Unable to use projector on OS X Mountain Lion

OK, I went back and used my WPS-Pro app to do the wireless projection. You are correct, it doesn't see the projector (in my case, a Plasma screen) as a external monitor. My guess is that the WPS-Pro app does some sort of screen scrape and sends it over the WiFi link to its adaptor on the projector. Mine worked fine on a plasma monitor.

The scenario is.

1) Plug in wireless projection adaptor into VGA port on external projector/monitor and plug it in

2) Have welcome screen show up on external monitor/projector with connection code

3) Set MacBook screen resolution to match what the dongle expects (my case 1024x768)

3) Launch WPS-Pro on my MacBook and enter connection code

4) See my MacBook screen appear on the external display.

However, I could not get it to show up on a different set up (a projector and two LCD screens that are on one VGA connection) at step two above. Not sure why, need to play with that more but it isn't an issue with the MacBook.

What step are you failing at?

Maybe this thread will help:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3627064

Monitor the "More Like This" box (top right) and hopefully you'll see a thread that has been checked solved.

Thanks for the step by step instructions. I will try this tomorrow night. When I click the WPS icon, it states it needs to adjust my resolution and then I click yes to allow. I'll set the resolution first throught the sys pref> before clicking on the WPS icon. Fingers crossed this works!

AnnEarl - followed your step by step instructions, at step 3. I set the resolution to 1024x768 then clicked the WPS icon. I got the same as before, black screen with white arrow cursor, which when I moved it, again left a trail of the white arrow cursor. However, this time the trail of and cursor were flickering continuously. This flickering had never happened before. The cursor and trail were always steady and clear. I tried several times setting the resolution differently before clicking the WPS icon - same result.

When I clicked the WPS icon and allowed it to set the resolution the cursor and the trail it left did not flicker, it was clear and steady.

Note: I did not do step one as the WPS device in always plug into the VGA port of the projector as it is mounted on the ceiling. So my step one wsa to simply power up thw projector as the WS device is alway powered. HAs it own power supply. Could this make a difference? Your WPS device, is it an Optoma dongle? My projector and WPS device are both made by Optoma.

Certainly appreciate your assistance.

Appears I am back to square one.

If it happens at step 3 (the second step 3 :-), then I suspect it is the that the WPS software isn't sending the signal to the dongle well. It looks from Optima's site that is the same software I use.

Option 1: Reinstall the WPS software, that can fix some things

Option 2: You can try downloading an new version. Here is where I get mine

Mac OS X 10.5 and above version 1.2.0.0 (984.53 KB)

Option 3: You can work with Optoma to find their software downloads.

Givent that you see a mouse suggests that it is working somewhat but not senind over the entire screen. So, I my current best guess is that the WPS software has become corrupted somehow.

Oh, and you may want to

Extra step 1: Power cycle the dongle itself as it may have an issue (though I think you said you can connect to it from other computers)

Extra step 2: Try the dongle on a different projector to make sure it isn't that particular combination.

I had similar weirdness with MPB retina and ML on some projectors, fine on others. Restart with the projector connected during the off time works for me - then MPB recognises the projector even if disconnected and reconnected. Definitely something they need to fix!

void

I finally spoke with someone at Optoma that could ansewer my questions. I was politely informed that their WPS-2 Dongle device does not work with the Lion or Mtn Lion OS. The person I spoke with was rather rude and blamed Apple for the problems. No time frame as to when Optoma expected any sort of fix.

I am going to partition my macbook hard drive and load snow leopard so I can use the WPS-2 device. Speaking with Apple support this is possible to do.

Same problems. This is what I did to fix it.

1-21-2013 Projecting pictures with Macbook Pro with OS X 10.8.2 (Mountain Lion), and Epson EMP-83 projector connected via the mini display port.

When the Epson EMP-83 is connected to the mini port on the Macbook Pro, the display may need to be changed. Go to System Preferences, Display. Press Option key, and notice the "Gather Windows" button changes to "Detect Displays". Press Detect Displays.

The Epson PJ profile comes up behind the present window. Select the Arrangement tab, and make sure that the "Mirror Displays" box is checked. You will see two windows which become superimposed when the Mirror Displays is checked. "Mirror Displays" in this case means that the two will be the same

If you should leave it unchecked, the two display icons will be in some arrangement. Press the Option key, and drag one icon to the center of the other one. This would allow you to have different screen resolutions.

I found that the mouse disappeared if Mirror Displays was unchecked. It turned up to be about a mile to the left, well off-screen. Repeated swipes brought it back to the main display.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for your response. My connection to the projector is solely via WiFi - no hard wire connection. Optoma, maker of the WPS-2, finally confirmed for me that the WPS-2 only works with Snow Leopard (SL). So what I did is loaded snow leopard onto an external hard drive. With that plugged into my MacBook and booting to the external drive with SL, I am able once again able to communicate witht he projector using WiFi. Havingthe external drive serves to purposes: 1) able to run snow leopard and 2) able to back up my macbook.

Guys, I just found that If you stay in the DISPLAY and press ALT button you will fine the magic button DETECT DISPLAY. Click on it then you can see you lovely display on the screen. Cheers,

I'm just jumping in here, I have a mid2012 macbook pro, I just bought a minidisplayport to vga adapter, when I plug it in I just get a blank screen, i've tried re-booting etc. Oddly enough, if I boot into Windows 8 I can get the dual screens working and then when I reboot they work on mountain lion, now that i've rebooted again it doesn't work anymore. Has anyone had similar experiences, or found a solid solution?

-MJ

Try this (from an Apple Support page http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5369):

"How can I detect displays? If the detect displays option is not available, hold down the Option key while you are in the Display pane."

It's inexplicable to me why Apple would hide the "detect displays" button. Apparently the "plug it in and it just works" concept died with Mr. Jobs.

Oops. Knock the "):" off the end of the above link. Somehow it included those when I copy-pasted. Should be http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5369

Running ML OS 10.8.2 mid 2012 system. Works with projector at random. You never know what the formula may be. Turn it off, reboot. pram reset. Projector Off, Pc on then connect. Next time it may be tottally different. Not happy at all!! I purchased this system for the task of presentations and now I can't use it at all. Sick, Very sick!! I have spent over 3 hours on the phone with apple care trying to resolve the issue to no avail.

The biggest problem I have is when I plug in my vga adapter my screen freezes. I can move the mouse but can't make any functions work. As soon as I unplug the adapter whatever I clicked on will suddenly open up.