M14x/M17xR3/M18x - Wireless HD/SiBEAM discussion thread

[JCrichton]

Thanks for the awesome clear answer, you just saved me $99. All i plan on doing is streaming the occasional movie and presentation to my big tv.

I think ill leave the gaming to the built in screen

Thanks Again!
Sam

Depending on the quality of the video you want to stream you still may want to go with the wireless HD.

[evil_mike]

TV is on, and it works perfectly if I use the VIZIO transmitter as well.

But I can't get it to work with the internal transmitter in any way... (and yes I have the receiver attached to the TV )

The Intel WirelessHD program can't find any network (as you can see from the pictures I posted the "connect" icon is activated and pressing the "disconnect" doesn't do anything).
The VIZIO receiver lights keep blinking because it's not finding any connection...

Any other suggestion.. ?
I am now almost sure there is no internal transmitter in my machine...

Could you post some screenshots of the Intel WHD program while in use?

Did you ever get your issue resolved? Sounds like you and I are having a similar problem...

[greatbigphil]

TV is on, and it works perfectly if I use the VIZIO transmitter as well.

But I can't get it to work with the internal transmitter in any way... (and yes I have the receiver attached to the TV )

The Intel WirelessHD program can't find any network (as you can see from the pictures I posted the "connect" icon is activated and pressing the "disconnect" doesn't do anything).
The VIZIO receiver lights keep blinking because it's not finding any connection...

Any other suggestion.. ?
I am now almost sure there is no internal transmitter in my machine...

Could you post some screenshots of the Intel WHD program while in use?

Did you ever get your issue resolved? Sounds like you and I are having a similar problem...

Guys, I don't think the visio receiver works with the internal card. I can't find any info showing that they are compatible.

There is a receiver that is definitely compatible with the internal card. It's the Netgear PTV 2000 for 1080p (there's a cheaper one that only does lower resolutions). Here's the website where it states specifically that it's compatible with the AW m18x:
ptv_supportedlaptops_usa

They sell it at dell:
push2tv - Dell - Search - All Dell.com

Does anyone else know if there are other receivers out there that are definitely compatible?

I'm also trying to find an info/spec sheet for the internal card. I can't seem to find one anywhere and Dell is being weirdly access-to-info-retentive about this card.

What are they hiding? Is it that the wireless HD card is people? We're transmitting our HD signals with people? (Sloppy, unfunny Soylent Green reference )

[evil_mike]

Thanks Phil, but I have to disagree. It's the exact same receiver Dell offers in their WirelessHD bundle....

And Push2TV (WiDI) is different technology than WirelessHD.

[everythingsablur]

Guys, I don't think the visio receiver works with the internal card. I can't find any info showing that they are compatible.

There is a receiver that is definitely compatible with the internal card. It's the Netgear PTV 2000 for 1080p (there's a cheaper one that only does lower resolutions). Here's the website where it states specifically that it's compatible with the AW m18x:
ptv_supportedlaptops_usa

They sell it at dell:
push2tv - Dell - Search - All Dell.com

Does anyone else know if there are other receivers out there that are definitely compatible?

I'm also trying to find an info/spec sheet for the internal card. I can't seem to find one anywhere and Dell is being weirdly access-to-info-retentive about this card.

What are they hiding? Is it that the wireless HD card is people? We're transmitting our HD signals with people? (Sloppy, unfunny Soylent Green reference )

I think you're getting the two different "wireless HD" components mixed up here. If you paid for the $99 internal Wireless HD card, you have TWO different methods which do similar things, but using totally different technologies.

The Push2TV product you linked uses Intel's WiDi. It is 100% incompatible with the $99 add on, and works with just the technology built into laptop via the Centrino wifi card and the Intel CPU.

The $99 upgrade is to add a Wireless HD (i.e. SiBEAM) adapter, and this adapter requires the Vizio receiver. It's a technically superior technology for a number of reasons (no lag, higher frequency, much greater bandwidth potential). There may be other brands out there, but make sure you understand what technology they support.

Intel Wireless Display (WiDi) != Wireless HD (SiBEAM)

[greatbigphil]

I think you're getting the two different "wireless HD" components mixed up here. If you paid for the $99 internal Wireless HD card, you have TWO different methods which do similar things, but using totally different technologies.

The Push2TV product you linked uses Intel's WiDi. It is 100% incompatible with the $99 add on, and works with just the technology built into laptop via the Centrino wifi card and the Intel CPU.

The $99 upgrade is to add a Wireless HD (i.e. SiBEAM) adapter, and this adapter requires the Vizio receiver. It's a technically superior technology for a number of reasons (no lag, higher frequency, much greater bandwidth potential). There may be other brands out there, but make sure you understand what technology they support.

Intel Wireless Display (WiDi) != Wireless HD (SiBEAM)

If I understand correctly, you're saying that the netgear works with the default laptop and does project a wireless hd signal but that it's inferior to the additional interior card + visio receiver?

[everythingsablur]

If I understand correctly, you're saying that the netgear works with the default laptop and does project a wireless hd signal but that it's inferior to the additional interior card + visio receiver?

No, I'm saying the Netgear works with the default laptop and projects a WiDi signal. This is inferior to the additional Wireless HD card + Vizio receiver.

WiDi is not the same thing as Wireless HD.

Wireless HD is a specific, trademark name for a technology from a company called SiBEAM.

Wireless Display (WiDi) is a technology from Intel that most Intel Core-series laptops with Centrino Wifi cards have built-in.

If you did not purchase the upgrade, you have access to WiDi only.
If you paid for the $99 upgrade, you have both Wireless HD and WiDi in your laptop.

Wireless HD is better, and you paid extra for it if you got the upgrade, so get the right receiver.

[greatbigphil]

Sorry for the confustion, what I meant to ask was if both methods are HD, but the internal card + visio are better?

[everythingsablur]

Sorry for the confustion, what I meant to ask was if both methods are HD, but the internal card + visio are better?

Yes, both are HD, but the WiDi transmission is laggy and can't handle as much throughput as Wireless HD.

From what I've heard (heresay), WiDi might choke up on really big high-bandwidth/bitrate heavy movies. No personal experience from me. Still probably more than enough for using your computer on a big screen, or presentations, YouTube (and other lower bandwidth intense videos). WiDi has some inherent lag, making gaming less than ideal (also see below caveat).

Games running off of your GPU will not be able to be transmitted over WiDi (WiDi can only work off of the IGP). If you intend to game on your HDTV over a wireless video technology, you need to use Wireless HD.

[greatbigphil]

And for that I need the visio receiver.

Do you know if there are any other receivers that work with internal Wireless HD?
I already picked up the Asus WiCast when I didn't think I'd get the internal card. I think it works on similar Amimon 2000/3000 technology as the internal card.

Boy-howdy! It sure would be nice if there was a definitive source of infromation outlining technology, compatibility, etc. for this internal transmitter. Every other piece of hardware is well documented, so why not this silly internal transmitter?