WHDI Reviews – Wireless HDTV News

Brite-View Air SyncHD (BV-2322) Uncompressed 1080p Video/ Audio Wireless Transmission Kit

Brite-View has been quickly rising to the top with their wireless HD offerings in the past few years. The Brite-View Air SyncHD (BV-2322) is part of the Air SyncHD line that has been becoming popular amongst wireless HD enthusiast. This is a typical two-piece transmitter receiver kit for connecting an HDMI source with an HDMI display without running wires.

The main feature of this kit is its support for relaying the HD signal completely uncompressed. This makes for perfect images without any distortions or delays. It works to transmit HD signals at resolutions of up to 1080p with audio as well. It works at 1080p@60GHz and also supports the 1080i Wide format for that cinematic effect.

This kit has a range of 66 feet for 1080p@60Hz and requires line of sight for it. If you are going to use only 1080i, then the range expands to 100feet while still requiring line of sight. If you think that it is too far for you to get up and change the settings, don’t worry. The IR remote that comes along with the BV2322 has a good range and works well.

This Brite-View Air SyncHD (BV-2322) has another useful feature that allows hybrid transmission. This means you can send HD signals over the air as well as down the cables if you want to. The kit has extra provisions for you to also create a wired connection should it become necessary for any reason in the future.

Setting up the kit is absolutely the simplest thing. It is truly plug and play and there is no user intervention necessary. Once you connect both the units and power them, they will connect to each other automatically and within seconds. Once this is done, you can start broadcasting the video immediately. The long range of this kit makes it perfect for long distance set ups like installing a poolside TV for those summer afternoons of pool parties and barbeques. As long as you have maintained line of sight, it should be fine. Line of sight only means not having anything solid in between the two units. So an open doorway with people moving through usually causes no interference.

Compared to the other kits available in this price range, the Brite-View Air SyncHD (BV-2322) has a good long range and dependable image quality. It is also quite stable. The buyer reviews for the kit are really good and most people are happy about not having to run a hundred feet of cable. It is a lot cleaner way to do it. Also, concealing all that cabling professionally would’ve likely been far costlier. Buyers have specifically commented about the clear picture quality and the generally lag free viewing. Over all, if you are trying to get a simple set up for your extra TV or just trying to clean up your home theatre set up, this is a good option to bank on.

Peerless HDS100 HD Wireless Multimedia Center - Black

The Peerless HDS100 HD Wireless Multimedia Center is a good-looking, sleek Wireless HD video kit. Unlike most of its peers, it works via its own secured WiFi network, which allows it to coexist with any other wireless setup. Thankfully though, the setup is completely painless. There are no manual network settings to be fiddled with. Both the transmitter and the receiver connect and stream automatically.

It can connect multiple inputs and comes with its own IR remote control for switching inputs. The remote can control the inputs from wherever in the house you are. Moreover, since it works over WiFi, it has no problems covering very long distances through multiple walls and other constructions. These features make it one of the best Wireless HD a/v options out there right now.

Starting out, the package consists of everything you need to get started. It has the transmitter and receiver units with a stand for each; the respective power adapters; the remote control for switching inputs; 15-pin D-sub to RCA female component video breakout cable; 1 component to VGA adapter; 1 IR blast for extended IR range and the installation guide and the manuals.

The Peerless HDS100 HD Wireless Multimedia Center works over the IEEE 802.11n 5GHz frequency, making it a strong network that is available all over an average sized, multi-storied house. It has an overall range of 131 feet (40m) with no line of sight required. It will in fact behave just like WiFi routers and give you access to the signal even through multiple walls. It can broadcast signals to up to 4 wireless receivers, making it perfect for various different entertainment areas in a house like the games room, living room, patio and office. It has easy multi-room and multi-display setup. So you can have different content running on different screen for up to 4 different places. They will all be part of the same private network and will be controlled by a single transmitter unit.

It has multiple inputs that include HDMI, Component, Composite, PC to TV and LAN ports. It has a broadcast capacity of full 1080p HD at 60Hz (1920x1080pixels). It can broadcast a 5.1 DTS surround sound signal along with the video, making it a good home entertainment solution. Additionally, the kit supports lower resolutions and analog inputs to make sure that all your multimedia devices are take care of.

The receiver also has multiple outputs, making sure that you can connect all kinds of displays and projectors to your wireless setup. This makes the whole setup extremely flexible, letting you use both digital and analog, HD and non-HD devices on both ends. It’s a good solution for home a/v enthusiasts and hobbyists.

Overall, the Peerless HDS100 HD Wireless Multimedia Center is a flexible and strong wireless HD solution. It would be a good fit for large homes with multiple displays to serve from multiple sources with a mix of analog/digital, hd/non-hd devices. Customer reviews suggest very good performance albeit a high cost. However, most find it worth the cost to have the flexibility that it offers.

VIZIO XWH200 Universal Wireless HD Video and Audio Kit (Black)

The VIZIO XWH200 Universal Wireless HD Video and Audio Kit is a well-designed two-piece transmitter-receiver kit that is easy to install and operate. The transmitter supports up to 4 HDMI input devices and the receiver has standard HDMI output that connects to most HDTV’s and other display devices like projectors that have HDMI input.

One of the main advantages of this kit from VIZIO is that it has a sleek design and it does not stand out like a sore thumb in the living room. However, it does seem to need line of sight to work properly unless you have the two units placed very close by together.

Another plus point is that the XWH200 works over the 60GHz frequency range, which successfully avoids interfering with your WiFi and other wireless devices in the house like wireless speakers. It also ensures that you get a clean signal all the way. The specifications say that you can transmit and HD video signal up to 30 feet away when inside the same room. So the company seems to suggest that a full wall might block the signal but light furniture is fine. In real life scenarios, most users have maintained line of sight and have reported facing problems only when a person stands directly in front of the unit. Walking in between them is not a problem.

The VIZIO XWH200 Universal Wireless HD Video and Audio Kit units have wedge type designs with smooth black finish all around. The transmitter is wider and more ‘wedge’ like because of the larger size of its components. It has four HDMI inputs in a row and a power input. It has a small selection button on the front right beside the VIZIO logo. Other than that little bit, the face is completely clean and smooth. The transmitter is smaller and more triangular than wedge. It is easily hidden behind your HDTV and is completely non-descript thanks to its finish. Even if you keep it visible, it should look right at home beside your other A/V components.

The package comes with the two units, the power units for each of the units and two 3 feet HDMI cables for connecting one input device and one output device to the kit. Set up is simple and automatic. All you hav to do is connect the receiver to the TV and connect a device to the transmitter and switch everything on. The TV should be able to detect the HDMI input or you can manually select the port that you have used.

Customer reviews suggest that the VIZIO XWH200 Universal Wireless HD Video and Audio Kit does work with most A/V equipment with some hiccups for specific models. Overall ratings are good with many 5 star reviews of the device on places like Amazon. One of the main complaints is the necessity of line of sight for this device to work. It works with Xbox, PS3 and most laptops with HDMI out pretty well and that serves the connecting purpose for most use case scenarios.

brite-View Air SyncHD|DX (BV-2822) Uncompressed 1080p HD Video/ Audio Wireless Transmission Kit (Multiple Inputs) - Black

The Brite-View Air SyncHD|DX BV-2822 is a two-pice wireless HD audio/video transmitter kit. It is one of the latest additions to Brite-View’s Air SyncHD line of wireless HD products. One of the main reasons for considering it is that the transmitter enables you to connect up to 6 different source devices. It has 4 HDMI inputs and 2 component and composite audio/video inputs. Put together, you have your gaming console, desktop, Blu-Ray player, set-top box and more connected to the transmitter unit at the same time and switch at will.

In addition to having up to 6 possible inputs, it also allows for hybrid transmission. It has both wired and wireless transmission features and user both at the same time or channel them separately. It works at a quality of 1080i for up to 100 feet and 1080p up to 66 feet. One problem is that it requires line of sight to achieve this. So you cannot place the transmitter and receiver in a way that where there’s something solid in between them like thick furniture or wall. However, for setups where both need to be installed in the same room the BV-2822 should work just fine.

One of the best things about the Brite-View Air SyncHD|DX BV-2822 is it is sets up automatically. All you have to do is connect your display and source devices to the receiver and the transmitter respectively. The rest happens automatically as they find each other and pair up. Transmission starts up within seconds. It is plug-n-play in the true sense of the term. One thing to keep in mind (as pointed out by one of the users as well) is that the status LEDs will continue to Flash unless you turn your TV on after connecting it to the receiver and choosing the receiver as input. This happens because the BriV-2822 waits to detect a working signal flow to show you that everything is working as it should.

Even though it has a long range, there is no quality loss in signal transmission as long as both units are within range and have line of sight. Even if people walk in between the two units, there won’t be any signal drops.

The Brite-View Air SyncHD|DX BV-2822 is especially a good deal for those who own multiple gaming consoles, players and HD cable boxes. Its 1080p HD @60Hz gives you some of the best image qualities ever. And the under 1ms latency translates to lag-free performance, which makes it perfect for gaming. Customers who have bough it for connecting their gaming consoles to their HDTV’s have left glowing reviews of its ease of use and perfect image quality.

Both units need external power supply to be operational. Both come with their own power adapters for this purpose. The package also includes cables and an IR remote control for switching between sources from the couch. Over all, it is an very well-built wireless HD kit that has all the necessary features required for a versatile home set up.

ASUS WiCast EW2000 Wireless HD Video Transmitter and Receiver`

The Asus WiCast EW2000 is a wireless HD transceiver that can broadcast wireless HD video signals from your laptop to TV. It comes in the usual transmitter-receiver pair and both have HDMI connections for connecting to their respective devices. Both units have a fully black finish with a glossy finished cover on top bearing the Asus branding.

Both units need a constant power supply for operating. The receiver unit that connects with the TV comes with a power adapter for this. The transmitter unit can either be powered via USB or via its own power adapter. Using USB power will ensure that you don’t have to tied down to one place but you have to sacrifice two USB ports for it. The video signal is sent VIA HDMI and it also transmits the audio. It supports the transmission of up to 8 different channels of audio to the receiving unit.

The package comes with all the necessary cables. There’s the transmitter and the receiver; a short HDMI cable for connecting your laptop/desktop to the transmitter; a long HDMI cable for connecting the receiver to the TV/Projector; a mini-USB to dual USB cable for powering the transmitter from the laptop and two power adapters. Asus also thoughtfully includes a travel pouch for carrying the Wicast EW2000 around with you.

The EW2000 is based on WHDI (1.4) technology and has a data throughput of 3Gb/s. If you can maintain a line of sight, the range will go up to 33 feet. It supports full 1080p @60Hz while still maintain 1ms latency. This latency also makes it perfect for gaming. It make it much easier to play all your computer games on a larger screen because there are no wires to run.

The Asus WiCast EW2000 operates over a 5.15 ~ 5.85GHz frequency, which allows it to avoid interference from other wireless devices in the vicinity.

Transmitting HD videos wirelessly creates no deterioration in the quality and the image quality remains the same as compared to standard HDMI wires. The best thing about the EW2000 is that since it is HDMI based, the units are truly plug n play. There’s no need to install any drives on your computer and the transmitter and receiver pair up automatically. There’s no need for any human intervention. The pairing happens very quickly so there’s no waiting period either. It supports playback from Blu-Ray players as well.

Average buyer rating for the Asus WiCast EW2000 is quite high. People find the effortless set up extremely helpful. They are also happy with the quality that this system maintains. One of the only complaints about it is that the transmitter takes up two USB ports when it is using USB power to run. The units have a good build quality and are sturdily built to last through prolonged usage.

WHDI Wireless 5GHz HDMI Extender Transmitter/Receiver Kits HD TV PC Video 1080P

This is an unbranded WHDI based Wireless 5GHz HDMI Extender Transmitter/Receiver Kit that supports a full 1080p HD resolution. Even though it is not from a specific brand, it has all the features that you can ask for in a kit like this.

It comes in two parts — the transmitter and the receiver. They are both similarly designed and have provisions to be propped up vertically. The design is flat and sleek, which makes it look quite good. All the connecting ports are along the sides of the boxes. And since the stand is rotating, you can also lay them both flat down to get a stacked set up.

The list of supported features is pretty impressive. The kit supports HD video resolutions of up to 1080p and that too at 60Hz. If you are looking to have a set up that requires the kit to transmit through walls, it will give you a range of about 10m, which is roughly 32 feet. With line of sight available, it can go up to 20m, which is about 65 feet. Given that the other products in the market feature a maximum range of 30 feet at line of sight, this kit definitely poses some advantages over the others.

Specifications and Features

• Instant Wireless HD transmission
• Transmission range up to 20m (65.6 ft) with line of sight
• Transmission range up to 10m (32.8 ft) through walls
• Video Resolutions up to 1080P @ 60Hz
• Supports HDMI 1.3 and HDCP 1.2 Protocols

Another useful feature on this Wireless 5GHz HDMI Extender Transmitter/Receiver Kit is its support for HDMI 1.3 and HDCP 1.2. HDMI 1.3 ensures that you get fully synced video and audio and there’s no lag in that regard. HDCP support ensures that you can playback HD content that is encrypted with this standard. A lot HD content now required HDCP support to prevent piracy. This becomes an issue when your wireless HD kit does not come with HDCP support.

Even though these units boast of very high-end features, they still maintain a price point of below $200. This shows in the housing, which is all-plastic and the small parts like the switches and buttons.

However, the kit does come with its own HDMI cable and two power adapters — one each for the two units. Both the transmitter and the receiver require a steady power supply during operation. Which why they need to have a permanent set up and be plugged in at all times. The receiving unit looks the same as the transmitter except that it only has one HDMI out port that is meant to go to the HDTV or projector, whichever you are using. The Transmitter has a physical switch for switching between inputs on one side and the ports are on the other side.

The units operate over a 5GHz frequency, which should be able to dodge most of the other domestic wireless networks and hence be free of interference.

Overall, this Wireless 5GHz HDMI Extender Transmitter/Receiver Kit has a good price to performance ratio. If you are not looking to own a branded piece, then this is something you can easily go for.

Gefen EXT-WHDMI Wireless HDMI Extender

The Gefen EXT-WHDMI Wireless HDMI Extender is your basic Wireless HD two-piece transceiver kit. It uses WHDI to send full HD video content of up to 1080p over the air. It also supports fully Dolby 5.1 surround sound, which you can hook up to your home theater sound system for the full effect.

The kit consists of the usual two pieces — transmitter and receiver. The transmitter has one antenna, two HDMI inputs, one component video in and a pair of stereo audio in out. It requires a constant 5V DC power supply to be operational. Its design is conducive to permanent set ups and not meant to be moved around.

The receiving unit has two antennas (for better reception it seems), one HDMI out and one pair of stereo audio out. It too requires a constant 5V DC power supply to remain operational. You will have to install it permanently near your display or projector.

Both units have a very good built and exude quality. The antennas and the housing — all of it stands out from the flimsy plastic wireless HD transceiver kits that are usually found on the market. Both feature metal housings with minimal controls that are situated on the front of the units.

Since you can plug in up to 3 different sources (2 HDMI + 1 Component Video), the transmitter unit has a source selecting button with labeled LED indicators to show you which source you are on at the moment.

The Gefen EXT-WHDMI Wireless HDMI Extender uses a feature called Ultra-Wideband to enable support for large amounts of the data that need to be transmitted for full HD videos. It has a range of 30 feet if you are using line of sight. The distance will have to be shortened if the signal is going through a wall to an adjacent room. However, that also means that the kit can also easily work without line of sight.

The WHDI chip shows its presence during the operation in terms of no visible lag and good picture quality. Not compatibility issues have been reported so far and it works with PS3, Xbox, general DVD and Blu-Ray players. It would also work with computers and laptops that have HDMI ouput. It also features support for HDMI 1.3 Lip Sync features and is compliant with HDCP. This means you can also transmit HD content that requires the transmission path to support content protection. This feature is often left out in wireless hd kits and hence many of them cannot transmit protected HD content.

Buyer reviews are very positive with special mention of the lag free performance and the picture quality. The only setback in the performance is that it can support only 1080i at 60Hz. For 1080p it will switch to 24Hz.

The Gefen EXT-WHDMI Wireless HDMI Extender delivers a solid performance and is very well built with streamlined features. The price higher than all competing models but the reliability and HDCP support makes up for it for the buyers.

Sony DMXWL1 BRAVIA Wireless HD Link

The Sony DMXWL1 Bravia Wireless HD Link is a wireless HD transmission kit that is specially designed to compliment Sony’s Bravia line of HD LCD TV’s. It has a normal, two-piece transmitter-receiver setup with a long range that makes sense for large rooms and multi-room setups.

The DMXWL1 has a glossy black finish on both units and the receiver unit is slightly smaller than the transmission unit. The transmitter comes with its own stand and it has 5 different inputs to plug all our devices in to. There are 4 HDMI-in ports and 1 component video port. All inputs support up to 1080i HD video streams. You can switch between inputs with the provided remote. The remote also supposedly works for your Bravia TV, so you do not need to juggle between two remote control units.

Features & Specifications: -

• Wireless HD transmission of video and audio to your compatible Sony HDTV from up to 65 feet away
• Real-time transmission for true gaming experience
• Support up to 5 HD sources (4HDMI, 1 component video)
• Control your BRAVIA HDTV and connected equipment with the included remote control
• Easy to mount receiver remains concealed behind your compatible BRAVIA HDTV

Multiple input options allow you plug in the many devices that you would like to connect to your HDTV such as a Blu-ray or DVD player, your gaming console, your laptop, etc. Each device can now have its own dedicated input port so that you don’t have to manually plug and unplug different peripherals. Set up is really simple because all your have to do is plug in all the sources in to the 4 HDMI and 1 Component Video ports.

The transmitter also has a digital and analog audio out options for connecting it to your surround sound system separately. The receiver has one HDMI out that needs to be connected to the display (HDTV, Projector, etc.). Since it has an HDMI out, it can easily be connected to TV’s and displays other than Sony’s Bravia line.

The Sony DMXWL1 Bravia Wireless HD Link has a long range of 65 feet, which is more than twice the range of competing wireless HD connecting kits. The kit broadcasts over a  5GHz frequency which might cause interference with some WiFi routers and other wireless devices that operate over the 5GHz frequency. It requires a line of sight option to ensure that there’s a clear signal down to the receiver. This is okay for large halls and living rooms but it limits the setup to one room and this won’t cover multi-room setups. The picture quality on the DMXWL1 is really great and it does do justice to all the HD inputs that it receives. There’s no visible lag and it is okay for gaming setups with consoles like the Xbox 360 and the PS3.

Buyer reviews feature some complaints about compatibility issues with various sources. In some cases, either the video or the audio is not transmitted properly and the signal drops at times. These problems are very likely to be firmware issues and will hopefully be fixed through an update soon. The reviews also note the clear picture quality and negligible signal lag during gaming. The simple plug n play set up of the Sony DMXWL1 Bravia Wireless HD Link is also a big advantage point, as is the long range that allow for really flexible setups.

Veebeam HD | Wireless PC to TV link | 1080p

The Veebeam HD Wireless PC To TV Link is a wireless HD PC to TV kit that streams your computers contents over to the TV. It is a completely plug-n-play set up although it does allow you to choose between two modes of streaming. It has a sleek and simple design that consists of the receiving base that connects to your TV and the PC dongle that goes in to the USB drive of your computer.

Since the USB hub powers the dongle, there are no problems with having power cables dangling from the side of your laptop or computer, adding to the clutter. The base station however needs to be powered, which is not a problem because it has to be connected to your TV or projector with wires anyway.

System Requirements:

• OS – Works with Mac OS X (10.5, 10.6), Windows 7 and Vista
• CPU – Ideal for laptop computers (requires 2.2 GHz or greater Intel Core 2 Duo or Intel i3, i5, and i7).
• Memory – 2GB
• Not compatible with Netbooks.

Features:

• Streams Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and any other Internet site or media application, to your TV 
• In-room only. Wireless USB signal cannot transmit through walls

• Built-in wireless PC to TV link.
• Easy to set up, easy to use
• Compatible with Mac OS X (10.5, 10.6), Windows 7, Vista and XP
• Ideal for laptops
• Use laptop keyboard & track pad to control playback
• Plays 1080p HD movie files
• Optical audio output for surround sound
• HDMI connector
• Displays photos and desktop in HD

• Veebeam HD Player
• Veebeam Wireless USB adaptor
• AC/DC Wall/Mains power supply
• Composite audio/video cable
• Quick Start Guide
• Veebeam HD Software (download required)
• (for best results use HDMI cable, sold separately)

Set up is easy and the Veebeam HD supports both Mac OS X and Windows, which is an advantage over many other similar devices that have only Windows support. It is advisable to check the website for updated drivers for your OS. Once the drivers are in place and the base station is powered and connected to the TV, the dongle can simply be plugged in for automatic set up where the receiver base and the dongle transmitter find and connected to each other unassisted.

Once you plug the dongle in, you can choose between two modes. The first and the default mode (called Screencast by Veebeam) is your basic mirror setup where the TV will mirror your screen and will show what is on the screen at the moment. This is good for sharing things like images, websites, etc. The other one is the extended mode called Video Play-To in this case. It gives you separate screen in addition to your own screen so that you can display something on the TV whilst having your laptop’s screen free for other work.

The only major disadvantage that the Veebeam poses is the 2-second delay. For some reason, the Veebeam is one of the rare new wireless HD models that have a pronounced lag that cannot be corrected. This makes gaming on the Veebeam impossible, at least those games where the players needs to react to the visuals.

The base station has composite video out, Digital audio out (S/PDIF), HDMI out and stereo RCA outs. Having two different types of video outputs makes it easier to use the Veebeam in different scenarios.

The biggest issue that buyers have with the device is the lag that stops them from using it as a second screen for work and gaming. However, if you are just watching a movie or watching online videos or simply streaming music, then it should be fine. Another minor issue  is that it needs to be in the same room as the base station. This is common to a lot of other wireless HD kits and hence doesn’t figure as much in user reviews. For those who want headache free PC or Mac wireless HD streaming capabilities, The Veebeam HD would be a good option.

brite-View HDelight (BV-1222) Uncompressed 1080p Beam-to-TV Kit

Brite-View has brought out quite a few Wireless HD kits over the past one year and more. Their models have progressively become better with more input options and better signal quality. Credit for this also goes towards Amimon’s advances in the WHDI technology. This model was released towards the last quarter of 2010 and it has multiple input options. It also supports Apple’s iPad through a special adapter that must be bought separately.

The HDelight BV-1222 has a simple plug and play approach. The receiver and the transmitter need to be transmitted to their respective devices and the rest happens automatically. There’s no pairing required and the receiver automatically finds the transmitter and starts streaming the HD video signal.

This kit utilizes a 3Gbits/sec throughput and hence has no noticeable lag. This makes it perfect for activities that require a lag-free sync like gaming. It is also a welcome feature for those who would be using it to work on their laptop of iPad.

The kit is especially designed for use with a laptop and has USB connectivity. When connected to a computer, the transmitter draws power from the USB hub and does not require an external power supply. This is helpful because this way the laptop-transmitter setup can be completely wireless without the need to have a power brick trailing from the transmitter unit.

However, the transmitter needs to be plugged in to a power source when using with anything else; such as gaming consoles, Blu-Ray or DVD players and also iPads. That is because the HDMI connector is not meant to power a device. The receiver needs to be connected to a power source at all times.

The transceiver pair has a range of 30 feet and support full HD standards of 1080p@60Hz. There is a requirement for line-of-sight though, which means there should be no obstruction between the transmitter and the receiver that fully blocks one from the other. This is a small caveat for some customers, who would’ve like to set the transmitter behind a partition or in another room.

The signal remains uncompressed through the entire signal path, from the source through the transmitter-receiver to the display (TV/Projector). This preserves the a/v quality through transmission and remain faithful to the source

Customer reviews suggest that the features mentioned on the BV-1222 all work as advertised. Those using the set up for gaming have reported very good performance with no noticeable lag degrading the game play. There are no complaints regarding setup with most comments mentioning a fully plug and play experience. The packaged comes with a short USB-to-USB cable for plugging it in to a laptop.

Most reviewers reported high video and audio quality from various different sources. These included gaming consoles, Blu-ray players and computer content (both local and online such as Hulu, Netflix and YouTube). Some have used it transform their normal PC’s and laptops to home theatre systems (HTPC’s).