By Alan Pierce
pierceaj@techtoday.us
My Wireless TV by Actiontec
There are many scenarios that you can solve using the My Wireless TV system. They include temporarily bringing your HDTV into your backyard, hanging a new HDTV in a new room that never had cable or satellite wiring installed, or avoiding the cost and mess that the installers will make running new wires through your walls to your new TV. The My Wireless hardware can wirelessly transmit your audio and video from a current TV source to a different TV in a new temporary or permanent location. The My Wireless TV MWTV200Kit includes a transmitter, a receiver, and all the needed cables for a standard HDMI installation. See diagram 1 and 2.  The transmitter and receiver will recognize each other as soon as you plug them into an electrical outlet.

The transmitter will need to be plugged into the satellite or cable box that is connected to one of your current TVs. I suggest that you select the one that is closest to the location where you plan to install the new TV.  To change channels without having to run back to your source location the system comes with a IR Blaster and an IR Receiver. Together they wirelessly transmit the signal from your source remote, even though you are far from the sources location, to change channels and volume on your TV. The IR blaster and receiver can control the features on whatever device you have chosen as your source using the remote that came with the source  as if you were in the same room as the source.

Reasons to Drool

My Wireless TV supports 1080p and while testing the video and sound was in perfect synchronization. Basically there was no apparent difference between watch the TV or video at the source or at the receiver location. The system worked with all my devices that have an HDMI connection port. Your remote control from your source works even though you are standing or sitting at the remote location far from the source.  The system does come with a remote control but it only controls the unit’s graphical user interface. With this remote (at the receiver location) you can select video source and configure the system. See photo.

Not so Cool

Wall density and the number of walls between your source and receiver location can greatly affect how far the transmitter and receiver can be apart. The 150 feet indicated on the box will only work under ideal conditions. For best results you need to keep the distance that these unit are apart as small as possible. If you are transmitting from a satellite or cable box you must realize that both TVs will be tuned to the same channel. The system does not come with a universal remote. So you either need to purchase your own or always remember to take the source remote back and forth from one location to the other. 


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