless projectors that are available now. Using 802.11b (11 megabits per second) protocol, projectors and computers with compatible wireless cards can communicate without wires.

What can wireless projectors do today?

• Toggle between multiple computer sources with one click.
• Allow users to present from a computer placed anywhere in a room.
• Run PowerPoint presentations (with limited animation).
• Show edits to a document, such as an Excel spreadsheet, in real-time.

The future of wireless projectors.

Wireless full-motion video transmission is currently not possible with wireless projectors because the 802.11b does not provide the bandwidth. However, in the very near future, using the transfer specification 802.11a or 802.11g (54 megabits per second), wireless video will be possible. This increased level of performance is great news for projector users at home and in the office. At home, new digital cable set-top boxes and gateways, cable modems, satellite receivers, PCs and PDAs are all potential applications for new streaming video technology. HDTV signals can also be supported by the new protocol. In the office, wireless projectors will be able to support multimedia and slide transitions making for more dynamic presentations.

Want a wireless projector now?

If you are not concerned about projecting wireless video, there are many solutions available today that will fit your wireless needs. OTC Wireless makes a plug-and-play WiJet wireless adapter that can make any display wireless. There are also many projectors that have wireless functionality built-in. Some manufacturers, like InFocus and Proxima, offer a modular solution that will allow for upgrades to higher bandwidth standards. The InFocus LiteShow is an upgradeable and entirely cable free solution that works with many current and older models.