You might be wondering, what even is Airtame? To get you off on the right foot, let us give you the lowdown.

What is Airtame?

Airtame is a solution that helps you use your big screens better.

During meetings or classes, Airtame helps you wirelessly present to TVs or projector screens using an app on your computer or mobile device.

To get a 1-minute overview of what Airtame offers, watch this quick video:

On top of that, Airtame lets you customize the default screen (or Homescreen as we call it) however you like, so you can:

• set various backgrounds to spruce up the room,
• display team metrics
• use the Homescreen app Room Overview to display booked meeting rooms or agendas

With Airtame Cloud, it is also easy to manage your Airtame devices, no matter how many you have. Airtame Cloud is our device management tool that lets you monitor and update all your organization’s Airtames remotely, even if they are located on different networks and locations.

Why Airtame?

Switching to Airtame can help IT administrators reduce the number of support cases they have to deal with by 40-80%.

IT admins cut down on the manual work of constantly switching out broken or lost cables. And since Airtame is a device-agnostic solution that uses a cross-platform app, you don’t have to worry about having multiple cable inputs on hand.

With Airtame, meetings and classes become more interactive as everyone can present from their own smartphone, tablet, or computer. And switching between presenters doesn’t mean having to call for help when you discover that your computer needs an adapter to work with the HDMI cable. The Airtame app makes it possible to switch between computers with a couple of clicks.

So much more than cable clutter

The possibility of customizing the Airtame’s default background when no one is streaming makes it a cost-effective signage solution. We have users who use Airtame purely as a signage tool not only because it is inexpensive, but because adding and adjusting onscreen content is easy enough for the non-tech user to accomplish.

Last, but not least, is Airtame Cloud, an IT admin’s dream. Using this device management tool, you can monitor and manage all your Airtame devices through a browser. This means you can push updates to your Airtame devices or troubleshoot any issues without having to leave your desk. Getting through helpdesk tickets is just a little less painful.  

To help ensure a smooth handover, here are some questions you need to ask about the Airtames at your office or school.

How are you using Airtame?

What’s your use case – wireless presentations, signage, or both?

Airtame has two main use cases: wireless presentations and digital signage.

Knowing which use case is used most often will help you understand how your Airtame rollout is going to be managed and by whom.

If Airtame is used mainly for presenting, it is a good idea to ask how satisfied people are with their performance, so you can plan an effective maintenance plan, as well as optimize Airtame usage and performance.

If Airtame is used for signage, you will potentially need to work with different stakeholders who have a say about what is displayed on the screens throughout your organization.

Installation and network setup

How is Airtame set up on your network?

Knowing how Airtame is set up on your network will help you understand who can use Airtame and what can influence the performance.

Our most recommended setup is to create a separate VLAN for your Airtame device. You can then connect the Airtame to the VLAN using Ethernet and routing the necessary ports to the networks where your users are – in most cases it is the internal and guest network.

There are plenty of other ways to setup Airtame on your specific network. Check out this overview of possible network setup scenarios, including the network requirements for using Airtame.

Check this article for further tips on how you can test and improve your network. If you are using a wireless connection, we would recommend you monitor your Airtame’s signal from time to time from Airtame Cloud.

We also have a quick overview of system requirements and a room checklist, so you should double check to make sure your rooms are fully equipped for the best Airtame experience.

Have all Airtames been fully installed?

Are there still Airtames laying unpacked in boxes? Where were they supposed to go?

If there are still new Airtames that need to be installed, the information you found out in the previous section regarding network setup will help you plan a further rollout.

It is easy to set up an Airtame device, no matter how many you have to install.  Here are some tips for speeding up a mass deployment.

If you have multiple Airtames to manage, then it’s certainly important to consider a way to organize and monitor them. Let’s find out how you can easily manage devices using Airtame Cloud.

Administrating – Device management and configuration

How are your device settings configured?

Now is a good moment for you to ask your predecessor if device settings are configured the same for all your locations or if different locations require their own configuration.

If you are using Airtame Cloud, you can see all your devices’ configuration details in one neat overview. You can bulk edit device settings, as well as group devices based on various categories, such as location.

Ask your predecessor to invite you to Airtame Cloud and transfer the ownership to you. Go to the Team section of your Airtame Cloud account and check which other colleagues are using the account and what user roles they have.

A quick tip is to turn off auto-updates on the Airtames to avoid the Airtames updating during office or school hours while people are using them.

Need a hand?

You are always welcome to book an onboarding call with our Customer Success team! They can answer any questions you might have about Airtame.

If you prefer, you can also sign up for onboarding emails for IT administrators that will take you through all the Airtame basics, from setting up devices to registering to Airtame Cloud.

The post Getting a fresh start with Airtame in your new IT role appeared first on Airtame.

What you need before setting up

• Airtame 2 (and all accessories from the box)
• The display (e.g. TV or projector) that you will equip with Airtame
• WiFi network (or Ethernet connection)
• Laptop (Windows, MacOS, Linux)*

*The initial setup is not possible from a mobile device or Chromebook.

Physically installing the device

1. Connect the two ends of the Aircord splitter into the power supply and the HDMI port of the display, respectively. Always use the provided power supply.
   
   
2. Place the magnetic wall mount onto the back of the Airtame device.
   
   
3. Connect the USB-C (remaining end of the Aircord) to the Airtame.
   
4. Choose one of the following options for placing the Airtame:
   1. For a permanent installation, you will need to peel the red stickers off the back of the wall mount, as well as the back of the Aircord splitter, in order to secure them to the wall (there is a strong adhesive underneath the stickers).
      
      
      Mount the Airtame 2 on the wall approx. 10cm/4” from the edge of the display.Only remove the stickers before permanently sticking the device to the wall.
      
      
   2. For a non-permanent installation, simply place the Airtame and Aircord splitter onto the back of the display’s edge. Most TVs have a magnetic frame, so the magnetic force will keep everything in place. In this case, do not peel off the red stickers.
      
      
   3. For a non-permanent installation with a projector, place the device on top (in a spot that does not heat up when the projector is in use).
      
      

Configuring your Airtame 2

Congrats, your Airtame 2 is now installed! You should be seeing a “Present Wirelessly” message on your Airtame-equipped display, with the name of your new device (starting with “airtame-oob”). If you don’t see this message, try changing the HDMI input on your display until you’ve found the right one.

“Configuring” refers to setting up the different characteristics of a device, including how it’s connected to a local network. This is the purpose of these next steps.

1. Download the Airtame application here. Please remember that you will need to use the application on a Macbook, Windows or Linux computer for the initial setup.
2. Open the application, and click the Set up button next to the name of your new device.
   
   
3. In the in-app setup, select a name for your Airtame.
4. You will now be prompted to connect the Airtame to your network (via WiFi or Ethernet).

WiFi connection

To connect via WiFi, select your network from the WiFi list and choose 5GHz over 2.4GHz if available.

Click “Connect” and enter your computer’s user password to allow Airtame to temporarily switch to Airtame’s own hotspot to transfer this configuration. Once the setup is done, your computer connects back to your local WiFi.

A confirmation message will show on the Airtame-equipped display, stating that the Airtame is now on your local WiFi. A new IP address will also be visible on the display.

Ethernet connection

To connect via Ethernet, it’s best to connect the Ethernet adapter and cable before clicking on the “Set up” button in the app.

When connected to the Ethernet adapter as shown in the above image, an IP address will appear on the display automatically.

Once you click the “Set up” button in the app and have given the device a name and selected Ethernet, name the Ethernet connection the same as the SSID it is connected to. If you’re unsure of what the SSID is, check with your IT administrator.

For more info on setting up with Ethernet (including how to have a simultaneous Ethernet + WiFi setup), click here.

Start your first presentation with Airtame 2

Now that your device is connected to the local network, just take a minute to double check that your computer is also back on the local network (and not still connected to Airtame’s own hotspot).

To start mirroring your computer screen:

1. Open the Airtame app.
2. Find your device in the list or enter its IP address.
3. Click the “Share screen” button next to the name of your new Airtame.
4. When you are done, return to the app panel and click “Stop” to finish the stream.
5. If you want to mirror a specific window (e.g. a document or browser), click “Share window” in the app, and then click on the desired window. Click “Stop” to end the presentation.
6. To play sound from your display’s speakers instead of your laptop, click on the audio icon that will appear in the app panel once you’ve starting presenting.
7. To present to more than one Airtame at a time, you can:
   1. Click “Share screen” next to multiple devices in the app, or
   2. Click “Share window”, select your desired window, and then go back to app to click “+ Add screen” (and repeat this for any additional Airtames).

What’s next?

Now that you’ve set up an Airtame 2 and tested out streaming, you can begin to show others how it’s done. Click here for our guides to helping colleagues use Airtame.

In addition to using Airtame for presentations, you can also use it as a digital signage solution. Click here to find out how to set a custom background to be shown on your Airtame-equipped display when idle.

You can also watch this short video and find out how Airtame works:

Need help with Airtame 2 setup?

Are you about to introduce Airtame to your end-users but aren’t sure about the best way to get them started? You are always welcome to book an onboarding call with our Customer Success team!

You can reach out to our support team via our live chat at airtame.com, or send an email to support@airtame.com. We are always happy to assist!

The post How to set up your first Airtame 2 appeared first on Airtame.

Already set up and ready to go wireless? Download the Airtame app directly from your computer.

1) Setting up and powering Airtame

Plug Airtame into the HDMI port on your TV or projector. Use an adaptor if there’s no HDMI input. Use the included AC adaptor to ensure Airtame has power or alternatively power Airtame through the TV via the micro-USB to USB cable. You will only be able to set up Airtame through a computer, as you need access to the Device Management Panel.

2) Placement for best stability and performance

If your WiFi signal is blocked, your streaming performance may be inhibited. Make sure that the AIrtame is placed as close to the edge of the TV as possible and preferably pointed towards the nearest access point. The distance from the access point to Airtame should be no more than 10 meters/32 feet, and with no WiFi blockers in between.

3) WiFi or Ethernet connection

Airtame relies on a good connection to stream without interruptions. We recommend using an Ethernet connection between Airtame and the network for optimal performance and minimal delay.

Many of the obstacles found with WiFi are not adherent with Ethernet. If you’re using a WiFi connection, however, make sure to limit the number of obstacles in between Airtame and the network, as described above. Remember that walls, other access points and physical objects will impair the connection.

Before setting up Airtame, we suggest to map out where your access points are and how your Airtame will be set up in relation to them. If you’re unsure whether your WiFi signal is strong enough to carry a good connection with Airtame, use a signal strength app or go to Airtame Cloud to check it.

4) Access and installation

We’ve made installing your Airtame as easy possible. Once you have plugged in the device via the HDMI port, select the correct HDMI input on your TV or projector. You’ll be presented with a welcome screen, and asked to visit airtame.com/setup to download the Airtame app to your laptop or computer.

Once the app is installed and launched, just follow the simple set-up instructions: name your Airtame, and connecting it to your preferred network.

5) Get the most out of Airtame Cloud

Go to https://airtame.cloud/ and set up a fee Airtame Cloud account. Add the Airtames in your organization It’s your cloud management tool where you can manage and monitor all of your devices.

In addition, you’ll be able to select the content shown on screens when no one is streaming to Airtame. Create groups of devices and set permissions in the Cloud, perform reboots or update chosen devices. In the cloud, you’ll see Homescreen. That’s your screens when Airtame is idle.

With the newest firmware update, you’re also able to customize Homescreen to show images, websites, custom backgrounds or app integrations. Currently, we offer these four app integrations for Homescreen: Trello, Unsplash, World Clock and Google Slides. They’re perfect for digital signage purposes, something we believe every business can benefit from exploring and utilizing.

Invite other users by clicking on “Invite user” in the upper right corner of the Cloud and entering their email. In the overview of users, your coworkers will now show up.

You can set-up your colleagues as any of the three user roles: Administrator, Manager and User, each featuring different levels of maturity and access to the Cloud. If you need to remove a user, you can do so by going to the “Team” tab and removing the person.

6) Set up more than one Airtame

Mass deployment to more than one computer is also possible. For Windows users, download a mass deployment installer here to pre-configure and install on many PCs.

For Mac OS, use a third party deployment service along with the existing .dmg file along with Soundflower for audio capturing. The Soundflower driver is included in the .dmg package, but for mass deployment you need to install it separately.

Here’s some more general points about mass Airtame installation and deployment in business environments, and here for schools.

7) Calibrate your display ?

Pre-set image settings on most TVs and projectors work best with watching satellite TV. To improve image quality when streaming, you can calibrate your screen to best fit Airtame. Adjust screen settings by opening a blank spreadsheet document for color reference.

Find standard mode or reset adjustments on your screen and reduce contrast (often around 70-80% of max value) until all lines in the spreadsheet are visible. Reduce sharpen until the text is easy to read (often 0-20% of max value). See more tips on how to adjust display settings here.

8) Troubleshooting

If a problem should occur either with the connection, updates or other, we recommend first checking the source of the problem. If you have no connection, check your WiFi signal. With update issues, you should look at your firewall restrictions.

We also have a help center with many useful articles on troubleshooting and getting the most out of Airtame. If you aren’t able to fix the issue yourself, we’re always ready to assist you. Go to our website and chat directly with one of our competent Customer Success team members by clicking the chat icon in the bottom right corner.

9) Customize your Airtame settings

There are many ways you can personalizing Airtame for your workplace. Beyond the digital signage options outlined above, you can find the many settings for your device(s) in the Airtame app, such as framerate (Frames Per Second) and buffer time. You can even download your log files if you need to troubleshoot, and contact us directly via the chat functionality.

 

10) Audio and video streaming

Click the sound button in the Airtame app to enable audio. Audio is disabled by default to minimize latency, but with a stable connection, you can stream both audio and video with sound.

11) Setting up guest networks

Creating guest networks within your internal networks is not only smart for security purposes, it’s great for organizations with a steady flow of guests too. We also offer a Windows Guest app for one-time users so they don’t have to install the regular app.

We’ve created a list of network configurations and requirements to accommodate internal and guest users. See more recommendations for Airtame and guests here.

Enjoy your wireless working experience! Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions.

The post 11 important steps to consider for your first Airtame installation appeared first on Airtame.

We try to make things run as smoothly as possible for our partners who use Airtame but, sometimes, implementing a new technological tool can be challenging. Getting deployment right depends on everything from leadership to staff and student engagement and quality training.

In order to help you make the most of Airtame in your educational setting, this article outlines everything to take into account — from the preliminary questions to consider before purchase, to ongoing processes for maintaining Airtame, and re-training key staff members and keeping your student body engaged. Your school will be up and running with wireless streaming in no time!

Looking for a step-by-step guide on mass deployment? Take a peek here. And here’s a quick overview of Airtame:

Make sure that investing in wireless technology is the right choice

Before investing in a new technological solution, make sure that you have asked yourself these relevant questions that will uncover whether this is the right choice. These can involve anything from budget considerations to which computers and displays are most commonly used.

You should also be sure that people want the change. No decision should be made before taking into account the preferences and concerns of educators and other staff members. IT administrators must also be involved to ensure that deployment will be realistic from a technical standpoint.

Do your research to see if Airtame is the best match for your particular needs, by taking into consideration how it compares to other solutions (check out our comparison articles here).  Even when you feel confident that it’s the optimal solution, double check that the requirements for using Airtame can be met.

We understand that funding can be tight, which is why we run a 30-day risk-free trial, to give you peace of mind, and to help offset any uneasiness about investing in a specific solution before getting to test it out first-hand.

Still in doubt? Let’s talk your questions through in a demo call. Don’t have the time? Check out our recorded Airtame for education demo:

Install and configure Airtame

Perhaps you will buy 40 Airtames for your school or institute – or perhaps you will buy 400. You may be using Airtame for a television or projector at the front of a classroom, or in a hallway, lobby area, or assembly hall. Whatever the case, the initial setup will require some planning.

First, think in advance about how you want to power the Airtames (i.e. through the USB port of your display or with the AC adapter that comes in the box). You could also use a PoE (power over Ethernet) solution for your devices. Consider the physical layout of each room, and whether or not the chosen setup can be accommodated.

Second, take into account if the devices will be at risk of theft, and physically secure them according to your judgment.

Third, consider an efficient labeling system that will be used for each Airtame based on its location (e.g., Biology Lab, Lobby Left, Classroom 24, etc.). Later on, you can save the same name on the label to a given device’s settings.

Fourth, plan how you will configure the devices. Configuration refers to how you will connect Airtame to the local network, and the settings you will turn on for each device (e.g., Pin Code Connect, Password Protection, Resolution, AirPlay, etc.).

Many educational settings have various groups of people who’ll want to present wirelessly—teachers, students, parents, guest speakers, etc.—and they’ll all need access to Airtame regardless of which network they’re on.

Start streaming – and test, test, test

Once you have physically installed and configured Airtame, it’s time to start streaming! We highly recommend having students, teachers, and IT administrators stream to Airtame from the various platforms used with your environment (be they Chromebook, Mac, Windows, Linux computers and/or iOS and Android mobile devices).

You can share your computer screen to one Airtame-equipped screen, or to multiple screens at the same time. During testing, judge image, video, and sound quality when streaming different kinds of content.

You can always reach out to our support team if you encounter any challenges. We also have a help center with articles to help guide your IT administrator (and everyday users) each step of the way. During this phase of testing, it may be useful to:

1. Test your Airtame setup to make sure each device is detectable.

2. Calibrate your display for the best possible image quality.

3. Test and improve streaming: including audio and video streaming.

4. Test and improve your WiFi network for better overall performance.

4. Get your devices on Airtame Cloud

Airtame Cloud, used for the easy management of your screens is available at https://airtame.cloud/ and is completely free. You simply set up a Cloud account with your work email, and then start adding Airtame devices to the platform. Once this is complete, you will be able to monitor and make changes to devices even when working remotely.

Cloud management is great for ease of use when it comes to the mass deployment and upkeep of dozens or even hundreds of Airtames.

One-on-one changes can always be made to an individual Airtame through the Airtame app, such as in the case of a teacher wanting to update something specific for a particular class. The Airtame app is handy for the everyday user, and Airtame Cloud is the best possible way for IT administrators to monitor performance and manage settings throughout the entire school.

One Airtame customer, Lake Superior College, has seen support tickets drop by 80% since deploying Airtame. This is due to the efficiency that Airtame Cloud, and other features, can provide when deployment is done right.

Get rolling with digital signage

When no one is streaming to Airtame for a class presentation or meeting, it can be used to show an image, website, or custom dashboard. This lets you make the most out of the displays that are already in use in classrooms or public spaces throughout the building, and can easily be updated via the Airtame app or from Airtame Cloud.

You could display the school’s website or its logo along with a welcome message to visitors on career day, or you could have the class timetable shown when students are working on independent assignments. You could even show a clock ticking down the time until a test is over, or an image of a famous painting as the backdrop of an art class.

Administrators can use Airtame Cloud to instantly display relevant mass communication (related to fire drills, directions for guests, or other public service announcements) across a building or entire campus. There is a multitude of ways to use signage to make a learning environment that much more safe, organized and inspiring.

Teachers and other staff should have a way to either update this content themselves, by having access to the device settings (which can be password locked), or, alternatively, there should be a simple forum for requesting that the relevant administrators update digital signage on an ongoing basis through Airtame Cloud.

Train teachers – and students

Training teachers and students will be an essential part of making the most of the devices. Showing people what they can do with technology, that they could not do previously, is the best possible way to demonstrate value. Meaningful change can only occur when this is realized in the long-term.

A single training session won’t be enough to ensure that old habits don’t kick back in soon after. Ongoing workshops and one-on-one sessions with an instructional technologist can help to sustain steadily increasing use of all the different features of Airtame.

While individual instruction is effective, a complementary learning tool is to have a landing page that gives everyone an overview of why you’ve chosen Airtame, and how it works.

A great example is this one created by Boston Public Schools who have taken a special initiative to take full advantage of their investment. Our team is of course always happy to assist over the phone, and by offering written instructions such as our printable guides and help center articles.

Continue updating, teaching, and learning

Airtame is a living product, meaning that we’re continually working on improving the user experience and product in order to help you use your screens better.

The Airtame Cloud platform offers a centralized and efficient way to make sure that all the devices are up to date. Ensuring quality control is also made easier by staying in touch with Airtame’s support team, in order to learn about relevant developments as well as get answers to any questions or concerns.

Airtame can help unlock more collaborative learning, one teacher, and student, at a time. With a steady influx of new educators and students, it’s important that training is ongoing, and that everyone has the time to peacefully move into a new method of teaching, and learning, in an increasingly wireless world.

If you have questions or need assistance with setting up Airtame in your environment, please get in touch via:

• Our live chat at www.airtame.com
• Email at support@airtame.com
• Booking a call

The post Things to consider when rolling out Airtame in schools appeared first on Airtame.

The high school has followed Airtame journey since the early days and after some testing, they have recently chosen to roll out Airtames to all 40 classrooms.

The school prides itself on the quality of education they offer, including their dedication to providing the best in modern technology for their teachers and students.

By going wireless, teachers and students are free to get up from their desks and engage interactively during lessons. They no longer waste time connecting their laptops to the projector through a wire.

About Dronninglund Gymnasium

• 550 students
• 60 staff members
• 40 classrooms

Find out how Dronninglund Gymnasium uses Airtame to improve the educational experience.

Hidden from view, yet easy to access

From an IT administrator’s point of view, stability and easy administration are key factors in choosing a wireless HDMI solution for the school.

We had been looking for a wireless way to connect to our classroom projectors for a while and had tested a range of other solutions alongside Airtame. Recently, we decided to test Airtame out in 7 classrooms and both students and teachers reacted well to it. Some students even asked, why isn’t this in every classroom already?

Frank Olsen, IT Manager at Dronninglund Gymnasium

The high school in Dronninglund has installed the Airtames in their classroom projectors. The Airtame is hidden together with the rest of the power cables in the cable tray of the projector mount.

Airtame is cabled to the network via ethernet to ensure maximum stability and the lowest possible delay between the computer and the projector screen.

To manage the device, the IT administrators access the Airtame’s device management panel through the use of a web browser from the comfort of their office.

Priority on stability

At Airtame, our number one priority is streaming stability. As we talked about in a previous post, we put our software and firmware through various stages of testing.

By using early release testing in real life environments (as opposed to keeping the testing in-house), we manage to catch more bugs.

Airtame is a very stable product. Both the hardware and software have performed stably in all of our tests. Our experiences with other wireless solutions have meant that we sat down and tried to stress out the Airtame in order to see if it would hold up in our environment. I haven’t yet seen an Airtame that broke down which makes me comfortable with putting it out in all our classrooms.

Jacob Tranholm, IT Administrator at Dronninglund Gymnasium

User-friendly connection

There are two ways to connect to an Airtame from your computer or mobile device:

• Use WiFi discovery to pull up a list of available Airtames on your network
• Connect by typing in the Airtame’s unique IP address.

The second option is best practice in an educational environment like Dronninglund Gymnasium with multiple Airtames being shared by over 600 users. The IP connect function makes sure that no one streams to the wrong screen.

Dronninglund Gymnasium not only disables WiFi discovery on their school network, but also changes the IP addresses of each Airtame every night as an extra layer of security.

Read more about how to enable and disable the discovery feature in your organization here.

With fewer technical interruptions when connecting, teachers and students can focus on learning.

We haven’t had problems with people connecting to the wrong screens. It is easy to connect and disconnect. Both our students and teachers have quickly learned how to get their content on the screens using the Airtame.

Frank Olsen, IT Manager at Dronninglund Gymnasium

Best practices for a wireless campus

Display a ‘Get Started’ guide

Use the Dashboard feature to create an easy ‘Get Started’ guide.

Dronninglund uses the custom background functionality to add a custom background with easy instructions for new users to get started quickly:

Connect with IP instead of auto discovery

Dronninglund uses the Connect with IP functionality when streaming to Airtame. This way, students are sure to connect to the right screen. To add an extra layer of security, the IT department configured the network to assign a new name/IP address to each Airtame every night.

Dronninglund Gymnasium’s Airtame setup

• One VLAN for all devices
• Airtame connected via ethernet using an ethernet adapter.
• Airtame’s WiFi AP turned off to reduce interference and simplify info presented to users

Insert image

This is the set up that works for Dronninglund Gymnasium, but it is certainly not the only way to integrate Airtame into a campus setting.

Are you an educator looking for a stable and user-friendly wireless HDMI solution? Write to sales@airtame.com and we’ll help you go wireless!

The post Airtame for educational use appeared first on Airtame.