UCSC General Assignment Classroom Data Projection Instructions

All UCSC general assignment (GA) classrooms have HDMI connections.

How To Connect:

  1. Unlock the media cabinet or lectern and turn the projector on. Faculty members and graduate students can look up classroom media codes using these Classroom media access code instructions or call the phone number on the media cabinet.
  2. Some classroom media systems are controlled by a touch panel. Look for a glass panel on the top of the lectern or the front of the media cabinet. Tap the panel to wake it up then enter the media code.
  3. Other rooms have push button controlled systems. These rooms do not require an access code. Press the "Projector on" button.
  4. Select "HDMI" or "Laptop" on the media system. 
  5. Connect your laptop to the video cable on the lectern or coiled on the side of the cabinet and turn on the laptop.
  6. If your laptop does not have an HDMI connector, you will need to bring an adapter. Some academic divisions provide those for their instructors. Please check with your Local IT Specialists. You can also purchase adapters at the BayTree Bookstore or online. The Classroom Technology department has adapters available for short-term loan (3 working days) from Kerr Hall room 149. Please email classroomtech@ucsc.edu to make an appointment. We recommend keeping a second unused adapter with you, as these have a higher failure rate than many other parts.
  7. When you are done, please turn off the projector, lock the cabinet and coil the cables.

Troubleshooting:

If there is no image from your laptop, following these instructions in order will resolve that in the quickest way possible. Each step is designed to cut the number of possible problem causes in half. 

  1. Switch the media system to another input such as the video player and turn that on. If there is no image from that, please contact Classroom Technology at the phone number on the media cabinet or submit a trouble ticket by emailing classroomtech@ucsc.edu. Classroom Technology can usually fix this or other media system problems in just a few minutes so your class can continue.
  2. Switch back to the laptop input. If there is an image from the video player but still no image from your laptop, disconnect the video cable and, if your laptop uses an adapter, disconnect that as well.
  3. Reconnect the video adapter to the cable, make sure that it is completely connected, then reconnect it to the laptop. While reconnecting, watch the laptop's screen. It should turn black for a moment and then return. If it does not the video adapter or cable may need replacing.
  4. With the video cable and adapter connected, restart your laptop.
  5. For Windows laptops, hold down the Windows (cloverleaf) key at the bottom of your keyboard and press the letter "P" then use the arrow keys to select "clone" or "duplicate" from the menu that will appear onscreen and press "enter".
  6. Quit out of the media system and restart it then reselect the laptop input. The projector may take about 2 minutes to cool down and warm up again.
  7. Hold the connector on your adapter that connects to the laptop with one hand and gently move the rest of the adapter's cable in all directions with your other hand. Repeat this process with the other end of the adapter. If the image flickers on and off or flickers on and changes color, the adapter probably needs to be replaced.
  8. Hold the connector on the video cable with one hand and gently move the cable in all directions with your other hand. If the image flickers on and off or changes color, the cable probably needs to be replaced.
Troubleshooting Other Laptop Connection Problems:
  1. If your laptop image looks different on the projector than the laptop (Menu bars or icons that are present on one screen are not visible on the other), on a Windows laptop, hold down the Windows (cloverleaf) key at the bottom of your keyboard and press the letter "P" then use the arrow keys to select "clone" or "duplicate" from the menu that will appear onscreen and press "enter". On a Macintosh laptop, go to: Apple Menu>System Preferences>Displays>Arrangement and check the "Mirror Displays" checkbox.
  2. If you are connected via HDMI and there is no audio from your laptop coming out of the media system, go to: Apple Menu>System Preferences>Sound>Output and select the HDMI audio output. In most classrooms this will be labeled "Crestron" or "Extron". Then select "Sound Effects" and click one of the sounds. If you still do not hear it, turn up the "Volume" or "Program Volume" control on the media system.

If none of these steps solve the problem, please contact Classroom Technology at the phone number on the media cabinet or submit trouble ticket by emailing classroomtech@ucsc.edu. Classroom Technology can usually fix media system problems in just a few minutes so your class can continue.