Can an Ipad be directly connected to a Data video projector?

Revised March 26, 2012

I have been getting asked this question a lot recently, so I thought I would do some research and put the answer here. I work as a consultant for a leading company offering data-video projectors, Dukane, so this is a concern for many people with existing Dukane projectors.

The question: Is there a way to directly connect my Ipad to a data-video projector. This is, of course, the generic name for projectors that many classrooms and training rooms have for displaying the screen on a computer to where everyone in a class or group can see it.

The short answer: Yes.

The follow up question: What do I need to do that?

The Apple Store has 3 ways to do that. The first two involve an adapter, sometimes called a dongle. There are 2 Dongles, the VGA and HDMI version.

I have put the link to all three below. The text in black comes from the Apple store.

VGA adapter

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC552ZM/B/apple-vga-adapter?fnode=3a

You will need a 15 pin Male to male VGA cable. That is the same cable that typically comes in the box with most projectors.

There are exceptions, it seems to everything in life and most things with technology, and there are some “non standard” cables in use with various projectors. But the 15 pin male-to-male VGA cable has been a standard for almost 20 years now.

I have tried and used this with my Ipad 2, so I can attest to the fact that it works.

For some projectors, that may have only a single VGA input, you may have to unplug an attached computer, or invest in an A-B Switch box. An A-B switchbox is very affordable. As with anything there are good, better and best.

Most Dukane projectors (not all, but most) have two VGA inputs; so you can have a computer and Ipad attached, in that case, and simply use your projector remote to switch back and forth.

HDMI Adapter

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD098ZM/A/apple-digital-av-adapter

Use the Apple Digital AV Adapter to mirror whatever’s on your Ipad or iPhone 4S screen — apps, presentations, websites, and more — on your HDTV or HDMI-compatible display in up to 1080p HD (movies play at up to 720p).Watch slideshows and movies on the big screen in up to 720p by connecting your Ipad, iPhone 4, or iPod touch (4th generation) to an HDTV or HDMI-compatible display. The Apple Digital AV Adapter routes digital audio to screens that support it. Connect the Apple Digital AV Adapter to your Ipad, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, or iPod touch (4th generation) via the 30-pin dock connector and to your HDMI-compatible display using an HDMI cable (sold separately).A second 30-pin connector built into the AV adapter lets you charge and sync your device while it’s connected to your HDMI-compatible display.

First of all, there may be those not familiar with the term HDMI. The acronym HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface. You can read more about HDMI here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI

Simply put, it is new kind of Digital connection to go from a video source (a computer, an Ipad, a cable TV box) to a display device (a projector, or an LCD Monitor or TV.

OK, I have put the wording from the Apple Store above. I have not PERSONALLY used this HDMI adapter. I do see some comments on the Apple Store site about problems with the Ipad 2 and latest Ipads.

The good new for those acquiring a Dukane data-video projector is that ALL Dukane projectors that are currently available have an HDMI input and will work with an HDMI cable.

That is NOT true of all projectors and particularly “historic projectors” including those sold by Dukane in the past.

In the case of a projector with only the RGB input, you obviously would want to use the RGB adapter.

There ARE RGB to HDMI converters, but since most projectors have RGB inputs that may not be an issue.

With technology, as with medicine, it should be the first job of those offering advice to “First, does no harm”.

So I would encourage anyone who has a projector with HDMI and wants to use this adapter to talk to their manufacturer, or Apple representative, or both, before trying this HDMI adapter. I have talked to people who have used this adapter with no problem.

I also want to make sure it is clear than with either the VGA dongle or the HDMI dongle you will need either a VGA cable or HDMI cable to go from the Dongle on the Ipad the projector or other output device (an LCD TV, for example).

NOTE: Since I first wrote this article Apple has introduced a new Retina display Ipad and the Ipad Mini. Both of them use the new “Lightning” version of the Adapter. There is both an RGB and HDMI version. The Apple site has the specs and Q and A about these. One of the questions I noticed was that someone bought the HDMI version to use with their projector, and then figured out when they tried to use it with their projector that their projector only had RGB inputs.

Here’s a tip. If you aren’t sure, take a digital camera or the camera on your phone and take a picture of the back of your projector and take that with you when you go to buy an adapter.

How about 3rd party “dongles?

I have a trusted source for VGA cables and other peripherals here in Charleston, SC.

They sell all kinds of electronic accessories and they are my source for VGA cables, if I need a longer one as well as USB cables. I asked them if they were selling a “dongle” compatible with Ipads and they told me they had no luck with copies of the Apple adapters, so as far as the dongle goes, I would stick with Apple, unless you have a wiser guru than mine.

Apple TV

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_ipod/family/apple_tv

The Apple TV box will provide a wireless connect between an Ipad and a device such as an HDMI ready projector or LCD Monitor.

I have tried using my Ipad 2 with the LCD TV to which the Apple TV box is attached, and it works. Ipads have software called “Airplay” that allows this to take place.

I have also talked to the technical guys at Dukane and they have schools using Apple TV boxes with projectors.

There are two “cautions” I would point out.

1-Not all Ipad apps are “Airplay friendly”. You have to check. That means they may not “show up” when you use an Apple TV. With a direct connection, whatever is on your Ipad is going to show up on the projector or LCD TV.

2-Since the Apple TV is on your network, and is dependent on the speed and reliability of your network, if you are in a school with dozens of Ipads, all hitting the network at the same time, this may affect the speed at which the Apple TV works.

I would again, with this or any solution, talk to your IT director, Ed Tech director, Apple Rep and projector vendor. And where you have all 4, talk to all of them.

Are the dongles and wireless solutions ONLY available from Apple?

As I assume every knows, there is a booming market for Ipad accessories from third parties. So, yes, there are dongles and other video accessories available from a variety of sources.

But once again, you put yourself out on a technology limb if you use an accessory that is not supported by both Apple and your projector vendor and blessed by your local tech people.

My goal here was simply to make folks aware that

1-That you Ipad CAN be used directly with a projector.

2-And provide info on HOW it could be done .

Do these solutions apply to an LCD TV?

That is another whole document of course, and there are so many models out there I hesitate to give a blanket “yes”.

However, I have a 3 year old 42 Inch HD TV at home. It has both RGB and HDMI inputs on it. I have used the direct connect dongle from the Ipad to the TV and it works to share the Ipad screen on the TV screen. Likewise I have an Apple TV box and it works with my Ipad 2. So based on that personal experience( I haven’t tried the HDMI adapter but assume it works as well) I would say it does apply to those LCD TVs that have those inputs. With so many of these LCD TVs on the market I hesitate to say it applies to all.

Cant I just use an “App” to mirror my Ipad?

Someone wiser that me said keeping up with technology is like sipping from a firehouse. I am aware of, and tried some apps that offer a mirror image, and some annotation capability on an Ipad.

These generally require some software be installed on the host PC or Mac. The “app” then “talks to “ the computer via Wi-Fi. Therefore how well such an app works will depend on several variables

• How good is the Wi-Fi in your Ipad? The Ipads after the Apple 2 have improved WI-FI built in.

• How good is the Wi-Fi connection and how much traffic is there on the network it attached to?

I talked to someone who is of the caliber of an Apple system engineer and they confirmed my surmise. A lot of data has to go back and forth between the computer and the Ipad for video mirroring.

The ones I have tried showed significant “lag”.

Again, I haven’t tried them all, but I see a direct connection between the Ipad and the video output device (Projector or LCD screen) as being fast and reliable. The dongle and cable will “tether you “ somewhat, but with a long enough RGB or HDMI cable you will have a good range of motion.

The Apple TV will make the “airplay-compatible “ apps work wirelessly, but again, your Apple TV will be as good as the WI-FI connection and your overall network speed.

Illustration :

The projector shown below is one of more than 2 dozen different models offered by Dukane. With that said , the 8784H-RJ is a very affordable model and one that is currently widely used in classrooms and training rooms. Dukane is also the only manufacturer offering FIVE year warranty on most of their projectors. (Most other projectors have a 2 or 3 year warranty).

This graphic is shown here simply to illustrate the inputs mentioned above (the 15 Pin VGA input port) .There are two such input ports on this projector, Labeled here Computer 1 and 2.

The HDMI input needed for the HDMI Adapter and cable , or for use with the Apple TV is also shown.

The other inputs are not relevant to the use of an Ipad, unless you also want to send the audio from your Ipad, and there are audio input ports for that as well.

You can find the full data sheet for the 8794H-RJ here:http://www.slideshare.net/WKMcIntoshIII/dukane-projector-8794-hrj

I just saw a projector advertised that says it is compatible with an Ipad and I would not need a cable. Should I buy “that projector”

I saw that same advertisement in an Ed Tech magazine. I called Dukane and said “What up”? The answer: “that’s not “new news”

The fact is that several projector companies, including Dukane, now provide an “app” that will mirror what’s on you ipad to a projector that is connected to your campus internet network. Some projectors, not all, but some, can be networked. If you refer to the diagram of the 8794H-RJ above, it has a LAN( Local Area

Network ) Adapter. Networked projectors come with software that lets someone monitor their status( Are they on? How much lamp life is left) over the LAN, but with the new Ipad apps, the Ipad can share info on the Projector via Wi-Fi.

But we are back to the problems with the Apps that will mirror the image over Wifi. The usefulness of the “projector company supplied app” will depend on how robust you wi-fi signal is, and that will depend on how much traffic is on your campus network.

And if you read the “fine print” you will also see some of these apps may show certain documents, but will not mirror the whole screen.

Her is my view. A direct connection works. Unless there is some reason NOT to use if, that would be my “go to “ for getting what’s on the Ipad to a projector or LCD TV.

What about other “ tablets”?

I have not had chance to look at the other tablets, so I cant say with any authority that these also work with a direct connection. It is my understanding similar adapters for the various Android tablets do exist. As I learn more I will amend this article

Airplay is a part of the Apple OS for iPhones and Ipads, and also the Mac X “Mountain Lion” software, so I am going to assume that Apple TV is an “Apple only” solution.

Note: Ipad is a trademarked product from Apple Inc.

I hope this is useful information.

I would love to hear from anyone who has feedback on this or ideas to share.

I am confident of the ways I have outlined to connect an Ipad to a projector, because I have tried the RGB Dongle and Apple TV personally. The HDMI connector is an option, one I have not tried myself, and should work if your projector has an HDMI input .I have consulted with the folks at Dukane about the feedback they have gotten from schools and others around the country and they have schools using all three methods of connecting an Ipad to a data-video projector.

However, if there are better ways to accomplish the same thing, I would love to know about them.

Finally, I would add that once your Ipad IS attached to a projector, there are lots of Apps out there that do many neat things, including one I saw that turns your ipad into a “virtual overhead Projector” : it has simple drawing tools and will also let you annotate an imported picture.

Another “hot topic” is that of “ebooks”. I think ebooks have advantages but the ability to share that book with a whole group , led by a teacher, also has inherent advantages.

There are hundreds of websites and blogs with lists of Ipad apps . For me to include them all would be outside the range of what this article is mean to accomplish. However, once your iPad is attached to an display device such as a projector or LCD TV , the possibilities for its use as a teacher-centered tool are vast.

Bill McIntoshAuthorized Dukane ConsultantPhone: 843-442-8888Email: WKMcIntosh@Comcast.net

You can find information on all of Dukane products here

http://www.slideshare.net/WKMcIntoshIII/documents

http://www.slideshare.net/WKMcIntoshIII/presentations

http://www.slideshare.net/WKMcIntoshIII/videos.

Here is the Dukane Homepage: www.Dukane.com.AV