Microsoft Wireless Adapters - Anyone use them?

[adamsund]

We use one of these in every classroom. For those saying there are no security options, down the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter app from the Microsoft Store and it allows you to choose various security settings.

 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/microsoft-wireless-display-adapter/9wzdncrfjbb1?activetab=pivot:overviewtab

 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/use-the-microsoft-wireless-display-adapter-e3c36815-74b2-b6fb-f09a-923ef28fd5fb

[Katy]

We're testing them with a couple of teachers with a view to rolling these out across the site, one question I've just thought from feedback from one of the teachers is what do to regarding sound. Yeah it'll get output through the HDMI off the display adapter but then you're stuck with whatever the projector's built in speaker can handle. What does everyone else do to get around this? Presumably if there is an audio output on the projector just cable that into some powered speakers at the front of the class? (Please be an audio out on Casio Slim XJA142 as we have tons of them)

[BKGarry]

We're testing them with a couple of teachers with a view to rolling these out across the site, one question I've just thought from feedback from one of the teachers is what do to regarding sound. Yeah it'll get output through the HDMI off the display adapter but then you're stuck with whatever the projector's built in speaker can handle. What does everyone else do to get around this? Presumably if there is an audio output on the projector just cable that into some powered speakers at the front of the class? (Please be an audio out on Casio Slim XJA142 as we have tons of them)

 

Exactly what we do Katy, audio output from the projector to the classroom speakers. It also means I can be slightly sneaky and set the volume on the projector to not be max so they don't blow the speakers lol

[SamanthaD]

We're testing them with a couple of teachers with a view to rolling these out across the site, one question I've just thought from feedback from one of the teachers is what do to regarding sound. Yeah it'll get output through the HDMI off the display adapter but then you're stuck with whatever the projector's built in speaker can handle. What does everyone else do to get around this? Presumably if there is an audio output on the projector just cable that into some powered speakers at the front of the class? (Please be an audio out on Casio Slim XJA142 as we have tons of them)

Audio doesn't have to follow video - in Win10 if you click the speaker in the taskbar, above the volume slider is the current playback device. You should be able to click this and then select the audio output you want to use. If you want to force it you can go into Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Manage Audio Devices, then disable all but the device you want the sound to come out of so users don't accidentally change the routing.

[Katy]

Audio doesn't have to follow video - in Win10 if you click the speaker in the taskbar, above the volume slider is the current playback device. You should be able to click this and then select the audio output you want to use. If you want to force it you can go into Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Manage Audio Devices, then disable all but the device you want the sound to come out of so users don't accidentally change the routing.

We need it to go via the display adapter ideally - the idea is they don't have to plug anything in at all, just connect and teach, so that's ruling out anything like a plugged in speaker. Although I suppose could use a bluetooth powered speaker, probably no way to make that as seamless as "win+k and pick your room number" (or stop the kids connecting and messing about).

[SamanthaD]

We need it to go via the display adapter ideally - the idea is they don't have to plug anything in at all, just connect and teach, so that's ruling out anything like a plugged in speaker. Although I suppose could use a bluetooth powered speaker, probably no way to make that as seamless as "win+k and pick your room number" (or stop the kids connecting and messing about).

Makes sense. If you get really stuck you could get an HDMI audio de-embedder before it goes into the projector.

[Andrew_C]

If you take the sound out of the projector, the played sound will follow the image. Speakers permanently plugged in, and screwed to the wall.

[Katy]

If you take the sound out of the projector, the played sound will follow the image. Speakers permanently plugged in, and screwed to the wall.

 

Yeah this is what I'm thinking assuming the projector supports this (it appears to do so, it has a single AV port (3.5mm jack) which will work as Video input or HDMI Audio output apparently). Going to test it in a classroom later on today into the existing classroom speakers. Cheers.

[Ex-MGSTech]

We were looking at USB powered speakers connected directly to the projector via 3.5mm jack

[BKGarry]

Do you have 2 USB ports on your projectors then @MGSTech ? one for the Wireless Adapter and one for the Speakers?

[Ex-MGSTech]

Do you have 2 USB ports on your projectors then @MGSTech ? one for the Wireless Adapter and one for the Speakers?

 

In this instance yes on the Epson ones, however they are also networked so use a different connection package...not the WiDi software...

Edited November 27, 2020 by Ex-MGSTech

[BKGarry]

Just thought I would check, as I thought I was going crazy and missing a trick there.

[bonjour]

We're currently trialling a dozen of these with Surface Pros.

 

We're experiencing an issue with hard crashes, particularly when using Powerpoint. Has anyone else experienced a similar issue?

 

We were thinking of going school-wide with a Surface Pro / WDA solution next summer, but currently it's hard to recommend due to poor reliability.

[Andrew_C]

We've suffered from SPs not playing nicely with ScreenBeams. Later Pros with updated chip-set allegedly are better.

[kjadams]

What do people do to prevent the wireless display adapters from being removed/stolen?

[rad]

We're currently trialling a dozen of these with Surface Pros.

 

We're experiencing an issue with hard crashes, particularly when using Powerpoint. Has anyone else experienced a similar issue?

 

We were thinking of going school-wide with a Surface Pro / WDA solution next summer, but currently it's hard to recommend due to poor reliability.

 

We purchased these and yes, this is one issue we are having. Still trying to find a solution.

[rad]

What do people do to prevent the wireless display adapters from being removed/stolen?

 

We have the Epsom EB-685 series site wide. They have a panel you remove to install these and screw back on so it can’t be taken.

[bald_pig]

We're currently trialling a dozen of these with Surface Pros.

 

We're experiencing an issue with hard crashes, particularly when using Powerpoint. Has anyone else experienced a similar issue?

 

We were thinking of going school-wide with a Surface Pro / WDA solution next summer, but currently it's hard to recommend due to poor reliability.

 

Can't say we've had that issue, only thing we've had is if they forget to disconnect before they put the surface to sleep and change rooms, it can lock up the surface trying to reconnect.

[lmrogers]

We also had it where staff were not disconnecting before moving rooms and that just locked up their laptop. Restart Windows Explorer generally fixed it and got them going again, if not it was a laptop restart.

[SamanthaD]

So I've updated my WDA to latest firmware. Like the custom backgrounds on the splash screen, and the clear instructions. Hate the latency on it. If you're Powerpointing and taking your time it might not be an issue, but if you're doing something in fine detail or flitting between 2 areas of the screen as you commentate the latency would be a big issue for me. Hasn't crashed on me yet, but I'm on my home network with a small handful of devices and no interference on my WiFi channel.

[bonjour]

We purchased these and yes, this is one issue we are having. Still trying to find a solution.

 

Do you have WiFi-6 by any chance?

 

We had WiFi-6 access points installed across-site over the summer, and I'm wondering if this is interfering with the MS WDAs.

 

Thanks.

[cw222]

So I've updated my WDA to latest firmware. Like the custom backgrounds on the splash screen, and the clear instructions. Hate the latency on it. If you're Powerpointing and taking your time it might not be an issue, but if you're doing something in fine detail or flitting between 2 areas of the screen as you commentate the latency would be a big issue for me. Hasn't crashed on me yet, but I'm on my home network with a small handful of devices and no interference on my WiFi channel.

 

Have you set the adapter to Gaming mode on the settings? We found that this made latency a little more bearable

[SamanthaD]

Have you set the adapter to Gaming mode on the settings? We found that this made latency a little more bearable

That does seem to improve things a lot thanks, have to see what it's like when in use in a bit more of a crowded WiFi environment