Airtame
Use Airtame to display the contents of your laptop's screen to a larger screen wirelessly. The Airtame device is a small dongle that we install in a learning or meeting space. The dongle is connected to power and wired to our campus network. You connect to it wirelessly using the Airtame software application installed on your laptop. Airtame comes standard in all WSU classrooms and is also available in many conference rooms and informal learning spaces (e.g., Krueger Library group study rooms).
Install or update Airtame
In addition to installing and updating the Airtame app using our Managed Software Center, you may be prompted to update from within the Airtame app itself. Either method is fine.
WSU HP laptop
- Open the Software Center app on your laptop.
- From the Applications or the Updates tab, select Airtame.
- Select Install or Update
WSU Macbook
- Open your Applications folder and select WSU_Additions
- Select Software Additions
- From the Software or Updates tab, select Airtame
- Select Install or Update
- Further installation steps vary by Mac OS version. Review Airtame's instructions here.
Using Airtame
Launching Airtame on a PC
Select the Airtame icon from the system tray in the bottom right corner of your screen. If you configured Airtame to launch when you start your laptop (default), this icon will be included in your system tray automatically. If you don't have the Airtame icon in your system tray, launch it from Windows Start and then wait for the Airtame icon to be displayed in your system tray. Always access Airtame using the system tray icon.
Launching Airtame on a Mac
Select the Airtame icon from the menu bar in the top right corner of your screen. If you configured Airtame to launch when you start your laptop (default), this icon will be included in your menu bar automatically. If you don't have the Airtame icon on your menu bar, launch it from your Applications folder and then wait for the Airtame icon to be displayed in your menu bar. Always access Airtame using the menu bar icon.
Connecting to a display
Every screen with an Airtame installed has a default splash page with a unique IP address listed (e.g., 10.70.0.33). If you do not see the splash page displayed on the room screen, select the Wireless button on the AV control panel in your room. Once you have identified your room screen's IP address, do the following:
- Select the Airtame icon to open the Airtame app on your laptop
- Enter the room screen's IP address, exactly as listed on the room screen's splash page, into the topmost field. The name of the Airtame will be displayed. The name may just be the IP address if this is the first time you are connecting to the screen. Subsequently, it will be named using the building name and room number (e.g., MAX160_AIRTAME).
- Select either the Share window or Share screen button in the Airtame app on your laptop. Sharing a window will let you select from among the applications open on your laptop currently.
- Enter the 4-digit code presented on the external screen into the Airtame app on your laptop. Wait a moment and your laptop window or screen will be displayed. Select your laptop window or screen to make it the focus and reduce the Airtame app to a small, floating toolbar. You can move or minimize the toolbar to get it out of the way.
Enabling audio and adjusting volume
When you connect to a display using Airtame, audio playback to the display will be disabled by default and any audio will continue to come from your laptop speakers. Select the Audio on/off button on the Airtame toolbar to enable/disable audio to the external display. Once enabled, any audio from your laptop will be played through the audio system associated with the external display. This may be ceiling speakers in the room or the speakers in the LCD screen to which you are connected. You will then need to adjust the volume of that external display using the volume control on the panel in the room or the remote control for the LCD screen. Most rooms have control panels that allow you to adjust the volume.
Screenshots
PC users select the Airtame icon from the system tray (bottom right)
Mac users select the Airtame icon from the menu bar (top right)
Airtame splash screen will include unique IP address
Enter IP address and select what you want to display
Enter the pin code displayed on the external screen
The Airtame toolbar
Pros and cons of wireless display
Pros
- Convenience. Forget your dongle? Like to move around the room untethered? No problem.
- Fewer points of possible hardware failure. Cables and dongles can fail and get lost. Connect quickly and easily without plugging into anything.
- Sharing the screen. Anyone can connect to the display from anywhere in the room. Quickly switch from one person's device to another to support collaboration and keep the session moving forward.
Cons
- Some lag with long videos. Short clips are fine, but if you are using your device to show a long (>10-minute) video, you may see desynchronization of the audio and video tracks. It's best to use a cable for long videos.
- Susceptible to Internet disruption. Wireless display relies on a stable Internet connection. If your network connection gets degraded or disrupted, you may get disconnected from the screen. Given the strength of our wireless network in all campus learning and meeting spaces, such disruptions are extremely rare. If you experience this issue, contact the Technical Support Center (TechSupport@winona.edu, 507-457-5240, Somsen Hall 207).
- No support for mobile devices. Currently, we are not supporting wireless screen mirroring of smartphones and tablets. Airtame has this capability, but we have not yet enabled it for security reasons. We are exploring ways to do this securely and will keep you posted.
Gallery
Use Airtame to mirror the contents of your laptop screen to a larger display
Airtame dongle is plugged in above the ceiling or behind the display
