How-To’s

Modern projectors can connect to a source device through a hard-wired cable or through a wireless connection. Wireless connection is possible with almost all devices in modern use – PC, laptops, Android or iPhones and even gaming devices like the PS4 or the Xbox through the following ways:

1. Connecting through direct Wi-Fi (projectors with in-built Wi-Fi system)
2. Through a Bluetooth connection (Bluetooth-enabled projectors)
3. Using an external app for wireless connections
4. Plugging in the projector, a USB device that receives a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth signal (used for projectors without in-built Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capability)

This article provides all the information you need to connect your devices to your projector through a wireless signal. In case you want to know more about the different types of wired connection options to a projector, then you can read our blog here.

Advantages of Wireless Connections

A wireless connection to a projector can have several advantages:

1. People find wireless connections very convenient because they allow connection to the internet without having to physically connect. For example, if the connection signal is strong enough, a PC or laptop, or inversely the projector, with a wireless connection between them can be moved about without the limitation of a physical tether. So you can shift your projector to a room other than where the PC is located.

2. Wired connections require the availability of cables to achieve the transmission of signals. Not only availability but also adding another cable to the existing jumble of wires attached to the projector is a problem for many.

3. Availability of cables is one thing. Availability of the right type of cable for the right connection ports is another. When you want a cable, you will have to consider whether your android phone needs a USB-C connection or whether you need a different connector if you have an iPhone. Are you looking for an HDMI cable or do you need an MHL cable? It is not practical to keep an assortment of cables to cater to the different connection options.

Many people prefer to connect wirelessly because they consider it quick and convenient – only takes a few clicks and a few seconds.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Connections

Most wireless projectors have their own built-in wireless capabilities. This can mean two things. Either you can hook up your projector to your home Wi-Fi system and through that, you can stream your movie to your projector through an app provided by the manufacturer.

Alternatively, you can directly connect your mobile or laptop directly to the Wi-Fi of the projector, independent of your home Wi-Fi, and share your content to the projector screen.

Bluetooth-enabled projectors can receive data and stream videos if you pair your mobile or laptop with the projector. This will require the Bluetooth mode turned on in your mobile and the projector. The projector will not require any extra hardware. You need to keep in mind that Bluetooth devices may have a limited distance range for connectivity.

In case your projector does not support Bluetooth, dongles are available in the market that connect to the projector’s USB port and allow reception of Bluetooth signals.

External Apps and Devices [Chromecast, Airplay, Miracast]

Google Chromecast, Airplay and Miracast technologies are the most popularly used methods of casting (or transmitting) a video from your laptop to the projector. These are not only used for projectors but also for TVs, sound systems, etc.

They utilize WI-FI signals of their own, ie independent of any home or office Wi-Fi, to cast video or image data and stream to the projector or TV. The system transmits at speeds and quality equivalent to HDMI cables.

The receiving device may have Chromecast, Miracast or Airplay capabilities already built into it. In that case, you don’t need any extra hardware for wireless streaming of videos from your phone to the projector.

Chromecast

Chromecast is available on android devices or wherever Google Chrome is available on Window PCs. In case the projector does not have built-in software, you will need to purchase a Chromecast device that attaches to the projector and allows the reception of data from your mobile. The device has one cable that gets connected to the HDMI port of your projector and a second power cable that gets plugged into an electrical outlet.

Airplay

Airplay is the Apple alternative to Chromecast. Airplay uses an independent Wi-Fi signal to mirror or share from your Mac, iPhone or iPad to your Apple TV device connected to your projector, for example, or a projector with in-built Airplay features. In the absence of built-in Airplay connectivity, an Apple TV device can be used at the projector end.

Miracast

Miracast mirrors the content of a screen to the projector which has in-built WI-Fi available. Most modern Windows (Windows 10) and Android (Android 4.2 and later) devices already have built-in Miracast connection capabilities. Miracast also caters to iOS devices. There are no Miracast special or dedicated physical dongles or devices that can be used with projectors without in-built Wi-Fi.

Conclusion

A wireless connection to projector from laptop or phone is now as convenient as can be. We have gone through all the major modes of wireless connectivity depending upon the projector’s capabilities. For many this is the best way to connect their devices to the projector.

Want to connect your iPhone or Android device to your projector to have a look at your family picnic snaps? Or want to connect your PS4 to the projector to enjoy an immersive gaming experience on the big screen?

Thankfully, projectors nowadays provide numerous options for connectivity to the input source, whether for images or video. You can hook up your laptop, iPhone or PS4 (maybe you are already using the PS5) to your projector through a wired connection and enjoy your movie or gaming experience in only a few steps.

Steps to connect your device to a projector using a cable

Step 1: Switch off your projector.

Step 2: Plug the appropriate side of the cable into the projector input port. This could be the VGA, HDMI or USB port as per the cable type.

Step 3: Connect the other side of the cable to the output connection of your image source or input device whether it is a laptop, mobile or gaming device.

Step 4: Switch on the projector.

Step 5: Your projector will have an input search button most likely viewable in the settings through the remote. Either the projector will automatically select the right input source or you will have to manually select one. This may be VGA, HDMI, or USB mode depending upon the port you have connected the cable to. The image from your input device will now appear on your projector screen.

The above are the five simple steps for connecting your device to the projector whichever type of cable or connection port you wish to use.

But be aware. There’s many a slip twixt the cup and the lip. To be able to easily complete these steps you will have to verify one important thing beforehand.

Which types of connection ports are available on the projector and on the input device? Are they both the same or are they different types?

So let’s do some further exploring

Wired Connectivity options on the Projector side

There are quite a few ways to connect a projector with a device through a wired connection. Wired connection ports and cables can come in the following forms:

1. VGA
2. HDMI
3. USB
4. MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) cable

Before you can connect your device you will need to check which type of connections your projector supports. Reading the projector manual and a quick look at the ports available on the projector will make things clear.

Wired connectivity options on phones, laptops and gaming devices

Just as you need to know what ports are available on the projector, you also need to check what connection type you have on your input or source device.

Laptops are likely to have all four connection types listed above. HDMI connections are the simplest to arrange and provide one of the best image quality transfer.

However, phones will only have USB connectivity. An Android phone will have either a micro-USB or a USB-C port. An iPhone will require a cable with the standard 8-pin Lightning connection. Based on the projector USB port, the other side of the cable will most likely need to be the regular USB rectangular type A connector.

The ports on your gaming device depend upon the device itself. If you have an Xbox or a PS4, you will find both an HDMI-out port and a USB port to connect your cable. Once again, HDMI cable connections are the easiest to use.

MHL cables are designed to have a micro-USB or USB-C connection on one side for the phone and an HDMI connection on the other for the projector.

If the Connections ports differ

There is always a possibility that your projector does not have a USB port making direct cabling between a mobile phone and projector difficult. This issue requires that you will need an adaptor that will act as a go-between for the change in connection types.

You will be covered by adaptors if you are facing the following connection interface

• Micro-USB or USB-C on an android phone and HDMI on the projector. You will need either an adaptor or you can use an MHL cable.
• Some android phones, tablets and laptops have a micro or mini HDMI connection. You can easily purchase appropriate cables with micro/mini HDMI connection on one side and a full HDMI connection on the other side for the projector.
• Lightning connector on the iPhone or iPad and HDMI on the projector. You will need a Lightning to HDMI adaptor
• Phone to VGA on a projector. USB to VGA or Lightning to VGA adaptors are available in the market
• HDMI on laptop or gaming console and VGA on the projector. You will need an HDMI to VGA adaptor. Both

VGA, HDMI and USB data transfer speeds

VGA ports are an older connection type (data transfer speed of 6.75 Gbps) while modern projectors will have an HDMI port and/or a USB port which are faster speed connections.

HDMI generation 2.0 cables can transfer speeds of up to 18 Gbps.

As far as USBs are concerned, the latest and now most used USB connection type is USB-C. C refers to the shape of the connection and is considered the interface type.

USB ports have seen some speed improvements since the USB 3.0 was launched as the first to transfer videos. The speed specification is referred to in numbers e.g you will mostly find USB 3.1 and the more advanced USB 3.2 (data transfer speed of 20 Gbps) on a lot of modern projector devices.

USB 3.2 cables transfer at speeds slightly higher than HDMI 2.0. Next-generation USB4 cables are also now available providing data transfer at 40 Gbps.

In order to achieve full data transfer speeds, the source device ports and the projector ports both need to be compatible with the speeds for which the cables are designed. Otherwise only a maximum speed based on the bottleneck port will be achieved.

Conclusion

Whatever connection ports you find on your phone, laptop or gaming device, you can find the right cable or adaptor to hook it up to your projector. Making the connection is a matter of 5 easy steps which we have outlined above.

Is the resolution of the images on your projector screen not as brilliant as usual? Are you worried about the functioning of your projector? Before you panic, know that your problem may be as trivial as dust and dirt, and you don’t necessarily need to buy a new projector screen. You can easily ensure that your projector image remains crystal-clear with some basic knowledge of projector screen upkeep. The quality of the projected image depends upon how well it reflects onto the screen, so projector owners should learn how to clean their screens the right way for a mind-blowing home theatre experience.

How Often Does a Projector Screen Need to be Cleaned?

As a general rule of thumb, you should be cleaning dust off the screen every 3 months to maintain dazzling image quality.

How often you should clean the projector screen may also depend on how often you use it. It could be a good idea to give it a quick wipe after every use, provided that you do it the right way. At other times, you may need to carry out a deeper screen cleaning, or you might find yourself facing a more serious stain. There are some specific rules you need to follow to clean your screen to make sure you don’t damage it. This article will take you through the cleaning process and give you all the do’s and don’ts .

Steps to a Clean Projector Screen, Simplified.

Removing dust from a projector screen is a piece of cake. You may want to invest in a can of compressed air and use it to blow away the settled dust. Don’t directly wipe a very dusty screen with a liquid cleaner. It will get sticky and smudgy – you definitely don’t want that. A clean microfiber cloth can be used to dust the screen surface as well.

Another hack is to use a piece of masking tape to gently tap on the screen with to remove stubborn dust. Just make sure you don’t accidentally scratch the surface of the screen. A paid of latex gloves would come in handy here.

You can go on to use a soft cloth dipped in a mild soap and water solution to gently wipe the screen in horizontal strokes. All-purpose surface cleaners make good substitutes but you have to be wary of harsh chemicals. Make sure the cloth is also lint-free and non-abrasive.

Finally, use another clean microfiber cloth to help the screen dry. Congratulations! Your projection screen is now squeaky clean.

Facing More Stubborn Stains?

All you need is rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) and a good old Q-tip to solve this problem. Let the alcohol soak the Q-tip completely and rub it on the spot with a gentle pressure. Don’t clean the whole projection screen with the alcohol – it’s strong and should be used for “spot treatment” only.

When you’ve removed the stain, use the other side of the Q-tip to dry off the wet spot.

What About Ambient Light Rejecting Screens?

These advanced, high-quality versions need extra care if you want to make sure you don’t damage the screen. You must never rub on an ALR screen. Wipe if you must, but with gentle pressure and never in a circular motion. It’s best to wipe left to right to clean the screen safely. Sticky stains can be removed with a 1:1 ratio of Formula 409 and water. Keep any other potentially damaging solvents away from the screen.

Remember never to roll up a projection screen while it is still wet.