How To Get Smooth Looking Videos on a Wireless Presentation Network System

Modern meeting and huddle rooms are designed to create efficient and effective internal and external communication. The growth of YouTube provides a convenient and inexpensive way to post instructional videos, announcements and other internal communications. In a meeting room environment, videos allow you to demonstrate important concepts and product functions in much more detail than printed or verbal media.

In choosing a wireless presentation system, the ability to smoothly play back videos is a key criteria in a successful huddle room collaboration environment. So how do you ensure that your videos look great on the screen when using a wireless presentation systems in small meeting rooms and huddle spaces?

The most popular wireless presentation systems today use either a physical button transmitter that connects to a dedicated receiver, or has a special network hub that utilizes the existing WiFi network to capture and route the presentation to the display. While there are consumer devices such as Nyruis Air Prime and Google Chromecast, they are not designed for professional use and lack key features such as multiple presenters and wireless encryption.

Comparing Popular Wireless Presentations for Video Playback

We will look at four popular wireless presentation systems using both physical buttons and WiFi Network hubs to see what is required for smooth looking videos using these platforms. This paper will examine two key areas.

-       How easy is it to install and setup to ensure smooth video playback

-       How easy is it for visitors to connect and playback videos from notebook computers

Button Transmitter Systems - BenQ InstaShow and Barco ClickShare

These highly popular systems from BenQ and Barco systems use a dedicated button that connects to the notebook to capture video content, which is then encrypted and wirelessly transmitted to the receiver. The receiver which then decrypts the signal back into a HDMI stream that can be displayed on a projector or flat panel.

WiFi Network Hubs – Mersive Solstice and AirTame

The Mersive and AirTame systems use dedicated hubs that are connected to the enterprise network and the display. The presenter installs an app from the manufacturer on their computer, which then sends it over the WiFi network to the hub, which then converts the signal to a HDMI stream that can be displayed on large screen.

How Easy is it to install and setup?

BenQ InstaShow WDC-10 and Barco ClickShare CS-100

Both these systems are very similar in how they are installed, since their receivers can operate either independently or connected to the enterprise network for management. To setup each system for basic video operation:

1.Connect the receiver to the display

2.Connect buttons to notebook

3.Begin presenting

Both systems create a private wireless network that is used for both PowerPoint, KeyNote, and video playback. Because the button transmitter handles the encryption process, they contain software that can manage and optimize the content for both text and video playback without any significant IT support or changes to the enterprise network for smooth video playback. The BenQ InstaShow has a “video” button on the transmitter that enables the user to switch the encryption method that adjusts the encryption encoding to optimize for smooth video and audio playback.

WiFi Network Hubs – Mersive Solstice and AirTame 2

Because these devices leverage the corporate network to wirelessly transmit the signals from the notebook to a display, Both systems have specific requirements identified in their network deployment guides that are needed for baseline video playback performance. The guides outline these specific performance metrics needed for smooth performance. Here is a summary of each systems requirements from their deployment guides available in April 2019.

Mersive Solstice

While connecting the receiver to the display is similar to the button systems, setting up the system on the network can be more complicated. According to the Network Deployment Guide revised in January 2019, here are a few of the initial requirements to setup and install the hub onto the network. The complete information can be found in the nine page deployment guide available on the website.

1.Ensure that the host can support the following bandwidth requirements for smooth video playback-

a.1.1 mb/second X the number of simultaneous connected devices

b.Maximum packet latency of 35ms

c.Maximum network jitter of 1 Standard Deviation

d.Maximum packet loss of 0.20%

e.The above is considered baseline performance only and should be tested before deployment

2.Configure Solstice’s networking settings and customization options according to the IT policies, network topology, and use case requirements, including opening required ports

f.For Windows Hosts, firewall exceptions may be needed

3.Additional steps as needed for other networking issues such as dual network support and certificate management per the Deployment guide.

Airtame 2

According to the “Integrate Airtame into your Network” website page on April 2019, the video stream performance is “mainly based on your network's performance.” This page outlines the key requirements needed for deployment including:

a.Client Isolation" or "NAT Mode" must be disabled on the network

b.Multicast must be allowed on the network

c.An NTP server must be accessible for time synchronization. Either an internal NTP (specified by the DHCP option 42) or permission to access external NTP servers.

d.RSSI Performance: < -40dbm=Excellent | -40dmb to -50dmb=Good | >-60dbm=poor

e.Stable Peak Hour Ping Time performance of less than 10ms

f.Captive Portal Login Networks and WEP are not supported

g.Additional steps as needed for other networking issues such as VLAN network support and certificate management per the 16 page Deployment guide.

Installation and Setup Summary

Button based wireless presentation such as the BenQ InstaShow are easier to install and deploy to ensure smooth video playback. Network based systems require more complicated installation and network support to ensure smooth video playback. Some configuration requirements may not be aligned with corporate policy, and smaller companies may not have the IT resources to support these requirements to deploy the system in multiple huddle spaces.

How Easy Is It for Visitors To Use Connect and Play Video From Their Notebook Computers?

BenQ InstaShow WDC-10

The BenQ InstaShow is designed for visitors to easily use the system without any IT or additional software. This hardware-only design uses a special video mode to enable the transmitter to encrypt video for smooth wireless transmission without compromising security

a.Connect the transmitter to the notebook and push the main button to connect to the screen

b.Push the “Video” button to switch on the transmitter to video optimized encryption

c.Play video and audio content

Barco CS-100

The Barco CS-100 system works in a similar manner, with the exception that the Barco software must be loaded on the notebook in order to work. This may create a problem for visitors who may not have administrator access, or companies with strict security requirements.

a.Download the Barco app on the computer (potential issue for visitors)

b.Connect the transmitter to the notebook and push the main button to connect to the screen

c.Play video and audio content

WiFi Network Hubs – Mersive Solstice and AirTame 2

Because these devices rely on software applications loaded onto the notebook to encrypt the data and corporate networks to transmit the video to the display, the process for visitors can be more complicated depending on the meeting room network security requirements.

Mersive Solstice

This product requires the visitor to be logged into the same network that the Mersive Solstice is using, and also requires the manufacturer’s software to be loaded onto the visitor’s laptop. This may be an issue if a notebook is “locked down” for security reasons and unable to install third party apps.

a.Visitor logs obtains the password for the enterprise network that is hosting the Solstice hub and logs into the network.

b.If the visitor has not downloaded the app prior to the meeting, the visitor will then type in the IP address of the display.

c.The visitor clicks on the “Get the App & Join button” The app should download and install itself on the notebook

d.Visitor selects correct display from the app

e.If prompted, enter in the screen key listed on the Solstice display

f.Play video and audio content

Airtame 2

Airtame uses a similar approach. The visitor must be on the same network as the Airtame 2 and use the manufacturer’s software loaded on to the notebook to utilize the system. Again, for companies that have a “locked down” notebook policy, this may be an issue.

Because the Airtame software uses the notebook’s processor to support streaming, there are also minimum requirements for the notebook. The company also recommends reducing other applications such as DropBox that are using the network to improve video performance.

a.Visitor logs obtains the password for the enterprise network that is hosting the Airtame hub and logs into the network.

b.Visitor downloads the app from the Airtame website or app store and installs. If the user does not have administrator rights, there is a guest app available on the website for Windows users

c.Visitor installs and open app on notebook

d.Visitor selects correct display from the app

e.Play video and audio content

Visitor Ease of Use Summary

Button based wireless presentation such as the BenQ InstaShow have two advantages over the WiFi network hub systems for visitor ease of use. First, they do not need any software to be loaded onto the visitor’s computer, saving both time and potential disruption if the visitor’s IT security policy limits third party app installations. The second advantage is that the visitor does not have to log into the host company network to use the system, saving meeting time — and potentially eliminating a security risk to the host from malware and tunneling programs from unethical visitors.

Conclusion

All four products are well designed and popular ways to convert a traditional meeting room into a wireless collaboration room. Both the BenQ InstaShow and Barco ClickShare deliver smooth video while automatically encrypting the wireless transmissions to protect from unauthorized screen capture and recording, and can support nearly any notebook used to play video’s in a meeting

The BenQ InstaShow is unique in that it is the only solution that does not require any application to be loaded onto to a visitor’s notebook, or require access to the host’s network to be able to wirelessly play videos onto a projector or flat panel. Because it is not dependent on the corporate network or the user’s computer to encrypt and transmit the video, it can deliver smooth videos every time.