Network projectors: frequently asked questions

A network projector is a video projector that is connected to a wireless or wired local area network (LAN).

What sets the network projector apart from other presentation methods is that you can connect to and operate the projector remotely over a network connection. If your computer can connect to the projector, you can deliver a presentation from any location that has network access, whether it's your private office or a conference room where the projector is located. Those who want to view your presentation must be in the same room as the projector; they can't view the presentation over the network from a different location.

To start, connect to the projector by using one of the following methods:

• Open the Connect to a Network Projector wizard by clicking the Start button , clicking All Programs, clicking Accessories, and then clicking Connect to a Network Projector.

  The wizard will find a projector and help you connect to it.

• If you know a projector's address, open the Connect to a Network Projector wizard, and then click Enter the projector address.

For more information, see Find a network projector.

Each projector on the network is identified by a unique address. You can enter the address as a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) (for example, http://server/projectors/projector_1) or as a UNC (Universal Naming Convention) path (for example, \\server\projectors\projector_1). Your system administrator may be able to provide you with the address of a specific projector.

The address is displayed on the projection screen when a presentation is not in progress. If you're using a security-enabled projector, the projector password is also displayed.

Yes. Any information sent over the connection between your computer and a network projector is protected by Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) encryption, the same encryption method that Microsoft Windows Server Terminal Services uses.

If you plan to deliver your presentation over a wireless network, you can further protect the information by connecting to a network that uses a wireless security protocol, such as Wi‑Fi Protected Access (WPA) or Wi‑Fi Protected Access version 2 (WPA2).

You must find, and then connect to a projector on your network. For more information, see Giving a presentation over a network.

Yes. However, you must run the Connect to a Network Projector wizard to connect to each projector that you want to use. After you connect to each projector, you can give your presentation to any group of people that is gathered where each projector is located.

This could be caused by any of the following:

• The projector is turned off.

• Your computer isn't connected to the network.

• The projector isn't connected to the network.

• One or more network-related problems are preventing your computer from connecting to the projector. For example, a router or Domain Name System (DNS) server might be down.

• A firewall could be blocking the outbound connection on the projecting machine.

• One or more services required for network projection might have been turned off by Group Policy.

• The projector is connected to a different network than your computer. You may need to ask your network administrator for permission to access the network that the projector is connected to.

• The projector might not be configured to accept ad hoc network connections, even if the projector is connected to a wireless access point. You may need to ask your network administrator for credentials to connect to the network that the computer is connected to, or ask the network administrator to configure the projector to accept ad hoc network connections.

Network projectors are designed to transmit and display still images, such as photographs and Microsoft Office PowerPoint slides—not high-bandwidth transmissions, such as video streams. The projector can transmit video, but the playback quality is often poor.