I’ve been experimenting with lightweight mobile presentation equipment for years. A conventional solution of a laptop, projector and speakerphone is pretty standard. But to get usable video conferencing you have to use a webcam or position the laptop facing the audience.
The setup below gives the audience a relatively large projected image, a lightweight video conference camera on the iPad that can be moved around the room, and a portable speakerphone for voice conferencing. Thanks to FuzeMeeting on the iPad, you can even record the entire session for later viewing.
(My iPhone isn’t shown in the image above, since I used it to take the picture.)
Here are the key components:
1. Any iPad 2 or newer ($400 and up, depending on features, from apple.com)
2. Dell m110 projector ($500 from dell.com)
3. Apple TV ($100 from apple.com)
4. HDMI cable ($10 or less from monoprice.com)
5. Monster Clarity portable Bluetooth speaker ($80 from amazon.com)
6. Verizon 4510L MiFi (around $50 for the device with contract, $50 per month for data, from verizonwireless.com)
7. FuzeMeeting.com Pro account ($70/month from fuzemeeting.com) and iPad app (free)
8. Cell phone that supports Hands-Free Audio and Headset Profiles (I use an iPhone, but any phone that supports these Bluetooth profiles should work)
9. Stump iPad Stand ($25 from stumpstand.com)
10. Optional: Apple Wireless Bluetooth keyboard ($70 from apple.com)
11. Optional: Tripod for projector ($10-25 from dell.com or elsewhere)
12. Optional: Extension cord / surge protector (less than $20)
Here’s how it works.
Connect the Apple TV to the Dell m110 projector with the HDMI cable.
Then, connect the iPad WiFi and Apple TV WiFi to the Verizon MiFi. This ensures that the iPad and Apple TV are on the same WiFi network.
Turn on Airplay mirroring on the iPad, choosing the Apple TV as the destination device. Everything on the iPad screen will now be projected.
Connect your phone and Monster Clarity speakerphone and then start your FuzeMeeting.
Choose to have FuzeMeeting call your phone, instead of trying to use VoIP. This means the voice portion of the call is going over the cell network, lightening the load on the iPad and MiFi just a bit. This setup works best in areas with 4G coverage. (It may be possible to use Verizon’s Wireless Hotspot feature on the new iPad to share the Internet connection to the Apple TV. However, I’d want to test the performance before recommending this.)
There you have it — a fully portable video meeting kit you can easily carry in a backpack!
I’d be very curious to know if other people have created similar lightweight, portable systems. Let me know in the comments below!
(One thing on my wish list… It would be nice if there were projectors with integrated AirPlay mirroring support.)
Hi Andy
I Googled -’mirroring with MiFi on iPad and your March 2012 page appeared – I hope you can help me?
I’m currently setting up a not-for-profit volunteer group here in the west of Scotland where I plan to visit groups of older people at various locations in our area to offer interactive on-line presentations each lasting about an hour.
Here’s the idea – I mingle with my audience of from 5 – 20 people with my wi fi only, i Pad (3) hopefully using a mobile broadband internet connection from my unlocked Hauwei MiFi. (Unlocked, allows me to also use another network’s data sim if reception on 3 is not good at a particular venue). This should allow me to place the MiFi up to 30 or so feet away,near a window, for example, where I can get the best signal in bad reception areas without moving away from my audience. My plan is to connect Apple TV (also logged on to my MiFi) to connect to a projector through an HDMI lead. My aim is to mirror my iPad screen to the projector (with audio of course) in response to the interests of my audience and allow them it watch it on the big screen.. But will it work?
I know that MiFi allows up to 5 users to connect to broadband but as you will be aware this might work in a family home for example where each member has a direct on-line connection but does it also mean that the mifi will see my ipad and Apple tv as two units on a local network, which I understand is required to access mirroring?
Before I lay out £500 plus, I’m getting a loan of a projector to try the kit next week. Although present network wireless projectors apparently don’t handle video well (I’ll be using youTube quite regularly),should I go for a network projector which is more likely to be ‘futureproof’, on the basis that I will just use HDMI in the meantime?
I see you comment about the current lack of ‘mirroring’ projectors. Manufacturers must surely have plans to bring these to market soon?
Albeit, your application is video conferencing, it appears that, to some extent, we faced the same problem. I’d welcome you views as to whether my plan will actually work?
Sorry it’s such a long explanation – Im into gadgets but with a limited knowledge of ‘networking’ – hopefully if this works, my Apple tV will be plug and play?
Hope you can help, Andy, thanks for your time.
Cheers
Dave Marshall (66) Glasgow Scotland.
It should work.
Here’s my 5-point check list for you:
1. Make sure your MiFi device has a decent signal
2. Connect the Apple TV to the projector via HDMI cable
3. Configure the Apple TV settings to connect to the Internet via wireless to your MiFi
4. Configure your iPad 3 to connect to the Internet via your MiFi
5. Turn on Mirroring on the iPad 3.
The important thing is that the Apple TV and iPad 3 need to be on the same WiFi network and able to “see” each other.
(In many hotels, for example, even though the devices are on the same network, the wireless network is setup to maximize security so the two devices cannot “see” each other. Generally, MiFi devices allow this. If you run into issues, look at the Firewall settings in the MiFi configuration.)
Hope that helps. If it works, post a picture of the event somewhere online and let me know!
Thanks for reading!
Andy Wolber
Hi again Andy
Thanks for your prompt response.
I note you say that both the ipad and the Apple TV have to be on the same WiFi network. That’s where my concerns lie because they’re on a Mi Fi Network Mobile Broadband network, not traditional Wi Fi which will allow mirroring. Here’s hoping – I’ll let you know in a week or so and get a pic to you when my first successful event is under my belt. Sad thing was, the guy I got in on a visit to my local Apple shop had never heard of MiFi and neither has the customer service girl at the on-line major projector company I emailed!
Cheers
Dave Marshall – Glasgow -Scotland
My iPad mirroring to and Apple TV works well when both are connected to a mobile broadband network MiFi device in the U.S. on Verizon’s network. I’ve used the same setup you describe to give presentations!
It should work just fine.
Andy