Learn the Basics about Wireless Projectors and How Wireless Projectors Work

Are you looking to buy a wireless projector? Or you just want to understand what makes a projector wireless and to know if it makes any sense to choose a wireless projector? If any of these or some other related reason, we hope this post will clarify it all for you.

Wireless projectors do offer some benefits, but wireless connectivity always adds to the price tag of the projector. So, you need to be sure the benefit, for you, will adequately justify the extra cost of buying a wireless projector.

What Makes a Projector Wireless

Firstly, let’s understand what a wireless projector is, or put differently, what makes a projector wireless.

Generally, wireless networking (Wi-Fi) technology uses radio waves to achieve high-speed Internet and network connections. When you use Wi-Fi, devices are connected without any cables. Those devices are able to communicate with each other without any wires connecting them, because the communication is by radio waves.

A wireless projector is a projector that is enabled to use wireless connectivity, that is, to connect with other wireless-enabled devices via wireless communication. The projector may have a built-in wireless card to enable the wireless connections or require a wireless adapter or USB dongle. When you a projector wirelessly, it is by radio waves and there will be no cable to connect your devices. That’s absolutely tidy!

Apart from being a clean solution that enhances the tidiness of your presentation environment, having wireless connectivity also adds more flexibility to your connectivity. When a presenter has a PC or other device that doesn’t have VGA or HDMI port, but has wireless access, having a wireless projector means the presentation can proceed wirelessly.

Some projectors are wireless out of the box. The manufacturer builds in the necessary wireless features, usually a WiFi card. While such wireless projectors have it fully built-in, many other projectors use a USB device (called USB wireless adapter or USB wireless dongle) to enable wireless connectivity.

For projectors that require a USB wireless adapter (dongle) to active their wireless connectivity, you will find two main supply options: the adapter is supplied in the projector pack with the projector, or it is not. In the latter case, the wireless connectivity is made optional by the manufacturer.

The idea of optional wireless is that the cost of the wireless adapter is not included in the product cost, unlike when it is in the pack. Optional wireless is where the manufacturer builds a wireless projector, but does not include the USB adapter in the product carton, letting you decide whether to buy the adapter (sold separately) or continue to use your projector with cables like VGA, HDMi, etc.

The point must be made that a wireless projector will usually still have other connection options like HDMI, VGA, etc. That means that you can still connect it with cables, if you so choose. That will be necessary when a device to be connected to the projector is found not the have wireless connectivity.

Note also, that most other projectors can also be used wirelessly, if you get a compatible universal wireless adapter to do so. That means that your current projector, which is not wireless, can be used wirelessly, with a matching universal adapter. That’s not readily so, because you must first source a universal wireless adapter that can enable it. One such device is called Airtime. The InFocus LiteShow is also a possibility. However, because you may have difficulty finding one of these devices, it is advisable to buy a wireless projector outright, if just buying a projector now. That is, if what you require is a wireless projector.

Benefits of Wireless Projectors

Wireless projectors cost significantly more than their equivalent that is non-wireless projectors. For projectors with optional wireless facility, you will have to cough out a sizable sum if you want to buy the USB wireless adapter. That means that you really need to decide if you seriously need a wireless projector. Wireless connectivity has a price tag!

If you need help deciding whether or not to go wireless, here are the benefits of wireless projectors that you need to weigh against the additional cost:

Cable-Free Connection

It’s certainly more tidy and more decent to have a cable-cluster free environment. If you use only wireless connectivity, connectivity cables will not litter the room and that’s surely more posh.

Smooth Transition

When you have multiple presentations, using cables often requires some time to unplug cables and plug back as presenters switch devices. With a wireless projector, it’s easy to get going without transition delays. Even while one presenter is on, the next one can connect and be ready.

Save on Cables

If you decide to use a wireless projector and choose not to connect cables, it simply means the potential cost of VGA, HDMI or other connectivity cables would have been saved.

More Flexibility

The user can be at any convenient location within wireless range and still connect with the projector. With cable connection, you are restricted to where the cable terminates, which is where to keep your device and plug to the cable.

What Wireless Projectors to Buy?

If you have decided to get a wireless projector, you still have to choose which wireless projector to buy. Luckily, we can give you a head start. Our wireless projectors category online will show you a range of wireless projectors from which you can choose. You can access them here.

We also offer some projector USB wireless adapters (wireless dongles) which you can buy if you already have a wireless projector that requires the USB dongle. Simply check if we have any in stock that’s compatible with your projector. Go to this accessories page to see available USB wireless adapters.