best way to stream desktop/video to TV wirelessly

[MrDudeMan]

I'm used to using HDMI cables, which has always worked fine, but I need to connect to a TV wirelessly and I'm not sure which way to go. I've tried a Chromecast and it seems to work okay, but it had trouble projecting the desktop sometimes and when clients show up with their computers I have to install Chrome to make it work.

I'm not sure I'll ever be able to get away from installing things on a computer, but I also don't know what's out there. It's not likely that movies or anything of that nature will need to be displayed on the TV, but it would be nice if that type of thing is supported. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Requirements:
must be wireless (I'm assuming wifi is the only option)
the receiver must use HDMI or displayport
no more than $200 (less is obviously better)

 

[Ken g6]

Actually, there seem to be several options. You found Chromecast. There's a non-Google standard for this kind of thing called Miracast, but a Chromecast can't receive it. You'd need a different receiver device.

And then there's devices that just transmit HDMI, such as these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815290060
https://www.amazon.com/Nyrius-Transmitter-Streaming-Projector-NPCS549/dp/B009E6R89C

It appears they tend to run close to your $200 limit. :hmm:

 

[XavierMace]

Chromecast is probably your best bet. Miracast doesn't work on Android versions earlier than 4.2 or on 6.0. So if your client have the need to stream from one of those, you are out.

 

[JeffMD]

Ive had much success with chromecast, although the framerate on the chrome feed is nothing to get excited about. But there are many movie streaming alternatives.

I used amazon fire to attempt miracast and it worked with my android devices, but wouldn't give my asus laptop the time of day. It simply did not work.

There are some slightly expensive wireless hdmi solutions that use their own wireless protocal, and I think some offer HDMI over powerline if you can manage that instead.

 

[Rifter]

Chromecast by far the easiest and cheapest.

 

[cubby1223]

With a Chromecast, I highly recommend buying the AirParrot software to stream to the tv. The Chromecast device is great, but Google's software is poor, AirParrot bridges that gap.

 

[JeffMD]

How is airparrot on live feeds? I know several programs that can stream movies that are free, but chrome live stream is quite weak.