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Mankind has long dreamed of getting rid of wires and creating wireless connection digital devices for data transfer. So over time, technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, WiMaX and Wireless Home Digital Interface appeared. In this sense, Intel also did not stand aside and presented its development called WiDi. It is designed to wirelessly transfer content from a laptop, ultrabook or tablet to Smart TVs. This standard is based on WiFi technology and allows you to transfer Full HD and surround sound (5.1) between compatible devices.
If your digital device (computer, TV) has a version of Intel Wireless Display 3.5, then Miracast technology is also available to you as a bonus. It is sometimes difficult for uninformed people to figure out how to use the TV as a wireless monitor for a smartphone or laptop using Intel WiDi (Wireless Display) technology.
The wired connection of digital devices in a sense prevails over the wireless one, as it is less susceptible to external interference. The minimum influence of interference contributes to the smooth passage of the signal, which in general significantly affects the transmission rate of the information flow. Therefore, many people, for example, to transmit an ultra-high definition video signal (Full HD, Ultra HD) from a computer to a TV and twisted pair cable () to transmit a video stream using DLNA technology. How to create a media server on a computer, read and.
However, if you need a wireless network between the mentioned devices, then you can create a connection through a new one, which is not subject to external interference, unlike previous versions. I mentioned in one of the previous publications and I will not dwell on this here. Of course, the quality of a wireless broadcast of a video stream largely depends on external conditions, but be that as it may, humanity has always sought to get rid of the wires under its feet by creating new standards.
So, as a result of progress, Wireless Display technology (abbreviated as WiDi) from Intel was born. If you translate the name literally - this is a wireless display. WiDi is a way to wirelessly transfer content from a mobile device (tablet, smartphone, laptop, ultrabook) to a TV screen (Smart TV).
This technology provides low latency, fast connection and ease of use for the user. If we briefly explain the principle of operation of this technology, then everything that happens on the desktop of your mobile device is duplicated on the TV screen, that is, the image is compressed very quickly and transmitted via Wi-Fi to the Smart TV screen. It is possible to transfer an image to a TV both from a computer (laptop) and from mobile devices(tablet, smartphone). These devices must meet a number of requirements:
- the laptop must have an Intel processor, an Intel HD Graphics series graphics chip, and wireless wifi Intel adapter. If your laptop does not have such qualities, you will need a special prefix;
- mobile devices that support Wireless Display and have a RockChip chip, as well as Android version 4.2 and higher;
- the TV must support Intel WiDi, or you will need to connect a special receiver to it via an HDMI connector.
As far as I know, almost all Smart TVs from manufacturers such as Samsung, LG, Toshiba since 2013 support this technology and Miracast.
How to connect Intel WiDi.
The connection is very simple. First you need to connect the adapter to your TV. Next, turn on Intel WiDi on the TV, and on a laptop or mobile device, launch the Intel Wireless Display program and select our Wi-Fi adapter from the list. After pressing the "Connect" button, the connection is made and your TV is now acting as a wireless monitor.
You do not need a Wi-Fi network to connect, your Smart TV will create the network you need to connect to.
Summing up, I would like to say that this technology is very convenient and, importantly, easy to use. It cannot be said that it is vital, but in many situations it can be useful. For example, at conferences, when you need to play some slides or videos from a laptop for the audience on a big screen, show your friends photos from a smartphone ... Agree, it’s not very convenient to watch photos on a smartphone with a large company, another thing is on a big screen. Instant connection and you enjoy watching.
The only disadvantage of this technology is, of course, the strict requirements for hardware. If you have experience with this technology, share it with us in the comments.
In the Intel blog, we have repeatedly written about Intel WiDi technology. A year ago, a whole post was dedicated to her, then we tested the work of WiDi in the MegaFon Mint communicator, and finally, quite recently, she flashed in our news digest. However, we felt that among all this information, there was not enough personal and exhaustive testing of WiDi in order to study its features, advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, as soon as the Netgear Push2TV HD WiDi adapter fell into our very skillful hands, we realized: the moment has come. For a week, I tested technology and hardware in my makeshift home lab, combining business with pleasure. On the results obtained, the discovered nuances and bugs, and let me report here.
Selection of compatible hardware
WiDi technology belongs to the category of hardware-dependent, for its operation requires the fulfillment of a number of requirements. Briefly, these requirements can be formulated as follows:- Second or third generation Intel Core i3/i5/i7 processor (not any, see below);
- The graphics subsystem Intel HD Graphics, as we know, is built into the above processors;
- Wi-Fi adapter Intel Centrino with support for 802.11n.
The list of compatible equipment is constantly expanding, we recommend that you carefully study it if you want to deal with WiDi. Your humble servant personally fell into this rake, choosing an ultrabook for tests - he turned out to be noble and good-looking, but had an incompatible Wi-Fi adapter. Everything turned out only on the second attempt, that is, the second ultrabook. Its characteristics, in principle, do not matter, I can only say that it uses the third generation Intel platform; OS installed is Windows 8.
By the way, I want to note in passing that for the first time, right after the launch of the installer, Intel software honestly warned that WiDi would not work on this ultrabook and refused to be installed further, which saved my time and nerves. The same approach is implemented in other hardware-dependent technologies, such as Smart Response.
Set-top box Netgear Push2TV HD
So, we figured out the ultrabook, now let's consider the reverse side of WiDi, that is, the receiver. There are a number of monitors and TVs with built-in WiDi, notably Samsung's line of combo devices, a number of TVs and Toshiba, and in addition some media players and game consoles. However, most TVs do not have WiDi or Wi-Fi, and you need to purchase a set-top box for them. There are also several types of set-top boxes: from D-Link, Belkin and other manufacturers. Our testing used the Netgear Push2TV HD adapter; there is a feeling that all of the following will be applicable to other consoles.
Installation and setup
It makes sense to start getting acquainted with the technology from the WiDi home page on the Intel website - reading it will no doubt be useful for further research. Unfortunately, the most useful information, namely, where to get the WiDi software, is not on it, but I will tell you. The second step is to go to the download section of the Intel website, where you can very easily update the drivers responsible for WiDi - take my word for it, it will not be superfluous. There we will also find the WiDi software directly. To facilitate the use of WiDi, there is a special widget, although you can do without it.
Software update on WiDi adapter
Installing the WiDi software is fast and uninteresting - literally, there is nothing to take a screenshot from. But the first launch I did not do without light dancing, although again it did not come to the jew's harp, given to me by Intel at one time. So, the set-top box is turned on and connected to the TV via the HDMI port (besides it, it also has a component port). We start scanning adapters on the ultrabook and almost immediately find ours. We press "connect" and ... we do not connect. The process was interrupted several times at various stages with various errors, until, finally, it was not possible to somehow connect the two adapters. Immediately after that, the software update of the set-top box began. The prefix itself does not have Internet access, so the idea of updating through an ultrabook seems sound. I note that the ultrabook was not connected to the Internet at that moment, which means that the update is contained in the WiDi software. After the update, the set-top box rebooted, and there were no more problems with pairing.
Entering a password when pairing
The newly turned on STB is waiting for a connection - the waiting screen is shown in the first picture. In the process of establishing a connection, after successful initialization, a random password number is displayed on the TV, which must be entered on the ultrabook. Following this, the desktop image appears on the TV. The Wireless Display is a full-fledged second display, which, like a wired second, can operate in two modes: clone and extend. Intel software recommends using the second option. TV resolution was automatically set to 1080p in both modes.
Functionality Testing
After a little adventure with the setup, I went directly to testing. Several films were selected as media content, both in HD and in lower resolution. The feeling of watching can be expressed as follows. Video of non-HD resolution goes just “with a bang”, just a couple of times traces of some kind of digital interference were noticed. When watching high-definition video, a barely noticeable twitching of the picture is sometimes visible, most often when the camera is smoothly rotated. I have seen the same effect when the TV is connected to a DLNA server via Wi-Fi; I myself preferred to use the old man's wire.
The TV is requesting a DLNA connection
By the way, about DLNA. Ultrabook software can work in a mode that I would call “WiDi without WiDi”, when the TV does not need a WiDi set-top box; he receives a picture from the ultrabook through DLNA. In the documentation, the developers honestly warn that this mode does not work with all DLNA clients, but my Samsung 5300 TV connected without problems. However, there is not much benefit from such “emulation”: the picture quality is much worse, HD resolution is not supported, and in general everything slows down quite a bit. In addition, due to DLNA's habit of caching content, a TV connected in this way cannot be used as a monitor, since the mouse refuses to crawl in real time.
The connection to the device has been established. Left - WiDi widget
Wi-Di widget performs two functions. Firstly, it allows you to connect a Wireless Display with one click, the connection with which has already been configured once and in the properties of which it says “connect automatically”. Secondly, in extended monitor mode, the widget allows you to switch the application from one monitor to another. The thing, in principle, is good, if it were not for the limitations in functionality that I do not understand. For example, it is able to move some applications between screens, and some are not; By what principle the choice is made, I could not establish. Having suffered a little, I switched to "manual control" of windows and quickly got used to it.
From the intensive use of Wi-Fi while watching movies on the ultrabook, the battery quickly discharges: if in normal office mode it works for 5-6 hours, then here the charge is barely enough for a movie. This, of course, can hardly be called a disadvantage. In general, no real, conspicuous shortcomings of the technology were identified. The connection (at a short distance, of course) was stable, no software failures were noticed either. In my opinion, WiDi is quite suitable as an alternative to DLNA, even having an advantage over the latter in the form of universality: WiDi is completely indifferent to what is delivered to the remote display, in addition, there is no need for transcoding. There is every reason to believe that in the near future Wi-Fi will settle in all TV receivers without exception, and not only in top models, as it is now. That's when WiDi can open up a second wind, especially if the family of devices capable of transmitting an image to the Wireless Display expands in a fundamental way.
But the cable is not always convenient to lay, thanks to the cable you are "tied" to a place and cannot move freely. There are technologies that will allow you to wirelessly display the screen of a laptop, netbook or tablet on a TV, one of these technologies is WiDi.
WiFi (Intel Wireless Display)- wireless transfer of content from a mobile device (laptop, ultrabook, tablet) to a TV (Smart TV), developed by Intel. The technology is based on the Wi-Fi standard. (Wikipedia).
In order to be able to connect your TV to a laptop / ultrabook / tablet using WiDi, it is necessary that each of the devices supports this technology. No additional equipment (routers, routers, access points, etc.) is needed.
In order to understand whether your TV supports WiDi or not, you need to read it technical capabilities, it’s easier to do all this by going to the TV manufacturer’s website, find your model and get acquainted with the technical specifications.
To understand if your laptop / ultrabook or tablet supports WiDi technology, you need to met the requirements for WiDi , namely:
| Terms | Intel® WiFi | Intel® Pro WiFi |
| Operating system | Windows 7, Windows 8/ 8.1 (Windows 10) | |
| CPU | - 2,3,4,5 generation Intel® Core™ i3/i5/i7 |
4th Generation Intel® Core™ Mobile and Desktop Processors with Intel® vPro Technology |
| Graphic arts | Intel® Iris™ Graphics 5100 Intel® HD Graphics 5000, 4600, 4400, 4200, 4000, 3000 (mobile), 2500, 2000 (mobile) |
Intel® Iris™ Pro Graphics 5200 Intel® Iris™ Graphics 5100 Intel® HD Graphics 5500, 5000, 4600, 4400 |
| WiFi cards |
Centrino® Wireless-N 1000, 1030, 2200,2230 BCM43228 |
Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160 Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 Intel® Dual Band Wireless-N 7260 Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 Intel® Dual Band Wireless-N 7265 |
In order to see which processor, wireless adapter and graphics you use, I recommend reading the article -.
If your mobile device meets the requirements and your TV supports WiDi, you can set up a WiDi connection.
Enable WiDi on the TV.
In this example, a TV will be used. LG with WebOs, enabling this feature on other TVs ( Samsung, Philips, Sony, Toshiba etc.) will occur by analogy.
Open the Smart Applications menu, for this:
On the standard remote, press the "Smart" button.
Press the "Home" button on the Magic Remote
Then open the full application menu.
Select "Screen Share".
Thus, you have enabled the WiDi function on the TV.
Enabling WiDi on a laptop, ultrabook, tablet.
In order to use WiDi technology on a laptop, ultrabook, tablet, you need to install the appropriate software. For this it is necessary download program for WiDi .
For Intel WiDi download Intel® Wireless Display Software for Windows, for Intel Pro WiDi - Intel® Pro WiDi Software for Windows.
Installing the program for WiDi is extremely simple and comes down to clicking the "Next" button and agreeing to the license agreement.
After installation, a shortcut will appear on the desktop Intel® WiDi.
Launch the Intel(R) WiDi application. When turned on, it automatically scans for wireless displays and when it finds one, it will prompt you to connect.
After agreeing to the connection, the numbers will appear on the TV, which must be entered on the laptop, ultrabook, tablet in the Intel WiDi program. Then, within a few seconds, the connection will occur. As a result, everything that you see on the screen of the mobile device will be displayed on the TV.
In addition to duplicating the image, the TV can be used as a second screen. To do this, press the "Win" + "P" key and select "Expand" (suitable for Windows 8 / 8.1, for Windows 7, follow the steps described below). Thanks to WiDi technology, your TV becomes a full-fledged monitor, you can change the resolution, screen orientation, etc. on it. To do this, right-click on the desktop, select " Screen resolution" or go "Control Panel" - "Display" - "Adjust Screen Resolution".
In the window that opens, you can change the screen resolution, both on a laptop, ultrabook and on a TV, choose to expand or duplicate the image, change the screen orientation.
To disable the WiDi connection, in the Intel WiDi app on the appropriate wireless display, click Disable.
General impression of WiDi.
WiDi is a great way to get rid of some of the wires in an apartment / house, in addition to wireless connection, displaying the screen from a laptop, ultrabook, tablet on a TV, it can act as a second monitor, which allows several people to use one laptop, ultrabook at once. For example, by expanding the screen, you can turn on a movie / presentation / photo on the TV, and at the same time surf the Internet, play a game, etc. on a laptop, ultrabook.
But this method of wireless connection has drawbacks, since this development by Intel, they firmly tied this technology to their products, and this technology can only be used on a limited number of laptops, ultrabooks and tablets. Also, WiDi is not suitable for demanding games, since the power of the processor graphics is relatively scarce, plus there is a noticeable delay in displaying video on a mobile device and TV. It is a fraction of a second and will not prevent you from watching videos, photos, presentations, but is critical for action games where an instant reaction is required.
In my opinion, WiDi technology is a very good solution for wireless connection, and for most tasks it is ideal.
Benefits of using WiFi:
1 Allows you to wirelessly connect mobile devices to your TV;
2 Supports high resolution FullHD (4K will be supported soon) + 5.1 sound;
3 It is possible to expand the screen (use the TV as a second monitor).
Cons of using WiDi:
1 Not every device supports WiDi technology (applies to both laptops, ultrabooks, tablets and TVs);
2 Delay in fractions of a second on the TV screen.
Video of connecting a laptop to a TV using WiDi.
In this article, we will get acquainted with an interesting technology from the processor giant Intel - Wireless Display, or WiDi. The name clearly hints at such a familiar abbreviation as Wi-Fi, and therefore there is an erroneous spelling - Intel Wifi Display. Indeed, here we are dealing with wireless data transmission, but Intel offers us something else - broadcasting a video signal from a laptop under Windows control on a monitor or TV screen.
Indeed, it is very convenient to do without cables stretching across the floor to the place where you decide to sit down with your laptop. Unfortunately, there are hardware limitations for using the technology, not all equipment is compatible with it. The requirements listed on the Intel website are as follows:
- Core processor based on Ivy Bridge or higher with integrated video core;
- Wi-Fi Intel adapter Centrino with support for 802.11n.
- Windows version 7 Home Basic or higher with Intel WiDi software installed.
If your laptop has an external graphics adapter, you will need to switch to Intel HD Graphics to use Wireless Display. If it is disabled by the manufacturer, it will not be possible to test the technology.
At the moment, WiDi allows you to play Blue-Ray quality video, in 2015 the manufacturer promises to add the ability to transfer to a screen with a resolution of 4K, which will require a 5th generation Core processor based on the Broadwell microarchitecture.
There are also certain requirements from the image output device, but if it does not have built-in Wi-Fi, then you can simply purchase a specialized set-top box. It connects with an HDMI cable and allows you to use any TV or monitor equipped with this connector.
Installing the "wireless monitor"
Let's give an approximate algorithm for setting up a WiDi connection between a laptop and a TV using the D-Link DHD-131 adapter.
After connecting it to the TV and installing the software on the computer, you can start pairing.
On the TV, select the set-top box as the signal source, after which the image will look something like this:
If necessary, the firmware of the set-top box will be updated, since it itself does not have Internet access. This is how the WiDi window looks when the connection is active:
During operation, there will be a slight delay in the movement of the mouse relative to the cable connection, but there is no discomfort when watching videos or photos.
In addition to laptops, WiDi is also available on Intel Centrino-based Windows tablets, as well as devices that support DLNA wireless transmission, such as the Sony PlayStation 3.
Unfortunately, the following restrictions apply when using Wireless Display over DLNA
- WiDi software version - from 3.5.x, but not higher than 4.2.x.
- You cannot send secure data, 1080p video, or surround sound.
Comparison of WiDi and Miracast
Miracast technology provides the ability to transmit video over Wi-Fi for devices based on Android 4.2 and higher, certified by the trademark owner under the Wi-Fi Display test plan program. Wireless Display is compatible with Miracast since software version 3.5, but has several notable advantages over it, enshrined in the standard:
- support for video playback up to 1080p (Miracast only prescribes the fulfillment of these requirements, but does not guarantee them);
- support for HDCP content protection system;
- the list of video modes is supplemented with extended and multitasking ones.
Let's take a closer look at the last point. In multitasking mode, the video player sends an image to an external screen, while the screen of the mobile device itself remains available for use for normal tasks - browsing the Internet, making calls, playing games, etc.
Business Application
The whole family of Wi-Fi Display technologies is very attractive and promising for business use. Possibility to display big screen presentations, graphics, video calls and much more are sure to be in demand in a corporate environment. Intel provides an extension of its technology called Intel Pro WiDi. Among its features, the following qualities are emphasized.
Exploring the Intel Centrino Wireless Adapter
Advanced-N 6205 for Desktop
We have been using Intel wireless adapters for a long time in our router tests, and for good reason - this equipment is one of the first to support new standards and has very high performance. Intel, with large engineering and manufacturing resources, pays a lot of attention to wireless technologies. The widespread adoption of the company's solutions began with the first Centrino platform, when a Wi-Fi module was added to the chipset for a laptop to the processor and chipset. The use of a single manufacturer and special technologies significantly improved performance and battery life.
Since then, several generations of devices have changed, and today the Intel Centrino 6000 series is represented in the middle and upper segments of the market. The most common model in laptops is the Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205, presented in the form of a half miniPCIe format card that supports dual bands ( may depend on adapter modification) and operates at speeds up to 300 Mbps. Its older sister, the Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300, is capable of showing more high performance thanks to the 3T3R mode (450 Mbps), it is a rare guest due to the higher cost and the need to install not two, but three antennas in a laptop. In addition, do not forget that it is routers with support for 300 Mbps that are most common today, models for 450 Mbps are much rarer and belong to the top class.
Wanting to transfer success to desktop systems and to support the next technological innovations, the company plans to release a modification under the name Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 for Desktop. It differs from the “laptop” version using an adapter for installation in a standard PCIe x1 slot and a complete set with an external remote antenna. Exact plans for the release of the model on the market have not yet been determined, in particular, it is possible to change the design of the antenna to improve performance.
In this article, we will conduct a short express test of the device, and also check the Wi-Fi Direct and Intel Wireless Display technologies in action.
Wireless adapter testing
An engineering sample was tested, but the differences from the release version are likely to be minimal. The device is a standard half miniPCIe card, which can be found in laptops, installed in a special adapter to the PCIe x1 bus for use in desktop computers and its own version of the antenna with a 1.2 m cable. Formally, such a kit can be assembled independently and in parts. The difference from the "Chinese" version is a high-quality and convenient adapter board. Optionally, it is possible to use a low-profile bar for installation in compact cases of media centers. On the back panel there are standard connectors for two antennas and a connection activity indicator. Some questions are raised only by the antenna - it is not very clear how and to what to attach it.
The adapter is based on Intel's own chip, it provides operation in the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands in 2T2R mode with a maximum speed of 300 Mbps. Drivers can be downloaded from the manufacturer's website. It is also proposed to use a proprietary program to manage connections. For testing, the device was installed in a stand based on the motherboard ASUS boards Maximus V Gene with Intel i7-3770K processor.
The performance study was conducted in conjunction with the ASUS RT-N66U router, which supports dual bands and modes up to 450 Mbps inclusive. Note that by default, in the properties of the adapter on the 2.4 GHz band, only the 20 MHz channel is allowed. To determine the maximum capabilities of the device, this setting has been disabled. The test conditions were slightly different from those usually implemented in tests of wireless equipment, so a direct comparison of the results with other articles will not be very correct. The direction is relative to the adapter.
For an adapter with support for 300 Mbps, the numbers turned out to be just great. They are clearly out of the rule "real speed = theoretical / 2". It is possible that in this case The optimally fitted antenna also played a role.
WiFi Direct
Modern wireless WiFi networks in the vast majority of cases, they are created with the participation of an access point. It is she who is responsible for the security settings and access control of clients. Increasingly, however, mobile device users are faced with the challenge of exchanging documents in a setting other than home, such as in a meeting or on the road. Previously, Bluetooth claimed the role of a protocol for such tasks - due to the ability to work in point-to-point mode without any additional equipment. But today its mass implementations are not suitable for transferring large documents due to the relatively low speed. The second limitation is the relatively small range. At the same time, Wi-Fi in phones and tablets is capable of providing performance at the level of tens of megabits per second, while laptops are capable of much higher speeds. The inconvenience is the need to use an access point.
The protocol proposed by the Wi-Fi Alliance allows you to simplify the integration of devices in a network without the participation of a hardware access point. WiFi Direct is software solution, and its implementation is possible on any type of Wi-Fi equipment. It is based on a bundle from a software access point organized on one of the devices, a protocol for establishing a secure WPS connections and automatic detection technologies. In most cases, only a couple of simple actions, for example, select a partner and click the "connect" button. In addition to organizing one-to-one and one-to-many networks, it is also possible to connect "regular" Wi-Fi devices. It is worth noting that new networks can be created simultaneously with the existing connection of the device to the access point, however, it should be noted that adapters usually can work on only one radio channel at a time. You can find devices that support Wi-Fi Direct on the alliance website, where this protocol is included in the "Special Features" section of the certificate, along with WPS.
As examples of scenarios and services, the following are usually given: the exchange of documents (photos, videos, etc.), printing on a printer, Internet access, broadcasting an image on a TV or projector, multiplayer games. The specification of the standard states that it is possible to use special methods to clarify the services provided by devices before establishing a direct connection. Unfortunately, this feature is listed as optional, and the mandatory requirements include only the process of establishing a connection and some additional services, such as power management (which, of course, is very important for modern mobile devices). So the convenience of modern Bluetooth services is not here today, and each manufacturer comes up with its own implementations. For example, one of the top smartphones of the latest generation allows you to send files through this protocol, and the My Wi-Fi Dashboard software package for Intel adapters allows you to organize a chat, exchange files and create an Internet access point. Let's take a closer look at it. The tests will also use a second computer with an Intel 6300 card and similar software.
The appearance of the program is original - a round window, the display of neighboring systems in the form of icons, several switches on the right edge. In the settings, the user can specify the folder for receiving deleted files, select a name and password for organizing an access point. There is no choice of range and channel of operation.
File transfer is really very simple: choose a partner, then a file, a request is sent, on the second system you allow reception, after which the transfer is carried out. True, it should be noted that the actual establishment of a connection takes a noticeable time, about ten seconds, and the sending speed is not so great. In our case, it was about 40 Mbps. Compared to Bluetooth, this is certainly not bad, but much less than we expected.
Chat works the same way. Of course, in this case we are talking more about demonstrating technology than about real useful function. But it did not work to start the access point mode. On the main PC, there was Internet via a wired connection, the access point turned on, but out of the three clients connected to check the Internet, the Internet “wound up” on only one.
So, in general, this protocol and its capabilities, of course, may be of interest to many users, but the current implementation by Intel seemed a little crude to us. Particular attention should be paid by manufacturers to the creation and coordination of the details of usage profiles so that interoperability between different devices can be ensured.
Intel Wireless Display
Ability to display a picture from a PC or laptop on the screen big TV remains one of the most requested features by consumers. The only problem is that today few people want to mess with cables, settings, special programs. If all this worked wirelessly and at the touch of a button, then, no doubt, the number of users of such scenarios would increase significantly.
Intel, promoting its mobile platforms, has developed Intel technology Wireless Display (shortly - WiDi) just under these requirements. Over several years of its development, it has grown to version 3.x and today is able to broadcast Full video HD with 5.1 audio and supports HDCP 2.0 for protected content.
For most users, when asked about technical requirements, the easiest way to answer is the presence of the corresponding logo in the description of the laptop. If you look deeper, then they will obviously demand modern processor, graphics and Intel wireless controller. Also note that the software is only for operating system Windows 7. Depending on the exact component models, there may be some variation in WiDi capabilities. In our case, the combination of the Intel i7-3770K processor and the Intel 6205 adapter can demonstrate the maximum modes. Note that for the technology to work on desktop PCs, the use of new 22-nanometer processors (Ivy Bridge) is mandatory, while the use of the previous generation is also allowed in laptops.
But broadcasting a picture is not enough, you also need to somehow receive and transmit it to a TV. To do this, it is proposed to use special adapters that have a built-in receiver, decoder and video output for connecting to a display device. Find the exact and full list compatible devices we failed. We tested with a Netgear Push2TV HD adapter (model PTV2000).
This is the latest generation device with Full HD video support. In addition to HDMI, it also has analog video and stereo audio outputs. We only tested the device with HDMI. The adapter is built on a Sigma Designs media processor and has a Wi-Fi module based on a Ralink chip with support for dual bands and 2T2R mode. Interestingly, the adapter firmware is updated automatically through the Intel utility. It is expected that WiDi receivers will be built directly into TVs, which will make life easier for users of this technology.
As you can see from the description, another feature of the technology is that it works only with Intel graphics controllers, so we immediately understand that modern dynamic games can be deleted from use cases in advance. Another reason can be found in the utility notes: with an active WiDi connection, programs using DirectX will not be able to work. Also note the lack (at least in the current version) of back channel support, which could be useful for remote controls or mouse / keyboard.
So, let's see how all this will work. On the computer at Intel platform installed special software. It programmatically emulates a second virtual display for the operating system. Thus, the resulting configuration will be able to work both in the modes of cloning and extending the desktop, and as a single monitor. Standard technologies are used here, and apart from this single program, nothing is required. A similar note applies to the sound path - a virtual sound controller is created in the system, available to any programs, which automatically becomes the main one. The system works quite conveniently and reliably. During testing, we did not notice any difficulties from the appearance and disappearance of devices in the operating system.
The documentation mentions the possibility of using the technology on mobile systems with switchable graphics, but we did not have the opportunity to test this option.
The picture displayed on the virtual monitor is encoded by specialized processor units using the H.264 codec. As for the sound, it is difficult to determine exactly. The easiest option is to use PCM (at least, it is in it that the decoder outputs 5.1 sound to the receiver). However, real-time encoding of audio information is not a difficult task for modern processors, and the stream required is not that big.
By the way, regarding the requirements for the processor. Testing showed that separate hardware blocks are indeed used for WiDi - during the active broadcast of the stream, there was no “normal” load on the processor, the core frequency dropped to 1.6 GHz, and several simple performance tests finally confirmed this fact. By the way, WiDi can also work on Atom N2600/N2800 processors and even on the Intel mobile platform, which indicates the high efficiency of specialized units in this task compared to universal cores.
Based on the described scheme, several conclusions can be drawn. First, it will broadcast full copy video card framebuffer; secondly, image encoding is carried out by a lossy codec; thirdly, the circuit will not be able to work without relatively large delays. So the main use cases are seen as more like viewing photos, videos and presentations than like working with documents, accessing the Internet or playing games.
During testing, we met with another feature that limits the choice of applications. Despite the fact that the TV supported Full HD, and the reception conditions were, one might say, ideal (five meters in a straight line without obstacles), WiDi, after activation, after a few seconds, without any obvious reasons, independently reduced the resolution on the receiver to 1366 × 768 ( more precisely, the resolution of the virtual monitor was reduced, while the set-top box continued to output in Full HD). Perhaps the point here is the built-in signal level control functions that reset the resolution to maintain image quality. So, unless otherwise noted, 720p mode was used in the tests.
So we have an encoded media stream. It remains to transfer it to the receiver. Of course, Intel could well have installed a special separate unit in the wireless adapter, as was the case with the processor, but in fact everything is much simpler. By software Intel and Windows drivers for connecting the receiver on the adapter creates a virtual wireless access point (according to the Wi-Fi scanner - using WPA2-PSK), and the remote decoder simply connects to it as a normal client. Access control uses the input on the computer side of the code generated by the receiver, which it displays on the screen of the connected TV. On the one hand, this solution allows you to use standard means and operating system protocols, on the other hand, is less efficient in terms of wireless bandwidth usage. This approach allowed us to determine the bitrate of the stream: in the case of a resolution of 1280×720, it is about 7 Mbps.
But there is another, more significant nuisance - a wireless adapter in a computer can only operate at one frequency and one (or two for the "40 MHz" mode of the 802.11n standard) radio channels. Which leads to the fact that the broadcast of the video stream will compete for bandwidth with the main access point. For desktops this may not be a big deal as they are usually wired and the adapter/receiver pair will only compete with nearby networks, but in the case of a laptop there may be a noticeable slowdown in its own network access. In addition, the load on the main wireless network can interfere with video transmission, resulting in delays and quality degradation. What is still unfortunate - the software does not allow you to somehow influence the choice of band and channel, carry out diagnostics or display statistics. The maximum that can be seen is abstract "sticks" of the wireless signal level at the receiver. It was also noticed that if the adapter has previously connected to an access point, then it will continue to use its channel numbers to create WiDi. Measuring the performance of a wireless adapter with simultaneous broadcasting of a video stream showed a decrease in speed by up to 30%. However, even under these conditions, it remains quite high - more than 120 Mbit / s in the scenarios of receiving or transmitting data.
We also decided to measure the signal delay by displaying a changing picture on two monitors, the first of which was connected directly to the HDMI output motherboard, and the second through the WiDi adapter. The distance between the antennas in this test was about one and a half meters. The test showed that the delay is approximately 0.4 seconds or 25 frames when set to 1280× [email protected](Interestingly, the manufacturer claims a delay of 0.2 s). For video, this is certainly not much, but working with the desktop is very uncomfortable.
Another test was conducted with a TV to determine the frame rate of the broadcast stream. To do this, a simple video was displayed on the screen, in which there was an element that changed its position every frame. Photographing the screen at a shutter speed of one second made it possible to see that only half of the frames actually made it to the receiver. Unfortunately, the hardware configuration used did not allow us to check the 24p mode - there was simply no such frame rate option in the monitor settings. This, by the way, can be counted as another drawback for those who planned to use the technology to watch high-quality video.
In the current version of WiDi, in addition to wireless broadcasting, there is another option for remote viewing - using a DLNA client. All the same ready-made video and audio stream can be broadcast to compatible clients via wire or Wi-Fi. Note that access requires permission on the server side, and it can only work with one client at a time. In particular, you cannot access WiDi and DLNA at the same time.
Conclusion
Intel's release of its own desktop wireless adapter is welcome. The device works in dual band, shows excellent results in performance tests, has high-quality support and implements additional functions. The only question left is cost. If it does not rise above 1500 rubles, the offer will look good against the background of competitors.
Researching a New Wi-Fi Direct Standard for Peer-to-Peer Organizations wireless networks and communication of devices without using an access point showed that it certainly has prospects. Considering that the implementation does not require new hardware, but only the addition of software support, there is a chance that many manufacturers, especially mobile devices, will show interest in it. There is some concern about the lack of hard-coded service specifications in the standard, which could create compatibility issues and negatively impact user experience. The presence of a logo on the packaging of a device without a detailed description of the functions in reality means little. Checking the Intel version showed that in terms of convenience, the service today loses to Bluetooth, but the data exchange speed is really high, although significantly less than in the mode of operation via an access point or via a cable connection.
Intel Wireless Display is a proprietary technology from Intel and has gone through several version numbers. Currently, it is able to transmit video and audio from a laptop or desktop PC, which are based on components of the same company, to special set-top boxes or TVs equipped with a built-in receiver. Officially, there is support for Full HD mode, but we were unable to achieve stability in its operation. Other resolutions - 1366x768 and 1280x720 - worked flawlessly. Additionally, we note the possibility of broadcasting 5.1 sound. WiDi can be used to view photos, presentations, showcase the PC desktop. Video in some cases also looks quite good. For action-packed games and high-quality video Current version doesn't fit at all. It has too high latency, low frame rate and low bitrate. The technology is implemented entirely at the software level, and it is not yet clear whether the manufacturer will be able to somehow improve its performance and expand the scope.
