·     BenQ InstaShow WDC10

·     BenQ InstaShow VS10 & VS20

·     Barco Clickshare C-10

Setting up a wireless screen mirroring correctly usually falls to the IT team to ensure that the system works – and is secure. To use the Airtame 2 on a typical basis, the IT manager needs to configure multiple network ports and perform tests to ensure the product works properly without excessive lag. Then the app must be installed on all employee and visitor devices to use the system.

The BenQ InstaShow WDC10 is the easiest Airtame alternative to set up and operate. There are no apps – or network configuration needed to get it working. You simply connect the receiver to the display and set the button on the table. 

The InstaShow VS10 also can work in the same way without any app or network support but can also connect to your network to support video conferencing meetings using a room camera and microphone.

Barco Clickshare C-10 can run without a network connection – but only in temporary mode. If you want to use it every day, you’ll need to connect and configure it to your network – and Barco recommends you open a port to their network for support. Also, ClickShare needs an app that needs to be deployed by the IT staff onto the notebook to connect with the receiver.

Do you want to have your visitors use your wireless screen mirroring system when they are presenting in your collaboration space? Here are how these three systems work.

BenQ InstaShow

BenQ InstaShow is the easiest for external guests or clients to use. You simply plug in the button to the USB-C or HDMI port on your device and tap the button when you are ready to present. There are no apps to load – or need for the visitor to log into the network. The buttons are available in both standard HDMI or USB-C connectors that work with any modern notebooks, including the latest MacBooks and Chromebooks.

Airtame

Airtame 2 requires that a visitor log onto the same network that is hosting the Airtame receiver. This can pose security risks to the enterprise network, so IT administrators need to ensure that their network is protected from tunneling apps or other security risks with visitors on the network.

Next, the visitor will typically need to download and run the Airtame application onto their notebook. Outside of the extra time it takes, many organizations “lock down” their notebooks from third party software to protect from malware and require IT support and approval for any application to be installed.

Barco ClickShare C-10

With the Barco Clickshare C-10 a visitor still must download the ClickShare app to do wireless screen mirroring. This app uses the notebook’s system resources to perform some of the functions needed to use the ClickShare system, and the same security concerns on “locked down” computers for the Airtame app may still apply to a visitor who wants to use the system. 

The best wireless screen mirroring systems enable multiple presenters on the screen at the same time, and when hooked to an interactive display such as a BenQ Board, control their notebook right from the display.

The BenQ InstaShow VS series can split the screen to show side by side comparisons from two to four different presenters, and integrated touch back support for interactive displays.  This makes it easy for anyone in the room to interact in a meeting without having to connect a bulky USB and HDMI cable to their notebook. While the Barco C-10 can also do this, the Airtame 2 does not have any split screen capabilities – or has wireless touch support from an interactive display.

One drawback of the Airtame system is that none of the content shared over the network is encrypted. This can open the door to presentation content being seen by bad actors – and even recorded. So how do the Airtame alternatives protect your sensitive content?

Only the BenQ InstaShow encrypts all the content that is transmitted from the buttons and is certified under the CVSS 3.0 security standard to protect from known common hacks such as tampering. BenQ supplies detailed security white papers (link to our white paper) that IT managers and security staff can review to make sure your corporate data is protected.

So how do you decide which one is best for you? While Airtame is the least expensive of the three alternatives, there are concerns about overloading network bandwidth, having sensitive content being recorded, and allowing visitors onto your network to download apps and present to the display – not to mention lag times of up to one second when running videos. Both Barco and Airtame also require subscriptions to keep the device running at full functionality after the first purchase license expires.

To help you understand the tradeoffs between the various Airtame alternatives, here is a comparison table that may help you.