What’s the best way to hook up an overhead projector to a laptop?

26Nov2007 Filed under: Overhead Projectors Author: admin

Chris H asked:

I’m looking to purchase and install a ceiling mounted projector, but have no idea how to run my laptop through it when it’s 12 feet over my head. I would install it against the back wall of my room but would prefer to have the laptop with me near the front of the room (about 30feet away). Any Ideas?

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3 Responses to “What’s the best way to hook up an overhead projector to a laptop?”

Jeff H
November 27th, 2007 at 4:51 am

Get a 30′ cable from

If you can use DVI, that’d be better than VGA, but with a high quality cable and a relatively low resolution, you won’t notice much difference.
been there done that got shirt
November 30th, 2007 at 8:55 am

Depends on the capabilities of the laptop and the projector.

S-Video would probably end up being the easiest way to get video from the laptop to the projector, but with the lowest quality (S-Video is 480i SDTV, no matter what the computer’s resolution is).

VGA would be better video quality (up to 1024×768 over 50 feet of cable), but might prove to be a little lossy at that distance.

DVI or HDMI would probably prove to be the best solution for carrying video the distance you’d need, as digital signals don’t “ghost” like analog signals would. However, if your laptop isn’t DVI or HDMI ready, you’ll be looking at a converter for translating VGA into DVI or HDMI video. (BTW, DVI video is carried by HDMI, so the video standard is pretty much identical).
Coach
December 2nd, 2007 at 4:18 am

If you are going to use VGA it is adviseable to buy a video amp as well. You will loose a LOT of signal in 30ft with VGA.