Airserver Universal - iOS, Android, and Windows Wireless Mirroring

I have been searching for a software-based Miracast solution for quite some time. iOS and AirPlay have had Reflector, AirServer, and more, but mirroring from Android or Windows has required a hardware Miracast receiver.

This past summer Microsoft released updates to Windows 8.1 with some promising comments about using Windows as a Miracast receiver. The updates enabled the capability, but didn't add the actual receiver; that was up to developers and needed updated hardware drivers.

Then at the end of October AirServer announced AirServer Universal, a new version adding Miracast to their existing AirPlay receiver software. There are some specific requirements to get it working. Unfortunately for Mac users, this only works with Windows 8.1. Your computer must also have a network device with a new NDIS 6.40 device driver. If you don't have a supported network chip, you can simply add the Asus USB-AC56 adapter. The combined price of the adapter and AirServer is under $100. I also installed AirServer on a sub-$400 Acer Switch 10 convertible laptop and was satisfied with the performance, even with two iPads (2nd generation) connected along with a Nexus 5. The Switch 10 did not require the Asus adapter.

AirServer has worked well as a Miracast receiver with every device I have tried, including a Nexus 5, Nexus 7 (2013), Nvidia Tegra Note 7, and Acer Switch 10 Windows 8 convertible laptop. Miracast connections from the Nexus devices did take longer to establish than other devices, and initially appeared to have significant input lag, but it improves fairly quickly. I created a video showing the Nexus 5 used alongside an iPad 3, connecting with a Nexus 7, and a game. The audio in the game is choppy, but that has been true with every Miracast receiver I have used. One interesting discovery is that I had to use the Asus USB-AC56 to get the Miracast capability of AirServer installed, but then was able to just use my laptop's existing wireless chip. I removed the Asus adapter completely and was still able to connect from the Nexus 5, Tegra Note, and Acer Switch. The Nexus 7 still saw AirServer as a receiver but it wouldn't connect unless I used the Asus adapter.

In addition to the system requirements, there are other limitations. AirServer only supports one Miracast device at a time. You can still have multiple iOS devices along with that single Miracast device. AirServer says support for multiple Miracast devices is coming. The other limitation is actually a Miracast issue more than a problem with AirServer. A device sending a Miracast signal will always send a landscape image. If your screen is in portrait mode, the device will rotate it and convert it to landscape before sending it to AirServer. If that is the only device being mirrored, it's not a problem. It is a problem when sharing the screen with an iOS device. In those situations the Miracast screen appears smaller than the iOS screen (as seen in the video linked above). AirServer may implement a workaround in a future update but isn't making any promises.

While not perfect, Airserver Universal is a step in the right direction for enabling a true BYOD environment.

Getting AirPlay to work in the classroom

I've talked about AirPlay in previous posts about wireless display technology. It works great in your home, and Apple really wants you to use it in the classroom. Unfortunately, the AirPlay protocol doesn't work that well on networks designed to support hundreds (or thousands) of wireless devices. Apple has workarounds that may or may not be implemented by your school's or board's IT staff. If not, there are still ways to get things working in your classroom, and maybe even for less money than you think.

Note that the following won't work for everybody, but hopefully it can help some people. This was my poster session topic at CONNECT 2013, and I know that it helped at least a couple of people.

Getting Connected

The first step in solving the AirPlay problem is getting all of your devices on a network that is a little more personal. There are a few options.

Bring your own router

If you can get away with plugging a wireless router into your network, this might be a good way to go.

Tether to a Smartphone

If you have a smartphone that can act as a wireless hotspot, you can use it to connect all of your devices together. If possible, you might want to disable your data connection to avoid an out of control wireless bill. Disabling your data does mean that none of your devices will be able to access the Internet, but AirPlay should work fine.

Internet Connection Sharing

If you already have a computer (Mac or PC) in your classroom that is connected to a wired network, you can take advantage of the Internet Connection Sharing feature built into the operating system.

On a Mac, click the Apple menu, then System Preferences, and look for Sharing. Check the box next to "Internet" and share the connection from your "Built-in Ethernet" to "Airport". Click the Airport button to choose settings for your hotspot.

The built-in feature of Windows involves more steps. Alternatively, just download Virtual Router, a free program that simplifies the entire process on Windows. Also, Windows laptops based on newer Intel Centrino platforms can actually share a wireless connection to other wireless devices.

Once you have your hotspot set up, just connect all of your devices to the hotspot and you shouldn't have any problem getting AirPlay working.

Using what you've already got

You're probably used to using an Apple TV to show videos from your iOS devices, but if you already have a computer connected to a projector it is a pain switching video cables or sources. Well, you don't have to.

Check out AirServer or Reflector. Both programs are available for Mac or PC, and make your computer look like an Apple TV to your iOS devices. There are some great reasons to use these instead of an Apple TV.

1. You don't have to switch video sources. Your computer is already connected to your projector.
2. You can display multiple iOS device screens simultaneously. Although the programs support more than 2 devices, things start to get sluggish with 3, and downright choppy with 4 or more (I've had up to 5). Displaying multiple devices is a great way to compare student work from iPads.
3. They are a LOT cheaper. AirServer is $15 and can be installed on up to 5 computers (although you can't mix and match Windows and Mac from the single $15 purchase). Reflector is $13 per computer, or $55 for 5 computers. Reflector does have an extra feature that lets you record the video from your iOS devices.

I personally chose AirServer. I don't need to record the videos, and it is cheaper. If I decide I want to record the videos I can always use the SMART Screen Recorder (free if you have a SMART Board and SMART Notebook installed).