What do I need to do this?

[MattDLEA]

Ok think this should be simple.. but guessing it wont be.

 

Set up is probably the same as most of yours desktop that feeds into a two port video splitter that goes to a projector and a monitor .

 

Now they want to add apple TV into the mix ( AIR server is not cutting it) so we can stream iPads through the projector. What would i need to do this I have a connector that turns the apple TV into a vga cable.

Im guessing I will need either some new splitter with a selector? or a switchy type thing that will connect the apple tv and desktop to the splitter?

 

Has anyone got any ideas or have a set up like we need?

Edited December 11, 2013 by Dos_Box

[Chris_]

We've used some of these expensive adapters made by Kanex that convert the HDMI to VGA and a 3.5mm jack for audio: Kanex ATV Pro Cable - AirPlay Mirroring For VGA Projector - Apple Store (UK)

 

Then a 2x port VGA and audio switcher: http://www.amazon.co.uk/LINDY-Port-VGA-Audio-Switch/dp/B001D869PS/ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

[dhicks]

Set up is probably the same as most of yours desktop that feeds into a two port video splitter that goes to a projector and a monitor .

 

Nope, the opposite - there you have one output being split into two, here you want two inputs into the same device (your projector). You'll might find your projector already has multiple inputs - most newer ones these days will have both HDMI and VGA inputs, in many cases multiple ones of each. Just use the "input select" button on the projector remote.

[jmak]

Have you looked at Reflector? app to mirror iPad onto a PC.

[TomCollins]

+1 for Reflector, I prefer it to Air Server personally.

[MattDLEA]

We have used Air server... Which has been very very temperamental. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't sometimes it works for 5 mins then that's it done for the day.

Its got that bad that the staff no longer try using it. Didnt get much help through there support and tried all the fixes i could find.

[foofighterjim]

Apple TV has been awful to project with iPads in my experience, sometimes the iPads will not connect for no apparent reason. Other times the Apple TV does not get listed in the available Air play devices. I have used Reflector and it is 100x more reliable than Apple TV (in my experience).

[MattDLEA]

cheers.

So @foofighterjim @TomCollins @jmak Whats your wifi and usage like?

[jmak]

cheers.

So @foofighterjim @TomCollins @jmak Whats your wifi and usage like?

 

Only trialling at the minute - my initial reason for choosing it was price, but haven't felt the need to try anything more expensive yet. At the minute, we've just had teachers using a single device per class for input sessions. Therefore nothing else in the room is likely to be utilising wi-fi at the same time. My next trial is wireless connection direct to projectors - the most recent Hitachi projectors I've installed have the capability to connect to wireless devices without a computer as an intermediary.

[foofighterjim]

cheers.

So @foofighterjim @TomCollins @jmak Whats your wifi and usage like?

 

This was at my previous establishment so unfortunately I can't provide any usage data.

[dhicks]

My next trial is wireless connection direct to projectors - the most recent Hitachi projectors I've installed have the capability to connect to wireless devices without a computer as an intermediary.

 

But they'll probably be using the same chunk of bandwidth that 802.11 wireless networking uses, and so could well be a source of inteference for your managed / school wide wireless network. You wireless network might deal with that okay, or the projectors might simply be careful about how they use the bandwidth and the amount of power they put in to the signal, but it's something to bear in mind when testing.

[jon_nais]

We use the Kanex HDMI adapters here with the Apple TV's and they work very well, we then go through a good old chunky 1-2 VGA switch so that the teacher can show either the PC or Apple TV.

Not the biggest fan of the Lindy switchers as we had a number of their hdmi/vga to vga switches and they tended to overheat and cause more problems than they were worth.