How Does a Wireless Projector Work?

A wireless projector helps remove barriers between the presenter and the audience. Presenters can walk around a room and interact with the audience while controlling the audio-visual portion of the presentation from a tablet computer. Some technologies use wireless display chips or a USB dongle to communicate with a presentation device, but these are not true wireless projectors because they use a receiver that connects to a projector with a wired cable.

A wireless projector contains a Wi-Fi card that enables it to create or connect to a wireless network and communicate with a computer, laptop or tablet computer. You must install a connection utility program or application provided by the projector's manufacturer. The utility helps you connect to the projector and coordinates encrypting, compressing and sending the data from your computer to the device. A wireless projector does not use cables to connect a receiver to a projector because wireless capability is built in to the device.

One way of connecting to the wireless projector is to use an ad hoc connection, also called a peer-to-peer connection. An ad hoc connection is the fastest and most secure link you can have between your computer and the projector over Wi-Fi because it creates a direct link between the two devices that no other network device shares. To use an ad hoc connection, the two devices need to be within about 150 feet of each other.

Another connection option is to use an established Wi-Fi network. The projector and your computer both connect to the same network over Wi-Fi through a wireless access point or router. The projector utility automatically searches the Wi-Fi network for machines it recognizes, allows you to select the projector you want to use and creates a link between the devices. The link differs from the direct, ad hoc connection because the information you send to the projector travels through network routers and switches to reach the projector.

Once you're connected to a projector, you can control the display from a computer or a tablet using the projector's utility program. Wireless projectors usually enable you to display slideshows and to display streaming media. The smoothness of video display depends on the speed of your connection. Security features, such as a password you must enter to activate the display, are typically included in the utility, which can also encrypt the data between your computer and the projector if you're concerned that someone might intercept the communication.