Portable and Wireless Projectors

Projection on the move

Portable projectors

Thanks to shrinking technology digital projectors are getting smaller and lighter all the time, but if you need to take your presentation on the road a portable or ultra portable projector is your best option.

Most portable projectors weigh between three and eight pounds and take up less desk space than the average laptop. If you’re willing to sacrifice features (and pay a little more) for portability, the smallest ultra portable projection units weigh in at under two pounds.

Because they’re smaller, portable projectors generally produce less light (1000 to 2500 ANSI lumens), but still enough for the average meeting room or classroom, particularly if you’re able to control the amount of ambient light.

A sturdy travel case is essential to protect your portable projection system from damage. Some manufacturers will include a case, but if a laptop is part of your kit you can purchase a projector case that holds both. You can also add a remote with mouse control to the package so you’re not tied to your computer, clicking slides throughout your presentation.

Wireless projection

One basic component of wireless projector operation is a remote control. If your projector is attached to the ceiling you won’t want to be reaching up and pressing buttons; in an auditorium it’s unlikely you’ll even be able to reach. Infrared remotes work fine if there’s nothing blocking their line of sight, and they often come as a standard accessory. If you need more flexibility there are also radio frequency remote controls available that work with virtually any projector and don’t need a clear communication path.

Remote controls are old news though; what manufacturers are referring to when they advertise wireless projection technology is getting rid of the cable between your computer and projector. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth don’t yet provide the bandwidth to remotely project high-quality video signals, so for now a wireless projector is only really useful for projecting text, still images and limited animation.

You’ll face a short time lag between what’s happening on your computer and what shows up on the big screen, slightly more if you encrypt the signal for security, but a real-time wireless link will allow you to present from anywhere in the room or to easily switch between multiple computer signals. Some projectors will connect to your company’s wireless network.

You may also come across something called an upload wireless projector. These projectors allow you to upload a presentation onto the machine and later project it without the computer attached, but they do not give you a real-time wireless connection.