The Ultimate Guide to Wireless HDMI for Home Use 101

So you want to party outdoors with a projector for movie screenings or indoors with your flatscreen but you want to be more mobile so that you can have options on where to view it outside of your home cinema.

What are you to do? You should go wireless, naturally. This way, you’re not limited to watching the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, or the World Series with your laptop or smartphone if you wish to catch the action on the go.

Use this The Ultimate Guide to Wireless HDMI for Home Use to help you out on all your wireless HDMI connection endeavors.

What Is Wireless HDMI?

Wireless HDMI is a no-cable HDMI solution that allows you to send high-definition video and audio to your HDTV from your media player, PC, game console or cable/satellite box.

This shouldn’t be confused with streaming media equipment or a Chromecast device that makes use of your home Wi-Fi network instead.

To wit, they don’t use hard-wired connections and have either a built-in receiver that receives data from the transmitter of your media or they have transmitter/receiver hardware that you have to attach to both that look like Wi-Fi routers.

With that in mind, here are the main benefits of going wireless with your HDMI.

Converting Devices from HDMI Cable to Wireless Connections:

Instead of making a hard-wired connection between your media player and display device, you can instead attach a transmitter on the media device and a receiver on the display device instead of putting an HDMI input on the media device than an HDMI output on the display device.

You don’t have to deal with a long, ugly HDMI cable any longer. This ensures a solid link without much additional setup on your part.

Many Devices Can Be Put on Wireless Mode:

There are many devices, notably Apple TV and the like, that can connect wirelessly to media players and game consoles.

Most notably, devices made by the same manufacturer (Apple, for example) or are simply compatible with each other should be able to connect to one another wirelessly in even HDMI format, such that you’re streaming high-definition data through the wireless connection just like you would with a cable.

Less Setup and More Clutter-Free Convenience:

By going the wireless HDMI route with your connection, you don’t need to set things up as AV1 to AV2 or HDMI1 to HDMI2 on your HDTV.

The transceiver and receivers themselves will identify each other and do the linkup for you with the ease of connecting to Wi-Fi.

Some wireless HDMI kits include power adapters to them. Others get their power directly from the devices so that they don’t need to have their own separate electrical socket. You can set up everything in minutes.

Why Isn’t Wireless HDMI Mainstream

You’d think because of the popularity of Wi-Fi and smartphones that more people would use wireless HDMI over their cabled counterparts.

Kits are available online and can even accommodate non-HDMI vintage equipment like CRT TVs or 1990s projectors.

However, most HDTVs, BD players, DVD players, and modern game consoles have several issues with wireless HDMI that keep it from overtaking its cabled HDMI counterpart. To wit, here’s what you should expect.

More Limited:

At present, it’s possible to buy cables for UltraHD connections. Meanwhile, there are HDMI connections that are stuck at 720p or worse, thus you end up questioning how HD your wireless HDMI connection truly is.

4K wireless connections are also quite exorbitantly expensive to get. Anything cabled is more secure, from HDMI links to connections involving online gaming.

There are more stability issues to watch out for with your wireless HDMI, making it less popular to their cabled counterparts.

Varying Signal Distance:

The distance of your media player to your display device varies from kit to kit or device to device.

Some systems enable you to work for as long as 10 meters or just a little under the distance of a cable but with more leeway with your device placement.

Others can go as long as 30. There are even cases wherein you need line-of-sight to connect your system devices together.

Latency Issues:

Latency is the amount of time for equipment to process information. The higher the latency the longer the delay. As a rule of thumb, cabled HDMI connections have a lower latency compared to their wireless counterparts.

The time it takes for the packets of video and audio data to travel in the air is longer than what it takes to travel by cable. For some, it might not be an issue to have a millisecond or two of delay, but for others—like gamers or cinemaphiles—latency is everything.

Why Use Wireless HDMI (Reasons to Use Wireless HDMI)

Here are several reasons why you should use wireless HDMI over its cabled counterpart.

Instant connection.
There’s less cabled or wired clutter.
Endless wireless HDMI applications.
Location and placement is less limited.
Save money on cables and power strips.
It works in both home and office settings.
Zero to low lag or loss of quality for a set distance.
Fewer accidents like accidentally pulling wires apart.
Set up is as easy as connecting to a Wi-Fi connection.
Say goodbye to spaghetti wires and octopus connections.
You won’t have to worry about cable management any longer.
Multiple display connections are easier to achieve than ever before.
No need to buy new HDMI cables every time you purchase a new device.
Many modern devices have a wireless or Wi-Fi capability for cable-free connections.
You can send your HDMI signal to TVs located within different rooms in your home altogether.
Go wireless instead of setting up splitters, switchers, and matrix switchers for your home cinema.
Presentations can easily be streamed from laptop to projector without plugging or unplugging anything.
You can control your wireless HDMI through wireless gaming controllers and their built-in infrared ports.
Location, location, location—in other words, you can watch things on your laptop or different TVs within your house as long as the signal reaches them.

Pros and Cons of Replacing HDMI Cables with Wireless HDMI

Here are the pros and cons of replacing HDMI cables with wireless HDMI.

Let’s start with the pros of wireless transmitters for HDMI.

Separate wireless standards are used for these devices.
Easy to use since you plug the transmitter into the source device and the receiver to the display.
Certain devices work across different platforms, such as iOS, Android, ChromeOS, Windows, and Mac.
It works with a wider range of equipment and devices, particularly vintage ones that weren’t meant to be wireless.
Higher frequency bands don’t only offer reliable connections—they also enable uncompressed signal transmission compared to the compressed signals of streaming solutions.
Wireless hardware is better than wireless streaming through apps because it uses 2.4GHz or the 5GHz frequency band, which is a higher frequency band that’s less cluttered when push comes to shove.

Now here are the cons of wireless transmitters for HDMI.

If you lack an HDMI port, you might need to get an adapter or converter.
It requires a USB or HDMI port or else you’ll need an adapter to make it work.
You need to plug both the transmitter and receiver to their respective devices for the connection to work.
Connections for tablets or smartphones aren’t supported because the transmitting device and receiving display requires a USB or HDMI port.

As for the pros of wireless streaming of HDMI using apps, they include the following.

Set up is a breeze.
It’s the most widely used solution.
The range of transmission is much larger.
You don’t need a transmitter or receiver. Instead, you get to use your existing Wi-Fi Internet router for support.
You can connect your compatible modern devices together at the click of a button or one tap of the touchscreen.
You can stream content from your BD player, laptop, and so forth as well as Internet-based content from YouTube and Netflix.
Most displays like TVs, monitors, and projectors come with Wi-Fi support out of the box. All you need is an app to link two devices together via Wi-Fi Internet.

Now here are the cons of wireless streaming of HDMI using apps.

Data compression is an issue.
If there’s no Wi-Fi you’ll need to go the HDMI dongle route for wireless networking.
Not all projectors and televisions include built-in network cards. For these devices, you need the hardware solution of a transceiver/receiver kit.
Non-HD vintage devices will probably work better with a cabled adapter solution rather than a wireless one.

Questions To Ask Before You Buy a Wireless HDMI Transmitter/Receiver

Here are the questions you need to ask before buying the right HDMI transmitter/receiver kit for your HDMI-based equipment.

How much do the devices weigh?

The last thing you want to deal with is more heavy equipment to weigh your HDMI-using appliances down.

This is the reason why you should use an HDMI transmitter system that’s quite lightweight. Make sure that the included transceiver and receiver only weigh a couple of ounces.

They should be as easy if not altogether easier to carry around as your smartphone or tablet. Don’t let them break your back or make your hands cramp!

How does it send and receive things?

Ask your salesperson how their specific HDMI transmitter system goes about sending and receiving HD signals for both audio and video. You can now use what you’ve learned from this guide to make an informed decision on your purchase.

You should ask around to guarantee that the system has dynamic frequency selection or the feature that automatically searches for low interference frequency channels every time. This way, you won’t have to worry about congestion issues like buzzing, snowing, and static from your signal.

How strong is the wireless signal?

Your wireless HDMI transmitter should have a strong enough signal in order to send video and audio through ceilings and walls. It’s not enough that it seeks out low interference channels every time.

Signal strength is also required because you need to ensure that your equipment fits with the design of the space you’re working with.

No house comes without walls or ceilings. You don’t live in a warehouse. The signals should pass through those obstructions so you won’t have to worry about them.

What About Other Types of Video?

Even though having a 4K or 1080p signal is great from your transmission scheme, it’s just as important to have a wireless transmission that can work with different video types.

There are times when the signal for video will drop to about 720p. Your 4K UltraHD can also go down to 1080p HD.

It’s crucial to find a wireless signal to handle lower video formats that covers any situation so seamlessly that you won’t realize the quality drop until you look closely at the screen.

How to Choose Wireless HDMI Transmitters/Receivers

Because wireless HDMI serves as an alternative to HDMI cables, you should make sure to get transmission hardware or apps that give you roughly equal or superior to what you can get from cables. Don’t settle for weaker signals just because it’s wireless! You want your HD video transference to have a few drawbacks as possible. You want a transmitter/receiver combo that will prevent turning your entertainment center into a rat’s nest full of wires. You want to freely switch signals from the display to display with the same ease as connecting to different Wi-Fi signals.

Pick a Problem Solver:

Part of the reason to make the switch from cabled to wireless solutions is that cables are too problematic for you.

You want an HDMI transmitter system that solves your problems rather than adds to them.

You want to be able to clean up your entertainment center, broadcast a signal DVD or BD player signal to all the TVs in your home, or mirror the display of your computer to your TV for presentation or streaming purposes.

Easy Set-Up Is The Best:

The easiest to set up wireless HDMI product is your best bet. They’re all easy to set up, admittedly, but you can put on a short list the cream of the crop.

You can choose between an app that works with the Wi-Fi capabilities of all your devices or a transmitter combo that allows you to plug transceivers and receivers on the proper ports, whether they’re HDMI or USB ones.

A Wireless Matrix Switcher:

A matrix switcher is a device or set up that allows multiple video sources to link to one or more displays.

If you want to buy a wireless HDMI device or get a wireless HDMI app, look for one capable of doing what a cabled matrix switcher could do but without the need for wires, plugs, and ports.

Some transmitters are limited to linking one device to another and their price reflects that. It’s a good investment to get a device that can link all your media devices to your display devices to get more bang from your buck.

Bluetooth but for Video:

The main appeal of wireless HDMI across the board is that it works like Bluetooth for your phone but this time it’s for video or media players. However, transmitters are better than screen-mirroring apps like Apple AirPlay because they don’t require a Wi-Fi connection.

The Wi-Fi is the connection between transmitter and receiver. The Internet connection is separate from them and you won’t have to be limited or throttled by the net speeds your home has, which does affect latency.

The 3 Best Wireless HDMI Transmitters/Receivers on the Market

To help you with your shopping, here are reviews on the best wireless HDMI transmitters/receivers on the market.

J-Tech Digital HDbitT Series:

The J-Tech Digital HDbitT Series is a must-have wireless HDMI product because it actually supports UltraHD 4K signals, which means the highest possible linkages, latency, resolution, detail, and quality you can get for a wireless connection.

It’s signal is powerful enough to blast through most walls, ceilings, and other obstructions. It also comes with HDCP 1.4, which is digital content protection that isn’t only important for content makers but also for those solid “handshakes” between devices, thus ensuring connectivity.

Other low-quality wireless transmitters don’t even get recognized by your source and display devices! It also supports CEC signal pass through and has a minimal latency or delay time of 0.6 to 0.8 seconds.

The connection is so fast that latency is faster than an eye blink. Aside from its fair price point of a few hundred dollars, 4K resolution support, the ability to broadcast the signal for up to 200 meters or 600 feet, and high-speed quality transmission for a variety of resolutions—from 1080p to 480p or 480i—the J-Tech HDbitT Series is also capable of sending transmissions to two receivers at the same time, allowing for mirroring of the display on two separate monitors, projectors, and/or HDTVs.

In terms of downsides, there have been complaints of the sound going out in some defective units, leading to lower user ratings. Email customer support for more details.

IOGEAR Wireless 3D Digital Kit:

As for the IOGEAR Wireless 3D Digital Kit, it outdoes the J-Tech Digital HDbitT Series with its 5.1 digital audio and its full HD 1080p resolution. However, the J-Tech transmitter/receiver combo package still offers higher quality video that can go all the way up to 4K UltraHD, also known as 4096p or 3840p.

It’s multiple times more detailed than 1080p has to offer. However, on the plus side, IOGEAR is many times less expensive than J-Tech’s offering as well, with it costing barely a couple hundred bucks less than the J-Tech wireless HDMI kit.

It also comes with its own 2 HDTV set up, allowing a second HDTV to pick up the signal.

However, this is notably different from what J-Tech offers, which involve two display devices (HDTV, projector, or computer monitor) picking up its 4K signal. Additionally, IOGEAR warns that the transmitter and receiver should not be installed behind or below the television set or any other metal devices that could interfere with the signal.

This means you cannot use IOGEAR in a home cinema or matrix switcher setup. You can only have it link up your TV to your media player or your console wirelessly one at a time. Customers have also complained about the signal cutting in and out constantly or going down to 720p within 10 feet across the bedroom. Signal strength leaves much to be desired.

Nyrius Aries Home+ Wireless HDMI:

Last but not least is the Nyrius Aries Home+ Wireless HDMI. This transceiver and receiver package comes with the ability to connect to a wide variety of video source devices ranging from cable boxes, satellite feeds, Blu-Ray disc players, DVD players, PlayStation 4 consoles, PlayStation 3 consoles, laptops, and desktop PCs.

It’s able to outdo the IOGEAR Wireless 3D Digital Kit in terms of user ratings because of its broader compatibility and fewer limits.

It also helps that it’s able to switch through different channels to give users the option for a clearer signal and picture every time versus having only one channel available.

It can also transmit data for up to two media devices through its twin media inputs. That means that instead of IOGEAR’s ability to link up one media player to one or two HDTVs, the Nyrius Aries Home+ is capable of linking a PS4 or PS3 along with a BD or DVD player. You don’t need a Wi-Fi connection or app to make this device work. It’s signal strength is powerful enough to pierce through walls, ceilings, and floors. Too bad it’s only up to 1080p HD versus J-Tech’s 4K UltraHD signal. In terms of detriments, customers have complained about how its signal goes to black from time to time. There are also reports of skipping and freezing.

Q&A

Here are the most frequently asked questions regarding wireless HDMI connections.

Are wireless HDMI similar to Chromecast since they both don’t use wires?

No. As touched upon in previous sections, wireless HDMI isn’t like Chromecast or AirPlay. Those two are HDMI streaming using apps that only work when your devices actually have built-in wireless capabilities already.

They also require Internet from your home Wi-Fi network. Wireless transmitters also don’t work like Intel’s WiDi or Miracast that mirrors screens. They do a direct connection without wires and without the Internet to your TV, monitor, or projector to ensure zero degradation in quality and latency.

What is latency anyway and how does it relate to shopping for a wireless HDMI device?

Once again, latency is known mostly by the layman as lag or how slow your PC or monitor is in display the video signal. Sometimes the delay can happen in milliseconds or outright seconds, so you missed out on some things.

In videogame terms, it’s the responsiveness of your net connection when playing online multiplayer. In HDMI devices, it’s how fast your display receives the signal from your source device. High latency is what you’re after as far as connection responsiveness is concerned.

Why isn’t wireless HDMI the global standard?

Wireless HDMI hasn’t replaced wired HDMI or HDMI cables because there are no standards for wireless HDMI. None of the expensive wireless HDMI products in the market showcase cross-compatibility.

The HDMI standard is mostly exclusively all about the cables, which also feature anti-piracy safeguards that HDTV manufacturers and content makers approve of. Wireless HDMI could be pushed as the new standard for home video but they have little incentive of doing so above USB and HDMI cable transfer formats.

Are there any downsides to wireless HDMI?

Wireless HDMI, despite all its advantages, is held back by various reasons, chief among them is their expensiveness. Like the laserdiscs of the 1980s, wireless HDMI has a high price point, so it’s left mostly in the hands of rich people with disposable income to spare.

A few meters of HDMI cable is so cheap that there are rich people who see more value in wrapping their whole house with HDMI connections than to invest in a wireless solution that at times have latency issues and quality problems compared to their wired counterparts as far as signal obstructions are concerned.

Conclusion

Going wireless also allows you to watch movies, television shows, and various Internet videos on every HDTV or projector in your house without installing extra cable boxes or plugging in DVD players in different parts of your abode! It’s super convenient! However, it does have more latency issues and quality limitations you can’t get from choosing the cable standard.

For some people, the downgrade is worth the inconvenience but for others, it truly isn’t. Between wireless streaming with a transmitter system versus wireless streaming with an app, the former is superior to the latter in terms of quality but the latter is more common since it’s the more accessible, available, and affordable solution.

As far as the best wireless HDMI transmitters/receivers are concerned, the best is the J-Tech Digital HDbitT Series, followed by the Nyrius Aries Home+ Wireless HDMI, and then finally the IOGEAR Wireless 3D Digital Kit.

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