Alereon announces wireless USB NoWire laptop to HDTV extender
By Donald Melanson 
posted January 4th 2010 1:22PM
posted January 4th 2010 1:22PM
Looking to keep your computer-to-TV extender setup as basic as possible? Then you might just want to consider Alereon's new NoWire wireless USB extender, which does away with the need for any software or drivers along with the wires. As you might have suspected, however, that means it simply uses the wireless USB dongle to mirror your laptop display on your TV, which itself must be outfitted with a shark fin receiver that connects via HDMI or VGA (with some help form a 3.5mm audio jack). That obviously limits your options a bit, but the good news is that the extender can also take advantage of some software and drivers for Windows for some more advanced functionality. No word on a price just yet, but it looks like the extender will be available sometime in March. Head on past the break for a quick video overview.
First....Im a douche... i know :p
If it follows current pricing of devices like this it'll be ~$600
@ArhcAngel Warpia just announced a device like this for $179.99. I don't think ~600 would be a wise choice. These device look pretty good, hope there is no latency issues.
@ArhcAngel IOGear devide like this is $250
@persim Yeah. Price is the only issue here. There's a lot of pent up need though. I would actually be just as interested in the reverse - a way to transmit to the laptop display without having to deal with software compression over the network.
@ArhcAngel There is also this one:
http://www.cablesunlimited.com/products/Prod_Individual3.aspx?groupcode=I4479
$200ish - same thing.
@Unverified User
Me too. I'm wondering if hooking one of these up to one of those Dell touchscreen monitors would get me what I'm after...
@ArhcAngel
A slingcatcher does this and more for $200.
@ArhcAngel Atlona At-HDAiR. $220
I'd rather use my bluetooth keyboard with touch pad to control my laptop which is connected to and use my HDTV as primary display device.
@htd
That's probably better thinking if you think about it. Why beam the video when you can just beam the control of the computer. I guess it would have it's uses though to beam the video, especially for the business traveler I guess. I would think that the number of people who actually NEED this is far fewer than the number of people who would just want it because they want it.
@htd
This would end up working for me because I recently purchased a new tv and for some reason it does not have a VGA port. I have a tx2000z and if you dont know it has a crappy graphics card that only does vga out and s-video out so this would allow me to watch youtube on my tv again.
tl;dr - USB to HDMI will let me use a tv as a monitor again
@htd
I do the same. I use a Logitech bluetooth keyboard. While it is marketed for the PS3, it works fine with my laptop. (I've not had the need to use it with my PS3, but it's there if I need it.)
I think this device is nice though, as long as it allows the HDTV to go with it's native resolution and not match the PC, but unless it's cheaper than the $60 you can pick up the Logitech keyboard and go that route. In the end the desktop/laptop has to go somewhere.
@VAGRANT
that's exactly the same stuff I use
@htd
So, I'm working with a Mac. How do you do that?
Wonder Twin powers, activate!
Form of: a 3.5mm jack!
Shape of: a USB dongle!
Go go gadget HDTV extender!!!
There is only one thing I want to say... Wow
so how is the latency? if u play a video or game full screen, does it lag?
Did anyone else notice a delay between his TV screen and the laptop screen?
@Ralph23 yea i saw it its like half a sec rite? i think its cause the data has to travel from the dongle to the tv. but i dont think half a sec is that bad, later models should have no delay i think
@Fir3lord A half second isn't so bad but if you're using VGA then you're pulling the audio right out of the lap top which won't have the lag. If you're watching video or playing a game then you're sound will be 1/2 second ahead of the video which will definitely suck.
IOGear has had something like this for a while now. My only question is: Does it work with Mac? IOGear does not.
@glocksout
Buy a real computer. I'm a pc and I work with everything
@fatslug That doesn't go over well when I tell my client, "Buy a real computer."
What about playing games?
Cooooool
No detail on range though. Ideally I'd want something that could beam from my desktop machine downstairs to the upstairs living room which is a bit further than his couch example.
But then I've also got the input problem with needing a wireless mouse/keyboard that would cover that distance as well.
It should stream audio too.
*Loves HDMI*
Awesome!
Now... why can't I extend? You guys say it only mirrors.
I like this, have a coworker that has been trying these types of solutions out, and this one, at least in the video, look compelling. Would be great to see this technology working into mobile devices as well.
A few comments from Alereon. First, this is not the same chipset as the Atlona, Warpia or any other product on the market.
As a clarification, the HDMI supports both audio and video, and the VGA+3.5mm audio is an optional way to connect a/v into the HDTV. The product does supports MAC platforms and we anticipate it will sell for under $200. As for performance, our audio/video synch is very good and there is no observed latency from our chipset. There may be other factors such as network traffic or the CPU that may affect the synchronization with the PC, but you can use it in extended mode instead if this bothers you.
Compared to the Atlona/Warpia, our solution is easier to install, has better audio/video support, supports the MAC and meets regulatory requirements so can be shipped Worldwide.
@mkrell
Is it on sale now and where can I get it?
@dancanete End of April through standard online and retail outlets