For most cable solutions, you will use the appropriate HDMI, VGA, or adapter cable to connect your computing device to the projector/display, and then select the matching input. You will connect a USB cable for your interactive controls. You will see a number of different cables and setups across our district. This quick guide should help you identify and properly connect devices.


Common Cables

HDMI 

 Commonly used to connect a laptop, tablet, or desktop to a projector/display. This cable carries both audio and video to the display device. 
Display Port to HDMI

 Commonly used to connect a laptop, tablet, or desktop to a projector/display. This cable carries both audio and video to the display device. Most projectors and displays do not have a display port input. Most Dell desktops have display port video out. Therefore an adapter cable is needed.
HDMI to VGA


 Commonly used to connect a newer laptop with only HDMI out to an older projector with only VGA in. This is a very common setup for cart based projectors across our district.

If you have a single VGA connection, you will have to make sure that your projector is set up with an “In Line” connection. This type of connection allows you to have your computer or mobile device and your document camera both connected to the single VGA port on the rear of your projector.



In Line VGA Connection


Step 1


Connect the VGA splitter to the rear of the desktop PC. This splitter allows you to have the image from your PC displayed through the projector and on your PC monitor simultaneously. Your splitter configuration will most likely be one of three possibilities, depending on what was purchased for your school. If you are using a mobile device located on a cart, you will not need a splitter. 


USB Powered VGA Splitter Y Cable VGA Splitter AC Powered VGA Cable




Note: the pins on these cables can be easily damaged. Use care when connecting.


Connect the media cart VGA Male-to-Male cable to one side of the splitter and the PC monitor cable to the other.



Step 2

Connect the other end of the media cart VGA cable to the “VGA In” port on the document camera.

If you have a Lumens document camera model 162 or earlier, you will have a “DVI Out / VGA In” port on the side of the device. 

In this case you will need a DVI to VGA adapter which will look similar to the following image.


Step 3


Your media cart should include another VGA cable of approximately three to five feet in length. This cable will connect the document camera to the projector. The document camera will have a “VGA Out” port similar to this image.


Connect one end of the short VGA cable to this port and the other end to the “VGA In” port on your projector. At this point you should be able to power on the projector and view an image from your PC or mobile device. The document camera acts as a pass through for the signal from the PC when powered off. When you turn on the document camera, the image from the PC or mobile device should be interrupted by the image from the document camera. This is the basic principal of the “In Line” configuration, allowing two devices to share one connection point on the projector.



USB Cables for Interactive Controls


USB cables are used to connect your computing device to a peripheral device for interactive control. If you are using an Epson Brightlink interactive projector, Boxlight display, EBeam, SMART board, etc. you will need a USB for interactive control.


In most cases, this USB cable has been installed to a wall plate. The ‘A’ end of the cable will plug into any available USB port on your PC. The other end of the cable, the ‘B’ end, will plug into a wall plate.